A Fresh Cup of Coffee

Thursday, March 5, 2026

March Into The 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. As the saying goes, 'March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.' Did your March come in roaring or like some other animal? Every month carries with it certain feelings, which is why some people love and anticipate December and others dread it. How do you feel about the month of March?

When it comes to the weather, I'd say March came in more like a lion. A stealthy lion rather than an openly aggressive, roaring lion. March 1st was pretty cold compared to the day before, and then we woke up to snow on Monday and the morning commute was absolutely awful for just about everyone. Other than the weather, it's hard to say whether it was more like a lion or a lamb. Might have to wait and compare it to the situations at month's end and see what I think! In general, I like March and have pretty positive feelings about it. It's got Pi Day (and I love pie), St Patricks Day (and I love Lucky Charms, Irish coffee, and all those fun things that go along with the day), and my daughter-in-law's birthday (and I really love my daughter-in-law!). March brings springtime and the Easter season, even when Resurrection Day falls in April. So lots of positives!

2. Where in your life are you a lion? Where are you a lamb?

I'm a lion when it comes to my family. I will defend them and stand with them, and I expect them to do the same. I would say I can be a lion when it comes to certain topics I have strong opinions about. Some topics related to Bible teaching and how Christians should live and behave would bring out a lion like response from me. I feel very strongly about some topics based on politics and law, and I suppose I'm rather a lion about those, even though I almost never bring up those subjects myself and don't start debates. I'm more of a lamb in a lot of small daily decisions, where I don't feel strongly one way or another, and I'm content to just say "whatever" and go along with whatever others want.

3. The Hodgepodge lands on National Pound Cake day. Do you like pound cake? If so do you have a favorite flavor? Let's play this or that -

pound cake or layer cake?
pound cake or cheesecake?
pound cake or angel food cake?
pound cake or brownie?
pound cake or pie?

I do like pound cake, but sure don't have it very often. I think lemon pound cake would be my favorite. I would choose layer cake, cheesecake, pound cake, brownie, and pound cake in those hypotheticals. Depending on the flavors of cheesecake and pie being offered.

4. What makes you feel childlike wonder right now?

Fog. The moon and stars. The first green signs of crocuses and daffodils that are barely poking out of the ground, and other similar signs of spring.

coming soon!!

5. What's one thing you need to add to your wardrobe to get ready for spring?

I've been needing a new pair of shoes for awhile. Not sure they're very specific to spring though. The problem is that there is only one shoe store around here that carries the brand I want, and their hours are basically the same as my work hours. I could order the shoes I want online, I guess, but I'd have to be pretty sure about their return policy before I do that. I'd like to get a new pair of canvas or light sneakers too, and that's more seasonal. Not something I need to acquire, but my spring raincoat has some sticker and tape residue on it that I need to clean and I'd better get it done soon!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

This is a very different week. I was summoned for jury duty this week, so instead of going to work each day, I'm going downtown to the courthouse. I am on the jury in a case so of course we can't discuss it at all at this point. What I can say is that it's a really interesting experience.

At the same time I've got all these other things that I need to be making progress on, like all the stuff related to our house hunting, and we still need to make a decision on a vacation home. And I'm working on taxes. I was on the phone with my daughter a couple nights ago and she was talking about all the things on her to-do list and the frustrations she's running into. We are calling these tasks our Overwhelm Lists. Why is no one ever the correct amount of whelmed? We're either overwhelmed or underwhelmed.

A fun reading update - The 52 Book Club Challenge just sent out their March Mini-Challenge info and it's a Pick 3 from a brand new Mystery Genre Challenge, and while the Mini-Challenge is for this month, the entire Mystery Genre Challenge has no deadline date. My kind of challenge, at this point! Mystery is my preferred genre, so that makes it interesting and "doable" but because I don't have the time to read 50+ books a year at this point, a challenge that has no projected end date is fantastic. Go as fast or slow as I like! As you can see, I've already completed my first case!

Did March come in like a lion or a lamb for you? Leave a comment and let me know!

I'm sharing in this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge at 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 - Libraries. 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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Wednesday, March 4, 2026

WQ - Libraries

I love libraries. What a wonderful invention the lending library is! I don't remember when my first experience with a library was, but I do remember spending lots of time in the library at my schools, from grade school up. I remember being taught how to use the card catalog and how the Dewey decimal system worked, and I was fascinated. I came up with a similar system of organizing the books I owned, and made date due cards for them. I don't think I had occasion to loan books out very often, but I was prepared! I very often walked to one of the two public library branches that were near our house and could spend hours there.

When my kids were young, we made regular visits to the library and I allowed them to borrow as many books as we could carry. We homeschooled, so the library was a valuable resource to supplement our curriculum. Every time we've moved, one of the things I've done first is get a library card for the local public library. That was true thirty-some years ago when we moved to Ocean City, NJ, and I was a young stay-at-home mom who didn't know anybody yet. It was true when we moved to Maryland and I was starting my homeschool mom journey and making new friends. And it was true just a few years ago when we moved to Ohio and I was an empty nest mom who didn't know anybody.

Frederick Public Library

The only thing that you absolutely have to know, is the location of the library. ~Albert Einstein

New Albany Public Library

The library, I believe, is the last of our public institutions to which you can go without credentials. You don't even need the sticker on your windshield that you need to get into the public beach. All you need is the willingness to read. ~Harry Golden

My mother and my father were illiterate immigrants from Russia. When I was a child they were constantly amazed that I could go to a building and take a book on any subject. They couldn't believe this access to knowledge we have here in America. They couldn't believe that it was free. ~Kirk Douglas

A library outranks any other one thing a community can do to benefit its people. It is a never failing spring in the desert. ~Andrew Carnegie

A good library will never be too neat, or too dusty, because somebody will always be in it, taking books off the shelves and staying up late reading them. ~Daniel Handler

In a library we are surrounded by many hundreds of dear friends, but they are imprisoned by an enchanter in these paper and leathern boxes. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I don't know much at all about gardening, but this still seems like a pretty accurate statement!

This sums up my library goals:

I feel I want to be wise with white hair in a tall library in a deep chair by a fireplace. ~Gregory Corso

hmmm. Needs a comfy armchair, but close!

Seventy million books in America's libraries, but the one you want to read is always out. ~Thomas Lansing Masson

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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.

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 - Perserverance

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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Sunday, March 1, 2026

Scripture and a Snapshot - Do Not Worry

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you―you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

~Matthew 6:25-34~

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I also link up at the Sweet Tea & Friends Monthly Link-up Party hosted by Grace-Filled Moments

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Saturday, February 28, 2026

Share Four Somethings - February 2026

Each month we're each invited to share things in these categories: something we loved, something that sustained us, something we're carrying forward from this month to the next, and something we're making space for. I usually like to include a little bit of a bonus: Some Things I Read and a little of What's Coming Up Soon.

Some Things I Loved:

Our weather was all over the place in February. There wasn't another huge dump of snow like we had last month, but we had snow, bitter cold, rain, fog, warming temperatures, and signs of spring, and it was almost a game to check my weather app and look out the window to see what iteration of February weather we would experience. I didn't envy the groundhog his job of predicting how long winter would last!

All that said, I actually loved most of it. Not the way way way below freezing days, but all the rest.

We paid an impromptu visit to Westcott House in Springfield, and I loved that. It's such a beautiful home, and it feels more "everyman" than some of the other Frank Lloyd Wright houses. This was our second visit there.

I was going to say I loved watching the Olympics, but I didn't actually WATCH a lot. Between the time difference and being at work while most events were live, I watched only a little, and that was the highlights afterwards. But I always enjoy the Olympics, especially the Winter Games. Full disclosure, of course we were cheering hard for Canada in the men's hockey gold medal game, so there was a sense of disappointment that they didn't win. However, once we got home and watched the highlights, I couldn't be in the least bit disappointed that the USA won. Their goalie was outstanding, and I especially loved how the guys included the Gaudreau family in their gold medal celebration, and that they were all unashamedly proud of America and honored to represent. That's patriotism, and I'm here for it!

Something That Sustained Me:

Having things to look forward to. When it was uncomfortably cold, it was good to remember that it wouldn't last long and spring would soon be here. When I was busy and frazzled, I looked forward to a break on the weekend or one of the things we're planning for vacation. When I was frustrated with the things in the apartment, I thought about the possibilities for an upcoming move to someplace new.

Something I'm Carrying Forward:

I was hoping we'd have definite dates and a deposit on a vacation home for our big family get-together by the end of February, but we're carrying that forward. We changed course a bit a couple weeks ago. We'd originally been thinking about Gatlinburg, but when I talked to my mum we realized it would be wonderful if she and Dad could join us, so that led to us considering the Niagara Falls area as an alternate destination. Family discussion followed, and we agreed to hunt up something in Niagara Falls instead. So that's where I'm looking now, and I think we know which week, so I'm going to try and get all of that nailed down in the next week so we can plan with a little more certainty.

Something I'm Making Space For:

We'd more or less accepted that we would look for a different property to rent when our lease here runs out, but after my husband met with our finance guy we are back to making space in our thinking for purchasing. The timeline is a bit more condensed if we want to buy, so we need to get moving on it.

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Some Things I Read:

Finished and reviewed these since my last SFS:

A Certain Darkness by Anna Lee Huber

The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews

Lady Susan by Jane Austen

Here are the books I'm currently reading:

An Unsuitable Job by Bonnie Hardy

Life From Scratch: A memoir of food, family, and forgiveness by Sasha Martin

All of my reading news is at Just A Second if you're interested.

What's Coming Up Soon?

I have jury duty starting on Monday so that's the next thing on my calendar, although it's almost impossible to predict how that will work out.

I'm still working on taxes. Ugh. Turns out my W2 had an error so I've had to wait for the corrected version before proceeding.

The family vacation is months away, but the planning part has to be done very soon.

And obviously the appointments and everything we need to put on our timeline for a move within the next few months, and that may be one of the more important things coming up soon.

There's also the Sweet Adelines Regional Convention and Competition at the end of March!

Share something in the comments, or share four somethings with the rest of us in the link party!

This post will be linked at My Joyful Life in the Share Four Somethings link party.

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