The Wednesday Hodgepodge #74

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. Fall arrives this week in the northern hemisphere. Does it look/feel like fall where you live? What's something you love to do this time of year that makes you feel its officially fall?

It is really starting to feel like autumn here in England. On Monday, when I was writing this, it was sunny but colder than it has been. Some days it feels like summer is still hanging on, when we have the odd warm day but you can feel the chill in the air, especially in the morning. I don't want to get up in the morning and would rather stay under the duvet and poor Stu leaves for work with a jacket and jumper on as it's cold and by the time he's coming home he's having to carry it as it still warms up later in the day. It's getting darker earlier in the evening and it won't be long until the clocks go back. The leaves are starting to change. Some are still green but I'm starting to see more yellow, orange and brown appearing! I have noticed Conker shells on the ground. I couldn't see any conkers but it won't be long until they start appearing too. I do like collecting them. Years ago my great aunt said that if you have conkers around the house it keeps the spiders away. I'm sure it's an old wives tale but it's something I still do.

Getting under a blanket is one of the things that make it feel like autumn has arrived. I always have a blanket next to my armchair so I can grab it whenever I want it. At the moment, it's not really cold enough for it all the time but it's nice to put over me when I am wanting that warm, tucked up feeling. It’s a brilliant blanket, it has a bit of weight to it so it doesn't fall off all the time, it is thick and it is very cosy. In a month or so, it will be over me all the time when I am sat here on my laptop or watching TV.

2. What's a small daily task or chore that always seems to fall through the cracks when your schedule gets busy?

For me, it's probably putting clothes away properly. I can keep on top of the laundry, getting it all washed and get it all dried but actually folding it and putting it away seems to be the bit that gets forgotten when I'm busy. I always think I'll do that later and later comes and there's still a pile of clean clothes sitting there!

3. What's something you're falling for lately?

I'm falling for hot chocolate again. I don't need much of an excuse to have one but the chillier and darker evenings somehow make it feel right. Now I am having a hot chocolate in an evening instead of my usual cup of tea. Over the summer, I didn't drink hot chocolate at all and I always forget how much I enjoy it. Mostly I just have plain hot chocolate but sometimes treat myself and top it with cream and marshmallows and when December comes around I will add a drop of Bailey's Irish Cream.

4. Pumpkin is a popular flavor this time of year. Are you a fan? What's your favorite pumpkin flavored food or beverage?

I am a fan of pumpkin but I like it more in sweet things rather than savoury dishes. Now is when you start seeing everything pumpkins in the shops and it's hard not to get tempted by it all. My favourite drink has to be a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks. I love having an iced one while it's still warm outside and then switching to a hot one when the weather gets colder. If Autumn had a taste, that would be it. Food wise, I have just discovered a cranberry & pumpkin seed bread that is delicious. I just have it with butter spread on.

5. What's something you wish would never change? Explain.

I think it would be family time. Things have changed as my girls have got older but I never want to lose those times that we have together. Even when the girls move out, I hope we still have those moments. Enjoying a nice meal together, watching TV, random phone calls talking about nothing, going out somewhere or just having a laugh over something silly, usually the TikTok videos that they send me.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Poor Ellie, my youngest had a midday appointment all sorted and then a couple of days before they went and moved it to 10am which actually worked out better for her day anyway. So she gets all the way into town, steps right off the bus and they ring and say it's been moved back to midday! When she told me, I asked why she didn't just tell them she was already there and see if they could squeeze her in early. She said she hadn't thought of doing that. Bless her. When I was her age, I was exactly the same, terrified of making a fuss, asking a question or being an inconvenience to anyone. It’s taken me a lot of life experience and years to gain the confidence to realise that sometimes you need to speak up and ask! The worst they can do is say no and then you're no worse off than you started. I gave Ellie a little pep talk and she promised me she'd try asking next time. It's hard being a grown up!