Hodgepodge ~ March 12, 2025

Welcome to Wednesday Hodgepodge!  How is your week going so far? Looking forward to reading your answers to below.  

1. March 15th is known as The Ides of March, the date on which Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 B.C....have you ever been to Rome? If so what did you love most about the city? If not, is this a place you'd like to visit? 

I have not been to Rome or anywhere in Italy.  I have been to Europe a few times, but never to Italy.  I would like to see it, but I have a few other places ahead of Italy on my European bucket list such as Spain/Portugal and I have always wanted to take my girls to Austria for a Sound of Music tour!  Speaking of which, did you know last Sunday was the 60th anniversary of the movie?  

2. 'Rome wasn't built in a day.' What project/activity/improvement (of any kind) do you have going on right now to which this saying might be applied? 

I am currently going through all the things in my house with the hope of putting it up for sale soon.  It definitley takes time and motivation to do these tasks.  I have been working through some other legal things lately and that for sure wasn't built in a day.  

3. Let's do a little this or that with some Italian foods...

Caprese salad or Prosciutto with melon? caprese salad

Bruschetta or Antipasto? bruschetta

lasagne or ravioli? lasagna

bolognese or Carbonara? carbonara

Risotto or gnocchi? risotto

tiramisu~gelato~cannoli? gelato

4. Of the colors red, white, and green which would I find most prevalent in your home? Which one do you think is most flattering to you in terms of your wardrobe? Have you ever had your colors done? Is that something you'd be interested in doing? 

In past homes, I would have said red.  Today, I would say white would be found more in my home.  I would also say I have more white in my wardrobe, but I have gradually added in a few more green pieces.  Maybe the green is a little more flattering?  I haven't had my colors done before.  We actually just got a group offer at work a few weeks ago to have this done, but it was still a little too expensive for me.

5. Life would be boring without_my girls and my friends!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Today is my sister's 58th birthday! I am so thankful for the fun we have had and how she welcomes me into her family events.  Lord knows I love her grandchildren like my own!

Have a great Wednesday!

 

Hello Monday ~ Family Edition/March 10, 2025

 Good Monday morning to you!  It was a weekend of ups and downs for me honestly.  I will focus on the ups of the past few days here.  Not to sound like a broken record, but I can always use your prayers for some tough situations here. Okay, on to the highlights!

Last Thursday, I went to my sister's and loved on her grandkids, my greats.

Friday was work and then I went to visit with an old friend that evening.  Afterwards, I went by Jenn's house for a short visit.

I love my Saturday mornings at home! I was so lazy and watched the season finale of "The Way Home" on Hallmark.  After lunch, I went to the airport to pick up my brother.  He is also an Elvis fan.  He had a made a joke earlier via text about Elvis in his gold outfit.  Yes, we have a cardboard Elvis in the gold suit, so I decided to bring Elvis with me to the airport!  It was so funny!

We hung out at my parents and some of the greats came by to visit too.

Sunday morning I went to the church service, then 2 friends took me to lunch.  I had a "huckalrita" drink, which was very good.

Jenn came by later in the afternoon to see me.  We sat outside while I made a fire and burned some more papers and laughed.

It was a quiet Sunday night. I ran an errand and came home to work on this week's loaves of sourdough bread.  

Thanks for reading along and have a good start to your week!

Friday Favorites ~ March 7, 2025

 Hi lovely friends!  I am always so happy when it is Friday!  I think it is because Saturday and Sunday mornings are my favorite times of the week.  Here are some favorites from the last week.

I have been able to go through my filing cabinet and clear lots of old papers.  I had saved insurance papers from the past 5-10 years and other papers older than that.  I threw away check registers from 25 years ago!  Well, actually I have a garbage bag of papers and then a bucket of papers to burn. Either way, it has felt so good to clean out a filing cabinet.  I have been putting this job off for way too long.

This was from a day last week, but I enjoyed eating a meal outside.  This week has been cooler and very windy.

I was so happy when the garbage man picked up all my bags of leaves last week!

I have tried to go to the gym twice a week.  I really need to build up to 3x, but I have to start somewhere, right?

My favorite part is the hydromassage afterwards!

My old self can't get my wireless headphones connected to my phone, so I pulled out my wired headphones.

I made 2 loaves of sourdough this week and it turned out well, even if the picture is sideways!

I went to a baby shower this week and there was so much good food.  My favorite type of food is appetizers.  It was also good to be among friends!

I had dinner with my sister and her family and her little grandchildren, which of course is a joy of my life!

I have some low key plans for the weekend and hoping it will be a good one for us all!  

Thanks for reading!

Share Your Shelf

 Happy Thursday!

I will be following along with my friends on our monthly Share Your Shelf link up of books read this month.  This year and books hasn't been a good combination for me this year, but check out all the other good posts!  In book news, I did go to the library yesterday to pick up a book I had on hold :).

Enjoy your day!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Currently Hodgepodge ~ March 5, 2025

Good morning!  I am linking up Joyce and Jenn today.

1. What do you love most about March? 

I love the sunshine, the spring clothes, taking walks outside, seeing new blooms and things come to life.  The season is a visible representation of a new season of life.  

2. Hey! Did you know March is National Celery Month? Do you like celery? What's something you make (or like to order out) that calls for celery? 

I am not a celery fan.  The only way I can think of that I would eat celery would be in dressing I eat on Thanksgiving Day.

3. "You're Not Done" by Leeland and Charity Gayle is the soundtrack to my life right now. 

4. Share a favorite motivational quote for overcoming challenges. 

Be kind to yourself and give yourself grace.  You're going to be okay.  

(That may not sound like rocket science, but it is simple, profound and powerful truth in these familiar sayings.)

5. The Hodgepodge lands on Ash Wednesday this year. Do you participate in Lent in some way? If so tell us more. 

It is not a yearly tradition for me, however, I have had a few lent seasons where I have given up something or tried to do a new positive practice in my life.  With so much in life right now, I won't be participating this year.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

See below for Currently!

loving

As mentioned above, I am loving the weather.  It is mild during the day and still a little chilly at night.  I have enjoyed taking walks with friends lately.

craving

Granted, my first thought when I read the word craving is to think of foods.  However, it didn't take long to think my craving is for a hug from my daughters, more freedom and new opportunities.

 pinning

Here are the last 2 recipes I have pinned.  I haven't tried the one below, but it sure looks good.  I have made the soup and it was tasty.

Crispy Chicken Roasted Sweet Potato Bowl

Crack Chicken Soup

planning

I am planning for a few small trips this spring.  I am trying to do a little meal planning, at least a few days in advance.  I am doing this to try to help me eat a little healthier. 

appreciating

I am appreciating all the love, prayers and support from family and friends during the hardest few years of my life, especially this last year.  

Happy Wednesday friends!

Hello Monday ~ March 3, 2025

 Happy Monday y'all!  And Happy March!  Oh my goodness, I kind of feel like March is the beginning of the new year.  Is anyone else with me?  We have made it through January and February and the sun is shining in March so far.  It is amazing how much good the sun does for the soul. I am so thankful for the recent weather!

Here are some highlights from the weekend....

I worked Friday morning, went to the grocery store then went on a walk with a friend.  That evening, I had a video call with my dear friend who lives in Brisbane, Australia.  I met him when I lived in Colombia and he is like a son to me.  I love him so much and it was great to catch up with him!

Later that night, I went to the dance studio.  I danced 2 dances and then left.  It was an open dance party and felt like a Jr. High dance, so super awkward for me.  I haven't been to my private dance lessons in 2 weeks and it was like I forgot everything I had learned.

The night before, I went to a group class, which actually was a lot of fun.  I just bought dance shoes, but couldn't find my laces for one, so this is how I danced that night.  Update: I have found the laces!

When I was at the grocery store Friday, I bought me these flowers in the discount flower area.  Thursday was a monumental day, so I wanted to reward myself with flowers.

Saturday and Sunday afternoon, I made an outside fire.  I have been going through so much old paperwork and I had a bin of papers to shred.  I decided to burn them instead because it was so much.  Plus, this got me outside and a chance to practice my fire making skills!

Saturday afternoon, I went to the gym and took a walk with a friend at the local park.

That evening, Jenn and I went to our favorite salad place.  I could definitely eat here every week.  

We caught up and giggled like teenagers.

Saturday was such a good day with a mix of time at home doing some projects, exercise, good food, time with friends and laughter.

Sunday, I went to church, Wal-Mart and then met my co-worker for a yogurt date. 

I had another outside paper burning fire and went to my church small group dinner that night.

I love these weekend days with a mix of rest, productivity and friends!

Also, I picked up this tea Friday afternoon and it is really good.  I typically don't drink flavored teas, but think I will enjoy this one.  So far, I have had positive energy today, so I would say it is working.  We will see how that goes this week :).

Hope you have a great Monday and thanks for reading!