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Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Back In The Hodgepodge Seat



Hello, dear friends.  I hope that you are enjoying your week.  All is well here except that it has been quite nippy.  After watching the weather report this morning for the rest of the country, I can't complain.  



Millie has continued her digging gardening with more gusto than ever.  We have tried three different pet-safe products to deter her from her new hobby, but nothing has proved effective.  Does anyone have any recommendations?

By the way... as you can see from the photo, Millie has developed a taste for our pillows. 

Today, I am happy to be back in the Hodgepodge seat.  My friend, Joyce, from From This Side of the Pond writes the thought-provoking questions, and unassuming bloggers such as myself answer them.


 1.  January 25th is National Opposites Day.  'They' say opposites attract...do you agree, and if so is that a good thing?  Or do you subscribe more to a 'birds of a feather' philosophy? 



If you've read my blog for a while, you have heard me talk about how in some ways, the Mister and I are very different.  He is Felix to my Oscar. 

When we were engaged, I talked to a friend who had been married for over twenty years.  She told me that when she married her neat freak of a husband, there were days that she thought she would tear her hair out.  But she said that over the years, she became neater, and her hubby became more relaxed.  

I would say that the same thing has happened to us.  
Although the true test will be when the Mister fully retires. 


Wish me luck.



2.  Something you're glad to have behind you? 



The teenage years!
Ugh.  I thought that they would never end.
I have frown lines to prove it.  
It was worth it though, because I consider my relationship with my girls today two of my greatest blessings.


Something you're glad is ahead of you? 


Baby & Child Restoration Hardware.

This is NOT an announcement!

I do look forward to having grandchildren someday.

God willing!


3.  Your favorite hot food? 


I am not a big meat eater.  When I go out for lunch or dinner, I usually order fish.  However, all bets are off if lamb chops are on the menu.  Here is a recipe that looks delish.



Here's another recipe using the sous vide.

Cold food?

Over the weekend, we went out for dinner, and the Mister ordered an appetizer which consisted of whipped feta, figs, and honey accompanied by warm naan.  I could have just had that for dinner; it was so delish.



Here is the recipe.



Are you a fan of breakfast for dinner? 


Yes Ma'am!

I'll take mine with an extra order of bacon.

If you need some creative recipes, you can find plenty here.



4.  Are you someone who always arrives to appointments/events early, or do you tend to run late?  Last thing you were late for?



I was talking about this with the Mister a few weeks ago.  There are many things that our family has squabbled about over the years, but being late is not one of them.  We are all early birds and usually arrive at least 15 minutes early. 

If you are an early bird as well, you might find this article of interest. 


 

5.  "What good is the warmth of summer without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?" John Steinbeck...Your thoughts? 



I love this quote.  Years ago, my # 2 was devastated over losing a tennis match.  As she walked off the court, the coach approached her and told her that she would never truly appreciate her wins if she didn't experience her losses.  



6.  Insert your own random thought here. 


Yesterday was Pub Day for Fiona Davis' new novel, The Magnolia Palace.  I was lucky enough to get an early copy a couple of months ago.  If you are a lover of historical fiction, don't miss this one.  Nobody does it better than Fiona Davis.


Until next time...







Preppy Empty Nester
Preppy Empty Nester

Thanks for stopping by my blog. Feel free to contact me through comments and email. I love to hear from my readers!

23 comments:

  1. A BIG agree on being passed the teenage years. I can truly say I have never missed parenting. I love my adult kids so much more than I did my teens. LOL!

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  2. As always, I enjoyed your answers. As I've been reading everyone's posts, I realize that I was very tired when I answered the questions. I took the question about hot and cold literally. I'm smacking my head at the moment!

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  3. Yeah I am just getting into these teenage years and it is not pretty!

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  4. I love the wedding picture! I can't wait to get that book from the library. Loved the Maid.

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  5. Yes the teenage years were certainly my most challenging with my two. However, they are now, thankfully, adults with wonderful spouses and jobs that they find fulfilling. Plus, I have four adorable grandchildren from one of them and greedily anticipating an announcement that we will so have more! One of those four hit double digits last year and is now in middle school so time for another newborn to cuddle. I’m convinced that sniffing their little heads is the true fountain of youth. My hubby and I are opposites in many ways, some of which are areas where we have grown more like each other. He is the saver, I am the spender, he is the hoarder and I am the person who would gleefully donate anything I trip over in the attic. As to retirement we recently hit that particular milestone. I can only say, pass me the wine bottle. To be fair Covid lockdowns began only a few months after he retired so I feel sorry for him. That said, thank goodness he’s is an avid golfer and we live on a golf course. Travel is enthusiastically anticipated in the near future. Great post. Can’t wait to read the new Fiona.

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  6. LOL- About your sweet little digger. I have a chewer here. He will grab something and run. The only way I can get it away from him to say, "trade for a treat". He immediately runs to John's recliner and sits there until I approach with the treat, then drops what he has. My son says I am the worst trainer in the world as that only encourages his bad behavior. That being said, he is a sweet little darling SOMETIMES. lol. xo Diana

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  7. Katie, I discovered your blog this fall and am truly enjoying your posts. Such a bright reprieve from the gloom of covid & winter. I used to live in the San Antonio area and while we were there we adopted a adolescent "rescued" golden retriever. Twice a week trips to Doggy Day Care/Camp is what saved our furniture and our landscaping! Although, I think "camp" is also in your contact list too! Good luck to you and Millie, she is a cutie!

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  8. You can't be a whole lot more opposite than Rick and me! So, I guess that works.Ah, Millie. She is a charmer! (Our Jack Russell came to Michigan by three airlines. When he arrived, he slept for three days. Then he went into the yard and dug 17 holes. You learn to cope.)

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  9. Oh yes, I am an early bird too!

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  10. I really enjoyed your answers today and visiting your blog. That feta,fig dip looked so delicious! And I am definitely an early bird myself- I can't stand being late. Have a great week!

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  11. An idea for the digging pup problem that has worked for me over the years....put a scoop of her own poop in the holes she digs. They do not like this and will give up the hole digging to help keep things clean. Sounds sort of disgusting and yes, it's unattractive to leave the holes exposed but it will stop the digging behavior. Hope it works for you!

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  12. Millie is too cute - it must be hard to be mad at her! Plus - what a beautiful bride and handsome groom!

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  13. The book sounds good. I ordered it for my Kindle but not sure when I will finish #9 Outlander book. Then I want to read the book Tim Conway's daughter wrote about him. I'll get there. I always love your photos and gifs. Another fun Hodgepodge and another fun post, Katie! xo

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  14. That article on being early was interesting, and that whipped feta sounds absolutely delish! Funny, I took that quote on #5 literally. We have had so much snow in Janauary and I am SO over it (more on the way for its finale this weekend). If Millie is like my daughters' dogs, I've got no advice other than my daughter files her toss pillows like books on her bookshelves so the dogs won't eat them, lol. Fun reads. Happy Wednesday!

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  15. Love that wedding photo! My husband and I get more different as the years go by. Or maybe I'm just noticing it more? But we also compliment each other in many ways so it all works out. (Forty years this summer!) I'm am always early. Being late is too stressful for me. And I don't need more stress!

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  16. I see that bite of pillow. Yikes. Hopefully she will grow out of it. I don't miss the teenage years at all and love spending time with them now. My son wore me out...

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  17. Good morning from Knoxville via Denver.
    I am my father's daughter: if you are on time you are late. My kids inherited that gene too!
    Chewing- did your vet have any suggestions? We hired a dog therapist for a one hour visit a few years ago. I know it is such a first world hassle, but he gave us great suggestions. We call him Eric the Dog Whisperer. Our kids all played tennis in high school and/or college. We had all of these quotes and cheers when they were down and now they just make fun of all my "dig deep" or " you learn more from losing." But those days prepare them for adulthood where the stakes are higher. My middle is going through this right now with his post grad plans. Happy Whatever Day it is. I am on knoxville vacay time. laura

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  18. Arriving early is a curse, but I really appreciate people that like to be on time.
    As a grandma of 3 wonderful grandkids, I hope it (being grandparents) happens for you and your husband sooner than later. It's such a pleasure to enjoy the cuties and then wave enthusiastically as they go home. Haha. I will be getting the Magnolia Palace. I am currently listening to The Maid, a recommendation of yours. I love it.
    xo,
    Karen

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  19. Both Mr. Nine and I are early birds and we are proud of it! I read that article you linked and it’s so much is about respecting other people‘s time. The world needs more of that. Millie! What a cutie, a digging cutie! This was fun!

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    1. Deleted first post due to typos. It's early in AZ; my dog is an early riser, so I am too. I've had golden retrievers for over 40 years. I know it sounds disgusting, but here is what has always worked to keep them from digging up flowers, grass, whatever: pick up their poop and put it in the area they are digging up. It can be concealed under a thin layer of mulch, gravel, that kind of thing. This is an adjustment to the failsafe concoction of a friend who poured a bit of "Puppy Poop Soup" in the area affected. I could not bring myself to do that;the "solid" solution works very well for me. Once the dog loses interest in that area, you can remove the stuff. There is enough residual odor; in my experience they won't return to it.

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  21. I loved all your answers. The food photos look so good. Pups are so cute. I too have two girls and I love relationship with them now as adult women (22 and 26). So fun. I have two grandkiddos (3 and 1) I love being a Nonni!

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