Wednesday, May 14, 2025
It’s Wednesday and time to link up with Joyce for Hodgepodge!
1. What’s something you’re curious about right now?
I guess I am most curious about what my retirement life will look like. I think this summer will just feel like a summer but I have never had much free time in the fall!
I am also wondering what my style will be like.
2. If you could plan the perfect girl’s weekend getaway, where would you go and what would be on the agenda? Do you have anything like this on your calendar in the next few months?
I would really like to plan a beach weekend with my sisters. I think it would be cathartic and we could all use it. I would like to visit a winery.
3. What’s the most unique item in your refrigerator right now?
I don’t think there is really anything unique right now. Maybe red pepper jelly? It’s so good on cream cheese with Wheat Thins. We also have fig spread and that is great on a gourmet grilled cheese!
4. In this season of your life, what do you find most challenging?
Cleaning the house! Finding the perfect time when I have the energy and EO is out of the house is next to impossible. I scurry to use Saturday mornings right now. Plus, this pup sheds more than our other labs.
5. Do you collect anything? If so why that?
These Starbucks mugs as my regular readers know! My England and Spain are special because those are the last two I received and my mom got them for me for Christmas. It’s something I use each day and I think about who gave it to me or where I got it and it makes me feel happy. I think you should use what you have and have what you use and it is very me to collect something practical. I am not really into non-practical dust catchers.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Next week is our senior walk where the seniors walk through the halls one last time. I am thinking of how I will mark and celebrate my “last walk”. Should I even mark it? One thought is a get together at a Mexican restaurant for students and former students and then for my friends.
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
Do school employee retirees typically do a “walk” or mark the occasion overtly (besides a party that someone else would presumably throw for the person retiring)? I didn’t think about the beach! That would be a good location for a girls trip. I hope it works out for you and your sisters to go on one. Have a great day!
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No. They honor us at the last teacher day with a Louisville Stoneware platter.
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I don’t even have a dog (or a full time job) and I still struggle to get the house clean… I swear it’s a never ending job and I’ve really just about given up on it. That girls’ weekend with your sisters sounds lovely.
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I’m
Glad I’m not the only one!
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Oh wow, Amy, your new life is approaching fast! I think it is a wonderful idea to celebrate with the different groups in your life. Some of your students and former students sound like a fun group to hang out with. Are you planning on keeping in contact with them once you stop teaching?
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Thank you! Through Instagram for sure!
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Totally agree – no dust catchers! Ugh, I only want things that are useful and meaningful.
Shelly and I have a fun weekend planned in Savannah and I am so excited! I’d love to go to Louisville after seeing your post and Joanne’s about your weekend. I think a beach trip for you and your sisters is a wonderful idea!
xo,
Kellyann
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I love that your mom gave you the last two mugs from your trips abroad and that you only collect practical items. I think that’s very wise! I hope you can make a beach trip with your sisters happen; I think your parents would love knowing that you girls are doing that and enjoying each other. It would be incredible if you could make it a yearly thing! I’m curious to know what your future is going to look like as well! I love the thought of you marking your retirement in some way; it’s a good idea to meet up with former/current students for coffee at some point! I definitely think you need to at least have a colleague take your picture in front of your classroom or inside…maybe do a “this is how it started/how it’s ending” type thing?
Happy Wednesday!
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I love the idea of a restaurant dinner with former and present students. I think you are going to shine in retirement and am here to watch! I hope it means you can make a trip to Memphis :).
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My homesteader friends make an amazing pepper jelly and I often put it on cream cheese with wheat thins also!
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I hope you get a beach trip. Or a winery…I. enjoy those trips too. Such pretty settings. Dogs and kids in the house make cleaning a challenge. Maybe you’ll be able to do a task or two each day in retirement and it won’t feel as overwhelming. Your style will likely change. I miss a work wardrobe but live in shorts, swim suits and coverups here most of the time. I love dressing up on too, so when those opportunities come along I’m happy. My daughter’s mother-in-law has the most prolific fig tree in the world and gives me a lot of fig jams and chutney type spreads. We love them. Hope you have a great day!
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A beach vacation for any reason is a good one. You and your sisters are so good together. For the first time in my life, I’m thinking about getting a cleaning person. I just don’t have the desire to do it anymore. I think an open house kind of event would be such a good way to celebrate your retirement.
https://marshainthemiddle.com
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I love the idea of a sister trip… you all deserve it and I bet it will be cathartic, too! I also love the idea of gathering with students to celebrate your retirement. As a secondary teacher, you must have such close/recent connections with them and it sounds like you’ve made quite an impression on many of them.
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I love the shorts you have on in your picture! Book the trip with your sisters. I kept thinking about it . . .and then didn’t do it . . .and now I can’t. My husband hates it . . .but I have a lady who comes periodically to clean. When we were both working full time, she came every week or every two weeks (different times of life). Now she comes every few weeks. To be honest, I would have her every two weeks but since Mark has retired, I try to work around his schedule.
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Thank you! I would love having cleaning help but would also feel awkward. I need to see how my cleaning routine shapes up.
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I have probably mentioned that I have a collection of the Starbucks mugs, but the older version. I’m not really collecting anymore, but love having coffee and remembering the places I’ve been. I think you will love retirement and how you will feel like YOU are in control of how you spend your time. The beach is always my favorite vacation.
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Their mugs are just perfect to me!
Yes! I hope you are right!
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You and your sisters should definitely plan a trip…you certainly deserve it! & you could celebrate your retirement. August will feel so different for you , I’m sure…but in a good way. The Starbucks coffee mugs are so fun.
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