Wednesday, September 23, 2026
It’s Wednesday and that means it’s time for Hodgepodge with Joyce!
1. Fall arrives this week in the northern hemisphere. Does it look/feel like fall where you live?What’s something you love to do this time of year that makes you feel its officially fall?
*If you’re answering today from the southern hemisphere feel free to sub spring for the word fall.
It is starting to feel like fall is in the air. I noticed some leaves starting to fall a couple of weeks ago amidst the crazy September heat we had. We have had a few mornings where you can feel the hint of fall. Ahhhhh! September and October are super crazy in the world of education so last year, my first year of retirement, was a real treat. It was nice to feel like I got to enjoy fall! I enjoyed reading outside, walking more, and just stopping to smell the pumpkins – lol.
2. What’s a small daily task or chore that always seems to fall through the cracks when your schedule gets busy?
I think I would say dusting. I can get to the laundry, dishes, floors pretty well, but dusting always seems to be last.
3. What’s something you’re falling for lately?
The Emma M. Lion series – omg! It’s what I needed. I don’t normally buy fiction books. I use my library. The last several books I’ve read have just been “mid” as the kids say. Well, I bought and started Volume 1 and I was so happy to have a book that was way more than “mid”. I proceeded to buy more in the series and request later books from the series from the library. Since I save so much money with my library, I am fine to buy some of these! I just want to savor them. Have you read her yet?
4. Pumpkin is a popular flavor this time of year. Are you a fan? What’s your favorite pumpkin flavored food or beverage?
I love pumpkin! I have not bought a PSL at Starbuck’s and I never even think about Starbuck’s anymore thanks to my Chobani creamers and my frother. I have already had Chobani pumpkin spice creamer this season and I am going to make some pumpkin bread or muffins soon. I would say pumpkin bread is my favorite. I love pumpkin pie, too. I usually just have one or two slices per year.
By the way, if you are starting to think about Christmas shopping, the plug in frother would be a great gift for a coffee lover in your life.
5.What’s something you wish would never change? Explain.
Gosh, Joyce, what a tough question. I guess I would say good old-fashioned morals and values, etiquette, and how to treat people, and how to live.
I am not sure where many are getting this anymore and it appears that many aren’t. I am worried about this. As technology evolves, I feel like we are missing the new skills to navigate said technology in the “right” way and I feel that we’ve forgotten that many things haven’t changed. If you wouldn’t say something directly to someone, don’t say it on the internet. Is it ethical to use AI to do your homework? Does anyone even care about ethics? Does your good name mean anything? I used to get into these conversations with my students when it came up. I felt that I had a powerful platform and a responsibility to use it.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Aren’t pumpkins and gourds beautiful? I really want to go crazy and buy a bunch and make a display. I would enjoy them on my back porch where I would see them the most.
What about you? How would you answer any of the questions this week?
Amy
Your answer to question 5 is a good one and I wholeheartedly agree with you. I’m glad you used your influence/platform as a teacher to have conversations like the ones you had. Of course the students’ parent or parents have the most influence and sadly, I think many young people do not have good role models in their parents. But teachers do have influence and you likely brought up issues that some of your students had never considered before. Pumpkins and gourds are beautiful. And also I’m intrigued by that pumpkin cookie cake that you saw at Kroger. Just may have to do a good ol’ Google search to see if I can replicate that on my own- it’s such a cute and clever take on a classic.
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I’ll have to look into the Emma M Lion series; I hadn’t heard of it before you mentioned it on the blog recently. I find that this past month or so I am much more able to listen to books but am still struggling to sit and read.
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I loved all of your answers! And yes, pumpkins are gourds are gorgeous. I love the different colored ones, too! I’m not a big PSL person, but when I go to Colorado each year, Debi always buys me some, so I always end up using that in my coffee. I don’t want to be a rude guest!
Working in a school shows me how much your number 6 is correct. Parents aren’t parenting much these days, and the kids act in a way that makes you take notice of that. This is the case for a lot of our kindergarten and first grade kids at school. I remember teaching them a few things when I was with them last year, as something popped up. I miss that part of the job- having influence over more than just one kid, but I’m just making a difference (hopefully) in the fourth grade class I’m in.
I’m going to look into that author now!
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