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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You should totally make the pumpkin cookie cake. Yours would be so much better! Yes, some teachers don’t use their platform for good or don’t realize what responsibility they have but I would like to believe most do. I do think every school should build in character building. I don’t think the parents are doing it all the time.
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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 think you might really like it! Try volume 1 and see. You may have to order it off of Amazon.
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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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Oh, you should tell Debi. Lol. I bet the crisp air and pumpkin is good, though!
Oh man, I think my sister would agree with you on parenting. I bet you were great at that. You will use your influence when you can I know!
Emma M. Lion is just darling in my opinion.
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I don’t eat desserts anymore, but if I did . . .I would be searching for that pumpkin cookie – yum!!
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Doesn’t it look so great? I think it would be easy enough to make at home!
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The mornings are sure feeling like fall here and I like it. Ahh! Dusting, I am pretty good at keeping up with everywhere you can see but not high shelves. Oops. Over here in England we don’t get those creamers which I think is so unfair so I get my pumpkin fix from Starbucks. Pumpkins are so pretty and I love how people in the US put them on their porches, it’s not the done thing here until Halloween. Hmmf.
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I tell my husband he is in charge of the high up dusting! That is so unfair, but you could make your own. Most require heavy cream or half and half. Oh, we start the pumpkins early here! I kind of love it!
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I love the big displays of pumpkins and gourds but feel like it’s still to hot to have them on my front porch. I am with you on basic manners. A friend of mine’s daughter who is a young mom just wrote a thoughtful post about how women treat each other. She was walking with her baby and had three different incidents where people were just rude in how they walked into her, etc. Phones. I blame them mostly. I listened to a scary podcast that talked about how many young teens have AI boyfriends/girlfriends. That cannot possibly be good for anyone, or society at large. I will check out the book series you mentioned. I’ve got a pile of to-be -read currently so it might take a while. Have a great day!
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I think we are past the heat so I bought two yesterday and a real mum! Let’s see how she does.
Oh, that’s sad but I’m glad she is speaking out about it. I blame phones, too. I have been trying to have positive interactions in public with people and it’s working! People are chatting me up and I am engaging.
That is so crazy to me and the TLC show that showed someone married to a car? Wow – what is going on?
Oh, if you get into Volume 1 which is only 100 pages, you will be hooked and it’s the clean and refreshing book series I didn’t know I needed.
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Yes! I am going to stock up on pumpkin and gourds big time this year…tis’ the season!
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Yes! They bring so much joy!
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Such a great answer to number 5! I love the look of pumpkins and gourds too. I am so thankful it is fall! Our fall weather came in right in time. It was downright chilly sitting outside last night and I have been able to work outside today. Hope you enjoy your day!
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Thank you! I miss my teens and my platform. Trying to decide what to do about it if anything! Me too! Me too! Heat + Perimenopause or Menopause = A bad combo
You too!
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Oh, I am with you on the values and morals! Although I did spend a bit more time than normal with some teens last week, and I was impressed. They aren’t all lost and terrible! But then we heard that some not so great things happened at the homecoming dance and it’s like whyyyy does one person/group have to break the rules with no care for how everyone else ends up with MORE rules and consequences for their bad behavior? It’s annoying!
I think I’m #3 in line for the Emma Lion Vol 1 so we shall see if I like it!
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Oh no! I am probably the first to say that teens are great. I just talked to 6 new to me teens at a family gathering and it made me miss teaching high school. The other thing is that they are usually open to debate on what the proper way to act is. I like hearing their perspective.
Oh, no one is more annoyed than the “good” teens who do follow the rules. It stinks.
Oh, I really hope you do! It’s clean, the vocabulary is really great, and Emma is hilarious. At least give it half of volume 1 before you decide.
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Hello Amy, what a pleasure to read the answers and thoughts you had for these questions this week. I’m going to check our library to see if they carry those books. Congrats on your retirement. I need to pull out my Fall tub and get some decor switched out. It is fun to celebrate Fall that way. Ugh to dusting. 🙂 Happy Autumn to you!
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Oh, thank you so much! Be prepared that you might have to wait. That’s why I bit the bullet and spent $10. Thank you! The decor is so fun. I am loving my simple touches that I look at daily. Right? Dusting stinks! To you, as well!
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Great answer for #5!
I haven’t seen the Emma books in real life but how pretty! They’d be a great addition to a bookshelf or to use for decorating. I’m listening to the 4th one right now…it was ready immediately but #5 Audio is weeks out. So odd. I do have 5 & 6 downloaded thanks to Kindle unlimited and I think I will keep that subscription for the next few months and re-evaluate in January
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Aren’t they? The colors would look so nice on a shelf, I agree. I think I might take a small break after 5. I have one more I own and the next one is waiting at the library for me. If you are using it and it brings you joy, I say keep it!
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Great answer for number 5. I need to check out that book. I’m hearing great reviews everywhere. I agree about the frother. I don’t use mine everyday, but I love it!
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Thank you! I really miss those discussions with my teen platform. They would often talk about how people acted and treated them at their little jobs.
The frother is amazing!
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Love the picture of the beautiful pumpkins and gourds, but I haven’t put any on my porch yet due to the HEAT!! Totally agree with your answer to #5 and being a teacher myself, I usually plug in something about internet safety and just good common sense.
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I think the heat has finally broken here so I bought two pumpkins and a mum yesterday. Thank you – you really do have a big platform since you are still a teacher. I like the idea – depending on the subject, of course, of a John Quiñones style “what would you do” as a bellringer/icebreaker.
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