The Wednesday Hodgepodge #44

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. America celebrates turning 250 years old this year. Primary cities set to lead the celebrations on July 4th are Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Washington D.C. Other significant locations for celebrating will be Charleston SC and the 'historic triangle' which includes Jamestown-Willimasburg-Yorktown Virginia.

Of the cities listed how many have you seen in person? Of the cities listed which would you most like to visit this year? Any plans to do so? What's one place in America you think everyone should see? If you're not American what's one place in the US you'd like to see?

I haven’t seen any of them in person or even visited America but I can definitely daydream about it. I would love to visit New York and do all the touristy things. Stand in Times Square, have a walk through Central Park, take a ferry past the Statue of Liberty, visit the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and Metropolitan Museum of Art, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and see a show on Broadway!

I think everyone should see The Grand Canyon in person. It’s one of those places that I imagine photos never fully do it justice. Just standing there looking out over the landscape must feel so surreal.

2. Three sounds you love to hear?

My girls laughing properly - The full belly laugh, the kind where they can’t stop and it spreads to everyone else in the room.

Rain tapping on the windows at night - The steady, gentle tapping when I'm in bed and don’t have to go anywhere. It makes me want to snuggle under the duvet even more and be cosy.

The kettle boiling and clicking off - That little click. It means a cup of tea is seconds away!

3. Three sounds you hate to hear?

Someone chewing with their mouth open - That squelchy, smacking, gulping noise that I can’t ignore no matter how hard I try.

My fella snoring - It is like sleeping next to a chainsaw, it's loud and just when I think it’s stopped, he starts again!

My alarm clock - It is my worst enemy every morning! I have even tried putting relaxing music on to wake me up gently but it just makes me angry that it's time to leave my bed.

4. February 24th is/was National Tortilla Chip Day. Are you a fan? With salsa, guacamole, queso, or just plain please? Do you like nachos? With what on top? Is there anything (besides nachos) you make that calls for tortilla chips?

I’ve never been a huge fan of tortilla chips but I don’t dislike them either. They’re fine if they’re there but I wouldn’t go out of my way to eat them. There’s nothing really exciting about a plain tortilla chip and while dips like salsa or guacamole make them a bit more interesting, they’re still not something I crave. They’re a nice snack to have snack but not a must have snack in my mind.

5. We March into March with next week's Hodgepodge...what's one thing on your March calendar that makes you smile?

I’m really looking forward to Mother’s Day this March, a whole day when I get to just relax and be spoilt. No chores, no running around, just a day to feel appreciated and loved. I can already imagine the little treats, maybe a nice breakfast, thoughtful cards, and just enjoying time with my family without having to think about anything else. It’s the kind of day that makes me feel really special.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

It feels like spring! Well, today it does. I am writing this on Sunday and it's 14C (57F), the sun is shining and there's not a drop of rain! I put Ellie’s trainers on the line after they came out of the wash and just stood there watching them flap in the breeze thinking spring is coming. The air feels different, all fresh and light. I couldn’t stop there, I stripped the bed, washed everything and it went straight onto the line. I love drying stuff outside. It just makes everything feel a bit brighter and days like this make me actually want to do all the boring jobs. The sunshine makes everything easier!