Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Wednesday Hodgepodge - Volume 295


It's Wednesday - time to Weigh In and Hodgepodge!  Click on the photo if you want to join in.

1.  Can you believe it's the end of January?  What was the best day of January 2017 for you, and why?

I'm going to say the first day of Winter Storm Helena.  It was so beautiful to wake up to a blanket of snow everywhere.  A real Winter Wonderland.

2.  What sounds make up the background noise in your life?

Right now?  The ticking clock, the heater blowing in the background, and the sound of my fingers clicking across the keyboard.  I'd love for the sound of waves breaking on the sand to be part of the background noise of my life but we just don't live close enough.

3.  I read on the Power of Positivity website a list of ten things to drop from your life right now.  They are-

anger outbursts, people who put you down, regret, negative self talk, being a people pleaser, the notion you need to be perfect, the past (but keep the lessons learned!), gossip and judgement, comparing yourself to others, and the word hate (focus on what you love instead)

Which thing on the list do you most need to drop?  Are you trying or will you try?

I have one regret and I don't know that I'll ever be able to drop it.  I regret not asking my parents more questions about their lives, about our early lives (the ones I am too young to remember).  We talked incessantly so I'm sure I know a lot more than many people do about their parents' likes and dislikes and life experiences but every now and then, something will come up and I'll think to myself "I wish I had asked Mum or Dad about that".  I should drop it, they are gone and I'll never find the answers now but the regret is still there.

4.  What is sacred to you?

I'm sure I'm supposed to say something profound here.  I'll read the other Hodgepodge posts and think "Why didn't I think of that?" (oops, see #3 above, comparing yourself to others!).  My answer is easy, my family is sacred to me.

5.  January is National Oatmeal Month.  Are you a fan, and if so, how do you like it?

I don't eat oatmeal anymore now that we're on a clean eating regimen.  I used to like it, but it was this one and I don't need the sugar in my life anymore.


6.  What feelings does twilight stir up in you?

In a word (or should I say, in a photo), this:


2008 and all the frenzy of Edward and Bella.  Sophia and her girlfriends stood in line for the midnight showing, and then had a party when it came out on DVD.  We searched for everything Twilight in the stores - Hot Topic seemed to have it all - and the camps split into Team Edward and Team Jacob.  It was a fun time!

7.  Something you're looking forward to next month?

It's our 24th anniversary in February and we're continuing on our search for the best tearoom in Virginia.  If you read my Homemaker post on Monday, you'll know that the last one was a bust.  The next one looks more promising - there are tablecloths on the tables!  Really, I don't ask for much.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I love the Hodgepodge and I'm pretty sure that Joyce visits everyone.  I appreciate that she takes the time to leave a comment.  I'm not a big one for followers or statistics or charts of what posts are the most popular but I do love to see a comment especially when it leads to finding a new blog written by someone with similar interests, or a great sense of humor, or wonderful recommendations of recipes to try, books to read, movies to watch.  When someone starts a meme and when others join in, it's not an obligation to visit everyone and leave comments, it's more of a courtesy.  I understand bloggers get busy with real life and there's not always time to comment on every post but when you can, it's lovely to see.  So, when I joined a meme that had multiple hosts and close to a hundred participants, and not one person left a comment the first week, or the second, or the third, it bothered me.  Silly maybe but that's how I felt, disappointed that not one person could take a moment to say "Enjoyed your post" or "Have a great day".  I guess maybe I wasn't their cup of tea.  Thoughts?

UPDATE:  Thank you so much, Hodgepodge ladies, for pulling me off the pity party train about this.  I needed to be reminded that I blog for myself, to chat about things I love, to share things I think may interest others, and because I love to write.  It's not about followers or statistics and although I love them when they are there, it's not about the comments either.  I'm off the train and moving on - thank you!

15 comments:

  1. Great minds think alike!!! Twilight! I was wondering if anyone else would say it. Have a wonderful week, Pamela!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Pamela, it used to really bother me as well when I got no comments and I still don't get a lot. Then I reminded myself why I started blogging in the first place - as a creative outlet for ME. Sure, I would love to have a large audience who also loved to read my every word, but realize that's just not going to happen. So, I post what's important to me at the time, and let it be. Good luck on your tea room search and Happy Anniversary.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, you're absolutely right. It is a creative outlet for me as well. I feel like it's a journal of sorts, what I'm thinking and feeling at the time, things I enjoy. Moving on....and thank you!

      Delete
  3. I have gotten past being all-consumed about how many comments or followers I have on my blog. I write as a means of storing away memories, primarily, for my daughters. It's, also, an outlet for me to share what's on my mind. Just my two bits...enjoy your Wednesday! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, that's how I view it but I seemed to been caught up in a little pity party when I wrote my random thought. Over it now and moving on! Do you ever print out your blog using one of the services that make a book out of your posts?

      Delete
  4. I agree. I started my blog in 2005 simply as a place to park my memories and journal my thoughts. My daughter had a blog and was enjoying it so much, she encouraged me to start one too. So I've pretty much been able to keep that perspective that it was just for my own enjoyment and a place to keep family memories.

    That said, I do know exactly what you mean about no one commenting on your posts. I've felt the same way at times, but then I remind myself of why I actually do this.

    I have not printed out my blog and had it made into a book, but last night my daughter was talking about that very thing. She's thought of doing that but never has done so.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've probably dropped the ball a few weeks this year in terms of commenting, but I try to get around to everyone eventually. I blog for myself too, but still it's nice to know if someone has read what you've written. I print my blog periodically into a book too. It's easy and I love the keepsake!

    ReplyDelete
  6. You and Vic always win for Cutest Couple! Happy Anniversary.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I can echo most of the comments here - I blog for me but when someone new drops by and leaves words of encouragement it does give you a boost. I just wish blogger had a like button the same way Wordpress does so at least you can see who's visited the blog even if there's no time to comment.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love reading hodgepodge answers! Re #5: I love oatmeal and always get Bob's Red Mill organic extra thick rolled oats, put 1/2 cup oats, 1/2 cup water, pinch of salt in a bowl; microwave for 2 minutes, stir in 1/2 teaspoon sugar and some milk. Re #7: I'm an afternoon tea fan, too, and it's always exciting to find another blogger into tea! Hope that next place works out.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm the same way as you about reading other answers and wondering why in the world I didn't think of that. Sometimes these questions throw me for a loop. LOL But I do love the Hodgepodge and all the blogger friends I've met from it. I feel like I'm not most blogger's cup of tea. I find myself thinking that no one likes me or what I blog about when I have a slight few comments. I probably put too much stock in comments. But I do love them. Anyway, have a wonderful day!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I like to see comments too. It encourages me to keep writing, plus I enjoy the friendships that can form through commenting to each other.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I just opened my blog and saw your comment today. And so then I had to come over to your blog because I didn't remember having seen you in the list of links. So, thank you for your comments about bread and I am finding hen to be so true. I'm sure my curiosity about baking bread will wear out as we don't need to be eating it anyway.
    I love your random. When I write my blog, it is for keeping a bit of a record of things that happened in my life and at the end of the year having it printed into a keepsake book like a photo journal. When we do things like Hodgepodge, I enjoy reading everybody's answers and oops, seeing how they compare to mine. I also like hearing from everybody and try to visit others as much as I possibly can. My Wednesdays are my Bible study day and sometimes don't get to read as many as I would like.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My phone locked up when trying to edit this for the word "hen" which was meant to be "them."

      Delete
  12. I, too, hope that the rest of the year is kinder to our finances than this January from hell has been. I was fortunate to have been stationed in England during the mid 1970's. My daughter was born there, at RAF Lakenheath. I hope that you get to realize your dream and get to live there for a time. Thanks for visiting my blog page. Have a great week.

    ReplyDelete