Hodgepodge Wednesdays: Earth Day Edition

 It's Wednesday and that means Hodgepodge with Joyce! 


1. April 22nd is Earth Day...what's the most 'out of this world' place on earth you've ever visited? Tell us something about it. 

The most "out of this world" place I've visited so far is Haleakala on the island of Maui. We truly felt like we had walked out onto a different planet. You can't see it much in the photos but we could see a whole rainbow of photos in the various sand colors. Though volcanoes national park was a close second- that cracked lava black ground hardly looks real and we happened to catch the park on a day the volcano was erupting too. 



2. A favorite quote, verse, or song lyric with the word earth in it? 

copied from OneTreePlanted (here)- they have some neat quotes about Earth/nature!

3. What's the most trivial thing about which you have a strong opinion? 

This is actually quite a list-- but probably the most trivial is... squeezing the toothpaste tube from the bottom and not the middle. In fact my husband and I have different toothpaste tubes for this reason. 

4. What's your most commonly used kitchen utensil or tool? What's the last thing you made using that tool? 

 Probably my chef knives; I got a set when Alec went to his culinary high school (families could buy a nice set for the discount the school gets for buying in bulk). Not a day goes by that I don't use one of them either to cut up fruit or make a salad or cut up potatoes, onions, or bell peppers. 

 

making a salad Monday morning and cutting up onions/peppers for dinner

we always keep 3 large containers of washed and cut fruit in our fridge

5. Marilyn (Memphis Bridges) gave me a great book of 3000 questions, and I'm going to try to use one in our Hodgepodge every week. Here is today's - 

What is your greatest extravagance? 

 I'm not much of an extravagance person so I'd say travel. I will happily scrimp and save on everything else year round to have more and/or nicer vacation experiences.  

room with a view on our cruise

hotel we stayed in for Universal Studios trip

 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 In the last week we have experienced nearly every sort of weather imaginable, rain, wind, cold frosty mornings, sunny & highs of 88... and I've been tracking the weather in Utah and finding theirs is much like ours but rather than in a week they experience some pretty wild temperature swings during the day. One morning it was 17 and it was going to get up into the high 60's by afternoon. I'm not sure I even know how to pack for that! 

 

Linking up with:


 


Comments

  1. Maria RineerApril 22, 2026 at 5:24 AM

    Great pictures! You've seen some amazing places!! With Donnie's small business and all the time it takes to run it and do the work for it, large amounts of time off is not in the cards for him so we don't/can't take long extravagant vacations. I love to see others' photos and read about their getaways. Two tubes of toothpaste is a really good idea!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne April 22, 2026 at 9:51 AM

      Oh I completely get it. Hawaii was our one and only long trip as my husband could never be gone for more than a few days as owner/operator and even then I think he often spent much of our vacations on the phone fielding and answering questions.

      Delete
  2. JoyceApril 22, 2026 at 6:22 AM

    I'm realizing I left a lot off my list of trivial stuff that bothers. I'm with you on the toothpaste but hubs and I are on the same page. We do have separate vanities though and I think it's good for our marriage : ) Your Hawaii pics do give off an other world type of vibe. I love it! I hope you have great weather for your trip to Utah.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kim CarberryApril 22, 2026 at 6:22 AM

    Oh wow! Haleakala does look like a different world. Your photos are just stunning!
    hahaha! The toothpaste causes arguments here. The only right way to squeeze it is from the bottom.
    The trips you take always look amazing! It really is good to pay that little bit extra for something special.
    Our weather has been pretty consistent here, warmish but not quite t-shirt weather. I want it to warm up so I can put plants out in the garden.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne April 22, 2026 at 9:52 AM

      We had snow flurries in our forecast for today so yet another thing to throw into the mix.

      Delete
  4. HollyApril 22, 2026 at 7:11 AM

    Oh Hawaii is on our bucket list- looks so beautiful with lush and interesting landscapes. So funny about the toothpaste- I totally agree!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Amy ScottApril 22, 2026 at 7:13 AM

    Travel is a great answer for extravagance!

    ReplyDelete
  6. CatApril 22, 2026 at 7:20 AM

    I like your trivial thing. That particular one was never a problem of me personally, but there were others, like putting a milk carton back in the fridge with only a tip sip left in it or not screwing the top on a tube on right.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne April 22, 2026 at 9:53 AM

      Oh yes, those are big aggravations too-- my boys are also great for leaving a box in the pantry that has nothing at all left in it.

      Delete
  7. GinaApril 22, 2026 at 8:30 AM

    This was a great list - love the beautiful photos. I have never seen a volcano in person, but I did go to the Grand Canyon which was mind-blowing to my 14 year old self. I should add a good set of knives to my wish list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne April 22, 2026 at 9:54 AM

      I've only seen the Grand Canyon from an airplane while landing in Vegas but it looks very, very impressive (and it's on my travel list!).

      Delete
  8. NatashaApril 22, 2026 at 8:56 AM

    I also listed travel as an extravagance. And yes, volcanoes are definitely "out of this world." I didn't think about my knives, which I also use every single day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne April 22, 2026 at 9:54 AM

      I was rather glad we saw it while it was erupting!

      Delete
  9. LyshaApril 22, 2026 at 9:17 AM

    Loved your answers today. Travel would be my extravagance as well! That Utah weather swing would have me completely confused about what to pack.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne April 22, 2026 at 9:55 AM

      Right?! I have no idea... but thankfully we have washers/dryers in the houses we're renting so I figure I'll pack a little bit of everything and just wash what I need as we go.

      Delete
  10. Allstarme79April 22, 2026 at 9:26 AM

    I for sure saw some cool "out of this world" stuff in Hawaii too, though it didn't come to mind when I wrote, funny enough.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne April 22, 2026 at 9:56 AM

      I saw a few other answers that jogged my memories for other places I could have used on my list too.

      Delete
  11. Dara @ Not In JerseyApril 22, 2026 at 10:09 AM

    Anywhere in Hawaii is a good answer! And travel is a great extravagance!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Tanya April 22, 2026 at 11:03 AM

    That is some crazy weather to pack for! I would list Haleakala and also the Big Island with all its volcanic rock.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne April 22, 2026 at 1:37 PM

      Yeah, I'm still not sure what I'll want to bring but I guess a wide range of things just in case.

      Delete
  13. Lindsay's Sweet WorldApril 22, 2026 at 11:50 AM

    I agree with you about travel! We are not extravagant people by any means. I'd rather save our money to spend on travel and concerts and experiences rather than anything extravagant!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne April 22, 2026 at 1:37 PM

      Yep, I am all about experiences over things.

      Delete
  14. JeanieApril 22, 2026 at 12:03 PM

    Good knives and toothpaste from the bottom! We're definitely on the same page!

    ReplyDelete
  15. JenniferApril 22, 2026 at 1:51 PM

    Completely agree on not scrimping/saving on vacation! You have had some wonderful travels...and I love those Hawaii photos!! I hope I make it to Hawaii one day!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Jodie's Touch of StyleApril 22, 2026 at 2:20 PM

    I do think travel is good to spend money on.Because it's really a learning activity.And experience.
    The toothpaste thing cracked me up
    Xoox
    Jodie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne April 22, 2026 at 4:38 PM

      It definitely is a learning activity. I love traveling and seeing/learning about new things.

      Delete
  17. Lisa notes...April 22, 2026 at 2:50 PM

    The most out of the world place I've visited is probably Hawaii too. Being on a black sand beach felt SO weird after only being on white sand beaches my whole life.

    I have a strong opinion on how to load the dishwasher. My husband and I disagree. (Well, actually he just doesn't care, but I definitely care. lol)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne April 22, 2026 at 4:38 PM

      Yes, we went on a red sand beach, a black sand beach, and a GREEN sand beach there.

      Delete
  18. MarshaApril 22, 2026 at 3:41 PM

    These were interesting questions! It bugs me, too, when someone squeezes from the middle (my husband and kids when they were home). I think Hawaii would be otherworldly, too. I hope to go there someday.

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

    ReplyDelete
  19. SusanApril 22, 2026 at 4:24 PM

    I have been to Maui, but we did not go to Haleakala. We took the tour to Hana, and it rained so the waterfalls were spectacular! We were supposed to swimming in the 7 pools, but the rain made them roaring rapids. Still a great experience. We also went out to Molokini crater to snorkel. We spent extra on our last cruise to the Mexican Riviera with Princess and got the balcony and suite. I loved sitting out and watching the views. We went on a Celebrity cruise to Alaska. Both were great. If our Israel trip is canceled, I might look into another cruise!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne April 22, 2026 at 4:40 PM

      We went to Hana and snorkeled at the crater too!

      Delete
  20. Christie HawkesApril 22, 2026 at 5:07 PM

    I really enjoyed this Hodepodge, Joanne. I agree with you on the travel extravagance and the toothpaste tube! We do have a saying here in Utah, "Don't like the weather? Just wait an hour." This has been an especially strange spring in northern Utah. We were having summer-typical temps and then suddenly winter came back with a vengeance.

    ReplyDelete

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