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!

I still can't get my head around the fact I am mother to two adults!

My brain still refuses to accept this information, that I am the mother of two adults. Two adult daughters! I say it out loud quite often, partly to practise and partly because I’m hoping one day it’ll sink in and stop sounding so strange. It hasn’t yet.

Ellie, my youngest, turned 18 back in August, which means I officially crossed that line into all my children are grown-ups now. I thought by now I’d be used to it, I assumed the shock would wear off, I’d adjust, move on, maybe even feel a bit smug about it but no. I still find myself wandering round the house then suddenly stopping to mutter I have two adult daughters, like it’s a fun fact I’ve just learnt and can’t quite process. They are both proper adults. They can vote. They can sign contracts. They can book appointments, open bank accounts and walk into a pub without anyone batting an eyelid but they still want me to make phone calls for them, sit next to them while they fill in forms, and double check emails before they press send. The confidence disappears the second paperwork appears.

I caught myself telling someone that my girls aren't kids any more, they're all grown up and then immediately felt like I was lying because, sure, they’re legally adults but I think they will always be my babies. Slightly taller, louder babies with opinions and strong feelings about everything but still mine.

In theory, having two adult daughters should mean my workload has dropped massively. They should be cooking their own meals, keeping on top of laundry, changing their beds, cleaning up after themselves and maybe even doing the odd bit of housework without being asked. In real life, it’s more like having two very tall teenagers who can debate politics one minute and then shout Mam! the next because they’re not sure if a recipe needs salt or not. There is less teenage drama, which I appreciate more than I can explain but there are still plates left on the sides instead of in the sink. There are still cups abandoned around the house and my chocolate still mysteriously disappears.

They’re independent in lots of ways now. They manage their own money, organise their own schedules, deal with work, college and life stuff. I love seeing that. I love watching them handle things without panicking or needing me to step in straight away. It makes me proud but independence doesn’t mean they suddenly stop needing their mam. It just means the reasons change. Instead of tying shoelaces and packing school bags, I’m now helping with bigger decisions, listening to worries about work, relationships and what on earth they’re meant to be doing with their lives. Sometimes I’m asked for advice, sometimes I’m just asked to listen and sometimes I’m asked to fix something that Google could absolutely handle but apparently Mam is still the preferred option.

They’re learning how to stand on their own two feet and I’m learning how to step back without fully stepping away. That’s the tricky bit, finding that balance between giving them space and still being the safety net they’ve always had. I want them to be confident and capable and excited about their adult lives but because they’re still living at home, I’m very much part of the day-to-day stuff too. I remind them to eat properly. I ask what time they’ll be home. I check they’ve got everything they need before they leave the house and I offer guidance when they’re making decisions. They’ve come such a long way and I’m in awe of the young women they’re becoming.

At the same time, little moments catch me off guard. A laugh that sounds exactly like it did when they were small, a song that reminds me of when they were little or a random memory of bedtime stories or school runs or tiny hands in mine. It’s bittersweet. I wouldn’t rewind time, but I do sometimes miss the simplicity of those days when their biggest worry was whether their teddy had slept well.

Having two adult daughters living at home feels like a strange but lovely in-between stage. They’re grown enough to make their own choices but close enough that we still share meals, stories, TV shows and those little everyday moments that matter more than you realise. We chat in the kitchen, laugh over silly things, and occasionally fall out over the same old stuff. Some things never change. It’s not always easy. The mess, the noise, the constant Mam can you just moments can test my patience, especially when I trip over shoes that definitely didn’t belong in the middle of the dining room but I know how quickly this stage will pass. One day the house will be quieter, too quiet and I’ll miss the sound of them coming in, the random conversations and the chaos of everyone being under one roof.

Being part of my girls adult lives is a privilege. I get to see them figuring things out, making mistakes, learning, growing. I get to cheer them on, support them and be there for them. I still can’t quite get my head around being the mother of two adults. It feels strange and wonderful and slightly unbelievable all at once but I do know this: no matter how old they get, no matter what they do or where life takes them, they’ll always be my girls and I wouldn’t change that for anything!

Our weekly meal plan! 23rd Feb - 1st March!! #MealPlanningMonday

Last week was a good week! We had some quality family time, got loads done around the house as well as having plenty of time to relax. The dining room was painted white and it looks so bright and fresh. We got a new shoe rack which should stop arguments about shoes being left around the house and Stu put some new shelves up in the living room, so I have plenty of room now to display pretty things! Last week's meal plan went really well. We ate everything and enjoyed it all. I actually did very little cooking, which seemed like a nice break!

I had planned on getting a Gousto Box this week but there wasn't enough meals to make an order worth it which doesn't happen often, so this week I'm making a couple of my family's favourites and we will get a box delivered on Saturday for next week. It will be a nice way to get back into a routine after a week with no routine. I don't have much planned for this week apart from getting out in the garden. This week is supposed to be warm and mostly dry and on Wednesday we're supposed to have some sunshine too! What a treat!

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Stu is cooking!

Stu will be doing the cooking, so it will be a surprise for me. I quite like not being in charge and it’s lovely sitting down to something that I don’t have to think about, prep or wash up after.

Tuesday - Sausages, mashed potato and baked beans!

This is one of my favourite comfort food meals and we all love the simplicity of it. My girls and I do something that Stu says is disgusting. We chop the sausages up and mix it all up! It is amazing!

Wednesday - Spaghetti Bolognese and garlic bread!

You can’t go wrong with a good spaghetti Bolognese. It’s a classic and one of those family dinners where everyone clears their plate and goes back for seconds, so I always make sure to make plenty, plus I will be using it for Thursday too!

Thursday - Leftover Bolognese in tortilla wraps!

This is where the batch cooking pays off. Instead of having the same meal again, we’ll turn the leftover Bolognese into something a bit different. I’ll warm it up and spoon it into tortilla wraps, maybe add a bit of grated cheese and wrap them up and eat! They're messy but they taste so good!

Friday - Chippy tea!

We will order something from the chip shop. No cooking, no fuss and the biggest drama is deciding what we fancy.

Saturday - Gousto meal - Lamb Doner With Chilli Sauce And Chips!

This feels like such a proper Saturday night meal. It’s got that takeaway feel but we’ll make it at home so it won’t cost nearly as much. We have had it before and it tastes way better than any from a takeaway!

Sunday - Bacon sandwiches!

We're finishing the week off with an easy meal. You can't beat a bacon sandwich with lots of red sauce! Yum!

What are you eating this week?

A photo every day for a year! 15th - 21st February Week 8 of #Project365

Happy Sunday! I hope you’re having a good one. Our weekend has been a really nice mix of getting things done around the house, like putting new shelves up and having a bit of fun too. I’m actually writing this yesterday morning because the plan was and hopefully still is that Stu and I head out for a nice meal and a couple of drinks. Nothing wild, just food we don’t have to cook ourselves and drinks we don’t have to pour in our own kitchen. The girls were outraged that they weren’t invited and they were being forced to have a takeaway at home. I think they’ll survive the trauma. lol

Now for a photo every day!

46/365 15th February

Cakes but not just any cakes, they were M&S cakes. I can't resist buying treats whenever I shop in M&S. Their food is so fancy. I joked with Stu that once the kids have moved out, we'd be doing our full weekly shop in M&S. We’ll have posh ready meals, fancy puddings and probably salmon on a random Tuesday. That’s the dream!

47/365 16th February

I took a photo of my ring for a blog post. It got me thinking about how Stu and I have been together for coming up 20 years this summer. That is just under half of my life, which seems crazy but crazy in a good way! It feels like five minutes ago and a hundred years ago all at once, we’ve done so much in that time.

48/365 17th February

Pancake Day and the girls of course went for the chocolate spread. I just stuck to lemon juice and golden syrup! Years ago, I never thought I would be able to make pancakes but on Tuesday every one that I made was perfect, well apart from the first one. That is always a disaster until the pan heats up properly.

49/365 18th February

The day I had been dreading for the last month or so arrived, getting my contraceptive implant changed but it went well and I was given this little card with the details of when it needs changing and information about the implant. It says it’s located in the inner side of the upper arm, which then sent my brain off on a random tangent. What happens if someone doesn’t have arms? I ended up Googling it because I needed to know. Turns out it can be placed in other areas with enough fatty tissue, like the thigh or abdomen.

50/365 19th February

When we were shopping for painting supplies, I asked Stu if he wanted a roller with a splash guard on and he said no, he'd be careful! This was him being careful. lol He managed to get paint all over himself but somehow not on the carpet, the walls that weren’t meant to be painted or the ceiling. So, technically, he did a great job!

51/365 20th February

We got a new shoe rack! You wouldn’t think that’s exciting but in a house where shoes seem to multiply overnight it kind of is. This one is half the length of the old one and twice the height, yet somehow it fits more shoes. There is now no excuse for shoes being left around the house.

52/365 21st February

Terry’s Chocolate Orange Eggs! Terry's has been my favourite chocolate for as long as I can remember and now they’ve made eggs with a creamy centre. Of course I had to try them and they are really nice but I still don’t think they're better than a Cadbury Creme Egg.

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