Wednesday, August 26, 2026
It’s time for Hodgepodge with Joyce today! Let’s go!
1. How do you feel about the transition from lazy summer days to a busier fall routine?
Well, now that I am retired, it’s different. I have to be mindful of the school traffic in the morning and afternoon, but I am seeing less traffic during the day so that has been nice. This is only my second year to not have to transition from lazy summer days to a busier fall routine, so I’m still adjusting, for sure.
I was already ready to call summer over each year as school started. I knew I could still do “summer things” after school and on the weekend, but I had already transitioned, if that makes sense. Also, I wanted summer to be over if I couldn’t “summer”. Haha.
2. Your favorite cookie?
A classic chocolate chip cookie but bonus points if it has sea salt on top. I don’t like nuts so that is a sure way for me to save some calories. I won’t touch a cookie with a nut.
3. What’s something you’ve learned from a culture different than your own?
I would say I have learned the most from the Spanish and the German cultures as I have spent the most time in those two countries. I love how the Spanish love their families and linger over meals. The Germans are organized and also spend time around a table with their families. Neither culture eats meals in the car. Both walk as a mode of transportation. We have so much to learn from other cultures but also our cities aren’t set up the same with respect to walkability.
4. Food critic, film critic, book critic, art critic…which hat would you most like to wear? Tell us why.
I think I would be best at food critic or book critic. I don’t think I could really do either because I wouldn’t want to eat just anything and I would feel bad criticizing something someone made. I also wouldn’t want to read books I didn’t want to read, and I would feel bad criticizing something someone wrote.
5. What’s a small, random thing from your childhood that you still remember clearly?
Gosh! What don’t I remember? I remember some super random things.
My mom found these tiny chocolate chip cookies, and I remember us playing with them and “feeding” them to our dolls.
We took an epic train trip from Chicago to Seattle and my mom bought us “train pants” – comfortable navy blue “slacks” to hide any stains acquired while on the train.
My mom announced that we were doing a spring break called “Wander Indiana” which was also the Indiana marketing slogan for a bit. We lived in southeast Indiana and if we went south we were in Kentucky, by the way. We had no itinerary or reservations and just got in the car, and she told my dad to drive north. I really can’t remember what we did but I think we found some Amish country and thought that was cool.
We had jackets with travel patches sewed on them. I will have to find a picture. I guess we bought a patch from every place we visited and then my mom sewed them on a nylon windbreaker jacket.
We almost always got McDonald’s at least once while on our road trips and my dad was annoyed that Kate had to order a plain cheeseburger and hold us up. He very rarely got mad at anything but this was a thorn in his side. Kate was the picky eater. Now she is the one who is the most adventurous with her palate.
Oops, sorry. I just kept remembering things.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Continuing in the vein of number 5…
I probably remember a lot because of all the photos. My mom took so many photos. She even taught photography as part of her art teaching career. I am so grateful for these photos now.
I am also grateful for all the amazing things my parents did for us. They took us to so many museums, plays, and festivals. They took us to see our extended family at least twice a year without fail. One side was 3 hours away and the other was 6 hours away. I realize now that this wasn’t easy, but it was why we still have great relationships with our aunts, uncles, and cousins.
They really gave us experiences and encouraged us to spread our wings and we did. We went alone to camps and on organized trips with church and school. Kate went to a cycling camp. I went out west with my church group for two weeks on a bus. I went to Spain for a month-long homestay program at 17. Molly studied abroad in Holland, and I studied abroad in Spain. They gave us such a great childhood.
Dangit, Joyce, I’m going to get the Kleenex!
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
I remember “Wander Indiana.” We didn’t do a whole lot of wandering… but some :). That is great that your parents took you to many places and that you went on road trips a lot. That’s neat what your mom did with the patches. I took many photos of my kids when they were younger and one of the kids recently thanked me for taking so many of them when they were younger. I have family members who don’t like nuts in cookies. I absolutely love them but do know/understand that many do not.
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My mom took it literally! I wondered if you would remember that slogan as my fellow Hoosier. We had a nice house but they didn’t focus on the material things, but rather experiences. I bet you took a lot of photos and I did, too! I am ok if people put nuts in them since that is an easy way for me to save calories and not touch them! Ha!
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Aw, so many wonderful childhood memories. I’m the exact opposite; I hardly remember anything. Luckily my older sister is more like you and seems to remember everything so once she starts remembering it jogs my memory. Even hearing your memories jogged one– I remember my parents loading us into the car and driving up north during peak leaf peeping season and driving the Kancamangus highway– we too had no reservations/no plan and it did not work out for us as every single hotel/motel/roadside dive, etc. had no vacancy and we ended up pulling back into our own driveway very late at night in the dark to sleep at home. But I do remember that we rarely had any reservations for trips we went on and just found our accommodations as we went– not always successfully.
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Maybe this is an eldest sister thing because my sisters don’t remember as much, either. Oh that is so funny and what an adventure and story that led to for years, I’m sure. No one wants to visit Indiana but everyone wants to visit your area in the fall! Our whole family went to Holland and had no reservations for a small town there. We just showed up and went to a visitor’s center. That is hard to imagine doing now.
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Those are such fun childhood memories! I loved trying the chocolate chip cookies in Louisville last summer. And I am with you on the ease of saying no to a cookie when it has nuts in it.
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Thank you! That was a good one! Yes! And, honestly I can pass on cookies that are subpar (in my opinion) or store bought.
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I loved hearing about all the childhood memories. You really did have great parents, and I can say the same thing. They each gave us their very best, and it looked different for them as I went from one house to another, but I’m grateful for the experiences I had with each Mom and Dad. The patch is such a cool thing that your Mom sewed onto the jacket for you!
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Thank you! I think yours must have done a good job with co-parenting because of how you turned out! I love how many siblings they gave you! We made fun of our patch jackets!
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Your parents did a great job! I knew you would say something about Spain or Germany! Yeah 🙂 I am linking up tomorrow and said food critic too
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Thank you! Haha – I talk about those countries a lot. Yay – will be glad to read yours!
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You have a lot of sweet memories, which is a big plus! I need to buy some flaky salt to sprinkle on my homemade cookies – why haven’t I done that yet!?
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I do! I love that I remember so much. I love Maldon sea salt flakes and you can get them on Amazon if you have trouble finding them in store.
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I was ready for Autumn when school started but now I get to say how long summer lasts now that we’re not living by the school calendar. Yum to those cookies! I have noticed that about America that everyone seems to drive everywhere. Even here in England it isn’t necessary to drive and walking and public transport is sometimes easier. I would feel bad criticizing things too when it comes to being a critic. How wonderful that you have all those photos! My family wasn’t big on photos so I think that’s why I take so many now!
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Right? That is what I am experiencing, too. Yes! Car is king here. My mom was taking all the photos before everyone else was!
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Awww!! ❤️ Thanks for sharing all of your sweet memories. 😊 I think we were both blessed with wonderful parents. I don’t take that for granted!
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Well thanks for reading them! I know – it really has such a lifelong impact.
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I enjoyed reading your childhood memories. It sounds like you had a wonderful childhood!!
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I think I did! Thank you!
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I loved hearing all your childhood memories. It sounds like your parents were pretty wonderful! I don’t think walkability is a lifestyle here in the US, except maybe NYC and DC? Everything is spread out.
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Thank you! I think they were. I think there are pockets in many cities that are walkable but nothing like in Europe!
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