Wednesday, April 8, 2026

A Springtime Wednesday Hodgepodge




A hodgepodge is a jumble or assortment of things that might not appear to belong together. Joyce at From This Side of the Pond hosts a weekly link-up called Wednesday Hodgepodge that is a little collection of questions for bloggers to answer just for fun and to get to know each other. I always look forward to chatting with friends over coffee, so pour a cup of your favorite and let's visit for a few minutes!



Here are this week's questions - and my answers - for this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge.

1.  Egg on your face, putting all your eggs in one basket, a good egg, walk on eggshells, nest egg, or a tough egg to crack . . . which eggy idiom currently applies to your life in some way? Explain.
 
I'm going with "nest egg" because we are planning to tap into our nest egg to help us with our upcoming home purchase, and we are at the point where we are trying to think very strategically about that retirement nest egg and how we handle related financial decisions. 
 
2. April 7th is National Beer Day . . . are you a beer drinker? If so do you have a favorite? Beer battered fish, beer bread, beer can chicken, beer brats . . . which one sounds good to you? Have you made any of these? 

I'm not a beer drinker. I've had beers that I do like, IPAs or brown ales, that don't have as much bitterness. I'm much more likely to go for hard cider or a hard lemonade than any kind of beer. Beer battered fish is one of my go-to items to order at a restaurant, and almost always sounds good to me. I've made my own, but it's a messy process, so that's why I so often get it at a restaurant. Haha. I used to make beer bread quite a bit, but haven't done that in a very long time. I like beer brats and we have them fairly often in the summer and fall. 

3. Do you have siblings? What's the best thing about being your sibling? If you don't have siblings, what would you say are the pros and cons of being an only child?

 I do have siblings, two brothers and a sister, all younger than me. I honestly don't know what any of them might say about the best thing. I live a long way from my family so we don't communicate that often, and yet I'd say I have good relationships with all of them. When we do see each other, we tend to pick right up where we left off and it doesn't feel awkward, at least to me. I just don't get to have them over for dinner or socialize with them or babysit their kids (well, when the kids were young enough to need babysitters), which I wish I could do! I hope the best thing about being my sibling is something like me trying to stay in touch, being suppportive as much as I can from a distance, and remembering everyone's birthdays.


celebrating our parents' 60th anniversary


The "mid-drink" or "mid-bite of food" photo is a long-standing tradition in the family. Here we are doing the same thing at our parents' 50th anniversary:




We can take a nice photo too. And we like to include our spouses who are amazing additions to the family. One of my favorite things is how well we get along. Which sounds easy for me to say when I don't live near any of them, but I say it because it's true.

 
4.  How do you feel about floral scents in products? Do you have a favorite?

 I don't mind floral scents, depending on the product, I suppose. In general, I don't care for lavender, and I don't like rose-scented anything. I love the smell of roses, but not rose-scented soap or candles or anything else. The ones I like best are usually the lighter, sweeter floral scents, like orange blossom or honeysuckle. 

5.  What's one thing in your home that begins with the letter G that you would say is a keeper, something you'll hold on to? Tell us why.

 I had a really tough time with this! Anything green? Grey? Glass? I don't know. How about this ― "Grandmum's washstand". And by Grandmum, I mean my mother-in-law, because the kids called her Grandmum. We brought this little washstand dresser home with us years ago when we helped Grandmum and Granddad move. We use it as an occasional table in our living room or dining room, and I love it for its old-fashioned simplicity.



6. Insert your own random thought here.

House hunting is in full swing! We viewed four possible properties yesterday and are going to see some more tomorrow. It's hard to make a decision! Because of course, nothing is "perfect" and the ones that are, well, they'd be out of our price range. Haha. One might have the fireplace I was hoping for and a fabulous kitchen, but a wierd backyard and still be priced a bit high. Or maybe all the features we want except there's one thing we really dislike or are concerned about that we can't quite get past. Just last night I browsed listings and found one that I think would be pretty great except it doesn't have a dishwasher and I don't know where I'd fit one; and another that is so nice but it's priced a little higher than we'd wanted and it's located on a busy corner and I'm not sure that would be acceptable. Wish us luck, because the timeline we're on means we should get started with inspections and negotiations on something next week, and hope everything goes smoothly so we're not rushed when it comes time to close and move.

What are some highlights of your spring so far? Leave a comment and let me know!



From this Side of the Pond

I host the Wednesday Quotes link-up every other Wednesday. Stop by and share a few thoughts and quotes on the current topic here: WQ - Simplicity. I host the Everyday Images photo link-up every other Thursday. And find the Scripture and a Snapshot link-up here every Sunday.



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 ©2006-2026 HS Coffee Break/Just A Second/A Fresh Cup of Coffee. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. This post was written by a human. https://morecoffeebreaks.blogspot.com/ 

 This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Fresh Cup of Coffee helps continue the coffee breaks and conversation. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Simple Meal Planning - Plan to Eat

Sunday, April 5, 2026

Scripture and a Snapshot - Glory To the Righteous One - He Is Risen!



The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. there you will see him.' Now I have told you."
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

~Matthew 28:5-8~


They raise their voices, they shout for joy;
from the west they acclaim the LORD's majesty.
Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD;
exalt the name of the LORD, the God of Israel,
in the islands of the sea.
From the ends of the earth we hear singing:
"Glory to the Righteous One."

~Isaiah 24:14-16~






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©2006-2026 HS Coffee Break/Just A Second/A Fresh Cup of Coffee. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. This post was written by a human. https://morecoffeebreaks.blogspot.com/ 

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Thursday, April 2, 2026

Currently . . . April 2, 2026


The "Currently" link-up at the beginning of each month is hosted at Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa. Our hostess Amy posts a set of action verb prompts for the month and writers respond. So, without further ado, here are this month's prompts and what's happening currently . . .

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Planting or Hatching - Well, I'm not a gardener by any means. I do like having some plants and flowers outside the front door, but I'm not planting them myself as I prefer to have planter pots right now. In a more metaphorical sense, I'm trying to hatch ideas of which house to buy. Who knows, maybe I'll plant something at the new place once we're moving in. Or more likely, I'll ask my husband to plant something he thinks I'd like.

Cleaning (spring) - I'm so behind schedule with my spring cleaning already. I'm going to try and give my bathrooms a seasonal deep clean in the next couple days, and my fridge and pantry need a purge. I just started working on a list breaking down everything into small steps because I guess I should be packing as I go this spring in order to make the upcoming move go a little more smoothly. Again, when I'll find or make time for all of it is anyone's guess! 


Eating and Drinking - I have been doing a pretty good job of making healthier choices with eating over the past couple of weeks. I started meeting online with a nutritionist who is helping me with weight loss and health goals, and the accountability is helping me already. So my work lunches have been more like sandwich wraps, carrot sticks, yogurt, and cheese; and I've added a simple side salad to my dinner most nights. 

On the weekend I kind of took a break, since I was out of town at a Sweet Adelines convention, and I enjoyed a margherita flatbread for dinner one night, and tempura battered sweet potato fries for a late night snack! Other than that, I did pretty good there too, even sticking to cheese omelet and oatmeal for my breakfasts, despite there being pastries and waffles and more available. Yay me! And yes, I enjoyed some adult beverages as well.



Reading and Watching - Currently reading these:

A Tarnished Canvas by Anna Lee Huber
Oracle of Philippi by Catherine Ensley (ARC)

 

I got very little reading done in March, far less than I'd planned, and since Oracle of Philippi is an ARC I'm planning to review, I'm concentrating on that at the moment.

Currently watching . . . I don't want much in the way of TV or movies, so I can't think of anything I've sat down and paid attention to recently. We've had hockey on the TV quite a bit lately as we're watching the last bit of the regular season and how those playoff spots will settle. 

Loving - Things I'm loving right now include:

Apple blossoms, cherry blossoms, pear blossoms, dogwood blossoms . . . all the trees that have blossoms right now! And just signs of spring in general.



 I am loving the dreaming and browsing listings part of house hunting. The hard work part really begins next week, and then I'll be a bit more stressed, I imagine.

I'm loving that I have just a teeny bit more time in the mornings, since I don't have to worry about weather related traffic slowdowns or having to warm up my car or those things. Granted, I usually take a bit too much time!


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Here's a short Coffee Break Reading List . . . 


As mentioned above, I'm currently reading . . . 

A Tarnished Canvas by Anna Lee Huber
Oracle of Philippi by Catherine Ensley (ARC)




More reading news and recent reviews are at Just A Second.

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Something fun found during coffee breaks:




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What's currently happening in your life? Leave a comment and let me know! 


This post will be linked at this month's edition of "Currently" hosted by Amy at Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa

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 ©2006-2026 HS Coffee Break/Just A Second/A Fresh Cup of Coffee. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. This post was written by a human. https://morecoffeebreaks.blogspot.com/ 

This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Fresh Cup of Coffee helps continue the coffee breaks and conversation. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Simple Meal Planning - Plan to Eat

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

No Foolin! It's The Wednesday Hodgepodge!


A hodgepodge is a jumble or assortment of things that might not appear to belong together. Joyce at From This Side of the Pond hosts a weekly link-up called Wednesday Hodgepodge that is a little collection of questions for bloggers to answer just for fun and to get to know each other. I always look forward to chatting with friends over coffee, so pour a cup of your favorite and let's visit for a few minutes!


Here are this week's questions - and my answers - for this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge.

1.  March is rolling on out of here. Sum up your March in ten words or less.
 
My March was a whirlwind; things changed quickly; and had lots of learning experiences.
 
2. Are you afraid of heights? When was the last time you found yourself dealing with a height, and did it make you nervous?

Yes and no. I don't like heights, but I'm usually not actually afraid unless it's out in the open, like on a bridge high above the water or a hiking trail along a ridge with a steep drop-off. I do stand waaaaaaay back from the rail on a high balcony or even where there's a glass wall. On the weekend, I was staying in a hotel room on the top floor and the elevator was a glass-walled one. It did make me just a little uncomfortable to look down into the hotel courtyard from up high in the elevator but I wasn't afraid.

the view out our hotel room window

3. What's a word you struggle to spell on a regular basis, and sometimes need to double check before writing it down? Use the word in a sentence that tells us something about your April calendar.

 I recently had a lot of trouble spelling "perseverance" correctly. It was a WQ theme, and I realized I'd originally spelled it wrong in my list and then I kept checking myself over and over. I wanted to put another R before the V. I struggle with my German spelling all the time! 

I'll need to practice PERSEVERANCE in April in order to get everything done and our move planned properly! 

4.  Love 'em or hate 'em, with Easter comes the sweet treat known as Peeps. So . . . do you love 'em or hate 'em? Speaking of peeps, what's your favorite way to have chicken?

 I do not eat Peeps. Peeps are an art medium, not a food group. In Westminster, MD, there is an annual "Peep Show" at the Arts Center. All the sculptures use Peeps as their main medium. Our church had their own Peep Show as a fundraiser too. My favorite way to have chicken . . . is a toss-up between very classy Chicken Florentine or very down-home southern fried chicken and waffles.


The Peeps in the stands above and the Peeps hockey players below were part of our entry in the first Peep Show at our church. I thought we did a great job for our first attempt at Peeps artwork!


These are from the more accomplished artists at the Arts Center Peep Show.


5.  This week's Hodgepodge lands on the first day of April, which happens to be National Poetry Month. Do you like poetry? Share a favorite line or two from one of your favorite poems. What makes this one a favorite? 

 I like poetry, but I don't love it. I don't read it much, mostly because I think ideally it should be read slowly and savored. And most of my reading is done over my lunch break at work. Hmm. What would be a favorite? The first one that comes to mind is The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe. I think I love it because it's so atmospheric, and I do love ravens and crows. (And to be honest, the Halloween episode of The Simpsons when they quoted it remains my favorite episode.)

And the silken, sad, uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
 Thrilled me—filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating
"'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door
 Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door;
This it is and nothing more."

- - - - - -

But the Raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered—not a feather then he fluttered
Till I scarcely more than muttered "Other friends have flown before—
On the morrow he will leave me, as my Hopes have flown before."
Then the bird said "Nevermore." 



6. Insert your own random thought here.

Had a great time on the weekend at the Sweet Adelines Regional Convention in Covington. Scioto Valley Chorus performed as the outgoing champion, but we weren't competing. We had members in a couple of the quartets that were competing. One quartet won, and the other placed fourth. We were so stinkin' proud of them!

Me and a couple of friends with our fourth place quartet, Y-NOT

How has your April started out? Leave a comment and let me know!



From this Side of the Pond

I host the Wednesday Quotes link-up every other Wednesday. Stop by and share a few thoughts and quotes on the current topic here: WQ - Simplicity. I host the Everyday Images photo link-up every other Thursday. And find the Scripture and a Snapshot link-up here every Sunday.



 Don't miss a coffee break! Subscribe to A Fresh Cup of Coffee by email

 ©2006-2026 HS Coffee Break/Just A Second/A Fresh Cup of Coffee. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. This post was written by a human. https://morecoffeebreaks.blogspot.com/ 

 This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Fresh Cup of Coffee helps continue the coffee breaks and conversation. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Simple Meal Planning - Plan to Eat

WQ - Simplicity


Many of us look back with nostalgia on "simpler times" or talk about how good a more simple life would be. And it is probably true, but ironically, it seems that it isn't quite that simple to get there! In many ways, simplicity does remain my goal. 

Our life is frittered away by detail . . . simplify, simplify. ~Henry David Thoreau




Simplicity is making the journey of this life with just baggage enough. ~Charles Dudley Warner



Straightforwardness and simplicity are in keeping with goodness. The things that are essential are acquired with little bother; it is the luxuries that call for toil and effort. To want simply what is enough nowadays suggest to people primitiveness and squalor. ~Seneca the Younger

Yes, on one hand we do sometimes think negatively of very simple no-frills living, but when it comes to elegance, it's also true that . . .

Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. ~Leonardo da Vinci






It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all. ~Laura Ingalls Wilder


The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest. ~Thomas Moore


It is the simple things of life that make living worthwhile, the sweet fundamental things such as love and duty, work and rest, and living close to nature. ~Laura Ingalls Wilder



When I have a childlike faith and a humble, teachable heart I am able to trust God and be joyful and at peace in any circumstance. This is the good and simple life.

The teaching of your word gives light,
so even the simple can understand.
~Psalm 119:30~

These are the proverbs of Solomon, David's son, king of Israel.
Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline,
to help them understand the insights of the wise.
Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,
to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
These proverbs will give insight to the simple,
knowledge and discernment to the young.
~Proverbs 1:1-4~

The way to happiness: Keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, expect little, give much. Scatter sunshine, forget self, think of others. Try this for a week and you will be surprised. ~Norman Vincent Peale



Teach us delight in simple things,
and mirth that has no bitter springs.
~Rudyard Kipling

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Wednesday Quotes is a bi-weekly opportunity for bloggers to share their writing, poetry, photos, or stories inspired by our theme. We've chosen the themes as a starting point for your creativity, and the only requirement is that your post include at least one related quote. Feel free to combine or "double-dip" with other writing or photo challenges as well. Of course, we'd appreciate a link back to us, if you'd be so kind. Add your link and please visit others and leave a comment! The link is open for two weeks.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Thanks to Marsha at Always Write for introducing us to the Wednesday Quotes challenge, and for passing the hosting duties along so we can continue sharing great quotes! Wednesday Quotes is co-hosted by Kym at A Fresh Cup of Coffee and Sadje at Keep It Alive


Quoting reminds me there are other people in the world besides only me. 
And other thoughts besides mine, and other ways of thinking. 
~Gregory Maguire~

Wednesday Quotes 2026 Themes

January 7 - Resolutions
January 21 - Motivation
February 4 - Eating Out/Restaurants
February 18 - Being Responsible
March 4 - Libraries
March 18 - Perseverance
April 1 - Simplicity
April 15 - Conquering Fear
April 29 - Making a Difference
May 13 - Family Ties
May 27 - Courage
June 10 - Teachers/Mentors
June 24 - Connecting with Nature
July 8 - Milestones
July 22 - Sunrise
August 5 - Patience
August 19 - Taking a Break/Rest
September 2 - Learning from Mistakes
September 16 - Best Friends
September 30 - Elegance
October 14 - Reaching Goals
October 28 - Dreams/Nightmares
November 11 - Integrity
November 25 - Generosity
December 9 - Beauty in Nature
December 23 - True Love


 Don't miss a coffee break! Subscribe to A Fresh Cup of Coffee by email

 ©2006-2026 HS Coffee Break/Just A Second/A Fresh Cup of Coffee. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. This post was written by a human. https://morecoffeebreaks.blogspot.com/ 

This post may contain affiliate links - using affiliate links from A Fresh Cup of Coffee helps continue the coffee breaks and conversation.