Currently Hodgepodging ~ September 2, 2026

 Hi friends.  Today I am linking up with Joyce for Hodgepodge and Amy for Currently. Here we go!

1. What's something you wanted to do this summer that you never got around to doing? 

I wanted to take a day to go to a state park and go kayaking.  I may try to make that happen this fall though.  The summer got away from me and now I need it to cool down during the day.

2. Were you the student who sat in the front row or hid in the back of the class? If you could go back and take one high school class again just for fun, which would it be? 

I wasn't a front row girl, but I don't remember hiding in the back.  My maiden name begins with a "W", so if it was an alphabetical seating chart, I was in the back.  If I could take a class again, it would probably be anatomy and physiology.  I liked that subject the best.  However, based on teachers, it would be my senior English teacher.

3. What characteristics do you think are essential in a good teacher (this can be applied to anyone who teaches, not just classroom teachers)? 

Patience, classroom management, & listening to your students come to mind.  I have only subbed, so I have never been a full time teacher.  However, my sister has been a teacher for almost 40 years and my father was a college professor for over 45 years.  They are both very good at what they do.  

4.  September 2nd is National Grits Day. Have you ever eaten grits? Are you a fan? If so how do you like yours? Would people describe you as 'having grit'? 

I do like grits, but rarely eat them.  I would prefer shrimp and grits over plain grits.  I think people would describe me as having grit for pressing on with learning to enjoy my life again after an unwanted divorce.  I did not let this deter my bucket list trip I went on this summer. The 4 days by myself were very empowering.  I felt like Rocky after these 4 days, ha!

5. What's something you're never too old or too young to enjoy? 

Dancing comes to mind!  

This is a picture of my daughters from a wedding reception this summer where we had so much fun!

On our cruise this summer, we got in the cruise video they played on the ship because we were front and center at the ABBA sing a long party where we sang and danced.  We also went to a dance party the last night that was fun!

I still take dance lessons, but go every 2-3 weeks.  I love this and do mostly latin dances, but I do enjoy some of the traditional ballroom dances too. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I purchased this set of pictures from Mixtiles to have memories from my trip and I love them!  Brook hung them for me last weekend and I have enjoyed looking at them so much.  I had been waiting for the right picture/pictures for above my sofa.

I also framed these 2 pictures from my trip:

This is the picture of me driving across the bridge that represented me living life at new heights.

And this picture below is my picture taken at the Squamish River on the day that meant so much to me.  I hung this up in my bedroom.

And now on to Currently!

Adjusting (to)

I feel like I am always adjusting to being a single person.  I am doing okay, but it is an adjustment.  After a long marriage and trying dating, let's just say it is an adjustment to this new stage.

Baking/Cooking

With fall approaching, I am inspired to bake and cook more.  Y'all know I bake sourdough, which I enjoy and usually do every 2 weeks, depending on if I give away any bread or not!

I made some pesto chicken last weekend that was very tasty. The recipe consisted of mixing a block of cream cheese and 1/2 cup of pesto sauce.  I spread that over chicken breasts and then sprinkled mozzarella cheese on top. I baked it at 375 for 30-40 minutes and it was perfect.

I also bought some tilapia from Trader Joe's last week.  I like tilapia, but had never cooked any.  I usually just cook salmon or shrimp when it comes to seafood.  I coated the tilapia in parmesan cheese, oat flour, garlic, salt and pepper.  I cooked it in my air fryer at 400 for about 20 minutes and it was tender and so light.  I need to do this more often!

I also made a quick dinner one night with ground turkey mixed with my homemade cheese dip.  The cheese dip is cottage cheese mixed well so it is smooth, mixed with cheddar/mexican cheese and taco seasoning.  It was all tasty and I ate this with chips.

Decorating

I haven't done it yet, but I will be decorating for Fall soon. I think I will do that in a few weekends when the temperature is below 90.

 Balancing

Time on my own, family and friends - I enjoy all of these so it is balancing and learning when to say yes and no.

  Learning

I am always learning grace and peace for myself in relationships and work.

Here's hoping your week is going well and thanks for reading!

Hello Monday ~ Weekend/Washington Recap 8/31/26

 Good morning!  I hope you all had a nice weekend.  

 I spent some time with Jenn Friday night, took a drive with her Saturday night and some Sunday afternoon time too.  I had a 5K with work Saturday morning and did some cooking this weekend.  Here are a few weekend pictures and then I will be recapping my time in Washington today.

My last trip post on Friday wrapped up with me arriving in Seattle, Washington.  I took the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island, where I would be staying for the next 3 days.  I stayed in the cottage house of a college friend who lives there.  She was actually my big sister in my sorority! Bainbridge Island is darling and reminds me of the Nantucket of the Northeast.  Because the weather is ideal, the flowers there are so beautiful!!  The dahlias in particular were lovely.

This is the view from my friend's backyard.  She lives on the Puget Sound.  Can you even imagine?

She showed me around the island the next day.  

Amy & I tried to re-create the picture taken of us 38 years ago at college!

Interesting fact, my youngest daughter's roommate she had at college her last 2 years is also from Bainbridge Island!  Brook flew to Seattle Monday, the day before I arrived, to spend a few days with her friend.  We were both on the island staying at separate places and didn't see each other until Wednesday evening.  

Wednesday night, I went to visit Brook's roommate's family, whom I had met in Savannah while they were in college.  Isabella flew into Seattle Wednesday night and after her ferry ride, we picked her up & brought her back to their house. It was one of those magical nights we sat outside laughing, eating, drinking rose', all with their beautiful view of the water. It was 10pm and I thought, it is midnight back home and we are here having the time of our lives.  Also, we were in sweatshirts and using blankets outside.

Zoe's boyfriend was our cook for the night making pizzas in the pizza oven.

Side note....gas is more expensive there!!

The next day, Isabella, Brook and I took a day to explore Seattle.  Before we set out on our day, Isabella and I took a walk at the nearby park where the sport of pickleball was founded!!

Let me tell you, the girls and I hadn't been on the ferry more than a few minutes, and they had me laughing.  I love watching them and being with them.  We took our selfie with Seattle behind us and then they acted out this scene from Gray's Anatomy.  Isabella made a video of her saying these things and it is hysterical.  I was having the time of my life once again and we hadn't even made it from Bainbridge to Seattle.

Our first stop was Beechers, known for their homemade cheese.  We could actually watch them making the cheese as we ate grilled cheese sandwiches, macaroni-n-cheese and tomato soup.

We walked around the Public Market and saw the guys famous for throwing the fish to each other.

We went into a few shops as we walked from the market to the monorail.  There was a store that sold everything purple!

We took the monorail to the Space Needle Station.  We decided not to go up to the top of the Space Needle, but to go to the Chihuly Glass Museum instead.  We do more artistic things these days with an artist in the family.  I had gone up in the Space Needle back in 1992 when my Mom and I went to Seattle for a weekend.  

Isabella bought a keychain with a harmonica.  She entertained us on a break while sitting outside at the museum.  She is so funny!

We took a visit to the Seattle library which had a lot of cool architectural design features.

Before catching the ferry back to Bainbridge, we stopped to see Zoe at work in Seattle.  She works at a wine bar so we all enjoyed a glass of frozen rose'.  

The girls stayed with me this night at Amy's house.  It was fun for Amy to get to know them and the girls were able to take kayaks out in the Puget Sound that evening.  They loved this.  Once again, it was all lovely and such a great end to a fun day!

Thank you for reading along!  On a trip update, this concludes week one of my trip and next up will be Alaska updates.  We left for the cruise one month ago today.  Man, time goes by fast.  Maybe I will have this recapped by the 2 month mark :).

Have a good Monday!