Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Tom played golf for work at this beautiful club here in Louisville this week!

It’s Wednesday and time for Hodgepodge with Joyce!

1. What’s worth standing in line for? 

Gosh, not much. I did stand in line for a Honeybaked Ham a couple of years if I was the one charged with getting it. My mom would often ask me to get one for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

I put this photo on Facebook:

Yup. I waited in line for a freaking ham.

2. Tell us about a favorite food related memory. 

My Dad’s mom was a great southern cook and always made fried chicken, mashed potatoes, the whole she-bang. She taught me to make mashed potatoes when I was elementary school aged and she would always laugh that I would choose leftover mashed potatoes later when everyone else was having a piece of pie. My own mom never made mashed potatoes so this was a treat.

My Dad started really enjoying cooking and baking after his career job ended. He was an Air Force pilot and air control commander until he turned 50 and had to retire from the military. Then, he flew a local chemical company corporate air plane but had lots of free time. He got into baking bread. He made bean soup. We would often talk about recipes. I still think of him often in regards to things I know he would love. He loved everything I made, though, and always told me it was amazing. He also loved my cocktail concoctions I came up with even though he wasn’t a big drinker. He would have one beer after mowing the lawn. He would have one thing if it was offered to him. But, my parents never had a liquor cabinet. My mom didn’t drink at all.

I would bring things like “Santa’s Tipsy Spritzer” to Christmas or my Fall Sangria to Thanksgiving and he always seemed like he couldn’t believe I could make those drinks!

Here is an example of something I came up with but I don’t remember the name:

3. What are some things you find particularly peaceful or calming? 

My puppy’s light snore

Waterfalls

Rain

Libraries

Classical music

4. Is there something you do now that gets you just as excited as it did when you were a child? 

A library haul! What could be better than a massive stack of books to read that I didn’t have to pay for? I still get excited and always show the photo of my book haul.

New shoes! I distinctly remember always wearing the new shoes out of the store and putting my old ones in the box. Did your mom let you do that? My mom wasn’t as shoe obsessed but she always told people it was her fault because she dressed me up like a doll from day one. I always had a bow in my hair, too. I still love new shoes more than new clothes.

5. To what degree are you in touch with friends from grade school? high school? college if you attended college? 

I am still in touch with quite a few people that I went to grade school, junior high (that’s what we called grades 7-9), and high school. Many of them live in Louisville which is the closest big city to my hometown of Madison, Indiana.

My two college besties live here, too. I am also in touch with other college friends but mainly on social media. I see them every now and again and it’s like no time has passed.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I went ahead and bought this and I have used it already! Yum!

I really love all things pumpkin!

What would you say to any of these questions today?

Amy

18 thoughts on “Wednesday Hodgepodge”

  1. I enjoyed reading your answers but my mind made a mental sticky note at your dad having to retire from the military at age 50. Is that a pilot thing or does everyone in the military have to retire at fifty? That line at HBH would have made me twitchy. I am not patient at all for things like ham and I couldn’t think of anything I wait in line for except for things that I have to like a store line. Have a great day!

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  3. What sweet memories of your dad! It’s pretty cool that he enjoyed cooking after he retired. My dad was always excited to try food I made, I have so many fond memories of holidays and his favorite dishes.

    Standing in line for a ham, yep, that’s how you know you’ve made it to midlife!

    xo,

    Kellyann

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  4. I loved reading about your parents, especially your dad and how much he was blown away by your bartending skills. This doesn’t surprise me at all! Isn’t it funny how things like that stick with us? My dad always loved coming over to my house on Fridays because of how peaceful it was with lunch, soft lighting, music in the background, and a candle burning. He also always told me how beautiful my home was. Gosh, I miss him being here on a Friday! I didn’t mean to go there, but sometimes memories sneak in and I’m carried away.

    Adulting is strange, right? Standing in line for a holiday ham? That made me chuckle. I’d have done the same thing if I’d been asked! I loved chatting for a few minutes yesterday! Thanks for letting me call. I hope you have the best day, friend. xoxo

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    1. I love that your Dad was so complimentary! And, of course you need to go there. Those are such sweet memories that you made happen.
      It really is! I laughed so hard about that!

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  5. I’m the same with new shoes. My mom would also let us wear the new pair out of the store and that was very exciting. Did your dad retire because he was in the air traffic control arena? I know there are some strict guidelines there. I have several friends here whose husbands do all the cooking. They took it up as a hobby and are retired now and can devote a lot of time to it. Have a great day!

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    1. Yes to the shoes!
      I believe he had to retire because he was a Lt. Col. and didn’t do requirements for full colonel. He was a fighter pilot.
      I love when anyone tries new hobbies!

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  6. I used to work at Honeybaked ham during their busy seasons and one of my high school friends is still a manager there. There were also lots of teachers who worked there to make extra money. So sad they had to do that! 😬

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  7. I have never heard of anyone waiting in like for ham but I might if it was a good one!I love mashed potato as long as it’s made well and your dad’s baking and cooking sounds wonderful.Ahh! I had forgotten about the excitement of new shoes, I was allowed to wear them out of the store too.

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  10. That’s so funny you stood in line for a ham – reminds me of the adventures of Nora Krank from Christmas with the Kranks when she needed a ham at the last minute. I’m not sure I’ve ever stood in line for a food item.

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  11. That ham photo is a riot! I’m not sure I would have done that for my family… but they all know I’m pretty line adverse. One year my husband was away on a road job just before Christmas and called to ask me to go shopping for a few things for myself since he hadn’t made time to shop before his trip (it was last minute and caught him off guard) and wouldn’t have time when he arrived home. I went to the mall… found a few things in a few stores, looked at the lines and put everything back each and every time! Now if I had needed those gifts for someone else I probably would have sucked it up but that’s also why I used to make it a goal to finish all my holiday shopping by Thanksgiving!

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  12. That country club photo is gorgeous. I have already jumped the gun and started using the pumpkin spice coffee syrup! I loved hearing about your family memories and your dad.

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