Hello October and it is the Hodgepodge

 

Autumn bonfires are a favorite.

 

Hello Friends, it is Wednesday and that means it is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 

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

I love the smell of cinnamon. I am baking an apple crisp with lots of cinnamon, yes today you will find that smell in 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 enjoy the "old country music", Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Loretta Lynn are a few on my old country playlist.

I like Johnny Cash, he is a favorite because of the memories I have from my grandpa singing along to Johnny Cash songs. 

We drove through Nashville, we did not stop. We were heading home from visiting our military son at Fort Gordon, Georgia.

I am a country mouse.

 

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)? 

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?

 

 My favorite would be chicken and dumplings.

I have not tried fried green tomatoes or barbecue gumbo.

 

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

 

I know I sound like a broken record, because I talk about my garden so often. But if I am having a bad day, taking a walk out in the garden will lift my mood. There is always a surprise of beauty as I walk along, even in the winter.

 

  

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. 

 

Challenging 

♥ we made some difficult decisions in September

 ♥ current events took a toll on the heartstrings ... they still are

 

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

Sense of beauty is the gift of God, for which those who have received it in good measure, can never be thankful enough.

Gertrude Jekyll 

 

St. Catherine of Siena

 

 

We are closing out the month of September and the end of the year is creeping closer and closer. 2025 has been a difficult year for many of our friends, our country and the world. Violence, war, illness, broken dreams, hurting family and friends.

 

 

My husband and I had several downs this year. We had to make hard decisions and change plans. It all makes me tired and sad, but I do not give up. We cannot give up. 

We can see all the injustice going on around us, we can get scared and feel like what can little me do? 

What I have learned this year as we have gone through a difficult season, is that I just have to keep doing the best I can each day. 

Smile.

Give a surprise bouquet to a friend and neighbor. 

Bake cookies for a friend going through a hard time.

Send a surprise package in the mail.

Listen... just listen.  

And pray.

I found the below dialogue from St. Catherine of Siena comforting and I wanted to share it as we all continue to do the best we can.

 

 

You must not break away from holy prayer for any reason except obedience or charity.

For often during the time scheduled for prayer the devil comes with all sorts of struggles and annoyances - even more than when you are not at prayer. He does this to make you weary of holy prayer. Often he will say: "This sort of prayer is worthless to you. You should not think about or pay attention to anything except vocal prayer." He makes it seem this way so that you will become weary and confused and abandon the exercise of prayer. 

But prayer is a weapon with which you can defend yourself against every enemy. If you hold it with love's hand and the arm of free choice, this weapon, with the light of most holy faith, will be your defense.

 

Flowers for your Friday

 

 

Orange zinnias have been the showstoppers this garden season.

Below is my display of a few of the big and bold orange zinnias.

You will spy my first acorn that I picked up on a recent walk.

 

 

More flowers for your Friday!

 

 

"As for rosemary I let it run all over my garden walls, not only because my bees love it, but because it is the herb sacred to remembrance and to friendship...." 

 Sir Thomas More