NOTE: I thought that my combining the digest and hodgepodge would be a once in a while thing. However, scheduling seems to be going in that direction at present. Plus I'm teaching soon, so if I get to blog at all, it will most likely be a combo deal. Enjoy.
Looking out the window....
Had the opportunity to go on a walk around another part of the neighborhood:
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| The shrub (knockout) roses are still doing their thing. |
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| All this holly needs is a little red cardinal perched on it. |
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| The leaves are starting to show fall colors. |
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| Black Dalea |
I caught some other gorgeousness while I was out and about this week:
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| The petunias in the flower box in front of the UPS store are still showing out (mine are dead). |
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| These beauties were in a planter outside of the Hobby Lobby in Belmar. |
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Join the fun! Come on over to for the Hodgepodge link-up! |
From Hodgepodge Questions Volume 621
Fall officially rolls into the Northern Hemisphere on Monday (9/22)...what's your favorite thing about fall?
- It's not winter.
- The changing colors. I know that many of Colorado think that you have to go find the Aspen trees to see great fall color. However, I've found some fiery reds, browns, and golds just walking around the neighborhood. Sure, I'd love to see the Aspens, but at present, I have to work with what I've got.
- The cool evenings and mildly warm days.
- It's now soup, stew, and chili weather.
- Football.
- I know that I teach year-round, but fall gives me the new school year feel
What's one thing on your real or proverbial autumn bucket list?
World Card Making Day is Saturday. I'm considering participating.
Apples, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, butternut squash and cranberries are some of the top fall foods. Which one is your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Any on the list you don't eat? Which one have you had most recently?
The only one I don't eat is butternut squash. In all honesty, I don't know how to prepare it properly. The couple of times I've cooked butternut squash, it came out bitter. Anybody got any simple recipe recommendations? Out of the list, I eat apples the most. They are a year-round food for me. The jury is still out on pumpkin. I normally don't like pumpkin (it has a whang to it) or pumpkin spiced anything (too bitter) however, flour-based baked goods with pumpkin seem to not have that malady, so I'm thinking about trying my hand at making pumpkin bread. I'll let you know how it goes.
From Hodgepodge Questions Volume 622
What's your favorite fall scent? Would we find this in or around your home right now?
It's more of a fall-winter scent, but I like the smell of orange spice. I have an oil diffuser and mix a few drops of Mainstays (Wal-Mart) Cinnamon Leaf and Sweet Orange. Smells like fall but also like Christmas. It puts me in the mind of Wassail. I also like pumpkin scented candles. However, I'm on candle restriction until I finish the Lavender Lemonade candle I got for my birthday and the Beaver Nugget candle I bought a Buc-ee's earlier this summer.
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 know it's hard to believe with me being from the South (and a country mouse in the middle of the Denver metro area), but country music isn't my favorite genre. I do have a few country songs (or songs with country flair) I enjoy:
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)?
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?
Miss Joyce, my scale (and homesickness) is mad at you right now. 😅
What's something that always has a positive impact on your mood?
Anything creative--whether it's my creativity or someone else's. The comfort of a quilt, the color splash of a photograph or painting, or the sweet melody and/or driving rhythm of an upbeat song can bring me out of a funk pretty quickly. Even if I'm in low-energy depression mode, I try to hunt for those positive influences. Other things that improve my mood are good comedy, fun books, naps, and comfort food (not too much).
- Gospel Evidences for Saving Faith by John Owen ✮✮✮✮
- J. R. R. Tolkien by Colin Duriez ✮✮✮✮
- On Reading Well by Karen Swallow Prior (a glorious reread) ✮✮✮✮
- Finding the Groove by Robert Gelinas
- James: A Novel by Percival Everett
- Mansions of the Heart by R. Thomas Ashbrook
- Streams of Living Water by Richard J. Foster
- Faith's Checkbook by Charles Spurgeon
Recent blog posts...
- My previous digest, "Head of the Class'" is here.
- Puppy Power: The Weekly Hodgepodge is here.
- My "25 for 2025" challenge is here. (Updated regularly)
- My "I Can Only Blame MyShelf" reading challenge is here. (Updated regularly).
From the Workshop...
- Coupons and sales
- All-purpose thread
- My subscription to Creativebug that I get from the Jefferson County Library. I've been watching videos and plotting and planning.
- Double-sided tape
- Slow cookers/Crock Pots
- Pre-grated cheese
- Walks outside
- Bluetooth technology
- Good hearing
Orange with cloves and cinnamon is one of my favorites too. We have plans to drive over to a nearby mountain town this week and I'm hoping there's color. It's late this year but a lot of change happens in a day this time of year. I think because it's been so warm the leaves are not turning like they normally would in October. Our book club is reading James later this year. Enjoy the fall color where you live and I hope you find a dish of chicken and dumplings somewhere out west!
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