Hodgepodge ~ October 15, 2025

 Happy Wednesday Hodgepodge!  I am back linking up with our sweet hostess, Joyce.

1. Do you make an effort to see/hear live music? Last time you went somewhere for the live music? 

I enjoy listening to live music.  The last time I went was last month when Jenn and I heard a cover band for Heart and Huey Lewis and the News.

2.According to HGTV the colors of the year for 2026 are mostly decided. Top paint companies declare a color of the year, and decorators will incorporate that into their new year home and room designs. Here's what's on tap in terms of paint trends for 2026 (check out the link here to see photos)

• Sherwin Williams-universal khaki (inspired by heavy canvas and outdoor gear)
• Behr-hidden gem (a confident shade of teal)
• Valspar-warm eucylyptus (a warm sliver tinted green)
• Dutch Boy-melodious ivory (a honey tinted beige)
• Glidden-warm mahogany (a classic brick red)
• Krylon-matte coffee bean
• Clark and Kensington -Hazelnut Crunch (warm reddish-brown)
• Graham and Brown-Divine Damson (cherry red with a subtle violet undertone)
• Dunn and Edwards-midnight garden (the green that works everywhere) 

First question-did you know there were so many different paint manufacturers? Which color on the list most appeals to you in terms of your own decorating style? Do you have plans to do any painting in your home in the coming year, and if so might you choose a color from this list? 

I was not familiar with all of these paint manufacturers. 

Midnight Garden and Warm Eucylyptus are my favorites and both shades of green.

I recently painted my kitchen agreeable gray and did some other touch up painting in my house.  

Now, forget painting walls, which color name appeals to you most? 

Hidden gem appeals to me.  I am looking for my hidden gem!

3. What's something in your life you have to do-watch-or participate in that's about as exciting as 'watching paint dry'? 

The something in my life I need to do is pack up my house.  

4 . Tuesday, October 14th is/was National Dessert day...did you/will you celebrate? Tell us how? What's your absolute favorite dessert. Yes, just one. I know!! 

As much as I love frozen yogurt, I honestly would vote for key lime pie!  Frozen yogurt and homemade chocolate chip cookies are a close second and third!

5. Perhaps today is the day I will

organize papers tucked away in drawers and closets! Or better yet, I will sell my house!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Yes, after much work the past few weeks, my house is officially on the market.

Prayers for the right buyer to come along soon.

Talking About it Tuesday ~ Charleston/October 14, 2025

 Good morning!  I am glad to be blogging again and get into some normal routines after a busy few weeks. Thanks for your patience with me in blogging/commenting/responding.  

Today I am sharing some more pictures from my weekend.  Since I was in Savannah, we took a day trip to Charleston, SC Saturday, which is just 2 hours away.  Charleston had some major flooding Friday which we weren't aware of until we arrived.  We did go prepared for rain and it indeed did rain most of the day.  We had our umbrellas and rain jackets and did some exploring anyway! Below are lots of pictures!

This was the Brandy Melville store on the main shopping street.  It was crazy busy with a line wrapped around the store.  It felt like Black Friday in NYC.

Crab cakes for lunch!

This is the home Darius Rucker has purchased and is renovating.  Yes, I googled his address in Charleston! This was one of my easier searches, ha!

We walked through this fancy hotel and saw a lady doing a photo shoot in the restaurant.

Shopping!

We were craving some key lime pie and found this Key Lime Pie shop!

It finally stopped raining late afternoon for us to take some pictures on Rainbow Row, the famous stretch of rainbow row houses.

On our drive home, we stopped at this cute road side stand and bought some homemade jam.

I purchased these key lime pecans from the market earlier that day.  I set them on their mantle to also take a picture of all their fun lego flower arrangements they have.

We watched a movie Saturday night when we returned to Savannah and went to bed early. 

Sunday morning, I met up with a friend of mine who lives in Savannah at this fun bakery/restaurant while Brook did school work at a coffee shop.

This is the apple cider donut and cinnamon bun.

Sunday afternoon, Brook and I took a walk down one of the prettiest streets in Savannah. It truly is one of the prettiest cities I have visited!

There were lots of Halloween decorations.

We took a tour of one of the SCAD buildings that told the story of how SCAD began.

After the tour, we had lunch of chips, guacamole, and chicken tacos, but mine was served on lettuce.

After lunch, I drove 6 hours to stay in a hotel, then drove the rest of the way home on Monday morning.  I drove 18 hours to spend 48 hours total with Brook, but I would do it again. It was so worth it and I loved seeing her.

Have a great day!

Hello Monday ~ October 13, 2025

Happy Monday!  I took last week off from blogging to concentrate on some house projects and took a little trip. Today, I will start with a weekend re-cap and eventually backtrack to some other things going in life.  I missed reading/posting last week, but needed the break with my schedule.

Last Thursday after work, I started my journey to Georgia and stayed in a hotel on the other side of Atlanta. This allowed me to arrive in Savannah around lunch time on Friday.

Buc-ees stop!

I appreciate a hotel that allows me to crank down the A/C!

I gave myself a manicure using Olive and June nails, which was the first time to use this.  I was pleased, but by day 3, they had begun to peel off, so they should have lasted longer.

My car display showed me a picture of B. You can also see a scripture I taped to my dash my sister gave me last week along with a scripture rock that was a gift from Joyce.  I keep this in my car too!

I had a delicious pizza lunch with Brook, and 2 of her friends, including her roommmate.

These girls are so precious and are so missing their dear friend who passed away this summer in the Texas flood.

Later that night, we hung out at the condo and B made me this little salad for dinner.

I am easing back into blogging, so tomorrow I will post more of the weekend. Momma is tired for now.

Thanks for reading friends!

 

Hodgepodge ~ October 1, 2025

 Happy October friends!

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

I love any pumpkin scents!  This is a candle that I am currently using at my house.

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? 

I do like country music, but don't listen to it exclusively.  My current favorite country artist is Darius Rucker, no surprise :).  Other favorites are more 80's stars like George Strait, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and others from that era.  I have been to Nashville many, many times due to living just a few hours away.  Country living intrigues me, but I do like to be close to a major city.

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)? 

A country cooking place that serves a meat and veggies always appeals to me!

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 would vote for mac and cheese, but I like it to be homemade.  A no thank you would be to gravy, collard/turnip greens and banana pudding.

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

A text/call from my girls always makes me smile, good music and a hug from a friend or of course from any of my little greats!

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. 

Busy!  I feel like I haven't had too many nights at home since my daughter returned back to college.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

As always, thank you Joyce for hosting this!

Thanks for reading and hope you all have a great day!

Talking About it Tuesdays ~ September 30, 2025

 Hi there! Today, Jenn and I are talking about some more talking points from the book, Burn After Writing.  It has been fun for our Tuesday prompts!

If I could have a conversation today with one person from history, it would be:

I am choosing a group of people, my grandparents.

One of my grandfathers died when I was 1 year old.  The other died when I was a sophomore in college.  He was my hero and still one the best men I have ever known. I would give just about anything for a hug from my Pop.

My life quote:

I often say to quote the airlines, "Put on your own oxygen mask first."  I think there is some wisdom here to take care of yourself so you can help take care of those around you.

The one relationship you would like to fix is:

Whoa, this one would be my former spouse.  If this was asked a few years ago, I would have said the same answer, but would have hoped from a different outcome than I think about now.  

My autobiography would be called:

It's Not Your Fault

Things that make me happy/favorite "little things" in life:

(In no particular order)

Playing cards with my daughters

My greats

A good night's sleep

A good meal

Frozen yogurt with a friend

Kayaking

Seeing fall colors

Good music, bonus if it is live

Laughter with a friend

Traveling

Sunsets

Hugs

Paycheck

Things that make me laugh:

Friends, especially laughter with Jenn!

My daughters are both so funny in their unique ways.

My cute little greats :)

All the reels my friends send each day!

If I could give one thing to one person it would be:

Going with the first thing that comes to mind, is I would take my dad on a trip to New York City. My dad has been to NYC many times.  I have been to NYC many times.  We have been at least 4 or 5 times probably together.  He is such a caregiver to my mom and he has taken such good care of me these past few years.  I would love to treat him finally to a trip and take him to all the broadway plays, which is his favorite thing to do in the city.

I secretly envy:

This is suppose to be a secret, but I would say skinny people.  I mean, not really true envy, but I do often wish I had a different build/metabolism & have always wished to be thinner.

If I could be anywhere in the world right now:

On a cruise or a road trip with someone I love...side note, next year I am doing this.  My girls and I are going on a cruise! These pictures are from our last cruise in 2022.

My greatest fear:

Another person being around my kids and grandkids & I will leave it at that for now. There is lots of context that I won't explain here on the blog.  

If I could be a fly on the wall:

I thought about this for a hot second thinking where I would want to be to see what people were thinking or saying about me.  But then, I thought, I don't really want that and remembered the wise words of Mel Robbins, author of the Let Them theory:

This seems like a good place to end the blog.  Let them and let me.

Have a good day!