Wednesday, April 29, 2026
It’s Hodgepodge day with Joyce!
1. Are you feeling more reset, restart, or full speed ahead as we move into May? Tell us why.
I think I am feeling more reset. I am almost to my first year down of retirement and it’s been weird and wonderful to go through a school calendar in this state of mind – mostly relaxed and unhurried.
I have lived my life on a school calendar for almost 50 years! I was first a student, of course, followed by 31 years as a high school Spanish teacher. Do not take away the 31st year. I gained many wrinkles and gray hairs during that last year, ok?
I have had time to process the death of my mother last year and the resurfacing of the feelings associated with the death of my father seven years ago, too, the current state of adult orphanhood and the new state of empty nester.
It is a gift that I don’t take lightly that I have had time to process this.
2. Painting, sculpture, architecture, literature, cinema, theatre, music…what’s your favorite form of art? Elaborate.
Literature, theatre, and music. That’s like asking someone to pick their favorite child! I have loved reading since a book was put in my hands. I am so thankful for my love of reading. It helped me so much as a child. I was the lead in a play in elementary school and wish I had done more theatre. I love to watch it now. I love music and watching talented people perform.
3. What time is dinner at your house? How do you feel about leftovers?
Dinner has always been around 6:00. We aren’t militant about it, but we like to eat on the earlier side since we go to bed pretty early. We eat leftovers. With that said, I am learning to make smaller portion sizes if it’s something I don’t want to eat again.
4.What’s the last thing you fell down a rabbit hole investigating?
An English estate called Longleat due to Bravo’s Ladies of London: The New Reign.
5. And now for a question from the book Marilyn (Memphis Bridges) gave me…
At what are you ‘self-taught?’
I would say cooking. My mom didn’t like me in the kitchen making messes. My Dad’s mom taught me how to make mashed potatoes but other than that I started baking when I could at home and then I really didn’t learn to cook until my mid-twenties for Tom. I kept at it – making the favorites of Tom and my twins. I’m still learning. I enjoy it and I am proud when I make something good.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
I have a friend with a beautiful backyard with an outdoor bar, tv, bar stools, a gorgeous pool, a hot tub, a dining table, another table on a raised patio, and a firepit table. She said she never goes in her backyard. I told her to take her phone calls, computer, whatever tasks she can outside. She asked her husband to add something to the yard for her, and he said he wouldn’t since she never uses the space. I am on his side.
What could you do outside instead of inside? It really changes my mood and mindset when I spend more time outside.
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
Your last sentence in the “arts” question- liking to watch talented people perform- YES! That is exactly how I feel! I self taught myself cooking as well. I think my mom would have like me to help in the kitchen but she didn’t make me and I was never interested as a child. I had my kids start making their own lunches in the summer when they were old enough to- they required them to learn the basics with me around when they had questions.
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I have such respect for the arts!
Yes, I was mostly interested in baking at first and my mom really wasn’t a baker!
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Oh yes, I struggled to answer that art question too– and thought “all of them!” My post won’t be up on the blog tomorrow though. I put cooking/baking as one of my self-taught items too. It wasn’t that my mom didn’t want any of us kids helping but it was more that my mom just didn’t want to be in the kitchen either. Neither her nor either of my sisters enjoys cooking— which is a big part of why I was always the host for family gatherings.
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Yes! That makes sense if it wasn’t something your mom even enjoyed!
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I think even if someone does teach us cooking some elements of it will still be self-taught as there is so much to learn. You’ve had big changes in the last year so I’m glad you feel rested. Retirement is definitely an adjustment.
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You’re so right – it’s a learn by doing skill. I have! I’m finally catching my stride, I think!
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Aside from pretty much learning how to cook, baking is another self-taught area. I love making home-made breads and pizza! The more I can cook from scratch the better. It really keeps me busy, though. I haven’t worked outside the home since 1989 after our first child was born. DH is closing in on his retirment date, maybe next year will be the one. 🙂 I joined Joyce’s Hodgepodge linky this week. It was nice meeting you! ~CAAC
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I agree! I also love to make my own sauces and dressings which is relatively new for me. Oh, that is so exciting about your husband. I say do it! Thank you for commenting!
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Why would someone with a beautiful backyard not take the time to enjoy it ??? That makes no sense to me. We pretty much live in ours at least 3/4 of the year, possibly more. I never sit inside if I can sit outside. One reason I got rid of my desktop and switched to a laptop was so I could blog outside. I absolutely love all the National Trust properties in the UK and visited many. I’ve seen Longleat which is private and beautiful. They have that ‘safari park’ which is a bit odd, but these homes cost big money to maintain and I’m sure that’ s a draw. Also a controversy. I’m all about the homes and gardens myself. Have a great day!
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She’s “too busy”. It annoys me. She spends her time running around to find the perfect pillow or return the subpar pillow.
I am the exact same as you! I need to take my laptop out more. I have done that a few mornings.
I think the safari park is odd, too. It seems out of place on a gorgeous estate but the lady explained that it pays to run the estate. Yes! She is the Marchioness of Bath.
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I loved all your answers, but I really enjoyed your answer for the first question. I think it’s beautiful that you have had this time to reset your life, since so much has changed. I won’t ever discount that thirty first year, I promise. That is quite the feat! I’m glad you’ve found your routines and rhythms, though. I knew you would eventually, and it’s even okay if it all changes periodically. That’s the beauty of being in your life phase!
I would agree about that friend’s yard and side with her husband. I’m prone to sitting outside more when it’s cooler, so fall, spring, mornings, and nights would be my time. It’s very buggy here once the weather turns warm, so that discounts a lot of nights for me. I don’t enjoy sitting out there with the dogs, either. If I didn’t have them, I’d probably feel way different. I need to do some work out there right now, like picking up sticks that have fallen from rain, and things need to be blown off and cleaned. I might do that today after work or tomorrow, since it rained a lot here recently.
I enjoyed reading all your answers! I hope you have the best day, my friend. xoxo
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Thank you! I feel blessed to have had this time.
I get that about the dogs outside. EO has thankfully calmed down enough to not bark sometimes while outside. What is working now is that I leave the door cracked and if he is done with outside he will go in. That won’t work when things get buggy and I will have to figure something else out. My boy is growing up! I can now trust him to nap on my bedroom floor and I honestly didn’t think this would ever happen. He likes the cool wood in there and it probably smells like Daddy -ewww I said “Daddy”.
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I love how you describe feeling more reset and moving through this new season of life in a mostly relaxed and unhurried way after so many years on a school calendar. That shift must feel so strange and freeing at the same time. And I’m really glad you’ve had the time and space to process everything you’ve been carrying.
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You know, I almost didn’t talk about it because I feel like a broken record. I’m sure you can relate! Yes! That’s exactly how it feels. Thank you. I also know you can relate with how it feels to lose a mother and to move through life without one.
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This past year has flown over, it doesn’t seem that long since you retired from teaching. Now my girls have a busier life and aren’t home every evening for dinner I am really struggling to make less so we always seem to have leftovers here. Your friends backyard sounds amazing what a shame she doesn’t go out there.
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It really has! It’s almost scary! That is hard when your girls are in that stage. Often plans are last minute.
I know – we have to ask to sit there. We played Mah Jong there last week.
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I love your random thought. I am forcing myself to get out on my back deck more and more each year- bringing my computer and working from out there to appreciate the space and weather and even watch my girls swim from time to time- great point!
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That is great that you are self taught in cooking. I’ve always found it difficult!
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