Hodgepodge

Hodgepodge? Right after I typed that title, I wondered about the origins of that word -- hodgepodge, so I typed it in google. I didn't find exactly what I was looking for. I did, however, come across one definition that I liked. It said hodgepodge was a soup full of various ingredients. And I quote, "Often this soup is a token of poverty, when a food is prepared from whatever ingredients are available." Such it is with this post, my friends. Such it is with this post.

I have felt very little desire to post of late. And have very little post worthy material to offer. Still, in a humble attempt to feed my faithful visitors something, I have pulled from the nearly bare shelves of my mind all the scanty ingredients I have to make a bland but, at least, varied soup. Disclaimer: while I plan to discuss soup at some point during this post, there will never actually be any real soup for anyone to taste, not even a soup recipe. All references to soup in this paragraph were strictly metaphorical.

Alright. let's hodgepodge our way to a post.

1. Fireplace. I love that Penny occasionally yells, "Fireplace, Mom! I saw a fireplace!" when, in fact, she just saw and heard a police car rushing by. Fireplace? You ask. It makes sense though. Police car -- sort of like a fire truck -- sort of like a . . . fireplace. In general Penny is so much more pleasant these days than she has been for the past few months. She had some pretty serious ear infections for awhile and was often to be found telling us angrily, "I'm MEAN!" But lately she has even occasionally taken to saying, "Yah, Mom, I'm happy!"

2. Whisk. I've had this whisk since we were married. It has been rusty and broken for a good three years. Still, in my thriftyness, I couldn't consider the luxury of buying a new one. Finally, however, I relented, and do you know how much a similar new one cost me? $1.85. That's right. $1.85. Thank goodness I saved us such a bundle by being so frugal and careful all this time.

3. Hat. This is for you, Kristen and Ashley. I don't know how many of you are familiar with Jan Brett's children's books, but I love them. In one, a mitten gets stretched a ridiculous amount when a small creature, followed by ever bigger and bigger creatures, decides to crawl into the mitten to get out of the cold. This hat was knitted as a gift to one of my nieces' baby boys. Because it was only a tiny bit big on their newborns they passed it on to my slightly bigger Jesse. While it fit him fine, it was just roomy enough that I found myself putting it on Penny one day when I took her out in the jog stroller. Not long after, my nieces were laughing to see the same hat appear in some photos on Goldie's head. I told them it was just like the mittens and hats in the Jan Brett books. They laughed that they would soon be seeing it on my head. Well, girls, it fit with not even a bit of a struggle. I don't know that heads get a tremendous deal larger than my own, but if they do, this darling little cap should have no trouble fitting them all.

4. Husband. The other night Penny kept crying and crying in her bed that she wanted chips. It was bedtime though so I had sadly told her, "No honey, no chips. Go night-night." I then went to take a shower (as I'd been out for a late run). When I got out I asked Mike, "Has that Penny ever quieted down?"

"Yah," He replied, "I just had to give her some chips."

Also, I'm glad he has such faith in my abilities. Our yard is full full of dandelions (incidentally, my kids can never understand why I consider the lovely little things a weed). I was talking on the phone with Mike today and said, "Why don't we have Saturday be a yard day so you can spray all our dandelions."

He moaned about the five days worth of stuff he already is supposed to do on Saturday, so I said, "Or I could just spray them myself if you show me where the stuff is and how to use it."

"Oh," he said dismissively, "You'd probably just spray it all over your face." He is such a smart alec . . . and yet even as I retype that I begin to laugh all over again. . . . Mostly just picturing myself spraying it all over my face. (Goldie is sitting here by me playing a little game, and she just said, "Stop laughing, Mom.")

5. Books. I've been reading some young adult type of books lately. For example, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase; and Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh. And I really enjoy reading books like that because they generally are quite well written, with an enjoyable little story, but quick and easy to read. However, after the shame I had to face upon realizing a year or so ago that the War and Peace I read was a wimpy abridged version, I finally ordered the newest full translation. It has received rave reviews about the accuracy and true to Tolstoy styleness of it all, and I am ready to conquer it. I'll tell you when I finish. It might be awhile as I plan on taking a leisurely pace as well as reading Watership Down (a book my mom read to us when we were young) at the same time because it will be fun, but look at how thick it is! Also, look at that cover. Isn't it appealing? I don't know why, but it is just so lovely. Admit it, that pretty blue-green is totally making you want to read it.

6. Soup. Here is the soup. Lately I eat Bear Creek potato soup nearly every lunch, as well as most dinners when Mike isn't home. Who would think someone could be so hooked on some type of reconstituted soup? I don't know. I'm not even claiming anyone else would love it, but I do. The odd thing is, I'm sure it will pass. I have a tendency to always have one or two things that I love and eat daily for months or maybe even a year . . . and then, no more. Once it was boiled cheese ravioli for every lunch. I had a good year of making cupcakes every week. Key Lime pie, Tuna melts, Maddox Turkey Steaks, and many more have all had their turn.

7. Goldie. Yesterday Goldie told me, "I know God always guides me because I always sing Jesus songs, and I always say prayers, and I always give money to the poor (hmm?), and I am always loving and kind."

There. That was your fill of hodgepodge -- the kind of soup that leaves you full, but not necessarily craving more.