The Wednesday Hodgepodge #30

I hope you are all having a good week? It's Wednesday which means it's time to join in with the Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce who blogs at From This Side of the Pond! Each week there are 6 questions, we answer and then link up. Simple!

1. 'The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.' How does this saying ring true in your own family, either the one you grew up in or the one you made?

I think it’s so true, especially when it comes to myself, my dad and my brother. We’re all so similar. It's those little things that give it away like the looks we give when someone says something silly or the way we always stand with one hand on our hips when we're listening to people talk or waiting for something. It also makes me chuckle how we all love a bargain. I get that from my dad and he has always taught me to be careful with money. My dad has this thing, when we go shopping where he asks, "Do you want it or do you need it?". It’s his subtle way of trying to keep us from buying unnecessary stuff. Of course it backfires on him sometimes. My dad has a soft spot for old vintage cars and when he buys one my brother and I can’t resist saying, "So did you want it or did you need it, Dad?". Now I catch myself saying the exact same thing to my girls. They just roll their eyes and say "you’re turning into Grandad!" and I really think I am. I often find myself thinking that's what my dad would say or do when I say or do something!

2. Something you're nuts about these days? How about something that's driving you nuts?

Right now I’m totally nuts about cosy living. Autumn has officially taken over my life like it's my whole personality! Hot drinks, oversized sweaters, blankets, candles, baking and making the kitchen smell amazing, shutting the curtains early on an evening and getting into my pj's at about 6pm without a shred of guilt.

On the flip side fireworks are driving me up the wall! It’s that time of year when over enthusiastic youngsters start setting them off just as it gets dark. I get that Bonfire Night is coming, but surely they don’t need to start a month early? The other night we had a storm and there were fireworks going off at the same time. There I was jumping at every bang and thinking is the house falling down or is it just fireworks!

3. What does abundance mean to you?

Abundance to me isn’t about having mountains of stuff, to me it's a mindset. It’s noticing and appreciating what’s already in front of me like the cosy, ordinary, lovely bits of life. A warm bed, a good cup of tea, the laughter of people I love bouncing around the kitchen, the kind of quiet evening where you just breath and everything feels OK. That’s abundance, those little, quiet moments where life feels full without the flashy extras.

4. Caramel apple-caramel cake-caramel corn-caramel sundae-caramel macchiatto...what's your caramel treat of choice?

I am not a big caramel lover but I do eat/drink it now and again. I think my favourite would be a caramel macchiato. I often get the Starbucks one's delivered with my food shop as a treat, usually part of a meal deal with a sandwich, snack and drink.

5. What's a childhood memory that always comes to mind as the leaves start to fall?

It has to be about Halloween. When I was a child Halloween wasn't a big thing over here in England. One year my brother and I decided it was going to be and we wanted to go trick or treating which was easier said than done. We lived on a farm in the middle of nowhere and the nearest house was a good ten minute walk away. The next house was another ten minutes. Definitely not the skip from door to door kind of Halloween we see now. My dad, being the absolute legend he is drove us around to bother the people he knew. My brother wrapped himself in a white sheet as a ghost and I was covered in a black bin bag with a kitchen sweeping brush for a broom. Halloween costumes weren't a thing back then and pumpkins certainly weren’t. My grandad carved turnips for us, that was the closest we could get to pumpkins. I still can’t figure out how he did it as they’re tough little things! It was special though and those turnip lanterns are a memory I’ll never forget.

6. Insert. your own random thought here.

I have just seen something on the TV about next years FIFA World Cup. I am getting ahead of myself and was getting excited about it. Over here in England football (soccer) is a big deal and even non-football fans will end up watching. Anyway I have just realised that because of the time difference between here and the USA I won't be watching half of the matches. Hmmf. Kick off times are expected to be 5pm, 8pm, 11pm and 2am our time. The later matches will probably shown the next day but watching when you know the result is no fun!