Wednesday Hodgepodge~ February 4, 2026

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 Winter Olympics kick off on Friday, February 6th...on a scale of 1-10 how excited are you? (1= eh and 10=watching every event all day every day). What's your favorite Winter Olympic sporting event?  

I'd have to say a 2. 

I LOVED the Olympics when I was a child. I was a gymnast and dreamed of one day going to the Olympics. I wanted to be the next Nadia Comaneci or Mary Lou Retton. I knew deep down I wasn't going but it was fun to dream about it. 

For the winter Olympics, I'd have to say figure skating is my favorite event to watch. I've always wanted to learn how to do all the fancy stuff, but I've only skated maybe 5 times in my life. We didn't have anywhere local growing up to ice skate. I have skated at Rockefeller Center in NYC when I lived there. I'm not that good at it though.

I do like watching the opening ceremonies when they are good. I've been disappointed in the past. So, we'll see.

2. In other sporting news, the Superbowl (American football's championship game) will be played on Sunday, February 8th. So, tell us...what's your superpower?

I'm glad it wasn't a question about whose playing because I have no clue. I've never been a big fan of watching football on TV. I prefer to watch in it in person. I'm not a huge fan so it's not worth the money to me. 

So, my superpower? I have a way with animals. Every stray that gets dropped off finds it way to my house. Most of our cats have just shown up. They find me. I currently have one outdoor cat that will not come in. He won't be trapped and we can't touch him. I've been feeding him for about 4 years now. At first it was very random. Now, he shows up every day. We bought him a heated cat house and he is loving it. I almost touched him a few days ago. He didn't hiss. He just reached out and lightly tapped my hand as if to tell me no. He is definitely taking longer than any other cat, but I'll keep trying. 

3. Are you a romantic? 

Yes, most definitely. Lace, flowers, music, dancing, etc. I love the old time feel of things. Maybe because I didn't live in the past times, I find it more appealing. Things just seemed simpler. Life was slower. People connected more. They didn't seem to be distracted by all the craziness in the world. They weren't glued to their phones. I love the fashions from the past. The dresses and outfits were stunning. Woman and men looked stylish, not frumpy and sloppy. The attention to details was amazing. 

4. Blue cheese-yay or nay? How about feta? If you said yes to one or both, what's a dish you like that calls for one of these? 

I like both, blue cheese and feta, with certain things. I tend to use them in salads...regular salad and fruit salads. I don't like blue cheese dressing though. I much prefer ranch. 

There's a salad with grapes, apples, and feta cheese that I love in the summertime. 

5. What's more important-doing what you love or loving what you do? 

I honestly thought these were the same thing at first, but the more I thought about it I realized that there was a difference. A huge difference.  If you can do what you love that's great. That would be the best option if it's possible. However, sometimes that isn't always the case. If you can't do what you love, it's important to love what you are doing. I don't think it's wise to settle and do something you don't enjoy or hate. If you do, I doubt you'll enjoy life. Let's face it, if we are unhappy, we tend to make those around us unhappy too. We need to love what we do in this life. We only get one life, and we shouldn't go through it being miserable. We should love life, love those around us, and love God. 

6. My random thought~ I'm getting excited to meet my first grandchild. Only a few more weeks to go. I love this little boy so much already. it's amazing how different it feels to be a grandma. What's some Grandma advice? I'd love to hear it. 

                                                          Enjoyed this post? 

Never miss out on future posts by following us! 

Till Next Time,

Monique

Wednesday Hodgepodge~ December 10, 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. Do you struggle with the commercialization of the holiday season? What helps you keep your focus when the season’s busyness and commercialism start to take over? 

I hate the craziness of the holiday season. As someone who used to work in retail, I know firsthand how rude and crazy people can get during the holiday season. I hate the hustle and bustle. I actually try to avoid all the stores during this time. When I do go out it's usually on a Monday morning before the rest of the people are out and about. My goal is always to be done by 12! The concept of buy, buy, buy annoys me. SO often, we are buying gifts for people who really don't need them and many of them don't actually appreciate them. It can be rather stressful trying to find the perfect gift for some people. I would much rather have an old fashion Christmas with family and love. A cozy dinner surrounded by those I love. 

2. What's one small thing you want to savor before the year ends? 

Honestly, the peace and quiet of the house. We are expecting our first grandchild this February, and I will be watching him, so life is going to change drastically around here. We will have a sweet baby to love, but it will be a lot of work. The quiet will disappear but in a good way. I'm very excited and can't wait for those baby cuddles. 

3. December 9th is National Christmas Card Day. Do you still send Christmas cards? If so does yours include a photo or is it a more traditional card, or maybe homemade? How do you feel about the tradition of exchanging cards at the holidays? If Hanukkah is the holiday you celebrate in December, do you send cards to mark the occasion? 

I still send out Christmas cards, especially to my older relatives. I always feel sad when I open up my address book and realize that another relative has passed and is now in heaven. I actually worked on this past Saturday. I need to get some stamps to mail them out. When the kids were little, we did the photo card. Now that they are older, I've been doing just the good, old fashion Christmas cards. I like getting Christmas cards in the mail. It's part of the Christmas traditions that I grew up with. Sadly, I think less and less people are sending them out, now. I'm sure the cost of the stamp is part of that. 

4. What's your least favorite holiday related task? What's your favorite? 

My favorite activity is to bake cookies. I love baking. I miss the days of when the kids and I baked tons and tons of cookies together. We'd bake chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter, and sugar cookies every year. We would also add a few extra kinds each year depending on what the kids wanted that year.  I'm looking forward to doing it when my grandson in a few years.

I hate cleaning for the holidays! I love everything else about the Christmas season...decorating, shopping (I try to get this done early), baking, cooking, etc. A close second to my least favorite activity is wrapping. I used to love it. I'd do ribbon and bows. I'd go all out. Now, I dread it. I don't do bows, ribbons, or tags anymore. I have a wrapping paper for each member of the family. They look for their paper and get to it. 

5. Let's do a little holiday this or that. 

• shopping or wrapping
• baking or decorating
• eggnog or wassail
• real tree or artificial
• turkey or ham
• white lights or colored lights 
• ugly sweaters or matching pjs
• peppermint or cinnamon 
• presents Christmas Eve or presents Christmas Day 

Shopping, I hate wrapping

Baking or Decorating... I can't decide, I love both!

Eggnog or wassail...neither I'm more of a hot chocolate girl

Fake tree, we have a pine allergy in our family. If we put up a real tree, my daughter would die

Turkey, I don't eat any pork 

white lights or colored, Both. I have white lights outside and around the nativity. I have colored lights on the Christmas tree. 

Matching pajamas

Peppermint, I don't like cinnamon, too spicey for me

Presents on Christmas morning

6. I love Christmas lights! I hate testing them and putting them on, but I love seeing all the lights around town. The colors fill the night with holiday cheer. They add a warmth to the holiday season. This year, we are heading to Pigeon Forge to see the lights there. I'm very excited. 

                                                          Enjoyed this post? 

Never miss out on future posts by following us! 

Till Next Time,

Monique

Wednesday Hodgepodge~ December 3, 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. What does it mean to have the 'holiday spirit'? On a scale of 1-10 how is yours this year? (10=off the charts, 1=still looking for it)

Holiday spirit is spreading joy. Surrounding yourself with loved ones. Jumping in to do all the holiday stuff... shopping, baking, decorating, watching holiday movies, etc. Focusing on the true meaning of Christmas. 

If you would have asked me last week, I would have said a 10! Now, I would have to say a 4. We had a few upheavals in our life this past weekend that will take some time to heal from. We all feel a little broken and lost right now. I'm hoping we can get that holiday spirit back before Christmas. 

2. What's your favorite character from a (December) holiday-themed movie, book, or TV special? Tell us why. 

I love heat miser and snow miser from The Year without a Santa Claus. The banter back and forth is funny. I love how Mother Nature keeps them in line. 

3. Do you like gingerbread? Are gingerbread houses part of your holiday tradition? 

I like gingerbread cake. I'm not a fan of gingerbread cookies, though. Every year, we each make our own gingerbread house to see who can make the best one. It's been a family tradition since the kids were little. We look forward to it. Even the dogs get excited. They try to eat the candy pieces that fall on the floor. 

4. Much of our vocabulary is determined by where we live or where we grew up. What say you-

sprinkles or jimmies? lightning bugs or fireflies? soda or pop? sneakers, trainers, or tennis shoes? sub, hoagie, grinder, or hero? freeway, highway, or motorway? frosting or icing? sauce or gravy?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Sprinkles, lightening bugs, Coke, Sneakers, Sub, Highway, Frosting, Both sauce and grave depending on what we are referring to. 

5. Share a favorite holiday memory from your childhood.

We spent every holiday with family. We'd visit the grandparents and spend hours playing with our cousins. These were the best days. I'd love to go back and visit with everyone again. It would be so amazing to hear my grandma's voice again. To hear her laugh. We never know when the last time will be, so we take all those things for granted. I'd love to have just one more visit.

6.  I have no thoughts to add right now, so I'll just leave a photo of a cute little kitty.

                                                          Enjoyed this post? 

Never miss out on future posts by following us! 

Till Next Time,

Monique

Wednesady Hodgepodge~ November 12, 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. What does patriotism mean to you? 

Patriotism to me is having pride in your country, loving your country. It means loving the traditions and the history of your country and heritage. Respect is also a huge part of patriotism. Respect for our flag, our National Parks, and the beauty of the land around us. It means preserving historical sites and the National Parks, so we can share them with future generations to come. 

2. September-October-November...your favorite fall month? Tell us why. If you live in the southern hemisphere, use these months but sub spring for the word fall. 

I'd say I love November the most. Thanksgiving and spending time with family are incredibly important to me. I cherish the memories we are creating. I also decorate for Christmas during the month of November. I love the cozy feel the house has when it's all decorated. It's enchanting. 

We usually start burning the wood stove in November. The warmth and glow of the fire are so comforting. It just adds to the cozy feeling of winter days. 

3. A song you love with the word thanks (or some form of that word)  in the title or lyrics?

I have no clue. I love music and listen to it all the time, but I usually have no clue what the titles of songs are, and often have no clue who sings them. I just don't pay attention. 

4. November is National Peanut Butter Month. Are you a fan? What's the last peanut butter bite you had? Fill in the blank: peanut butter and _____________________ . Oh, and you can't say jelly.

I love peanut butter, so I'm a big fan. Peanut butter cookies are one of my favorite cookies. The last thing I ate with peanut butter in it was a Reese's Peanut Butter cup. 

Peanut butter and chocolate together are the best!

 

5. This week's gratitude question-What event from this past year are you most grateful for? 

There's not one specific event that I'm grateful for. I am grateful for the love of my family. I'm grateful that everyone is healthy and happy. My daughter expecting our first grandchild, is definitely a huge event. I'm thankful for the blessing of welcoming a new life into our family. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Life has been crazy here lately. I visited my parents, and we've been cleaning and purging the house. Trying to get a nursery set up for the new little peanut that we are welcoming in February. I keep saying when things slow down, but why does it never seem to do that?

                                                          Enjoyed this post? 

Never miss out on future posts by following us! 

Till Next Time,

Monique

Wednesday Hodgepodge~ October 1, 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. What's your favorite fall scent? Would we find this in or around your home right now? 

I love apple caramel, and pumpkin scents. Nothing with too much cinnamon. It triggers a migraine for me. I have candles and wax warmers. One of my favorite scents from Scentsy for the fall is called Scary Good. Unfortunately, they no longer make it, so I'll have to find a new favorite. 

2. October is Country Music Month...are you a fan of country music? Do you have a favorite country artist? Ever been to Nashville? In terms of lifestyle, are you more country mouse or city mouse?

Country music is one of my favorite genres of music. I enjoy Kenny Chesney in the summer. I like a lot of the older classic artists like Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Martina McBride, etc. I find a lot of the new country music isn't so country anymore. 

I've never been to Nashville, but I've been to other areas of Tennessee. 

I was once a city mouse; I lived right outside of New York City. I worked in the city during my college years. Now, I'm a country mouse. I prefer the quiet and calm that country life gives me. 

3. How about 'country cooking'? (loosely defined as rich flavors, familiar foods, large portions, often fried, and often associated with the southern region of the US of A)? 

chicken and dumplings-fried chicken-shrimp and grits-biscuits and gravy-mac and cheese-fried green tomatoes-cornbread-collard or turnip greens-deviled eggs-'barbecue'-gumbo-banana pudding 

Which of the foods listed is your favorite? Any on the list you haven't tried or would say a firm no thank you to if offered? 

I am not a fan of country cooking. I don't like fried food. Most of the country foods have flour which I can not have. I do like a good homemade mac and cheese, though. 

4. What's something that always has a positive impact on your mood? 

I love spending time outside working in my flower garden. It has a calming effect on me. Going to Mass always leaves me with a peaceful feeling. I walk out of Mass and feel sense of calm like I get from nothing else. My stress and worries seem to disappear.

5. As we say so long to September share a noun, a verb, and an adjective that tells us something about how that month looked for you. 

Excitement~ I was able to go to one of my daughter's OBGYN appointments. I was able to see my sweet little grandson moving around. It was so special to see him. I know my daughter will be the most amazing mom. 

6. My church's bible study for women started this month. We are reading through Colossians. It amazes me how relevant this book in the BIble is to today. It's sad that we as people don't seem to learn from our past mistakes. Is society doomed to repeat the same sins? When will we learn to accept one another? When will we start treating people with the same respect we deserve and want? 

                                                          Enjoyed this post? 

Never miss out on future posts by following us! 

Till Next Time,

Monique

Wednesday Hodpodge~ September 17, 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.  Are you more the life of the party or more party pooper? If your answer is somewhere in the middle, which side of the middle do you lean towards more? 

I have to admit, I'm probably more of a party pooper. As I've gotten older, I don't mind a good party, but I tend to want to leave early. I get frustrated with too many people, and I'm more of a homebody now. Now, if I'm enjoying the party and I am having a good time, then I most definitely will stay. I'm quieter and reserved, so I don't think I've ever been the life of the party. 

Birthday party, beach party, cocktail party, dinner party, charity fundraiser, surprise party, costume party, garden party, Christmas party, reunion...what's your favorite kind of party? 

Christmas and birthday parties are the best! Christmas, well, it's Christmas. I love Christmas. I love baking and decorating. It's such a joyous and happy time. The only costume parties I ever went to were when I was in middle school. I had a friend who threw a party every year for our class. It was a lot of fun back then. 

2. Cheese, wine, and balsamic vinegar all improve with age. What would you personally add to the list? 

Maturity! Yes, there are exceptions, but I truly do believe that as we age and live, we experience more and our maturity grows. We've learned life's hard lessons. We experienced the ups and downs of life. We've seen goodness and badness. We've felt love and pain. The experiences we go through over the years shape us, mold us, and help us grow into the person we are today. If we let it, these journeys will help us mature and grow as a person. Or at least I hope they do. 

3. How do you feel about your birthday? How do you want to be celebrated? Or don't you? 

When I was little, I loved birthday parties. I loved having friends over and eating cake. Now at 51, I'd much rather do something simple. This past year, I went to a Lavender farm, and it was wonderful. The gardens were beautiful. I spent the day with my family, and I got two new plants for my garden. Definitely, no surprise parties...I hate them!

4. What remarkable feat, interesting piece of trivia, or historical event occurred on your birth day and month? Not necessarily your same birth year, just the same date/month. 

D-Day...the Allied Invasion of Normandy. I don't think anything else can really top that. Whenever I tell people my birthday, they immediately say D-Day. Well, the older people do. I don't get it too much from younger people. Maybe they don't know about it anymore. I was born really close to Uncle's birthday (3 days) and my grandfather's birthday (7 days).

5. Share two good things about your life right now. 

Well, the most exciting thing right now is I'm going to be a grandma. So that's huge! I'm looking forward to this journey. 

My hubby has been working on repairing and upgrading our covered porch. It needed it, so I'm excited to see the finished project when he's done!

6. I've been thinking of my late grandmother lately. It's probably because I'm going to be a grandmother soon. She passed away when I was 14, so she's been gone longer than I had her in my life. She was an amazing woman. Loving, caring, and always putting her family first. We lived with her and my grandfather when my parents were getting divorced. She was the glue for the family. I want to be that grandma. I want to spend time with my family. Cherish them. Play with the little ones. Bake cookies with them. I want my family to know that I love them and that they are the most important things in this world to me. I think we need to be more focused on our families and God during these difficult times. God and family first....my new motto to live by. 

                                                           Enjoyed this post? 

Never miss out on future posts by following us! 

Till Next Time,

Monique

Wednesday Hodgepodge~ September 3, 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. Next Sunday is Grandparents' Day. Share a favorite memory, photo, recipe, or something you learned from a grandparent. 

I have so many fond memories of my grandparents on my mother's side. When I was 3, my parents divorced, so my mom, sister, and I moved in with my grandparents. I lived with them for 3 years. My grandma was the best. She took care of me when I was sick, shared memories with me as we looked at the old photo albums. The memories I cherish the most are the times we played shoe store. I loved pretending to be a salesperson in a shoe store while she pretended she was the customer looking for that perfect pair of shoes for a certain event. She had a wonderful collection of shoes. I would bring out a few pairs and let her try them on to see which ones she liked the most. I'm thinking I got my love of shoes from her. She'd also play grocery store with me. She always made me feel loved, special, and that I was the most important person in the room. She loved her family. She passed away when I was 14. I miss her.

2. What's a quote from a book (besides The Bible) that has stayed with you? 

 “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” ~The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

An interesting fact about The Little Prince. I read this book in French first in my Honors French class in high school. After reading it in French, I read it in English.

3. What's your number one food pet peeve? 

Being a person with Celiac Disease, it annoys me when people don't take it seriously. I can't tell you how many times I've heard....

It's not a real allergy.

A little bit won't hurt you.

Why do you have to be so picky?

The list is endless. It makes eating out difficult. It makes eating at other people's houses difficult. It's hard to trust people when so many people doubt the realness of this disease. 

4. What's one thing about you that is still the same as it was when you were young? 

Other than the physical features of brown hair with some new added highlights to cover the gray, brown eyes, and my short 5-foot height, I'd have to say I still keep to myself. I was never a big extrovert. When I was little, I'd often go off and play by myself. My grandma always said I was so quiet it was easy to forget about me. I had friends, went to parties, was a cheerleader, but at the end of the day, I liked my quiet time. My alone time. I hated drama and still do. I've never been one to want to be in the mix of it all. I have family members who love the soap opera drama that life and work bring. I honestly couldn't care less. It always made me wonder why people wanted to be in the mix of it and why they think it made them important. They would just have to tell you the newest, juicest details they heard. At the end of the day, no one really cares. I would much rather have my serenity.  

5. September is National Preparedness Month...does your family have an emergency plan? Do you have some sort of preparedness kit you keep on hand? If so, tell us one thing that's kept there. 

Nope, not really. We've talked about what would happen if the shit hits the fan, as they say, but I don't think we have any real plans. 

                                                                   Enjoyed this post? 

Never miss out on future posts by following us! 

Till Next Time,

Monique

Wednesaday Hodgepodge~August 13, 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. 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. 

Enjoyed this post? 

Never miss out on future posts by following us! 

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. 

Enjoyed this post? 

Never miss out on future posts by following us! 

Till Next Time,

Monique