Wednesaday Hodgepodge~August 13, 2025

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Hello friends!  I'm joining Joyce over at From This Side of the Pond for Wednesday's Hodgepodge. Each week, she hosts a weekly link-up that is a collection of questions for bloggers to answer. It's to help bloggers get to know each other better and have a little bit of fun! It's a great way to hang out with friends. So grab a cup of coffee or tea if you prefer and join in on the fun. 

So, what is a hodgepodge? A hodgepodge is an unorganized mixture of various things, a jumble of items that don't belong together. 

Here are this week's questions and my answers for this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge~ 

1. August is National Golf Month...do you play? Do you enjoy following golf? Have you ever been to a professional tournament? 

Does mini golf count? I've played mini golf since I was a kid. We had a place when I was growing up that we went to as kids. It had mini golf, batting cages, and the best part, it was next to an ice cream cone place called the Arctic Circle. It was a popular hangout for us. It was right across the street from the drive-in movie theater (which is now closed). 

I'll admit, I have never played "real" golf before, and I honestly have no desire to. 

2. Astronaut Jim Lovell of Apollo 13 fame passed away this past Thursday. Are you interested in outer space and what's happening today in terms of space exploration? If space travel became common in your lifetime, would you go? How do you personally relate to the idea of exploring something vast and mysterious...does the idea excite you, intimidate you, or something else? 

I really don't keep up with space news or exploration. I did hear about the ladies going to space a few months ago. Do I believe that they did? No. 

Was it a publicity stunt? Most definitely. But either way, I don't really care. 

I personally have no desire to travel to space. I've never been interested in it. When we studied it in school, I was not a fan. I actually found it rather boring. I'm not a big science person. 

3. Describe your communication style in three words. 

Quiet but friendly

4. Do you have a favorite cookbook? A favorite celebrity chef? Do you watch any cooking shows on TV? 

I don't really watch any cooking shows. I'm not a big TV person. When the kids were little, my son loved to watch Rachel Ray, so I watched that back in the day. 

I tend to Google or find recipes online I'd like to try, and then give them a try. If we like them, I'll print them out and put them in my recipe binder (which is overflowing now)

The one cookbook I go back to time and time again is my very first cookbook, the Betty Crocker Cookbook. Mine is from the 1990s. It was a gift from my mom when I moved out after college. When I went searching on Amazon, I saw my mom's cookbook from the 60s, and they were trying to sell it for $100! I have a second one, which I got when my kids were little, but some of the recipes had changed. I tend to go back to my first one. It's beat up and missing the cover, but it still works. 

5. As a child, did you have any back-to-school traditions? If so, did you carry on those same traditions with your own children? Do you have any back-to-school traditions you've started on your own? 

The only first day of school I remember is my first day of Kindergarten. After that, I don't think our parents took them. I didn't get new clothes, since I went to a Catholic school and had to wear a uniform. We got new shoes if our feet had grown. We did go shopping for new school supplies every year. I remember getting new pencils, notebooks, etc. I loved Hello Kitty, Lisa Frank, and my Trapper Keeper. The little cute erasures were my favorite!

We homeschooled, so no new clothes here. I did the first day of school pictures with the kids. I did let them go to the store and pick out cute school supplies they liked. When we did co-ops, they did get to pick out backpacks, pencil cases, and unch boxes. They liked doing that. We used to take packed lunches to the park, so they could use their lunch boxes more. 

6. Yesterday was our sweet girl Ruby's gotcha day. She's been with us for 2 years now, and life has not been the same. 

She has an eternal alarm clock that wakes her up at 5:30 every day! Her belly says it's time for breakfast. She's the sweetest, most lovable dog. She loves to cuddle, go for walks, and play with her big sisiter. She's afraid of the cat. She's not a fan of water, which is strange since she's a Labrador retriever. 

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Till Next Time,

Monique

10 Quotes for the Feast Day of the Assumption of Mary

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Good morning, friends. The church's feast day for the Assumption of Mary is quickly approaching. While looking for quotes for my Sunday Inspiration post, I came across these beautiful quotes that we can reflect on, pray on, and hopefully inspire us to draw closer to Mary, our Blessed Mother. 

~1~ 

The feast of the Assumption of Our Lady prompts us to acknowledge the basis for this joyful hope. Yes, we are still pilgrims, but our mother has gone ahead, where she points to the reward of our efforts. She tells us we can make it. And, if we are faithful, we will reach home. The blessed Virgin is not only our model, she is the help of Christians. And as we besiege her with our petitions- "show that you are our mother"  -she cannot help but watch over her children with motherly care."

~ Saint Josemaria Escrivá

Christ is Passing By

~2~

“Today too, the dragon exists in new and different ways. It exists in the form of materialistic ideologies that tell us it is absurd to think of God; it is absurd to observe God’s commandments: they are a leftover from a time past… Even now, this dragon appears invincible, but it is still true today that God is stronger than the dragon, that it is love which conquers rather than selfishness…The message of my life was: I am the handmaid of God, my life has been a gift of myself to God and my neighbour. And this life of service now arrives in real life. May you too have trust and have the courage to live like this, countering all the threats of the dragon.”

~ Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

~3~

"Mary’s Assumption is an event that concerns us precisely because every human being is destined to die. But death is not the last word. Death – the mystery of the Virgin’s Assumption assures us – is the passage to life, the encounter with Love. It is the passage to the eternal happiness in store for those who toil for truth and justice and do their utmost to follow Christ.”

Saint Pope John Paul II

~4~

“When finally the Blessed Virgin had fulfilled the course of this life, and was now to be called out of this world, all the apostles were gathered together from each region to her house…and behold the Lord Jesus came with his angels and, receiving her soul…at the break of day the apostles lifted the body with the couch and laid it in the sepulcher, and they guarded it awaiting the coming of the Lord. And behold the Lord again stood by them, and commanded that the holy body be taken up and borne on a cloud into paradise, where now, reunited with (her) soul…”

~ Gregory of Tours

~5~

 “While she lived on this earth she could only be close to a few people. Being in God, who is close to us, actually, “within” all of us, Mary shares in this closeness of God. Being in God and with God, she is close to each one of us, knows our hearts, can hear our prayers, can help us with her motherly kindness and has been given to us, as the Lord said, precisely as a “mother” to whom we can turn at every moment.”

~ Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

~6~

“By a special privilege, she was enriched by divine grace from the moment of her conception, and Christ, who ascended to the right hand of the Father, opened the doors of his kingdom to her, first among human creatures. Now from heaven, where the Queen of the angels and saints is crowned, the Mother of God and of the Church is close to the Christian people before whom she shines as the ‘new and immaculate woman (who) mediated for the guilt of the first woman." 

~ Saint Pope John Paul II

~7~

“We pronounce, declare and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma that the immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul to heavenly glory.”

~Pope PiusXII

~8~

"By looking at Mary’s Assumption into Heaven we understand better that even though our daily life may be marked by trials and difficulties, it flows like a river to the divine ocean, to the fullness of joy and peace. We understand that our death is not the end but rather the entrance into life that knows no death. Our setting on the horizon of this world is our rising at the dawn of the new world, the dawn of the eternal day.”

~Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

~9~

As Mary was assumed into Heaven, she beckons us to follow her path of obedience, faith, and unwavering trust in God."

~Unknown

~10~

"Mary's assumption is a sign of hope for all of us, a reminder that death is not the end, but rather the beginning of eternal life."

~Pope Francis

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Monique

Sunday Inspiration~ August 10, 2025

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Monique

The Saturaday Book Report~ August 9, 2025

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What Did I Read This Week?

The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros

Summer Nights in Wild Harbor (Wild Harbor Beach Book 2) by Grace Worhtington

Hour is Come ( A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery) by Victoria Tait

One Kind Heart (One Kind Deed Series Book 1) by Christine DePetrillo

Framed and Frosted (Cupcake Catering Mystery Book 3) by Kim Davis

Books I Finished~ Don't Tease Me by Renee Rose 

What Book Did I Buy/Borrow This Week?

No new books this week!

What is the Book I Most Want to Read Right Now?

I'm still trying to finish up The Things We Leave Unfinished. I'm about 65% done. My plan this week is to finish this book and hopefully finish up a few of the other books I've been reading for a few months now. I'm definitely a mood reader, so I have to be in the mood for certain books. 

What are My Reading Plans for the Upcoming Week?

My plan is to finish The Things We Leave Unfinished, as well as 3 of the other books that I am currently reading.

What Did I DNF This Week?

I wanted to finish The Things We Leave Unfinished, but that didn't happen. 

What Did I Work on this Week?

I worked on my lessons for Sunday school.

What is Feeding My Creativity Right Now?

I love taking a peaceful walk through the neighborhood. We live in the mountains, so often I see deer, foxes, birds, and occasionally a bear. 

I'm linking up with The Sunday Salon, Stacking the Shelves, It's Monday! What are you reading?, and The Sunday Post.

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Till Next Time,

Monique

Wednesday Hodgepodge~ August 6, 2025

Please note that posts may contain affiliate links. If you choose to click on a link, add it to your cart, and complete your purchase, I will receive a small percentage. We are very grateful for this additional source of income. Thank you.

Hello friends!  I'm joining Joyce over at From This Side of the Pond for Wednesday's Hodgepodge. Each week, she hosts a weekly link-up that is a collection of questions for bloggers to answer. It's to help bloggers get to know each other better and have a little bit of fun! It's a great way to hang out with friends. So grab a cup of coffee or tea if you prefer and join in on the fun. 

So, what is a hodgepodge? A hodgepodge is an unorganized mixture of various things, a jumble of items that don't belong together. 

Here are this week's questions and my answers for this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge~ 

1. The midpoint of summer (believe it or not) is August 7th. Describe a perfect summer day. Have you had one this year? 

I would usually say sitting on a beach with the waves rolling in, feeling the cool breeze blow. Of course, I'd be reading a book. However, this summer, my hubby, daughter, and I visited a lavender farm for my birthday. It was beautiful. The rows and rows of lavender were gorgeous. I love lavender. We strolled the gardens, tried some lavender wine, and even both some lavender-smelling body products. It was a beautiful day. 

2. What's one thing you wish you knew before starting high school? 

Be yourself and don't worry what others think of you. In the grand scheme of life, it's just 4 years. Twenty years later, the hot guy is bald, the popular kids are just normal parents, and the geeky kids come out ahead most of the time. Life changes, and we aren't stuck in the roles, people put us in. 

3. What's something that bothers you if it's not done perfectly? 

I'd have to say folding clothes or towels wrong. Putting things back in the wrong place. It drives me crazy when people put the dishes away in the wrong drawer or cabinet. Everything has its own proper home. 

4. What's the most overrated food you're convinced people are just pretending to enjoy? What's a trendy food you actually do enjoy and would say is definitely not overrated? 

The most overrated food, I think, people are pretending to enjoy is Kale! That stuff is disgusting. I've tried it cooked, in smoothies, and as chips. Yuck, yuck, yuck! I can't think of anything trendy that I actually do enjoy. Since I have Celiac Disease, most trendy foods are not for me. I'm limited in what I can eat since I can't have gluten and dairy for the most part. No doughnuts or ice cream here. I do like dark chocolate, but I'm not sure that it's trendy. I really don't follow all the trendy foods promoted on TikTok or Instagram. I'm just trying to eat foods that won't bother my stomach.

5. Wrapping it up this week with five fun this or thats...

personal stylist or personal chef? 
dance like nobody's watching or sing like nobody's listening? 
Unlimited tacos or free pizza? 

bookshelf organization by size or by genre? 
ten minutes late or ten minutes early? 

Personal chef, especially if they clean up after cooking

Dance like nobody's watching

Unlimited Tacos~ gluten-free/dairy-free pizza is not good

Bookshelf organization is by size and author 

Ten minutes early~ I hate being late

6. It sucks getting older. Our porch was wet yesterday, and that didn't go well with my flip flops, so I slipped, caught myself, landed wrong, and twisted my ankle, which caused me to fall. I fell backwards, hit the corner of the porchstair with my bum, twisted again and fell on my wrist. I woke up this morning in more pain than I was yesterday. My whole right side hurts. Back in the day, I would walked away with nothing. Getting old is not fun and I'm not enjoying all the aches and pains. 

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Till Next Time,

Monique

Happy Reading~ My July Reads

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Well, another month of reading has come to an end. July was a busy month, so I didn't read as much as I wanted. I also had a few more migraines this month, and reading can be difficult when your head is pounding, your eyes hurt, and you just want to sit in a dark room. 

2025 Reading Goal~ 125 Books

I've read 90 books so far this year. Good reads says I'm 17 books ahead of schedule this year, so I may exceed my goal. 

Here's how my book recap goes. 

~I have included pictures if I have them and have provided links to them on Amazon so you can find out more about the books before you buy or check them out at your local library. 

~ If I left a more detailed review for a book, I'll include the link under the book so you can check it out. I leave reviews for books I really like or have received for reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and this blog. 

~If I receive a preview book, I'll include the release date for you.

~ Each book will have a rating in bold. I rate each book with a numbered star.

The rating system I use is as follows ~

*5 This book was amazing! I couldn't put it down. I loved the book so much that I either bought the book or planned to buy it to add to my ever-growing collection so I could reread it. 

*4 This means the book is definitely worth reading. I really enjoyed the book. I liked it, but not enough to buy it and add it to my collection. 

*3 This book was good. It wasn't the best book I've read, but I did enjoy it. I wouldn't need to read it again. 

*2 This book was okay. I finished it, but had to force myself to. I probably didn't like the plot or the characters. The story just didn't work for me. 

*1 This means I didn't like the book at all, and I couldn't finish it.

Here are this month's books~

1. Dangerous Pursuit by Bethany Rosa   3***

An age-gap erotic romance. The characters were okay. The story was predictable. I won't continue with the series. 

2. Summer in Sweetbriar Cove by Meloday Grace   5*****

I really enjoyed this small-town spicy romance story and enjoyed meeting the characters. 

3. Love at Wild Harbor by Grace Worthington   4****

A chocolate shop, a fixer-upper, three sisters, and the small town boy returns home. A sweet love story comes to life. 

4. One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune   5*****

Good things happen at the lake, at least that's what Alice's grandmother says. This is the perfect read for summer. 

5. The New Menopause: Navigating Your Path Through Hormonal Change with Purpose, Power, and Facts by Dr. Mary Claire Haver   4****

A great book for those of us dealing with all the craziness that comes with perimenopause and menopause.

6. All For You by Meloday Grace   4****

This is the second book in the Sweetbirat Cove series.

7. Sam the Guardian Angel by Lis Luwia   4****

This book is perfect for teaching little ones about their Guardian Angel and the importance of Mass. 

8. Jesus Enters Jerusalem by Jane Fryer   3***

This book retells the story of Jesus entering Jerusalem.

9. The Week That Led to Easter by Joanne Larrison   3***

This book retells the story of Holy Week and Jesus' crucifixion. 

10. A Week to Remember by Ruth O'Leary   5*****

I loved this story about three Irish women on the journey of a lifetime. I enjoyed the book so well that I plan on reading more from this author. 

11. Possessive by Willow Winters   3***

Unrequited love, maybe? I read it. It was okay. A quick read, but it wasn't really a great story. 

 Well, that's it for today! Stay tuned for my August reads. I'll get them posted in the first week of September. I have some good ones I've started!

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Till Next Time,

Monique

Happy Homemaker Monday~ August 4, 2025

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Happy August, my friends! I hope you had a wonderful July and weekend. The first day of August brought some much-needed cooler temperatures. The humidity has dropped, too. It has been so nice. On Saturday, the boys went on a fishing trip, Therese spent the day with friends, and I finally had the opportunity to work in my flower garden. Sunday was family day. We attended Mass, ran a few errands, and had a nice Sunday dinner, just like I used to have at my grandmother's house when I was a little kid. Those were the best days. I loved spending time with my grandparents and cousins. The time we spent together will always be cherished. I'd give anything to be able to talk to my grandmother.

Let's get started with Happy Homemaker Monday with our beautiful hostess, Sandra from Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Be sure to stop in, grab a cup of coffee, and say hi.

The Weather in My Neck of the Woods~

We are getting some cool temperatures this week. We're not supposed to get much rain this week, which is nice. This has been the wettest summer I can remember in a long time. Normally, by the beginning of July, we are in a drought. Not this year. I'm a little worried that if this trend continues, we will have a wet and snowy winter!

Monday~ Partly Sunny, 79*

Tuesday~ Cloudy, 75*

Wednesday ~ Rain, 73*

Thursday~ Partly Sunny, 76*

Friday~ Rain, 76*

Saturday~ Partly Sunny, 76*

Sunday~ Cloudy, 79*

As I Look Out My Window~

The sun is trying to peak out behind the clouds. It's a little overcast right now. I'm hoping it gets sunnier out. I have bedding to wash and hang out on the line.

Thinking and Pondering~

Oh my, so much right now. Whoever said it gets easier when your children are older lied. The older they get, the bigger the problems. I would love to have an argument over what shoes to wear with a three-year-old right now. Picking the right sippy cup color would be so much easier right now. Both Michael and Therese are starting the next phase in their journey, and boy, does it make this mama's heart ache with worry, fear, happiness, and doubt. Did I do everything I could to help them be the best they can be? Could I have done things differently, raising them to have a different outcome right now?  Will they make the best decisions? Between my worries for them(and perimenopause), this mama is not sleeping much. I'm praying a lot and putting it all in God's hands, but that sure can be hard to do sometimes. Letting go is not always easy. 

 

Right Now I Am ~

I am typing up this post. I have a load of darks in the washer already.  The house is quiet since I'm here by myself. Michael started the fire academy today, so he left really early this morning. The hubby is at work. Therese is at her boyfriend's house. She starts RN school in two weeks. I've fed all the animals, and they are all now taking their first nap of the day. 

Sweet, old Maddie Girl

How I'm  Feeling~

My allergies are still horrible. I have had them since April, but they don't seem to be letting up. All this rain has been horrible. I got my supplements for my perimenopause symptoms, so they are disappearing again, so that's nice. I'm currently taking SM Nutrition DIM Supplement 200 mg and SM Nutrition Menopause Supplement for Women. I've tried other brands, they did not work. These two products actually work for me. 

What's on My Nightstand~  

My Bible and the Catholic Mom's Prayer Companion: A Book of Daily Reflections. 

My Scenty warmer. I'm currently warming Black Raspberry Vanilla. I haven't broken out the fall scents just yet. 

Yellow Zinnias

What's for Breakfast~

So far, a mocha latte. I might have an egg or a protein shake. I'm not quite sure yet. 

Looking Around the House~

It needs to be picked up. I didn't get around to deep cleaning last week, so I'll be starting that this week. It's a little messy right now. After some picking up, everything will be back in order. 

Primrose trying to make a run for it.

On My To-Do List This Week~ 

Most of the week is pretty open. I'd like to get to the library and the thrift store. I have a ton of things to do around the house.

Change sheets 

Wash all bedding

Wash the dog beds

Vacuum the couch out

Vacuum and mop the floors

Wash the dogs

Organize the sewing room

Finish my lesson plans for Sunday school

Take donations to the thrift store

Dust

Start deep cleaning the house, room by room 

Happening This Week~

Thursday~ Dentist appointment and then errands with The Hubby

On My Reading Pile~

I'm currently reading The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros

and Summer Nights in Wild Harbor by Grace Worthington. 

What I'm Listening To~

Morgan Wallen

Zac Bryan

On TV this week~

Netflix

Sullivan's Crossing

Call the Midwives

The Hunting Wives (not what I was expecting)

Blindspot

Amazon Prime

Reacher

YouTube

Cooking Videos

Quilting Videos

Exercise videos

On the Menu this Week~

Monday~ 

Tuesday~ 

Wednesday~ 

Thursday~

Friday~

Saturday~

I have no clue yet. I really need to sit down and plan meals!

What I am Sewing, Quilting, and Creating~

I'm working on nothing at the moment. 

My Simple Pleasures~

I love sitting outside in the morning hours when it's cool out. 

Lesson Learned This Week~

Nothing goes as planned!

Something Fun to Share (a blog, video, or tip)

From the Camera~

A brown bat came to visit on the porch

Praying For~

My parents

My husband and children

Our country

Friends and family

Inspirational Quote/Bible Verse/Faith~

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Till Next Time,

Monique