Wednesday, September 16, 2026
It’s Hodgepodge with Joyce day!
1. How do you define beauty?
There’s beauty all around us. I love color and color combinations that are pleasing to the eye. I feel like I’m less hurried now and can stop and notice that beauty more now. I love when a store takes the time to make a display look nice. You don’t get that shopping online, do you? In people, beauty can be embracing who you are and what your natural looks are. I really don’t think most people who have had “work done” look very good. I also think personality makes people beautiful.
2. Have you ever taken a trip by train? If so where did you go and what did you think of the experience? If not do you have any desire to do so? Where would you like to go? (You might find inspiration here-The Best Train Trips in The World)
I love a train! My mom was from Chicago and one of the highlights of visiting her side of the family at least once a year was taking the “EL” train. My mom also planned a big Amtrak adventure for us from Chicago to Seattle when I was 12. I have taken trains in Mexico, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, England, and Scotland. I may have missed a country. I think trains are amazing and wish we still had that option more in the US.
Train Charcuterie in England:
3. Shell shocked, bombshell, bandshell, shellacking, in a nutshell, walking on eggshells…choose one and tell us why you chose it, or how it relates to your life in some way currently.
Honestly, I had to look some of these terms up! I would say “in a nutshell” since I have simplified so many things in my life. Right now, in a nutshell, I am a stay-at-home wife and dog mom.
4. Tacos, pistachios, oysters, clams, eggs…your favorite food on the list that comes in/with a shell?
Eggs! I love eggs and like to start my day with an egg in some way. I grew up eating cereal with milk. My mom made egg casserole on holidays, though. Egg casserole continues to be a hoiday tradition.
5. Are birthdays a big deal in your house? Is your own birthday a big deal in some way? Elaborate.
I love birthdays and celebrating the people in my life. I love my own birthday, too. I have learned to ask for what I want in terms of that day. I am not above ordering my own cake. I think birthday traditions in different countries are interesting.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Next month, the Global Writing Challenge theme is birthday so I would love to hear your traditions for yourself or for the people in your life.
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
I definitely think stopping to see/enjoy the beauty gets so much easier the less busy life becomes. There really is so much around us but often people just don’t notice. Our town has been talking about reinstating rail lines to both Worcester and Providence and I really hope they do.
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Very true. I know. Also, people have their heads buried in their phones. I hate that. That would be great. I feel like the northeast has way better train availability than we do in the midwest and south.
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That’s cool that you’ve been on a lot of trains. I feel like trains are definitely more doable in smaller areas like Europe. I read that the bullet train from San Fran to Los Angeles could cost up to $200 billion dollars so you have other factors besides just small distances. Your new nutshell is so nice! I was an even more simplified version of that for a few years minus the dog! I will appreciate it even more when I am that again!
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It is! That’s true. I know it’s expensive and I wish we didn’t lose the train thing here in the US. The high speed train in Germany and Spain are amazing. They are so smooth.
It is nice. Yes, it’s a trade off. You have more time to do things around the house but you also don’t have the outside sense of purpose. I am struggling a bit with that.
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I love a train ride too and that is a perfect Train Charcuterie. hehehe We always take snacks. The egg casserole sounds good and we love celebrating birthdays here!
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Did you recognize the packaging? Snacks are great! We love an egg casserole and there are so many variations.
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I love that photo of the pumpkins! Also, your train charcuterie is a great idea!
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Thank you! They would look prettier without the price tags! We really enjoyed taking snacks on the train and eating them at our table.
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I love your train response. So cool that you’ve had so many experiences. My cousins live in Chicago and I remember as a kid when we’d visit them riding from the suburbs to the city on the train and we loved it. When my kids were little, we rode the Amtrak train from the suburb I grew up in to downtown kc to Union station. My mom had that idea and it was a great experience.
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Thank you! Yes! It was such an adventure. Kids love a train. Mine were obsessed with Thomas for many many years! They talked like old British men.
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You’ve taken a lot of train rides! I love that charcuterie on one of them. I loved your description of your current life status: wife and stay at home dog mom. Eddie Otis thanks you for this everyday, I know!
I love what you said about beauty, and I agree. I am one to notice beauty all around me, even when I’m sad. It’s grounding for me to stop and take a breath and think that even in the saddest moment, life is going on; the sun is still setting, birds are still chirping, beautiful music is still being made. All of these things matter to me, and I agree that beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. All of this is comforting to me right now. But also, it’s been a great week! I’m happy to be able to say that. I’ve had more peaceful moments and less sadness. Baby steps!
Have the best day, sweet friend. xoxo
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I have! The high speed train in Germany was probably the most memorable – I forgot to mention that. I do love a train! They have bathrooms! The bathrooms on trains could fit like 10 airplane bathrooms!
I love your words about beauty. I am so happy you are having a lighter week. That’s right – baby steps.
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Oh that pic of the pumpkins and gourds is beautiful- talk about beauty! I need to go on a long train ride for sure. Oh we do birthdays big around here for sure- I love time spent with family and friends- a celebratory meal- some great wine and cake!
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I guess technically I’ve ridden many trains, but haven’t taken what I’d call a train vacation. We took the Chunnel to France more than once and rode a lot of trains around Europe. I wish that were more of an option in the US. I tend to think of beauty in terms of nature more than people I suppose. There are many things that make a person beautiful. I agree about ‘work’. A little might be okay, but it seems once people go that route it’s hard to stop with just a little. Hope you’re doing well!
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