Wednesday Hodgepodge – 11/19/25

Happy Wednesday! I am joining Joyce for a quick hodgepodge of questions. These five questions are going to be fun, so let’s get to it!

1. Let’s do our gratitude question first this week…what’s the best thing about your home, and have you taken time to enjoy it lately? I love our family room. I dreamed of this addition as soon as we moved in and am so happy we did it. It took a long time because it started in September of 2020 when the supply chain was a DISASTER and the builders were still here at Easter in April 2021. They were great and it was totally worth it though! There are a ton of windows and a wide open view of a big field. We can see the sunrise and sunset out the windows. There is often wildlife out there to see (deer, fox, geese). I have a bunch of plants in here, and my Christmas cactus is blooming right now. We can all sit in here to watch tv or play a game. I am enjoying it right now as I type this blog post. I’ll enjoy it even more in a few days when our Christmas tree is up and the candles are in the windows.

I can’t seem to find one with the Christmas tree and the candles. Be sure to come back in a week or two and I’ll share a picture with the tree.

2. Do you like squash? Of the varieties listed, which one’s your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Is squash of some sort on your Thanksgiving menu?? acorn, butternut, delicata, spaghetti, zucchini, crookneck (yellow squash), patty pan
No, I sure do not. I do not like any variety of squash, not even one little bit. Thankfully, we do not have any squash on our Thanksgiving menu.

3. Last time you were ‘squashed in’ somewhere, or felt squashed? Usually swim meet bleachers feel like I am squashed in, but recently we’ve had little more space. I was pretty squashed at the Maryland football game. Our seats were on bleachers so we were squashed right in there. It was worth it!

4. Have you ever played squash? What about other ‘racquet sports’ such as racquetball, tennis, pickleball, badminton, table tennis (ping pong)? Are these sports something you enjoy? 
I’ve never played squash but I have played tennis and pickleball recently. We have a tennis court in our neighborhood and will take our pickleball paddles or tennis raquets down there. I like ping pong too! A few years ago my parents gave Jack a net that attaches to our dining room table and it’s fun when he breaks it out! We also have a badminton set that the boys and the neighbors use on the driveway.

5. Something in today’s society or culture that feels like a ‘racket’ to you? If you don’t like that one, tell us about a place you’ve been recently where there was a lot of ‘racket’. 
It feels like car insurance is a racket! We just added a teenage boy driver and WHOA! It’s crazy how much our insurance increased. Ugh!

6.  Insert your own random thought here. I have always been a Christmas decorations do not go up until Black Friday girl, but I am feeling the spirit a little earlier this year. I think I might even put my tree up this weekend. Eeek! Gasp! It got really cold and dark here recently and I’m ready for the lights and Christmas cheer.

That was fun! I can’t wait to see what everyone else answered! Have a great day full of sunshine and books!

15 thoughts on “Wednesday Hodgepodge – 11/19/25

  1. scottaew says:

    You have a great family room! I think I remember that reno on the blog. It’s such a pain but worth it in the end. I am starting to get the itch to go to the basement to look at my Christmas stuff and inventory. I told myself nothing new until I see what I have!

    • sunshineandbooksblog says:

      The reno felt eternal and it was on the blog for all those months. Ha! That’s a good plan, nothing new until you’ve decorated. I did find one new thing already this year and I am so happy to have it!

  2. auburnchick says:

    I remember how expensive our car insurance was as when we added our son. Even with a discount through a program our insurance company had for good grades did little to offset the sticker shock. Times!

  3. Kim Carberry says:

    Your family room sounds wonderful and I imagine even more so when everyone is home.
    I think being squashed in at a sporting event is all part of the fun of it.
    Our tree and decorations are going up early this year too, at the weekend. I am blaming all the blogs I read that already have theirs up. hehehe I want that cosy Christmas feeling too.

  4. Joyce says:

    I always wait until Thanksgiving weekend too, but might pull a few things out this weekend. Hubs is going to a football game so I’ll have time to fill. We have people coming here Friday so I will leave fall up til then for sure. Your family room is beautiful! What a great space and I’m sure you do enjoy it. Have a nice day!

  5. Tanya says:

    Car insurance is crazy, but what has really gone up for us is homeowner’s insurance. Maybe because of all the hurricanes on the Gulf coast? Hope you’re having a great week.

  6. Marilyn says:

    Agreed on the car insurance! The season between Thanksgiving and Christmas is so short this year. I usually put up my tree mid November and decorate it on Thanksgiving. I will probably decorate early next week though.

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