Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Wednesday Hodgepodge on Earth Day



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.  April 22nd is Earth Day . . . what's the most 'out of this world' place on earth you've ever visited? Tell us something about it.
 
I can't help thinking about a couple places I've visited that have otherworldly landscapes or features. When I was a kid my family went on a road trip vacation that included stops at Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho and Arches National Park in Utah. Craters of the Moon is a huge area of lava flows and cinder towers in a sort of desert landscape. When you're there, the name totally makes sense! We didn't have much time at Arches, and I'd love to go back and see it again. My family drove through the Badlands area of South Dakota a number of times, and that's an otherworldly landscape I've driven through a couple of times as an adult as well. I think these come to mind as 'out of this world' because they are unusual, rugged, harsh, seemingly barren landscapes that look like something from a science fiction movie, but they are also beautiful places where wildlife and plants do flourish.


Rafted parts of North Crater
Craters of the Moon - cinder towers (image from Wikimedia)
Delicate Arch in the Arches National Park, Utah, appearing an orange colour in the evening light
Delicate Arch (image from Wikimedia)
MK00609 Badlands
Badlands (image from Wikimedia)
 
2. A favorite quote, verse, or song lyric with the word earth in it?

This is a favorite Scripture passage, from Paul's speech in Athens:
 
From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.
~Acts 17:26-27~

And a quote:

My soul can find no staircase to Heaven unless it be through Earth's loveliness. ~Michelangelo

3. What's the most trivial thing about which you have a strong opinion?

Okay, I'm pretty sure I've shared this one before, but I feel some kind of a way about the kinds of cups I drink from, especially hot coffee. It needs to be in a proper mug or travel mug. Disposable paper hot cups are okay, but I don't like those plastic lids. I use a straw if I have to drink from a paper cup with a lid, and even when I use a travel mug. Styrofoam cups are just wrong, and I have a very strong opinion about that. Which means that at least for me, it's not trivial. Haha.

lid came off immediately after I took the photo

cute cup, but I didn't like drinking out of it


4.  What's your most commonly used kitchen utensil or tool? What's the last thing you made using that tool?

 Maybe I should have been keeping a tally in my kitchen since Sunday, but even so I haven't done much cooking! Hmm. There's quite a few that get used constantly, like the coffee scoop and spatula and can opener. Obviously I make coffee with the coffee scoop, a couple times a day. I have a skinny scraper that I use for everything from scraping food out of cans or jars, scraping a bowl or measuring cup when cooking, stirring food, and it can even be used as a shallow serving spoon in a pinch. I can't think what the last thing was that I MADE using it, but the last time I used it was to scoop yogurt out of the big tub into a smaller container suitable to take to work. 

5.  Marilyn (Memphis Bridges) gave me a great book of 3000 questions, and I'm going to try to use one in our Hodgepodge every week. Here is today's - 

What is your greatest extravagance?

 I think where I'm tempted to spend more money than I should and kind of not care is when it comes to eating out. We don't eat at really expensive top tier restaurants and we don't usually eat out more than once a week on average, but when we do we order what we want without thinking too much about the price, and we often order more than we need. If we are eating out with our kids, we're likely to be extravagant enough to treat everyone.


6. Insert your own random thought here.

House hunting update: We decided on the house we want, made an offer on it, and are currently negotiating a price. Praying, keeping our fingers crossed, and asking for all the good wishes that we can agree and sign a contract this week! We're doing everything we can to make it happen!

How would answer any of these questions? 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 - Overcoming Fear. 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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Simple Meal Planning - Plan to Eat

22 comments:

  1. Im with you on the coffee mugs! I even need particular travel mugs. I've been known to bring mine to Starbucks and just have them fill that and pay the couple extra bucks haha

    ENjoyed your answers and LOVE that Scripture from Acts.

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    1. Coffee mugs are important! And it's worth a little extra to really enjoy the coffee drinking experience, right?!
      Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!

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  2. I love your travel photos. And fingers crossed on the house!!

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    1. Well, they aren't MY photos since it's been so many years that I don't actually have photos of my own of those spots. Thanks for the good wishes on the house!

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  3. Coffee cups. Another thing I have opinions about. The list is long : ) Hoping the house works out for you!

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    1. Yeah, coffee cups are just the first thing in my long list of things. LOL Thanks for the good wishes about the house and for stopping by to comment!

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  4. I forgot about the badlands! We're headed to Arches soon and I can't wait to see some of those land formations in person. Oh I am very excited for you and hope and pray that everything works out on the house you want!

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    1. I would absolutely LOVE to go back to Arches as an adult. We're not planning a trip to the southwest but it's something we want to do while we're still mobile and healthy.
      Thanks for the good wishes on the house - will be keeping everyone posted as things move along!

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  5. I almost picked Craters of the Moon also! We have been there at least twice and it is fascinating and otherworldly indeed.

    And I love that Scripture passage from Acts. What a masterful preacher/teacher Paul was!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. How interesting that you thought of COTM also! It seems to me that it's not a very well-known Natl Park. I'd love to go back as an adult and see it again.
      That passage from Acts has stuck with me over the years and has been a real encouragement.
      Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

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  6. Good luck with the house! I chose a place in Utah too - it's so amazing there.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. The American southwest has so many fascinating places! Wish I could explore them all!
      Thanks for stopping by and commenting, and for the good wishes on the house!

      Delete
  7. It sounds like you have visited some fantastic places.
    Yes! I totally agree with you about cups and mugs!
    That is great news about the house. I hope it all goes without a hitch!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Dedicated tea and coffee drinkers have opinions about cups and mugs, right?!
      Thanks for stopping by and commenting - things are moving along with the house, and I appreciate the good wishes!

      Delete
  8. Best of luck with house hunting. And I absolutely have strong opinions about which mug I drink out of. Some are clearly coffee mugs and some are clearly for tea!

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    1. Yes! We don't drink hot tea regularly, but I have definite rules about which mugs can be used for tea and which are for coffee only. LOL
      Thanks for the good wishes, and for stopping by and commenting!

      Delete
  9. I enjoyed reading your answers.
    I had to smile at your opinions on coffee cups--I’m the same way, the right mug makes all the difference!
    Wishing you smooth sailing with the house negotiations.

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    1. So glad I'm not alone in my strong opinions about coffee cups! LOL
      Thanks for the good wishes and for taking the time to read and comment!

      Delete
  10. Sounds like an exciting time waiting on finalizing the home offer. Hope it all works out for you. How far from your current home will the new home be? Just wondering. Take care!

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    1. We are in contract on the house now - it's about 20 - 25 minutes from where we live right now.
      Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

      Delete
  11. Hi,
    I am praying for all to go well with the home purchase. :-)

    Yay for the Badlands, I too want to visit them again.
    Have a blessed weekend.
    Carla

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    1. So far everything is going well with the home purchase - I appreciate your prayers!
      Thanks for stopping by and commenting!

      Delete

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