Time In A Bottle

Hello blog. I'm hoping to get back in step here this week. We shall see. First things first, I don't think I'm going to have a Wednesday Hodgepodge this week.

Here's the thing-I spent last week in Washington State, then had a very fun full Mother's Day weekend, and I've got something like 200 pictures to edit and add (not all of them of course!), and if I Hodgepodge that's Tuesday and Wednesday which means it will be Thursday before I get back to regular blogging and by then I'm kind of past it. Run on sentence, but it's a run on sort of life.

I think I'd like to take this week to recap my trip and all the weekend fun, and I know some of you could do that in a single Monday morning post but it's taken me two full paragraphs just to tell you I can't. On top of that I really want to go back and wrap up my A-Z series where I dropped the ball at letter Y. Can't end an alphabet series with Y! I'm giving myself some grace and for the Hodgepodgers reading here, please know we'll be back with the Hodgepodge next week (May 18th). Thanks for understanding. And reading this exceptionally long paragraph.

Okay, so Washington. Daughter1 lives there with her hard working hubs and her adorable little boy puppy and I live on the other side of the country so our time together is never enough. But we make it work and do the all day travel with connections thing, and then we savor all the goodness in the minutes and bid tearful goodbyes and put a new date on the calendar for future real life face times.

I made this trip solo because hubs had work commitments here. We'll trek out there together sometime later this year, but last week was all about us girls and it was perfectly perfect, except not long enough but as I said, a minute is a minute and a day is a day and time is oh so very precious.

I left SC in a scary electrical storm before the crack of dawn, yet had smooth sailing all the way west. No delays, no hiccups, and no missed connections which is my favorite way to travel. Daughter1 was at the airport to greet me and we made our way home to collect her hubs who'd been on call the night before and had just gotten back to their house when she left to pick me up. It was a gorgeous day, and we went to a nearby favorite place for lunch.

I'm going to blather on far too much about the beauty in this state, but y'all this part of Washington is positively stunning. One of the prettiest parts of America in my opinion, and I've seen a lot of America. I just cannot get over Mt. Rainier. It's absolutely breathtaking the way it looms over the area. An incredible site to see, even from a moving car on the Interstate.

I told my daughter if I lived here I'd take an obnoxious amount of photographs.

I might have taken an obnoxious amount of photographs, but if this were the view from your everyday morning walk through the neighborhood, wouldn't you be snapping away too?

When hubs and I visited this same time last year we went with them to collect their brand new puppy. He's now a year old and he's all boy and all puppy. He's also an absolute love who relishes his belly rubs, fetching a ball, and being right next to you or better yet in your lap whenever you allow.

I allow.

He's a spaniel, but reminds me so much of our sweet setter and flashed me back to puppy days with her. I'm not ready for a puppy, but I was feeling all the feels they bring into the spaces of your home and heart you didn't realize were there.

We walked miles with him every single day, through deep lush woods where the tall trees grow, and along the meadow path that spills out in front of a crystal clear sunlit sea.

Long walks and talks with my girl in the middle of God's masterpiece makes my list of favorite things.

This is why I can't Hodgepodge this week. I have too many words that need to go elsewhere. Come back tomorrow to see too many pictures of pretty glass sculpture from our day at the Chihuly gallery. Happy Monday everyone!

The Merry Month of May Hodgepodge

Welcome to another edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer the questions on your own blog, and then be sure to leave a comment for the blogger who linked before you. Here we go-

1. What's something fun you're looking forward to on your May calendar? 

I'm visiting my Daughter1 on the west coast this week, definitely something I looked forward to, and something I'm enjoying. Hubs and I have some fun weekend plans with friends mid-May, and then fun Memorial Day weekend plans with more friends later in the month so Hello May! 

2. What are some images that come to mind when you hear the word mother?

Well when I think of my own mother I tend to picture her somewhere in her late 30's/early 40's, baking in the kitchen, working in the garden, or walking in the door from her job at the library with a pile of books in her arms. I think of her sitting on the end of my bed listening to all my teenage worries. I remember her taking care of me when my own babies were born. I think of the love she has showered on my girls in a hundred little ways. I think of a listening ear, a warm blanket, hot tea at the kitchen table and feeling safe. 

3. What's something beautiful you own or have seen that's made of glass? 

My daughter and I spent Monday at the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum in Seattle. I've loved his work since first seeing an exhibit he did at Kew Gardens several years ago, and the museum in his home state did not disappoint.  I took a bunch of pictures and I'm sure I'll share more once I'm back home, but for now- 

4. Was today typical? If not what made it unusual? 

Hmmm...what is typical for us these days? I'm out of town which is actually kind of typical, but I'm with my daughter and son-in-law and I haven't seen them since Christmas so a bit unusual too. 

5. What is a quality you wish you could have more of?

Musicality. 

6. What's the next major purchase you need to make? Will it happen in the month of May? 

As you may recall, we're building a house so it feels like major purchases are happening on a pretty regular basis around here. Next up is flooring, and yes it will happen in May. 

7. What responsibility/job/work did you dislike while growing up but has proved helpful to you as an 

adult?

Probably most basic household chores...recognizng that these chores need to be done every.single.week or in some cases daily whether you feel like it or not. 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

We're on our way to see The Jungle Book  shortly (Tuesday evening). You're never too old!

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 265

I'm traveling at the moment, so once again blogging from my iPad. Posts sometimes end up with a wonky font style or size, but I shall press on anyway. Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with your friends and neighbors.

1. What's something fun you're looking forward to on your May calendar? 

2. What are some images that come to mind when you hear the word mother? 

3. What's something beautiful you own or have seen that's made of glass? 

4. Was today typical? If not what made it unusual? 

5. What is a quality you wish you could have more of?

6. What's the next major purchase you need to make? Will it happen in the month of May? 

7. What responsibility/job/work did you dislike while growing up but has proved helpful to you as an adult?

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

Yahoo!

We've spent the whole day out at the lake lot admiring the progress, and also meeting with our builder and the tech guy who will handle wiring for sound, our security system and the central vacuum. We hadn't been to the lot in over a week and it was really fun to discover things have been moving merrily along. 

Y is for Yay! 

We have shingles on the roof-

Sliders in the great room-

Windows in the walls-

And siding has begun on the backside of the house-

Yahoo! Yes! Yay!

X Marks The Spot

Three letters remain in this year's A-Z Blog Challenge. You can do this! 

X Marks The Spot

Right here. This is the place. The state, the neighborhood, the house that welcomed me home when I became a mother. Can you tell the neighborhood was under construction when we moved in? Ha! I know it's the Midwest, but y'all that tree situation is so sad.

We did not care. I mean that. I was seven months pregnant when we landed in The Buckeye State and approximately one week later became scary sick with toxemia. I spent the next six weeks on my left side while boxes went unpacked and hubs catered to my every whim.

Until he ran out of steam, and then my mom stepped in to save the day.
Mothers have a superpower unlike any other.

On a bright June day the world's happiest baby was born.

Let's discuss this throwback picture Thursday Thirteen Style-

1.  It was Easter.

2.  My bangs! It was the 80's people.

3.  Little girl tights that wrinkle at the ankle.

4.  Black dresser shoes-hers. My girls for some reason always called their black patents 'dresser' shoes.

5.  Hot pink heels-mine. You can't see them in this picture, but I remember them like it was yesterday, and they were fabulous.

6.  Easter bonnets.

7.  Just nine months old here and oh so ready to walk.

8.  She looked waaaay too tiny to be walking.

9.  She was determined.

10. It runs in the family.

11. This picture makes my heart fill all the way up.

12. It reminds me of all the pure sweetness and light she brought into my home and heart one bright June day.

13. And all the days after.

When you smile at your nine month old in her Easter bonnet and fancy dresser shoes you don't think for one single solitary minute you'll ever never ever go 125 days without seeing her up close and in person, yet here you are...125 days away from the last time you saw her up close and in person.

What's remarkable about that is your heart is still whole. You wouldn't have believed it possible back then, but you get it now. You always knew she'd grow up...

You just didn't realize you would too.

Weather Wisdom In The Wednesday Hodgepodge

Welcome to another edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you're visiting from the A-Z Blog Challenge you'll find my letter W post by scrolling all the way down to question #8. If you've answered the questions today add your link at the end of my post, then go say hi to your neighbor. Hodgepodge links only please!

Here we go-

1. This is the last Hodgepodge in April. Share something you learned this month. 

I still dislike blogging from my iPad.

There's a lot more to the home build category called 'lighting' than just lights.

God can use the weather to remind me He is God. (see #8)

2.  It's National Poetry Month, and we all know you can't escape an April Hodgepodge without a little poetry. Keeping the first line as is, change the rest of the wording in this familiar rhyme to make it your own - 'Hickory Dickory Dock...

Hickory dickory dock

It's mid-life on the clock

Experts said

This season you'll dread

But I'm telling you really it rocks. 

3. What were one or two rules in the home you grew up in? Growing up, did you feel your parents were strict? Looking back do you still see it that way? 

Elbows off the table would be one. My dad said that most nights during dinner to at least one of his offspring. Another would have been more general-obey your parents.  

I don't think mine were overly strict, but I've always liked rules and never had much of a rebellious nature. We did know if Dad got called in to a situation we were in trouble, but mostly I grew up feeling very well-loved. 

4. Tell us about a kitchen or cooking disaster or mishap you've experienced. Do you have many from which to choose? 

I haven't had many noteworthy cooking disasters, but I do have a kitchen story. I could tell you about the time my sister and I started a small fire in the kitchen while my brother was babysitting aka in the den talking on the phone. We were melting butter for popcorn (on the stove because it was 1970 and we had no idea microwaves were in our future) and forgot about it until we came back downstairs and saw the orange glow. 

My brother put it out immediately, but still much shrieking ensued and it was shocking to see how much soot a teeny tiny little pan fire could produce. We did not tell the parents. It seemed like a wise decision at the time, but days later my mom was vacuuming the living room drapes and couldn't figure out where all the 'black dust' was coming from. She had her suspicions because mothers always do. Slowly over time the whole story was told, including the part about how a neighbor one street over had knocked on the back door because he'd seen the flame from his own kitchen. He even checked all the cabinets to make sure there were no stray sparks. God bless good neighbors. 

5. Plant a kiss, plant doubt, plant a tree, plant yourself somewhere...which on the list have you most recently planted? 

Plant yourself seems appropriate. We've have had a spring filled with travel and we're not done yet. 

6. What's your most worn item of clothing this time of year? Are you tired of it? 

My jean jacket which is perfect for springtime weather. Am I tired of it? Never!

7. I'm wrapping up the A-Z Blog Challenge this month and our Hodgepodge lands on letter W. What's one word beginning with W that describes you in some way? How about a word to describe your home, also beginning with W?

Myself? Thats easy-wordy!

My home? Welcoming, or at least I like to think so. 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Using this space for today's A-Z Blog Challenge-

W is for Weather 

I'm  going to talk about three of  my favorite things today- motherhood, the weather, and Gods amazing grace. 

Back in early April my Daughter1 and her husband took a belated honeymoon to Hawaii. They'd been planning this trip, anticipating the holiday, looking forward to it for months. My son-in-law has very little down time given his profession, and they were so excited for the break. Whenever I'd talk to my daughter about the trip she always always always spoke with tremendous excitement about the weather, how she absolutely could not wait for a solid week of sunshine. And I'm her mom and her happiness matters to me so I started praying about the weather. 

Sometimes Hawaii sees a fair bit of rain, particularly Maui. Hubs had a meeting in HI once where it poured rain all day every day. Plus we lived there when I was a tiny tot and when I'd talk to my own mom we would comment on how much Daughter1 was really really counting on sunshine, and my mom would casually say she remembers it raining there pretty often. 

As the trip got closer I started checking my weather app a little too often and the forecast was not looking stellar. I know the islands can have different weather depending on precisely where you stand, so I used their hotel address and y'all the rain! It was like rain every day, and not a 20% chance, but 80%, 100%. I did not say a word. We all know weather can change so I just kept praying for sunny skies somewhere in their week. This is what mothers do. We hear our children's heart desires and we lift them up in prayer. 

So off they went and every day I would look at my weather app and I'd click on the day and it would say showers. Nothing but showers. The little raindrop icons would fall across the screen and still I would pray for sunshine somewhere sometime. Around Wednesday I started adding a little ps- if its raining every day, may they make the best of it. 

I knew they would, but I also knew how disappointing it would be to travel from the rainy PNW to Hawaii for a full week of rain. And from where I sat, thousands of miles away, with just what my app was telling me, they had rain almost all day every day. My daughter wasn't posting any pictures or texting because she was on holiday, so I could only go by what I could see on the screen. 

The week floated by and after they were safely home she phoned to tell me all about it. After she'd gushed a few minutes about the resort and the food I said, 'Well how was the weather?' And she said-Absolutely gorgeous!! She said she thinks it may have rained one night while they slept, but other than that it was picture perfect. 

 One night? Huh? 

And in that moment I thought of how so many times all we see are those rainy rain drop icons falling across our screen, but behind the scenes God is making something beautiful.

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 264

The Hodgepodge is back in action in this last week of April. Answer the questions on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with the Internetters. See you there!

1. This is the last Hodgepodge in April. Share something you learned this month. 

2.  It's National Poetry Month, and we all know you can't escape an April Hodgepodge without a little poetry. Keeping the first line as is, change the rest of the wording in this familiar rhyme to make it your own - 'Hickory Dickory Dock...

3. What were one or two rules in the home you grew up in? Growing up, did you feel your parents were strict? Looking back do you still see it that way? 

4. Tell us about a kitchen or cooking disaster or mishap you've experienced. Do you have many from which to choose? 

5. Plant a kiss, plant doubt, plant a tree, plant yourself somewhere...which on the list have you most recently planted? 

6. What's your most worn item of clothing this time of year? Are you tired of it? 

7. I'm wrapping up the A-Z Blog Challenge this month and our Hodgepodge lands on letter W. What's one word beginning with W that describes you in some way? How about a word to describe your home, also beginning with W?

8. Insert your own random thought here.