Springin' into the Hodgepodge

So here it is, Wednesday, the first day of April...no foolin' 😉...
...and we can finally put that l-o-n-g month of March behind us.



((smiles))

Unfortunately, it sounds like the COVID-19 pandemic will most likely get much worse
before it gets better.
It's a sobering time...one that I never dreamed I'd be a witness to.
But this is not a doom and gloom post...for those of us who put their trust in the Lord,
we know who holds tomorrow!

...and on another note, entirely...

...and of course, Forrest always adds his two cents.

But right now, it's time for the Hodgepodge.

Just click on the link above, copy/paste the questions from Joyce's blog to yours,
and link your published post to the end of hers at the Linky and join the fun!

1. Has spring sprung in your part of the world? How can you tell? Did March come in like a lion where you live? Going out like a lamb or something more ferocious?

Oh, absolutely! I shared some of my springy shots with y'all last week and after more rain this past week and temps in the 70s and 80s, the trees are all turning a lush bright green...and that's just one of the ways I can tell!

 

This is the view from the bedroom and the birds have already found the feeders too. You know, it seems like March has been dragging on forever and I just remember that it was rainy and cold on March 1st. Even though we personally didn't get any of the effects from the devastating tornado in Nashville, March most definitely came in like the King of Beasts on March 3rd. How is it leaving us? Bet you can't guess...RAINY and COLD...but wait....what's that I see peeking through the clouds? Why, it looks like a touch of blue sky and the sun is on the verge of shining! More like a lamb, if you ask me. 🐑 

2. The last thing that caused you to spring to your feet?

Funny you should ask that question. Last week a man drove up and served us an "eviction" notice of sorts, can you believe it?  He was a building inspector from the county (with an attitude) and after not-so-nicely informing us that we were not allowed to live in an RV except in a RV park, told us we could not stay here. I put him on the phone with Adam (who he did not want to talk to) and after some conversation, he told Adam to call Debbie So-and-so at "this" number. Adam jumped on it immediately and in less than 30 minutes, we could breathe again. All that was needed was a copy of our blueprints and the name of our builder. Sometimes it's all about how one presents the situation and themself. It seems this certain building inspector may have been suffering from "little man syndrome". I know, I know, he was just doing his job but talk about something that will cause you to spring to your feet...WHEW! Needless to say we were singing Jesus' praises all the day long and still are!

3. Do you have a spring clean to-do list? What's one chore on the list you've already managed to accomplish? What spring clean chore do you most dread?

One thing about RV living is that it doesn't take you very long to clean anything. And in keeping with the question, my very least favorite would probably be cleaning the windows. Keeping dog slobbers off them now is my greatest challenge since they both love to lay on he back of the couch right at window level and bark at everything that moves. I found out very quickly that this is not going to be a seasonal issue....but an "all-the-time" issue. So this spring in lieu of the typical spring cleaning thing, I have some projects for the new house that I'm working on. A couple of years ago when I wrote this post, there were so many images and lots of ideas of what we wanted in the farmhouse, among them finding vintage sinks for the kitchen and both bathrooms. We were so  excited when we found a kitchen AND bathroom sink both in good condition (and more than a bit dirty) on Facebook Marketplace at the same location. We are still on the lookout for another sink whenever we're able to be out and about again. Now the real fun begins...here's just a little sneak preview for now...

4. Tell us something you've learned about yourself or the wider world as a result of social distancing/the virus crisis.

For me, personally, it has taken extraordinary circumstances like these to show me that I don't always have to be rushing off somewhere (which is a form of escape for me) and that I can find more peace and make such better use of my time now that I'm forced to stay home. I've done more praying and seeking God's will for my life these past few weeks than I've ever remembered doing. It is my utmost desire and prayer that I will not go back after COVID-19 is long gone out of the daily headlines. And in the wider world...well, there are just no words to describe how everyone from our government leaders (federal, state and local) healthcare workers, manufacturers, truckers, grocery store employees, restaurant workers, celebrities...I mean the list goes on and on...is going above and beyond anything I have ever seen. God is bringing His people together right before our very eyes. May He recieve ALL of the glory!

5. Something you love that's the color pink?

Amazon

I'll be honest...it was a long, hard winter for me. I was in the hospital in NC on two different occasions in January and when I started feeling better and getting out about again, I found myself being drawn to pink. Pink is such a happy color! I found these great base layer shirts for layering and ordered several different colors. That's right...me, someone who was always removing layers had turned into someone who couldn't get warm enough! So the pink one became my favorite...in fact, I just happen to have it on today with my pink socks, of course!

Then there was this phone case.....

Amazon

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I have no doubt that we'll all get through this and life will return to normal, whatever that looks like. But hopefully, at least for me, I hope it will be a different kind of normal...one that has taught me not to take anything for granted and to never forget that God is/was there, right in the midst of the chaos. But until then, we all have new boundary lines to observe. Then I saw this...

So that's it for another Hodgepodge! 

Hang in there...and much love to all!

Did someone say Hodgepodge?

YES THEY DID!
And it looks like our friend Joyce is back at it!

Linking up with the Hodgepodge was a fun way of meeting many sweet blogging friends
and also, I have to admit, being accountable to posting on a regular basis as well.
Then Terri, our friend from Florida followed along with the Wednesday Medley
and she had a way of always keeping me on my toes...and accountable.
~
Life changes, our responsibilities change and sometimes life just gets crazy!
Thank you, Joyce...I know your world has changed a whole lot too!
So things here have calmed down a bit (they have?) and I was thrilled to hear the news!
~
Here in Haywood Hollow, it has literally turned green overnight.
The winter rains, which have never stopped, I'm now calling spring rains...
...it's much more pleasing to the ear, don't you think?
(shhhh...don't tell anyone but it's supposed to be dry and 80 degrees by Thursday.)

So here are just a few shots of my new views before we get started...

Ahhh...as I sit here now writing this post, window open, I hear the creek in the distance.

See our little camper in the distance?

Found this deflated Valentine balloon and although I was really glad that someone was going to love his Dearest Patricia forever, it still kinda made me sad that her balloon got away from her. 💏

The entry into the "Enchanted Forest"...

This purple dead nettle is growing as thick as carpet everywhere you look.
It seems to be a pretty amazing plant so I think I'll go rub it all over me...maybe even eat some.
It may be the answer to all my health issues, who knows?
This carpenter bee sure like it.

Our humble abode.



Okay...enough, enough...I know.
~
So now let's get on with the Hodgepodge.
Just copy and paste Joyce's questions from her blog to yours, answer them, and link back to her post!

1. Howdy Hodgepodgers. It's kind of fun to be back, isn't it?  Last time we met was September, 2018. Tell me something big-important-happy-or sad that's happened in your life since that date. Just one thing. We don't know how long this current isolation situation is going to last and we might need to dole out our news bit by bit.

Oh, this is big-important AND happy news! Most of you know this is huge for us....we have retired and relocated to Tennessee. We left North Carolina on October 5, 2019 and have been living in our cozy (did I say small?) RV, basically camping out in our son, Adam's driveway until a little over a week ago when we were finally able to move down the mountain and onto our property and the building site. So much more on the horizon but that's all fodder for future posts. Construction should begin whenever we see the heavy equipment arrive in early April...but, well...you know...

2. Might as well get this out of the way early on...COVID-19. On a scale of 1-5 how serious are you about keeping your distance? Explain. fyi-I didn't create the scale but have seen it several places online. Also fyi-we won't only have virus related questions each week, but for this first one it feels right.

1-Not at all, living normally

2-Cautious but still going out

3-Going out as needed, mostly home or working from home, still seeing friends/family

4-Extremely limited, only going out when unavoidable, minimal contact with people

5-Full lockdown, no one in or out

I have to admit at first that the media was just doing what they do best, hyping things up. I had already decided from the start that I refused to live in fear but then I guess I realized as it was spreading so fast, I needed to rethink it a bit. I think the clincher was when Adam's office suggest  he work from home so as not to be exposed and bring it home to me and my compromised immune system. Let's just say I went from #1 to a #4. Good thing for me, I really don't feel confined since we are out in the middle of nowhere with plenty of room to roam. We have been practicing social distancing between our two households for the most part and we do plan to grill some burgers and dogs here at our place in the next day or two...and eat outside. The rest of the family has been homebound for days with limit trips for food and supplies.

3. Raise your hand if you think you might run out of steam in the cooking department before it's all said and done? What's something delicious you've cooked or eaten in your own kitchen in the past week?

I think we will get by just fine, however long it goes on. We have only gotten some drive-thru food a couple of times since this thing began. I am actually having fun experimenting cooking in a small space. 😏 I made spaghetti a couple of nights ago (yes, I do think I like cooking with gas) and gluten-free pancakes with turkey sausage this morning. The RV also has an outside kitchen and Jim has done some grilling...steaks last week!

4. What's a television show or movie you've seen recently (it could be an oldie) that you really liked?

Hmmm...I'm not watching much TV since we can only pull in four channels until we get set up with one of those 150 mile antennas. We do have access to Netflix and Hulu via my internet hotspot. When we were parked up in the driveway, we were able to pull in quite a few channels with the RV antenna and we had access to MeTV, MyTV, Antenna TV and major news outlets. Now, back to your specific question...Jim and I both have enjoyed getting reacquainted with Leave it to Beaver, My Three Sons, Hazel, Father Knows Best, among others. Currently we can't get any of them....WAAHHH!

5. Share something funny you've seen or heard this week.

 How would you caption this??

6. Insert your own random thought here

Not really my own random thought...a friend of mine shared this on her Facebook page yesterday. Dear Lord Jesus, please let this be so...and preaching to the choir here.

 So before I go, let me share a little sumpin sumpin I put together to spring up the place a bit.

Don't look too awful close at those high dollar Walmart flowers!  

And didn't Adam do a great job on those stairs?

May you all stay safe and healthy, dear friends...

...sending my love and prayers.

Moving Day, Take Two

Yes, it's me and I haven't posted to my blog in over a month.
Not much going on to report...
...until this happened over this past weekend.

I was beginning to think this day would never come. (well...not really)



We've been here in Tennessee since October 6, and we thought it would take a just a few weeks
to temporarily camp out in Adam's yard and be down the hill in a couple months, maximum.



Well, I won't even go there because y'all know the story and that's not the point of this post...
...it would be like beating a dead horse....and have I mentioned the rain?
Thought so.



So last week we actually had several days of dry weather in a row,
just what we needed to get "the man" out there with the loads of churt and his heavy equipment...
...a pad for our "pad" in other words. 😉

And here it is, all level and perfect waiting for the arrival of our "pad".

Anyway, miracle of all miracles, this past weekend it finally happened!
I mean, it probably wasn't a true miracle...but yeah, maybe it was.









We had one window of opportunity on Saturday because the rain was to return by that evening.

But we made it....HALLELUJAH!!

And now that we're here, I've been as busy as a li'l ol' bee...
...unpacking boxes that I really couldn't unpack before, finding a place for everything,
and putting everything in its place.
That's another post entirely. 😊
~
And now that I'm pretty much confined from going to public places due to...well...you know,
(and in the words of Forrest Gump, “that’s all I’m gonna say ‘bout that”)
I've got plenty of safe places to roam, birds that wake me up every morning,
and something beautiful to open my windows to everyday...even if it's still raining most of the time.

Do I sound like a happy camper?
I guess that's because I am...but most of all, God is GOOD!


Until next time, friends.

Love,

♥ My Tardy Valentine ♥

So it's me again, late to the party, as I have been so much here lately.

It's been a month since I've last posted but wanted to get a quick one in 

to tell y'all that I am still alive and kicking (for the most part)

and to wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day!

Jim and I have been keeping the roads hot in these parts lately (between the monsoons of rain)...

making a few planned and unplanned trips to NC and even SC.

In between our two trips to NC, we took an unplanned and very quick trip to SC.

A very dear, old friend of ours unexpectedly passed away in his sleep.

I've known him since I was a teen...he was "Cousin Jimmy" from West Virginia

when his Aunt Thelma lived across the street from me growing up in Ohio.

We went way back.

Jim and he worked together in Ohio as well and wouldn't you just know that the Lord

placed us all together in the same town in NC...and even in the same church!

His dear wife became one of my besties and we worshipped together for many years.

They had relocated to SC about a year ago after retirement to live close by to their younger grands. Kinda like us. 

We just never know what tomorrow will bring, do we?

Our winter here has consisted of nothing much more than rain, rain and more rain.

To say that I am pretty sick of this weather is a huge understatement.

I must be perfectly honest and tell you that today the sun is shining brightly...but brutally cold!

I am biting at the bit to get out and return to my walking and exploring Haywood Hollow.

These poor little measly muscles of mine need help, y'all!

But despite all the rain, on those rare days when the sun decides to come out from behind the clouds,

you can rest assured that it will leave behind a treasure to end your day.

So who says Valentine's Day flowers always have to be red or pink?

NOBODY. 😊

RV living...gotta love it!

(maybe...maybe not)

So stay tuned...exciting new updates coming soon!

Here's just a little hint....

💗Love to all!💗