Thursday, June 11, 2026

Some Hodgepodge Questions to Ponder



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!

This week it's Coke and pizza more
often than coffee!

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

1.  How would you define 'the good life'?
 
I love this question because it's something I started pondering seriously a couple years ago, prompted by The Bible Project's podcast series on the Sermon on the Mount. They talked about how the sayings we call the Beatitudes are declaring that those who are poor in spirit, humble, hungry for righteousness, etc are living the good life. And some of those descriptions don't sound at all like living the good life to us, and didn't sound like that to Jesus' hearers either. So it invites us to meditate on it. All that to say, I've come to a definition something like: I'm living my best life when I am in right relationship with God and with others, being grateful to God for all the resources and blessings he's given me and using those resources and blessings in ways that glorify him and bless others. 
Blessed are those [how good is life for those]
who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they shall be satisfied. 
~Matthew 5:6

Trust in the LORD and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
Take delight in the LORD,
and he will give you your heart's desires.
Commit everything you do to the LORD.
Trust him, and he will help you.
He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
~Psalm 37:3-6~

That does sound like 'the good life' to me - being satisfied or contented, living in safety and prosperity, having the heart's desires that align with God's plan, and receiving justice from God. Here is the link to the episode of the podcast I mentioned: "What Does 'Blessed' Mean? (The Beatitudes Pt. 1) 



2. What's the most used app on your phone (and are you proud of that)?

In terms of time spent, it would be Rumble, which makes sense. That's the video streaming app where I watch most of the podcasts I follow and I use that for a large portion of my workday. The apps I use most often in terms of how many times I open and do something with it would be Google Maps and Spotify, both of which I use daily. I don't know if I'd say proud, but I'm not at all ashamed of it. 

3. 'Every rose has its thorn', 'everything's coming up roses', 'looking through rose-colored glasses', 'it's no bed of roses' or 'stop and smell the roses' . . . which rose idiom best related to something in your life currently. Explain.

 Very soon now, I think I'll be able to 'stop and smell the roses'. I plan to anyway! It's been go - go - go - for the past couple weeks as we did all the things to buy the house, and then pack up and move. It wound up being just us and our son and daughter-in-law doing the entire move on Saturday, and it rained really hard for part of the day, so we settled for just getting things into the house. As a result we are still in the midst of a lot of chaos, and have still needed to go back to the apartment several times to finish the packing and cleaning. But it's almost time to stop and sit back and take some deep breaths. I have one final trip to wash floors at the apartment and then we turn in our keys and are done. And then we'll have one evening to get the house sorted as best we can before we go on vacation. I plan to put my feet up and relax and enjoy!




4.  How do you feel about floral flavorings in food or drink (rose, hibiscus, elderflower, lavender)?

 I'm not crazy about floral flavorings but don't object. I learned to really like hibiscus tea when I was in Honduras years ago but I've hardly ever had it since then. And over the past couple of years I've been pleasantly surprised by lavender flavors in lattes and cold foam. But I also don't ever seek them out. 

5.  Over the course of your life what have you probably spent more time pondering than anything else?

 The Bible. There is endless wisdom to meditate on and ponder, so many layers to explore, and so many curiosities and connections to wonder about. No matter how long  or how deeply one studies Scripture, there is always something new to discover and learn. Absolutely the most amazing piece of literature of all time. 



6. Insert your own random thought here.

We were supposed to be able to just pack our modem and router along and activate our same internet service at the new address. If only it were that easy. We tried every coax cable we could find and no luck. So I had to have a service tech come out to the house to install and activate it properly. It reminded me of the "olden days" when you had to wait around at home for the cable guy or phone company to come do the installation. At least with modern technology, I got real time updates of when the guy was on his way and a really accurate arrival time. All the same, it was a pretty long lunch break from work so I could be here! And now we have internet again, though I will confess my "office" is still not in the least bit put together. It's a start!

What are you pondering this week? 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 - The Art of Teaching. 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

Wednesday, June 10, 2026

WQ - The Art of Teaching



When I was growing up, I wanted most to be a teacher. I learned to read early, and I loved it, and I loved learning too. To nine-year-old me, the lady standing confidently in front of the classroom instructing us in spelling or math or history was someone I admired and wanted to be like. As I got older, I realized that not all teachers in the school systems are great, or well-suited to the profession, but I had enough great teachers that I still wanted to be an educator myself. 



As it turned out, I didn't finish my degree, so I didn't become a teacher. Not a public school teacher anyway. However, I became a home educator and dedicated myself to teaching my own children. I loved teaching in co-op classes and found that I was pretty good at it, and for quite a few years I taught high school writing, literature, and some history at a tutorial school. 



So over those years, I developed a firm belief that the best teachers are also mentors. Good teaching is so much more than standing at the front of a classroom and lecturing or explaining concepts well. The best teaching usually comes from someone who connects with students and develops relationship with them, someone who learns alongside students, someone who inspires and encourages and models what they teach. 


The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery. ~Mark Van Doren

A master can tell you what he expects of you. A teacher, though, awakens your own expectations. ~Patricia Neal

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. ~William Arthur Ward


The art of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives. ~Robert M. Hutchins

Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction. ~John Crawford Crosby

What you want in a mentor is someone who truly cares for you and who will look after your interests and not just their own. When you do come across the right person to mentor you, start by showing them that the time they spend with you is worthwhile. ~Vivek Wadwha


"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord', and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." ~Jesus Christ
~John 13:13-15~

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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


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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. 

Monday, June 8, 2026

Scripture and a Snapshot - Love One Another

My apologies to those who were unable to find Scripture and a Snapshot here yesterday. We were moving on the weekend and my internet wasn't working while we were in limbo. 



"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
~John 13:34-35~





Thank you for joining Scripture & A Snapshot. Leave a link to your own post sharing a Scripture and a Snapshot. Take time to visit some of the other links and bless each other with comments.

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Click here to enter




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/ 

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Friday, June 5, 2026

Currently . . . June 5, 2026



The "Currently" link-up at the beginning of each month is now hosted at Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa. Our new 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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Enjoying - Things I'm loving right now include:

We have a house! To be fair, I'm not enjoying the actual move process that we are in the middle of, but I love love love the house we just bought and I'm enjoying the excitement and possibilities of getting settled in and decorating and buying some new furniture and things. I love the open feel and the way the light comes in these windows, and I love the wood floors (that area rug is going away eventually, in favor of a smaller one).


I love how big and bright the kitchen is, especially compared to the apartment. There's a bay window to the left of that table that I love. (The table and chairs were left by the seller and I like it a lot, I just don't think it will stay in the kitchen so that's an open question at the moment). I love that there's a perfect spot for a little coffee bar right beside the fridge too.




I love the deck and yard, and I love that the seller also left the outdoor furniture, which means we can start enjoying the deck immediately!


I'm even enjoying the front entry, even though it's smaller and narrower than I would have liked in my ideal world. But I got my USA garden flag out there first thing, because you need to set the tone!



I'm enjoying all the patriotic decor and things, and am hoping that there will be lots of fun, safe, celebratory things to participate in over the next couple of months as we celebrate the 250th year of the greatest nation on earth! I love the USA and I love the flag! I got a pair of these banners that are going up in the new house ASAP.



Wearing - mostly t-shirts and jeans or capris, same as almost always. My office is in a warehouse so I don't dress up at all for work, so my wardrobe doesn't change a whole lot. I recently got a couple new pairs of shoes that I love. When I need a light jacket, I've been trying to choose my Scioto Valley Chorus jean jacket because it's my new favorite.


This photo is from when we first 
got the jackets, back in December.


Watching - Well, of course we've been watching the Stanley Cup playoffs! The enthusiasm we felt dropped off after hubby's favorite team (Montreal Canadiens) lost their series, but we are still following it. Other than that, I haven't watched much TV at all, and no movies. I sat down with hubby to watch the first few episodes of Spider-Noir which we're quite enjoying. Sometime when we have a free evening (which might not be until July the way things are going) we still need to watch Remarkably Bright Creatures.


Listening to - I listen to a lot of podcasts, especially at work. Technically I watch them while at work because I use the Rumble app so there's video. My favorites there are political commentary. I listen to the non-video podcasts at home and while driving, and my favorite in that category is The Bible Project. I had been listening to - and rehearsing along with - the recorded versions of my chorus rehearsals while driving, but that app doesn't communicate nicely with my car through bluetooth so I can't change the volume. Makes it really challenging, since it's usually not loud enough to sing along with, so that's frustrating. I recently listened to an audiobook I really enjoyed - Tom Selleck's memoir, narrated by him. 

Musically, I listen to mostly alternative Christian rock and other rock/popular music. My radio station of choice is RadioU.

Buying - I don't think I've bought much lately, but I've got a list of things I plan to buy for the new house, mostly furniture items. We had to buy a dehumidifier for the basement immediately. Since we 'inherited' the outdoor furniture, I'd like to buy a large patio umbrella or awning or something like that. I'm planning to buy a bed for the guest room and new living room furniture. But I will wait on all of it until after we get back from vacation. Might do a bit of shopping when Mum and Dad are here - we'll see. 


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


I'm currently reading . . . 

The Muse of Maiden Lane by Mimi Matthews
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

  


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

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Something fun found during coffee breaks:

I found this a few years ago actually, but it popped up in my memories on the book of face and made me laugh. This is SO me!


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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

Thursday, June 4, 2026

Everyday Images #89



Welcome to my ongoing challenge and reminder to myself to take photos somewhat regularly. I'm not a photographer, but I enjoy taking everyday photos of things I find interesting or want to remember later, and I'm more likely to notice interesting things when I'm intentionally watching for them. Having some prompts that are open to interpretation has helped me pay a little more attention to what's around me. Here's how it works: Every two weeks I have a few words and phrases to focus on, and I try to find opportunities to take pictures of these things each week. The link-up post will be here every other Thursday, sharing my photos and offering a link-up for participants to share theirs. Right below the link-up is where you'll find the next set of prompts. 

May/June Prompts - Everyday Images #89
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flag
simple and/or complicated
at home (monthly)
Wednesday weather
doorway
movement
branched
~~~~~

flag



simple and/or complicated - I noticed this coloring book I got for my granddaughter has some pretty simple designs and others that are a lot more complicated.




at home (monthly) - it doesn't look very homey yet, but we only just took possession of the house yesterday evening!




 


Wednesday weather



doorway - bonus, got to see the new house in the dark for the first time




movement - not actual kinetic movement in my photo, but a representation of the movement from one dwelling to another



branched - Oh sure, I could have taken photos of trees, but I kept forgetting! 



And a few bonus photos:

After closing we went out for dinner to celebrate. The walls of our favorite Greek restaurant are decorated with beautiful murals of Greece.


Here are a few photos of the house on the first day we had possession, everything mostly empty and bare. We were pleasantly surprised that the seller left behind some furniture, including a really nice kitchen set and outdoor furniture.



I've been saving the wine basket I won as my own housewarming gift. LOL


Decided immediately where the coffee station will be:



I am sharing my photos every other Thursday, along with my prompts for the next two weeks. You can use all or some of the prompts for your own photo posts, or none of the prompts and just link up a post featuring your photos. Simple rules: Your posts must be family-friendly; the photos must be your own; and the post must be mostly photos. If you do share I'd appreciate a mention and link to A Fresh Cup of Coffee on your post.


The Everyday Images link-up is posted every other Thursday, and is open for two weeks.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

June Prompts - Everyday Images #90
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wildflowers
water
neighborhood spot (quarterly)
nature
adventure
favorite
twilight


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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