Pieces of April

 

Congratulations to Joyce on her #600th edition of the Hodgepodge -- what's perhaps the friendliest neighborhood in Blogville.

As most of y'all know, she asks the questions and in turn, we answer on our own blogs.  Friends and newcomers alike are welcome!

Let's go!

My (Joyce speaking) very first edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge was published on November 10, 2010.  Tell us something about your life from that era.

I was working full-time at the resort in Phoenix -- loving the feel of being a contributing member of a family-friendly team.  (That was all before Big Corporate took over, but let's not go there.)

HR manager (left) and me with our main squeezes (aka, CPR dummies).

We'd few friends, but outside of work and family birthdays, there was little time for socialization.  Blogging, loving my heart dog Cara, and just trying to stay out of the unforgiving Phoenix heat are 3 that immediately come to mind.

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

That's a tie between

As Time Goes By

Time to Say Goodbye

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

Not long after I bought my Volkswagen, while waiting to turn out onto a busy street, it inexplicably lost power.  Yes, all power.

It turned out to be an incompatible chip, but that's a feeling I never want to experience again.

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?

We've only a few experiences at community park events.  Fond of climate-controlled restaurants, dining outdoors in a camp chair's "just okay" once in a while.

Big Except!

Hey Bebe's Chef Joe brings the taste of New Orleans to Central Alabama.  He's usually set up in and around the Birmingham metro, but any time Joe brings his truck to Millbrook, I'm there.

Our fav is the Italian Sausage and Asiago Cheese Boululatta, but the Jambalaya's a close second.

We're bidding farewell to April.  What are 3 adjectives you might use to describe the month you've leaving behind?

Delightful family time
Weighty written words
Delicious food

Insert your own random thought here

This song's been on my mind for a while now.
30 days, as a matter of fact!|
Sing along, won't you?

Hugs, Myra

Sunday Salad

 

aka, a bowl of scraps from my week that was.
While there's little of note, I'm so grateful for everyday blessings.  

Even silly little victories.  Know what I mean?  (I talked about it here years ago.) 

Let's back up to Easter ...

Because we did our family 'thing' the day before, Tom and I attended church services -- where Pastor Janet surreptitiously gave me a Gold Star for not pulling a face when I discovered "our" pew was occupied.  Yep, had to sit up front and behave. 

Still full from the day before, we dined on left-overs and called it 'good.'

Simple pleasures.

I don't know what it is, but I've come to loathe scheduling appointments or discussing medical concerns by phone.  Nevertheless, I was blessed to speak with not one, but two pleasant and obliging humans without having to leave a message.  Score!  

Having had my fill of two sweet days never needing to leave the house, Thursday morning we took a ride out to a country estate sale.  To a little home Time forgot.   Initially I was put off by the 'aroma.'  Not organic decay, exactly.  More like an abode that had been shuttered, unattended for years.

1952 kitchen floor

How many pairs of feet stood here preparing supper, doing dishes

 

A 'pickers paradise' isn't my cup of tea, but my curiosity bone twinged all the same.  For instance?  A room filled with dolls -- untouched in their original boxes.  Pretty sure a collector would seize on them, but I was a little creeped out. Dozens of unblinking eyes staring at ... nothing.   

While Tom enjoyed looking at several antique autos, I discovered an electric skillet -- new in box.  Score #2!   I don't know what, if anything, I'll use it for -- but he's been regretting that we gave ours to Goodwill years ago.

Yesterday we drove to the lake, to Troy and Lois' block party.  They live on a pretty little peninsula with the nicest neighbors.

Tom and I agreed, Carlos' grilled burgers were some of the best we've ever eaten.  Emily's (music) 70's and 80's playlist had me trying (and mostly failing) not to sing along.
Best of all, I got to love on gr-grandbaby, Penelope.

from Chloe and Robert's Facebook
🩷

Yes, I wish I'd taken more photographs.   Have any of y'all heard of something called .heic?   Not me. 
But when I tried uploading from my phone last night, the images wouldn't translate from (my preferred) .jpg format.  Google says:  "Photos are becoming HEIC instead of JPG due to newer Android versions (starting with Android 10) or iPhone's default setting change in iOS 11. HEIC (High Efficiency Image Format) offers smaller file sizes and comparable quality to JPG, but it's less widely compatible."  

Boo on them!  'Just thought I'd throw this out in case someone else encounters this hiccup.  (Technology's not my BF!)

Well, that's it from the retirement home (*grin*).
Feeling a bit mellow ... and hope you are, as well!

Hugs, Myra

Watercooler Wednesday

 

Coming on the heels of Resurrection Sunday ...

I wasn't particularly shocked -- but saddened -- at the news of Pope Francis' passing.  While we know he's in a better place, my heart goes out to the Roman Catholic faithful who mourn.

I'm curious ...

What notable person's death most impacted you personally?

One of my early memories:  Parents and teachers ... shop keepers, too.  All sobbing one sunny November day in 1963.

Later, Elvis ... Whitney ... Kobe ... Prince.   

The roster's long.

Without having to think, my answer would be Diana.   I think it was 3 days before I dared to re-apply eye make-up.   Someone asked me, "Why are you so upset; you didn't know her."   I beg to differ; everyone knew her.

Thanks for playing along today!
Update ... PS.

Reading your thoughts, of course.  It's understandable a parent, spouse or child's death would feel the most heartwrenching.

What I was referring to is the passing of a celebrity or other figurehead.  Silly, perhaps to mourn someone you've never met.  But isn't that human nature?

Hugs, Myra

Thursday thoughts

 

Hey there!

I'd like to tell y'all I've been enjoying some down time at the beach ... but that would be a big fat fib.  Nope, just caught up Doing Life.   Grateful to have finally secured our Star IDs yesterday.  While we've no plans to board a commercial aircraft, I've always been a rules follower.  One and done!

I'm loving the thought of celebrating Easter with Troy and Lois.

Not loving how our yard seems to have taken on a life of its own ... and not in a good way.   I'm pondering a visit to Lowe's garden center, but the idea of sticking my fingers in the dirt gives me the icks.  We'll see.

From the Test Kitchen .....

You know that old saying, you get what you pay for?

Yep.  I thought to save a couple bucks buying a new-to-me box wine.  Except!  As closely as I scrutinized the hieroglyphs printed on the bottom, the little spout refused to spurt.  Tom to the rescue!

Thankfully, I had saved an old 'real' bottle -- but given the amount remaining we had to use empty juice containers for the rest.   I got a case of the giggles, imagining someone opening the refrigerator door and thinking a big swig of cranberry juice sounds just right.  Waste not, want not!

Maybe it's the season, but I've been eating eggs like never before.  That means, jumping at all the gimmicks found online.  Work smarter, not harder.  Ha!

The first, while not an Epic Fail wasn't worth the electricity.   5-5-5 they call it - guaranteed for the perfect hard boiled eggs in the Instant Pot.  I don't know what size eggs they were using, but mine didn't begin to resemble the article.   Fortunately, Macie and Grace didn't give a whit about appearances.

Next?  A soft-boil steam.  Easy peasy. 

Not.  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Yuk, ya.

Not only were the girls not interested, I had to soak that darn strainer all night.  And scrub with an old toothbrush.

Don't believe everything you see on TV, boys and girls.

From now I'm going to stick with my Egglettes.  They may not come out in a perfect oval fashion, but like the ugly saddle shoes I was made to wear, they do the job.

Have you a tried-and-true method for hard boiling?

Regardless of domestic trials-and-errors, let's not forget the best outcome!

Hugs, Myra

 

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

Happy Hodgepodge Wednesday, y'all!
... and thanks to Joyce, our hostess with the most-est!

Without further ado, let's play!

What's a lesson you've learned from a mistake?

I've mentioned this before, but more than 50 years later I still cringe.  The bashful girl that was me lost a coveted job -- not because I wasn't qualified, but because I didn't (couldn't) make eye contact with the interviewer.

Do you salt food while you're cooking or let diners add their own?  I let others season their own.

What's a food you think must be salted?  I love salty foods, but haven't used it (much) in years.  When I lobbed this question to Tom he emphatically replied, "Tomato."

Do you like pepper?   That's a hard 'yes'!  Sometimes I wonder if I should be embarrassed by the amount I use while at a restaurant.

What was the last gathering you attended and what did you do there?

Each Monday morning at ladies Bible study.  Most of the time there's just as much yakking and eating going on ... two of my favorite things.

Your favorite shade of purple?  Eggplant

What's your favorite purple flower?  Wisteria

Years ago (while living in Arizona) we had to call out a professional to remove a big hive of African bees.  Spotting our neighbor's big purple flowering(?) bush he remarked that they hate the color purple.  I later learned they're actually infatuated by/drawn to the color purple.  Either way, that's not something I want to plant.  Or wear!

Share a favorite spring travel memory

It's hard to choose just one ... but I'm going with a 1984 cruise vacation we enjoyed with gal-pal, "PJ the DJ."

When I say I love cruising, I'm not talking about today's mega liners that feel more like cattle calls -- overcrowding, mediocre food and service --- that feel more like collegiate Spring break.

Back in the day we were blessed to enjoy smaller ships where white glove service and leisurely dining was the norm.

Insert your random thought here

So, let me ask y'all a question.

We're only expecting the kids for Easter dinner and I ordered a Honey Baked ham ... mostly on account he's been talking about that for years.  Because neither Troy or I are particularly fond of ham, what do y'all suggest I get to complement the pink pig?

I'm doing Caesar salad, scalloped potatoes and broccoli ...any other family favorites you can recommend?
(Bonus points for little labor-intensive and Keto friendly)

Thanks so much!

Hugs, Myra

Scattered Saturday thoughts

 

G'morning, friends,

There's weeds out back that refuse to die -- but I can't think of a better way to procrastinate than visit with some of my favorite humans!

I don't know what's gotten into Mother Nature, but we've gone from March into (feels like) June.  I finally broke down a couple days ago and turned on the air conditioning.  How about you?

Speaking of breaking down ...

I finally cried "Uncle!" and ordered a new phone from Amazon -- not the latest and greatest model, but still new with all the bells and whistles suitable for this individual of generous years.   Is it just me, or are today's customer service techs just a teensy condescending?   I visited the Verizon, asking if they'd perform a transplant from my old Pixel.  Not only is that no longer a courtesy, when he saw the model the Gen-Z'er almost smirked.  "You downgraded, didn't you?"   Not only was I at a loss for words, I paid $30 for the privilege.

Now, would you believe, not 24 hours later Tom's phone went belly up.  It's on Hospice as we speak, but I got on Amazon and ordered him another like mine that's supposed to be delivered today.  Ooooh, I can hardly wait to see if C's working the service desk when we waltz in with our second less-than Elite 2025 model. Just praying he doesn't put on an attitude, ya know?   It's so discouraging to be on the side of needing v. wanting.

What else?  I've been really 

..... enjoying Tess Gerritsen's new book "The Summer Guests" -- a follow-up to "Spy Coast."  If anyone's drawn to well-crafted suspense, check out this group of retired intelligence agents (aka, spooks) who enjoy good martinis and hunting for answers.

..... laughing hysterically at a (new-to-me) comedian on Prime.  Have you seen any of James Gregory's stand-ups?   The one we watched, "Food is not Fatal" had us running to the bathroom.  (TMI?)  I don't know if it's his Southern accent, references to Golden Corral, climate change -- even fear of flying -- but it's darn refreshing to hear a clean delivery that's really funny.

Not funny, but ...

Yesterday we attended the funeral of a dear lady from church.  Again, I was drawn to so many sweet, familiar faces ... to the unpolished-yet-heartfelt words from Peggy's family and friends.  Pastor Janet remarked, "Looking at your faces, I've no doubt you're leaving fingerprints on each other's lives."  Gosh, y'all.  That got me.

Wouldn't that be a super legacy?

Okay, I'd better shut this up and get outside with my whacker.   Chat soon!

Hugs, Myra