Wednesday, March 08, 2017

A perfectly fascinating Hodgepodge


This free graphic is from Holley Gerth.
It's Wednesday again, time to link up with Joyce and the gang at From This Side of the Pond for the weekly Hodgepodge.  Joyce is declaring a Spring Break from the Hodgepodge next Wednesday, the 15th, so if you've been wanting to join in, don't wait.  Employ the Do-It-Now principle; head on over to Joyce's and get those questions now!
This week's questions revolve around a theme of perfection.
 1. What is one area of your life where you're a perfectionist? Is that a good thing?

 I could be considered a recovering perfectionist, I suppose.  I grew up with the idea that if one  couldn't do something perfectly, one shouldn't even attempt it.  But really, I have grown beyond that erroneous notion and I think I can say I'm really not a perfectionist in any area of life at this point.  I am perfectly [oops!] happy "winging it".  I've come to regard perfectionism as a character flaw.

 A friend and I once discussed quilting (which she is expert at, and I am not) and she suggested that  perfectionism was important to quilting.  I don't think that I completely agree.  I would say accuracy is important, crucially important, in quilting and a number of other endeavors, but not perfectionism. 

2. What's something you find perfectly ridiculous?

Grandparents who require grandchildren to call them by their first name and who persist in dressing (and acting) like teenagers.  There are a number of other things I find perfectly ridiculous in today's society and political climate, but in the interest of being kind I will not mention them.

3. What's a skill you've developed by way of that old fashioned saying, 'practice makes perfect?

 Planning and preparing so every part of a meal is ready at the same time.

4. What's your idea of a perfect breakfast?
Photo from Cracker Barrel.com
The Sunrise Sampler at Cracker Barrel.  (I would order my eggs scrambled.)

5. What's a trip, holiday, vacation, or day outing you've taken that you'd rate a perfect 10? Tell us why.

I am not sure any trip, holiday, vacation, or day outing could rate a perfect 10.  Probably one of the nicest times was in fall of 2012 when we took our married kids and many of our grandkids to a log cabin on a lake for a long weekend. It was very special because so many of us were together and that we were able to share with our family a place that we truly love in the midst of God's glorious creation.  Lakes, fall foliage and blue skies.  Almost perfect!

6. What quote or saying perfectly sums up your life right now? If you can't do perfect, how about one that comes close?

 "Life is what happens while you're making other plans."  Not perfect; it just comes a little bit close.  We're trying to make plans for a visit to our daughter and family out West -- and real life goes on.  Busy real life.

7. How would you spend $300 today?

On a 2-night getaway with my hubby.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Today [that is, Tuesday, when I am writing this] has been one of those days.   Phone calls, people stopping by, UPS delivery, and more.  Trying to add some maple sugaring and St. Patrick's Day touches to my decor.   Just a busy day.  There are so many other things I wish I'd gotten to, but the day is winding down.  Good thing I'm not a perfectionist!  Just trusting God for every day.
Graphic by CrossCards.com

32 comments:

  1. I haven't seen these grandparents you mentioned. It's probably a good thing since I have yet to master the art of keeping my big mouth shut. LOL Now you've got me wanting to go to Cracker Barrel. I have to stop reading Hodgepodge posts when food is involved. :) Have a wonderful Wednesday!

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    1. Welcome!

      I've known a few grandmothers who wanted to be called by their first name. But the egregious example I saw was actually a man, surprisingly. It was somewhat pathetic in addition to being ridiculous. I did manage to keep my mouth shut (at the time).

      Oh, Cracker Barrel. Love that place -- both the store and the restaurant. It's probably a very good thing that the closest one is well over an hour away.

      Happy Wednesday and thanks for visiting!

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  2. I love Cracker Barrel, too! My favorite meal there is roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, baby carrots and, of course, those wonderful biscuits. :)

    I haven't seen those grandparents, either. When I was a little girl, I was at my Aunt Mae's house (she was my grandma's big sister). Aunt Mae's son, Joe, was there. He called his mama "Mae". I think I nearly had a heart attack. I had *never* heard anyone address their mama by her name, never. I just couldn't believe anyone would do such a thing. To this day, the thought of it makes my tummy quiver. Some things just aren't done and that is one of them.

    If I had ever called my grandparents by their regular names, I still wouldn't be able to sit down! Mama and Daddy would have made sure of that.

    Have a blessed day. :)

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    1. Welcome, Suzanne! Great to have you here!

      Oh yes, Cracker Barrel! (I would probably look like a barrel if we had one closer by!) I've never tried the roast beef. In fact, I nearly always get breakfast there no matter what time of day it is.

      Oh, that is such a great story about your cousin Joe calling his mother by her first name. You're right, some things just ought not to be done. What I find so sad is when it's what the grandparents (and in some cases parents) request this. It's no wonder there is so little respect in our society.

      Happy Wednesday!

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    2. Thank you. I know it is a "thing" that won't be happening in our household. I've waited too long to become a grandma as it is. I sure haven't waited 51 years to be called "Suzanne" by some young whippersnapper. :)

      Our grandbabies, whenever we are blessed to have them, will call us Gindy and Moogie. Gindy is what one of David's friends called his grandpa and he liked it, so that is what he wants to be called. One of my favorite characters on Star Trek was Quark's mama Moogie. I thought that was a cool name and that is what I will be called. Of course, if they slip and say "Grandma", I am going to be perfectly fine with that, too. :)

      Have a blessed week.

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    3. Wow, now those are very interesting grandparent names. It sounds as if you and David will be very fun grandparents when the time comes.

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  3. My husband took me to Cracker Barrel on Monday for my birthday, and I ordered the Sunrise Sampler. :) I like the Holly Gerth quote. We try to hide our imperfections, but God can use them to glorify Himself. Have a great day!

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    1. Great minds must think alike, Paula! Or great taste buds ... I love the Sunrise Sampler because it has a little taste of everything.

      Yes, isn't that a wonderful quote from Holley Gerth? I think that people need to see how we cope with difficulty and disappointment to realize the strength, joy, and hope that only come from God. The graphic just seemed made for this Hodgepodge!

      You have a great day too, and thanks so much for visiting!

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  4. I will meet you at Cracker Barrel for Breakfast Mrs T. As another blogger said this morning, My favorite breakfast is one someone else made!! It is a treat to sit and linger over breakfast with a good friend or loved one.

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    1. Oh, I wish we could, Arlene! If we ever get to Alabama we will make it a point to meet for breakfast at Cracker Barrel, okay?

      It is a wonderful treat indeed to linger over a breakfast (that someone else has made!) with a good friend or loved one. Thankfully, the folks at Cracker Barrel don't seem to mind lingering one bit.

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  5. I love your quote at the top and your answer to #2. I think as we get older, we have lots to offer by being ourselves and just being a grandma. I am not there yet, but I look forward to it. I have such wonderful memories of mine. Yes, I thought they were old, but wonderful all at the same time. We can gracefully show how to grow old.

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    1. Oh, thanks, Sandy. Isn't that a great quote? It seemed (pardon the expression) perfect for this Hodgepodge.

      I appreciate all that you have said about being a grandma. You are so right about having lots to offer about being ourselves. I honestly didn't know if we would have grandchildren, and I would have been fine with that, but when they did come it was a blessing. I've been blessed to spend a lot of good quality time with my local grands. And that is a good point about gracefully showing how to grow old!

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  6. Though I'm not a big breakfast person, I do love a Cracker Barrel breakfast once in awhile, especially when I get to sit next to their roaring fire!

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  7. Oh, isn't that just the best, April? I love coming into Cracker Barrel on a chilly day and being greeted with that welcoming fireplace.

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  8. My favorite thing at Cracker Barrel is looking around the store. They also serve some good beans and cornbread.

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  9. Oh, I know. I get some great ideas from the items in the store, and they have wonderful porch sales and holiday clearance sales from time to time!

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  10. This was wonderful! I really enjoyed your thoughts. When I read the new questions yesterday, I decided that I would have to pass because I would be unable to do a good enough job with them. I, too, believe that perfectionism is a character flaw...one of mine. It's a wonder I have attempted anything in my life. Ha! And the irony of attempting sewing or quilting is too rich. That discussion was interesting, too. Hope that a spare $300 falls on your doorstep. Time away together...priceless!

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    1. Oh Vee, you would have done fine with the questions! (It's not too late!) I must admit that my heart sank a bit when I read them, too, but once I got into it, it was fine.

      I know just what you are saying. It's a wonder I have attempted anything in my life, too. So thankful for God's grace and enablement, giving me courage to try.

      I think we will be okay without the extra $300, but if it fell on the doorstep we would use it for a getaway. Right now time is the issue ... he was back to work for 4 days, then today was too muddy. Supposed to cool down again though, so I'm sure they'll keep trying. We are hoping for a getaway toward the end of the month. Maybe. And you're right ... priceless! Whenever it comes.

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  11. A log cabin on the lake for a family vacation sounds wonderful! I love your photos of the sunsets. Jeremiah 29 is one of my favorites and one of the first scriptures I memorized. Have a great rest of the week ☺

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    1. It WAS wonderful, Theresa! It's a place where my hubby and I have gone for getaways many times, but had never taken the family there. We didn't think we could afford it. You can read more about it here: An autumn adventure.

      Yes -- Jeremiah 29:11 is so meaningful for our lives, especially in times of trial.

      You have a great rest of the week too!

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  12. We've had some fabulous trips, and so much of what makes them so is the company we're with. Even trips where things don't go according to plan can be fun when you're with the people you love. We laugh about some of those in hindsight now. Enjoy your day!

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    1. That is so true, Joyce. When our Nevada family was out here last (2015) we all took a short trip together to the coast of Maine. Things definitely did NOT go according to plan with our accommodations, but we still had fun!

      Have a great weekend!

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  13. Loved your Hodgepodge! That vacation at the lake with the family sounds wonderful. I totally agree on #2 and on getting a meal to all come out at the SAME time! :-) Hope the rest of your Wednesday is great.

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    1. It was such a wonderful time, Judy. As I mentioned to Theresa above, I did post about it years after the fact: An autumn adventure and that post contains links to a couple of other posts I wrote about different aspects of out time there.

      Yes, timing on a meal. I began learning that on one of my first jobs when I was "second cook" at an inn. I built upon those skills over time and now it is second nature.

      Have a blessed week!

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  14. Your answers and photography on today's Hodgepodge are "perfect"! (smile) Regarding perfection vs. accuracy with quilting, accuracy is pretty important ... but then there are crazy quilts, when anything goes!

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    1. Thanks, Barbara! I agree, accuracy is very important indeed in quilting and in many other areas of life. I did think of mentioning crazy quilts and even showing a photo of one made by my husband's great-grandmother, but I didn't want to take the time to hunt up the picture.

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  15. I was raised not to call adults by their first name. It was just not done. I remember once slipping and calling my father's best friend by his first name. I apologized immediately. He told me it was okay to call him Tom. It just ain't fittin'.

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    1. I grew up in New England and things were a bit more casual in our family. We called our aunts and uncles by their first names -- that is, "Joanne", rather than "Aunt Joanne" -- and all of my cousins did the same with my parents. We also called some of our parents' friends by their first names, but mostly when referring to them, not speaking directly to them. I'm really surprised that my parents were fine with that. But we would never have dreamed of calling grandparents by their first names.

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  16. Great Hodgepodge - we love Cracker Barrel! I can't imagine calling my grandparents by the first names.

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    1. Me either, Pamela. Sure wish we could get to Cracker Barrel more often -- only one in our entire state!

      Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend!

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  17. I forgot you were a no-reply so I couldn't answer your comment. Yes the pre-lit trees make it easier but I was talking about the ornaments. I have well over 1,000 Hallmark ornaments and placement is very important to me!

    I can't wait to be called grandma. Yes those people are ridiculous. Great answer for "practice makes perfect." Excellent quote.

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    1. Oh, the ornaments! That is a lot of ornaments to find room for on a tree.

      Have you visited my Christmas blog? The link is in the sidebar -- Mrs. T's Christmas Kitchen. You might enjoy it!

      Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

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Thanks so much for stopping by to visit my kitchen table! I love company here in my kitchen, so be sure to leave a comment so I'll know you've visited! I'll answer your questions and comments here on the blog unless you request otherwise.