Time for a Hodgepodge

 

Joyce has now created 600 Hodgepodge posts - she has asked us a lot of questions and I love answering the questions and reading everyone's answers!

1. My very first edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge was published on November 10, 2010 (linked here if you're curious). Tell us something about your life from that era. 

We were getting ready for our son's wedding (January 2011) and living life, celebrating birthdays, and going to meetings. Here is post1 and post2 from that week from my blog.

2. What's a song you love that relates to time in some way? 

I don't know that I have a song I love about time, but the two that popped into my head -- Time in a Bottle (Jim Croce) and Time of My Life (from Dirty Dancing). Switching gears from Dirty Dancing to faith . . .I do love an old hymn, "Take Time to Be Holy." I also love the scripture passage in Ecclesiastes about time -- a time for everything.

3. May is nearly upon us. When did you last need to yell 'MAY DAY-MAY DAY!!'? 

May Day is a distress call, correct? I had a scare this weekend. I'm supposed to graduate from Community College this Friday and over the weekend, I thought I was a few credits short. I had a couple of emails with my advisor that showed I was good, but I was a tad panicked. I couldn't talk to my advisor until this morning and she says I'm good to go!! I think my email to her was a distress call!! (graduation post will come sometime after Friday)

4. How do you feel about food trucks? Is this a dining experience you enjoy?  Do you have a favorite? What's something you've ordered from a food truck? 

Sometimes our HOA brings in a couple of food trucks. I like it. I think my favorite was Indian food - butter chicken! For our Mardi Gras parade, we had food trucks and I got a really good burger and fries. It seems like very few food trucks (here) have healthy options so that would be a negative for both Mark and me.

5. We're bidding farewell to April...what are three adjectives you might use to describe the month you're leaving behind. This kind of question usually stumps me. I can't come up with three words. This time I actually have not one, not two, but three answers! "It is finished" - one degree down (AA) and one to go (BS) - could also be "Fulfillment of dreams" - never dreamed I would have a college degree of any kind.  "Easter was glorious" - seriously, our Holy Week services and Easter services were so amazing and filled my spiritual cup to overflowing.

6. Insert your own random thought here. From Ecclesiastes 3:

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

Also, here is the link for the Z post -- April A to Z - ZigZagging

 

Z is for ZigZagging

We've come to the end of our April A to Z Challenge. I can't believe we've made it. There were days, especially at the beginning, where I did not think it was possible. 

We've zigged and we've zagged and we've zigzagged some more through this month. Mark and I have zigged and zagged in our travels and hope to continue to do so.

I can't get all of our travels on this map, but here are a few of the zigs and zags. I hope y'all can see it.

click here for map

 

Y is for Years

For many years, a girl growing up in a small blue collar town read books as her means of travel to far away destinations. To actually travel internationally felt like a dream. Before Mark was a part of my life, I went on one cruise with my best friend and her family. We went to San Juan and the Virgin Islands. 

I'm on the left - my hair was
dark back then!

Fast forward a few years, and Mark and I flew to Nassau and stayed for a week for our honeymoon.  Those locations all felt different from the USA, but we were still pretty close to home and the Virgin Islands are US territories. A couple of years later, we flew to Hawaii . . .which isn't international travel, but it was my longest flight to date. When our kids were in middle school, Mark and I flew to St. Maarten. I assumed that was as far away as I would ever travel and it felt pretty exotic -- they even had nude and topless beaches!

My first long-haul flight didn't happen until 2016, and it was 12 hours of nerves, excitement, and wide-eyed wonder. We flew from Atlanta to Tel Aviv and I was with a group, but without Mark!! I actually did that trip twice without Mark and twice with Mark. When he wasn't with me, I was surrounded by good friends.

me on the left, Terrie, and Duane
Duane is one of Mark's best
friends and I hung out with
them a LOT!

 Now, with me at 66 and my husband at 71, we’ve decided: if not now, when?

We may not have started young, but we’re making up for lost time — one country, one memory, one beautiful view at a time. Our goal is to go somewhere new every year, if at all possible, savoring the richness of different cultures and landscapes while we can. This chapter of life is all about being intentional with our time and generous with our curiosity.

What are the things you have put off for "years" thinking that maybe some day you could/would do it? Is it travel? Is it a new car or a new house? Is it opening yourself up for new relationships? The years keep passing . . .don't let them pass you by!!

 

X is for X-tra

I can't believe it - we are down to the last three letters of the alphabet. We can see the finish line of the April A to Z challenge. I've visited lots of new blogs and have enjoyed reading fun comments on my own blog. 

So here we go with X -- X is for X-tra!

When we go to Jerusalem, we stay at the David Citadel and it is THE most X-tra hotel! 

The hotel is right across from an amazing open air

mall that ends in steps right up to the Old City.

Fresh flowers grace the common areas.

The food is amazing.

The first few times I stayed, they stocked the bathroom with Bulgari soap products. I can't remember what was in the bathroom on the last trip.

When we spent the night at the Dead Sea, our hotel was X-tra! There were white fluffy robes and I was glad to have it. They had an indoor pool that was heated and it was filled with Dead Sea water so you could float in warmth.

The grounds were lovely.

We went for a walk because we woke up really early -- there were all of these little spaces where you could hang out on the shores of the Dead Sea.

When we were in Rome, we stayed at the Cardinal Hotel St. Peter. I imagine the rooms were nice, but the rooftop bar was definitely X-tra! We hung out there and learned to drink Limoncello! The pesto pasta they served was also X-tra delicious.

I must admit that I love staying at a hotel that is X-tra!! What is something you have encountered recently that felt a little X-tra?

Weekend in Review

I'm including a few pictures from mid-week last week. Mark and I headed south to eat lunch with our granddaughter and her kindergarten class. Since my office was closed, I wanted to have lunch with both granddaughters during the week.

We checked her out and went to see her little sister, too.

In her classroom she read a book to us.

Mark chose not to eat because he had eaten breakfast with his regular Wednesday morning group ...and her class eats lunch at 10:30!! I ate my sandwich with her!

On Thursday morning, Mark headed to the farm. I headed to Von Maur because we have several weddings. This dress is so pretty. It has an embroidered sheer overlay with a lining underneath. Sold. I actually bought four dresses because we have so many events. Only one of them is a cocktail dress - the rest are just nice dresses. 

I came back home and answered work emails and studied for my final. At some point I took a break and watched Conclave.

Thursday night I watch several episodes of Matlock.

Friday morning I ordered groceries, studied some more, rode the stationary bike, washed our sheets, answered work emails, etc. Mark came home from the farm around supper time and we watched TV.

Saturday- more studying. On Saturday night we went to our friends house for dinner. There were six of us and we had good food and good conversation.

This morning I worked and taught Sunday school. We had plans to meet our son and his family for lunch. We arrived at the restaurant and there were signs on the door saying that no table service was available- only take outs. We went across the parking lot to Dale's and it was not a good meal. I can usually find the positive but the only positive was being together. 

I took my final this afternoon and made an A. Yay!

What did you do this weekend??

Sunday Stealing

 

Welcome to Sunday Stealing. Here we will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. Cheers to all of us thieves!

Back in 2007, a blogger named Harmonica Man posted 5 questions for Gale at This Was Me. Well, now we're turning the tables and interviewing you.

The Gale Interview Questions

1. What's the most daring thing you've ever done? Did it take physical or emotional courage? I do not know. I went skinny dipping one time . . ..long long ago! I guess it took emotional courage haha!

2. Where did you meet the love of your life? We met on a canoe trip! 

3. What brand/flavor of coffee are you drinking these days? I don't drink coffee. I drink Diet Pepsi . . .all day. I also try to drink water.

4. What's the coolest place you've ever visited and how did you get there (car, plane, motorcycle, etc.)? Check out my A to Z posts for the month of April. We've traveled to quite a few places over the last few years and they have all been really cool!!

5. What's the best concert you ever attended? I saw the Beach Boys many years ago and it was such a fun concert! We were dancing in the aisles. I also went to an intimate concert by Harry Chapin when I was in my early 20's. It was in a really small space so it felt like he was singing just to us. I'm sure I attended better concerts but those are the ones that popped into my head.

Thank you for playing! Please come back next week.

W is for Whispers

 

W is for the Whispers of Those Who Have Gone Before Us

Our USA is fairly young compared to the rest of the world, so when we travel I often feel like we can heaer the whispers of those who have gone before us. I know we can hear those whispers in our own country. One example is when we were at Pearl Harbor, I felt like I could hear those who had been serving at the time.

We were in Hawaii in May or June of 1987.

The first time I went to Israel, it was almost too overwhelming. I couldn't take it all in. The second, third, and fourth times I definitely heard the whispers - of Mary and Joseph and the child, Jesus on the temple steps. Some of the places you visit, they "think" things happened there. They know these stones were there and that Mary and Joseph and Jesus walked there. I could hear Mary as she possibly said something like, "Jesus, don't get too dirty. Stop running." In my mind, I could hear Mary and Jospeh's laughter as they watched Jesus.

When we were in Egypt, I could hear whispers from Moses.

When we were in various places in Turkey, I could hear the whispers of Paul.

When we were in Greece, I could hear the whispers of those who lived so long ago and who went about living their daily lives shopping and talking and doing business

What about you? Have you traveled to a place where you could hear the whispers from the past? The whispers of those who have gone before us?

 

V is for the View

V is for the View! When traveling, I love to see a beautiful view! Actually, I love a good view anytime!

Nighttime view of Jerusalem from
the Bell Tower in the YMCA

View from the Mount of Olives

This view took my breath away.
Kylemore Abbey in Ireland
 When I wrote
about this visit, my words were, "It did not disappoint!"

The view in the village where we stayed
in Tyrol, Austria

One of the many views from our hotel in
Tyrol, Austria

The views in Austria were truly breathtaking.

View is from a tiny side street in Assisi - Umbria, Italy

Not the same kind of "view" - but it
is a gorgeous view on one of the
streets of Assisi

Lake Garda in Sirmione, Italy

Lake Garda in Sirmione, Italy

Sea of Galilee

Alexandria Troas in Turkey

Sunset in Istanbul

I could go on and on with pretty view pictures, but one of my most favorite views would be the three little faces in this photo.

Do you take lots of "view photos"? What is one of your favorite views?