Tickled Pink

Good Wednesday morning!

Wednesday Hodgepodge Day.

(click the logo to join to go to Joyce's blog to join in)

    

1.  What's something that reminds you of your grandmother?  Tell us why.

My dad's mother loved dahlias.  Every year, her garden was filled with dahlias.  Whenever I see a dahlia, I think of my grandmother.

2.  Is your life currently more 'moonlight and roses' or a little more 'every rose has its thorn'?  Elaborate.

I really try not to focus on the thorns.  So I have to say that my life is moonlight and roses, although I would probably say that I prefer sunsets and daffodils.

3.  June 23rd is National Pink Day...favorite thing you own in any shade of pink?    

I own a beautiful pink goblet.  Bought at Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, CA and given to us at our wedding, it has survived for forty-seven years and dozens of moves.

Favorite thing found in nature in any shade of pink?

How can I choose my favorite pink flower??  One flower I love is a camellia.  My other grandmother, my mom's mom, grew camellias in her front garden.  I loved them.  At my home in California, I had nine camellia bushes, all of them in shades of pink.  Here are three:

Favorite food or beverage?

I love rhubarb strawberry crisp.  And raspberry sorbet.

Favorite shade of pink?

I don't really have a favorite shade of pink.

4. Last thing that had you tickled pink?

Oh this is an easy one.  Obviously, my four grandchildren being together and playing together after two years.  Here is a photo I took of them last week when my youngest granddaughter was visiting from AZ.

5.  What are two or three words that describe your style.

Casual.  Sporty.  Modest.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Do you love fairy trails in the forest?  We have a fairy trail in a local park.  My grandkids were 'enchanted' with it, so I took many photos along the path and plan to publish a post about it tomorrow.  If you'd like to 'walk' along, pop over and see it.

June Bug Hodgepodge

Good morning!  It's Wednesday.  Wednesday Hodgepodge Day.  Click on the logo above and it will take you to the hosts' blog.

1.  Something you have seen recently that's 'cuter than a June' bug?

There is a local park that has playing fields, a lake, and miles and miles of wood trails.  One small detour you can walk is the Fairy Trail.

2.  Tell us something about where you were and what you were doing in June of 1988.  If you weren't born yet,  June of 1998.  Or if that doesn't work, June of 2008.

In June of 1988, we were living in Papua, Indonesia.  Here is a photo of our family, probably May or June.  Close enough, right? (my kids are gonna hate me for showing this picture)

And, then in June of 2008, I just had to share.  Do you know where I was?

3.  A place in your home or outdoor space where you feel 'snug as a bug in a rug'?

I love to sit in my chair in the family room.  Sitting there, I can rest my feet up on the foot rest and read and sip my coffee.  If the weather cooperates, I love sitting on my back patio watching my flowers and veggies grow.

4.  June is Nation Fresh Fruits and Vegetable Month.  Do you normally get your 4-5 servings each day?  What's a favorite summer dish you make/serve/like to be served-ha! made with one of your favorite summer fruits.  A favorite summer dish made with a favorite summer veg?  How do you feel about cooking in the summer months?

Breakfast:  three fruits.  Lunch:  five veggies.  Dinner:  green salad.  All fresh.  Every single day.  And sometimes a green smoothie with two or three veggies and three or four fruits.

I am a fan of summer fruits, especially strawberries and rhubarb baked into a crisp.

I don't really have a favorite summer veggie dish.  Maybe lasagna made from my fresh tomatoes and spinach?  I don't enjoy cooking.  I'm one of those people who eat to live, not live to eat.

5.  Do you have a summer reading list?  If so, share a title or two we can add to our own.

Unless you love gardening, you won't enjoy my summer reading list.  I may delve into reading more of my collection of Agatha Christie novels.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

This girl and her mother will be here in four days!!

Memorial Day Hodgepodge

 1.  We're approaching Memorial Day Weekend in the US of A...will you mark this in some way?  If so tell us how.  According to a list found here some things you might do in honor of Memorial Day would be-shop in a Veteran owned business, learn to play a patriotic song, watch the Memorial Day concert, take a virtual tour of the White House, write a letter to a soldier or a soldier's family, fly a flag, attend a Memorial Day parade, donate flowers for a soldier's grave, put together a care package for a soldier, and take a moment of silence at 3PM (the National Moment of Remembrance)...of the ideas mentioned are there any you will try?

The Professor is a veteran, as were both of our fathers.  And our son.  Actually, our son currently serves in the US Army Reserve as a military chaplain.  When he was stationed in Afghanistan, he procured an American flag that was flown over the base where he was stationed and brought it home to his dad.  (This is a normal thing--to obtain flags--they are flown only one day and then retired, so the flags are given/sold to soldiers.)  So, we will fly the flag on Memorial Day.

2. What's something recently that made you 'come to attention'?

I need to be attentive to watering the garden.  Things dry out very quickly.

3.  In what area of your life do you need to 'soldier on'?

I do not like humidity.  But now I live in a rather humid climate (during the summer).  I just need to 'soldier on' and deal with it.

4.  As a long weekend approaches and summer draws near, what's a favorite food from your childhood you think about adding to the menu?

Anything marionberry.  Pie, Dumplings, Crisp.  Marionberries are a type of blackberry.  My grandma made THE BEST.

5.  Your favorite patriotic movie?

Mrs. Miniver

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Have you ever said goodbye to a son or daughter (or spouse) who is on his/her way to a battleground deployment?  I have.  It hurts.  And I've watched my daughter and daughter-in-law say goodbye.  Even today, just remembering makes me emotional.  If you haven't, then you have no idea of the sacrifice of families.  

Hodgepodge in a Hurry

  What a day!  I wrote this post last night and then I didn't post it.

Super busy day.  Oops!

 http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/

1.  Realist, idealist, optimist, pessimist...which one are you?  Elaborate.

Probably, I am a combination of realist and optimist.  I'm old.  I've seen life.  I am pretty realistic about life.  I guess not much really surprises me about people anymore.

2.  What's something currently on your wish list?

My wish list for travel?  My wish list for experience?  My wish list for stuff?  I want to travel to visit my cousin in Florida, my brother in Oregon.  Our plans to visit Alaska were shelved last year for the obvious reason.  I would like a retractable cover or gazebo for the patio.

3.  Three things on this week's shopping list?

Groceries:  kale, bananas, strawberries.

General:  prescription sunglasses, Travelon purse (to replace the ruined one), more soil for our raised garden beds.

4.  According to Trip Advisor here's a list of the top ten things to do in the US this summer-- Chicago Architecture River Cruise, Skip the Line Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Tour, New York In A Day guided sightseeing tour, Charleston's Old South Historic Horse and Carriage tour, Grand Canyon helicopter tour, Full day iconic sights of LA, Beverly Hills, Beaches and more, D.C. at Dusk guided night tour, Beneath the Streets Underground History tour (Seattle), New Orleans Swamp and Bayou Boat tour, Gangsters and Ghosts tour in Chicago...read more about each excursion in the link here.

Of the ten attractions listed which do you find most appealing?  Have you already experienced anything on this list?

The Seattle  Underground History tour sounds fascinating since I grew up in Portland and have heard that Portland has a similar history.  Except.  You'd have to pay me a lot of money to visit Seattle right now.  I have already experienced most everything about Los Angeles since I lived there.  We have walked all over LA and visited all the beaches (I love Dockweiler Beach in the winter!), visited the gardens, museums, and done our own tours with friends.

5.  Besides home and work, where do you spend the most time?

I probably spend the most time walking the trails and parks in the area.  I was going to say my two daughters' home, but we meet up and take walks as often as we hang out at their homes.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Too busy to think of anything!

Wednesday Hodgepodge, Mother's Day version

Wednesday Hodgepodge.

My answers.

HERE'S THE LINK

1.  It's like my mama always said, "____."

    My mom told me this when I was about forty:  "When I was twenty, I worried about what people thought of me.  When I was forty, I quit worrying about what people thought of me.  When I was sixty, I realized no one was thinking about me; they were focused on themselves."

2.  May 11th is National East What You Want Day.  What will you be having by way of celebration?

    So, we have been having the discussion about this.  Cinnamon roll from Rolls By the Pound.  If I were still living in CA, I would definitely be going for my favorite burrito!  Probably, we will grab pizzas from the pizza place that has vegan options for me.  My grandson approves!

3.  Describe your idea of a perfect spring day.

    Sunny, not windy, warm.  Yesterday was almost perfect.  In the evening, The Professor and New Boy (husband and oldest grandson) had a Trail Life adventure at a local park, so I drove over with them and spent the whole time hiking around by myself.  Not much better than that!

4.  Success, fulfillment, growth, achievement...pick one and tell us how it related to your life in some way, either currently or in days gone by.

    Growth.  I can always be growing in wisdom.

5.  I saw this going around on various social media sites and thought it would be fun to answer here.  The last thing you bought on Amazon is your weapon in battle.  How will  you wield it?

    The last thing I bought online was a package of socks.  Hmmm, how could I use this as a weapon in battle.  Fill with rocks or sand and use as a cosh?  Possibly.  But the best defense weapon would be to have a group of young teen boys wear them for two weeks without washing them, and then place them around the perimeter of your defensive area.  No attacker will come near because they will assume they have stumbled into the local sewage plant.

6.  Insert you own random thought here.

    My son and daughter in law sent me a Mother's Day card.  On the front was written  "A good mom sends you down the right path, then prays for you every step of the way."  TRUTH!

Hodgepodge Wednesday, Beefing up the Creativity

Wednesday Hodgepodge.  Fun way to connect with other bloggers.  Here's the LINK.

1.  What are some memories you associate with spring?

    In places I've lived where there are seasons, I associate budding trees with spring.  When leaves unfurl and turn green, I know it's spring.  Forsythia and pussy willows are other portents of spring.  This year, our first in Ohio, it has been daffodils, grape hyacinths, and tulips that have declared to me, "It's spring!"

2.  April showers bring May flowers...was that saying proven true where you live?  Snapdragons, anemones, carnations, lilacs, sweet peas, tulips, lily of the valley, orchids, roses, gardenias, which one on that list is your favorite May bloom?

    I love sweet peas and roses.  See? I can't just choose one!

3.  What are your top three distractions and how do you deal with them?

    Well, obviously, I get distracted by reading blogs and other online stuff.  If there's yarn around, I'll probably be messing with it. (Squirrel!)  I am often distracted by nature's beauty.  I'll notice a bird (Squirrel!), bunny, cloud, flower, plant and totally become absorbed in its beauty.  Books and crossword puzzles are constant distractions.

4.  Do you eat beef?  In the course of a week, how often is beef on the menu?  A hamburger, steak, prime rib, or a roast beef dinner...which beef entre would you choose and yes you have to choose.  Unless you're a vegan and then you may pass.

    Well, I get a pass.  I'm vegan.  I prefer the term whole food, plant based.  That's because sometimes vegan doesn't mean healthy, and I eat the way I do for my health.  Focus on veggies, fruits, whole grains.

5.  In what way were you creative during the month of April?

       I'm a knitter.  I am always knitting.  In April, I made a couple pairs of socks, a bunch of dish cloths for my daughters, and right now I'm working on a NICU hat for a friend's brand new grandson. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

        I save my Christmas cards and letters for several months and then sort back through them to reread them, double check for address changes, and maybe send off a note or email.  I did that this week.  I realize how blessed I am with so many friends!

Hodgepodge 416 on 4/21

 Good morning!  I am a big late posting this morning because we have been having internet issues.  Fortunately, it seems like our provider may have fixed the widespread problem.  Here are my answers to Wednesday Hodgepodge.  Click the link!  FROM THIS SIDE OF THE POND.

1. Find a penny.  Look at the date and tell us something about your life or what you were doing that year.   So, the first penny I grabbed was a 2020.  We all know that 2020 was boring.  So I took a second penny. 1989.  That was more like it.  In 1989, we were living in West Papua, Indonesia.  We moved from one small village, Sowi Tiga, to the nearby city of Manokwari.  We had lived in Sowi Tiga for three years on the campus of the Erikson Tritt Bible School, but one of the other teachers there needed our housing.  So we were assigned to housing in 'town'.  For the FIRST TIME in all our years in Papua, we had twenty-four hour electricity and a telephone in our house!  Luxury!

2.  Were you given an allowance as a child?  Did you have to earn it in some way?  Did you learn to save money when you were a child or is that something you figured out as an adult?   No, I didn't have a allowance when I was a child.  My brother and I did our chores and were just glad to have food and a home.  I think I learned the importance of saving money from my parents.  And after I was married, I learned even more from my mother-in-law and my husband.

3.  April 23rd is Nation Take A Chance Day...what's a chance you need or want to take?  Hmmm, I might take a chance on being able to travel this summer.  Our first trip will most likely be to Tennessee to visit friends.  And our second trip may be to Illinois and Iowa.

4.  What's some outdated slang you seem to use a little too often?  I can't think of any.  When I asked my hubby, he said, "No, you're too rad for that.  In fact, you're the bee's knees."

5.  It's National Poetry month and I always like to make us work our brains a little...

Roses are red.

Violets are blue.

Tulips are yellow

and purple, too.

And here is my grandson New Boy's rendition:

Roses are cute

Violets are too;

But neither of them are

as pretty as you.

6.  Insert your own random thought.   Yesterday was a beautiful warmish spring day.  Overnight, it snowed.

May your week be bright and cheerful.  May your internet work.  And may you have no snow.

Wednesday Hodgepodge, End of March

Good morning!  It's Wednesday and the last day of March!  Here are my answers to the Wednesday Hodgepodge questions shared by Joyce at From This Side Of The Pond.  Follow the link!

1.  The Hodgepodge lands on the last day of March...in ten words or less bid, the month adieu.

        March was shamrocks, birthdays, daffodils.

        Bye, 'til we meet again.

2.  March 31st is National Tater Day...your favorite way to have a potato?  Given a choice would you opt for sweet, white, or red?  How often are potatoes on your menu in one form or another?  Ever been to Idaho?  If not, is that a state you'd like to visit someday?

        I love my white potatoes mashed.  I do love sweet potatoes; they must be savory not sweet.  I would say that potatoes are most likely to be added to soups at our house, about once a month.

        Idaho is the state just east of my home state where I was born and raised, Oregon.  So yes, I've been to Idaho more times than I can count.  My memory is that the first time I crossed the Snake River into Idaho was when our high school choir met in Boise for a musicale with other Christian high school choirs from the Pacific Northwest.

        Recently, several friends have moved to Idaho from California, so I would always like to visit them.

        

3.  Last time someone or something 'rained on your parade'?  Explain.

   

        Currently, I am on a short road trip with The Professor, Older Daughter and Grandson.  Grandson, The New Boy, has been in charge of finding restaurants.  He chose the perfect one we all wanted to try and it was just a few blocks from our Air BnB.  What disappointment!  The restaurant is closed until Friday for renovations/construction work.  We were sad, especially New Boy.  But we found another wonderful place to have dinner.

4.  Put all your eggs in one basket, get cracking, nest egg, bad egg, good egg, egg on, have egg on your face, or walk on eggshells...choose a phrase from the list that applies to something in your life currently and tell us how or why.

        It's time for me to 'get cracking' on starting seeds for my garden!

5.  If I visited your home would I find a lot of baskets there?  Something you like to keep in a basket?

        I think I have maybe four baskets in my whole house.  Two are in my studio room, filled with yarn and knitted items (mostly hats).  In the family room, there is a basket filled with some of my handknitted blankets, folded and waiting for someone to grab and cuddle in if they are cold.  The fourth basket is empty and sitting on the landing at the top of the stairs.  When we moved in the house in October, I plopped it there, and it hasn't moved (but it is kinda cute).

6.  Inset your own random thought here.

        Have you ever heard of Longaberger Baskets?  The company built their headquarters to look like a huge basket.  It's in the county where I live now. 

 Yep.  It's a real place. (BTW, it's for sale, if you're interested...)

St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Here are some fun answers to Hodgepodge for this week.  Click on the picture to join in.

                                               

 1.  This week's Hodgepodge lands on St. Patrick's Day.  Will you wear green?  Eat corned beef and cabbage?  Drink green beer?  Have you even been to Ireland?  Is it on your travel 'bucket list'?

        I am wearing green.  And shamrock necklace and earrings.  No corned beef and cabbage and no green beer. I am choosing all my favorite foods for dinner tonight. Why?  Because it's my birthday!!  We will have triple berry pie for dessert.

         Although I haven't been there yet, I do want to visit Ireland and find out more about where one of my ancestresses lived there.

2.  Something you think is 'worth its weight in gold'?

         Obviously, my morning coffee!  And shamrocks!

3.  Something that makes you 'green around the gills'?

         Very few things bother me.  I don't mind bugs, spiders, dead things.  Except snakes.  I don't like snakes.  What makes me 'green'?  Turbulent airplane rides.

4.  What puts a 'spring in your step' these days?

          SUNSHINE!

5.  Write a limerick using one of the following as your theme...March, St. Patrick's Day, Covid, 2020 and/or 2021, the color green, or life lately.  Yes, you can do it.

          There was a St Pat’s girl who wore green

Every Irish birthday she could be seen

Sporting a shamrock

And bright colored sock

And drinking her liquid coffee bean.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

             It's a perfect birthday today!  Sunshine and blue skies!  Calls from my kids and favorite (only) brother!  Birthday dinner and birthday pie to look forward to this evening! 

March Comes Marching In

The month has Marched in with sunshine and wind.  I am happy March is here because that means the end of winter is in sight.  It is the first Wednesday of March and that means Wednesday Hodgepodge.

 

1. Is March coming in like a lion where you live? Aslan, Simba, Elsa, The Cowardly Lion...your favorite 'famous' lion? 

            So far, March has come in hopping around like a bunny on weed.  Cold, cold nights and sunny days.  At least there hasn’t been snow.

            Without a doubt, Aslan is my lion of choice!  There is so much symbolism in CS Lewis’s depiction of Aslan.

 

2. In what way do you 'march to the beat of your own drum'? 

            Most people live in their homes and communities all their lives.  From childhood, I have been an adventurer.

 

3. What item that you don't have already, would you most like to own? Any chance of that happening soon? 

            I have everything I need and most everything I want.  We have been looking for furniture for our family room.  In the near future, we will be purchasing chairs and a sofa.

 

4. March is National Flour Month...are you a baker? Cookies-cakes-or pies...your favorite sweet treat to bake? What's the last non-sweet thing you made that called for flour?

            I enjoy baking pies and cookies.  Cakes, not at all.

            It has been so long since I baked a sweet treat, I honestly am not sure.  Maybe the Christmas cookies I baked in December?  As for a non-sweet flour food, I guess it was the dinner rolls I baked for Thanksgiving.

 

5. There are 31 days in the month of March...where were you and what were you doing when you were 31? If you haven't hit that milestone yet, then tell us where you were and what you were doing 31 months ago? (if math is not your thing, that would be August 3, 2018)

            When I turned 31 in March of that year, I was living in the jungles of Papua, Indonesia, which is the western half of the island of New Guinea (which is directly north of Australia, for those who don’t know South East Asian geography).  In March, we were living in mission housing away from our home because I had just given birth to my third child, a son, and was waiting for him to be old enough to receive a whooping cough vaccination since there was a breakout of that disease in the village where we lived.

Yes, he was adorable!

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

        March means SPRING!

Cleaning up February

        Good morning!  It's Wednesday.  The sun is out!  I'm feeling cheery!  Here is Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce's questions for this week.  Click the cute picture to add your own answers in a post.

                                                

1. Your favorite cleaning product? Do you clean your own house or hire out? Most disliked household chore? What one chore do you not mind so much? 

            Windex is a miracle product for getting grandchildren's finger (and nose) prints off windows.  My own citrus scented vinegar spray is a close second for favorite cleaning product. 

            I have always cleaned my own house (except when I lived in the jungle and had house help).  I figure all the moving and activity will help keep me active.  However, I do not like cleaning the shower.  That's mostly because of the horrible odors of most cleaning products.  I don't mind dusting.

 2. It's Canned Food Month...do you use a lot of canned goods? What are the three canned items you purchase most often? Last thing you made using a canned ingredient? 

                We use canned sauces like salsa, spaghetti sauce, alfredo sauce.  Usually, I keep some canned beans available although I prefer to cook my own in large batches and freeze them in smaller amounts.  That way I can better control the amount of salt in the beans.

            Last week, I made nachos topped with refried beans--the beans were canned.

 3. Can of worms, anything can happen, can you imagine?, as best I can, kick the can down the road, more than one can take, no can do, not if I can help it...choose an idiom and tell us how you currently relate.

                CAN YOU IMAGINE?  My daughter and I love England and have traveled there twice together (and each at least twice with others).  Last week, we sat down to scroll through my photos of our 2019 trip and we both said,  "Can you imagine living there?"  "There" was numerous places in Southwest England.

Yeah, I could go on and on with pictures!

4.The last Tuesday in February is National Spa Day. Are you someone who enjoys a day at the spa? Last time you visited a spa? Do you have a favorite spa? Are salons open for business in your area? Have you made changes to your hair and nail routine since Corona hit? In what way? 

                I have been to only one spa and only two or three times to that one.  Skamania Lodge in Southwest Washington.  Located overlooking the Columbia River, it has hiking trails, hotel accommodations and restaurants as well as the spa, hot tub, and swimming pools.  When we visit my brother and sister-in-law in Oregon, we drive up there for dinner and a couple of times we have treated ourselves to a spa visit.

                As for salons in my area, yes, they're open.  I have scheduled a haircut for this week.  This is only the second cut I have had since lockdowns began almost a year ago.

 5. Believe it or not this is the last Hodgepodge of the month. In one sentence sum up your February. 

                Snow, rain, sleet, ice

                did not make February nice.

 6. Insert your own random thought here.

                The sun is out, the snow is melting, and the temperatures are rising.  I am thankful.

A Penny for My Thoughts

Wednesday Hodgepodge.  (If you click on the drawing below, the link will take you to Joyce's blog)

1. This week's Hodgepodge lands on Ash Wednesday which signals the beginning of Lent. Do you mark this season in some way? If so tell us more. Did you grow up 'celebrating' Lent? Is attending church part of your weekly routine? Are churches open for in-person worship where you live? 

        Although I did not grow up in a tradition that observes Lent, I have become more involved in the past decade or two.  My art group buddies always do a Lent Bible study (and an Advent one, too).  This year we are reading Phillip Keller's book A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23.  We meet via Zoom every Friday morning anyway (they all live in CA and I am the one who moved to OH) so we just move our focus to our current study book.

        Our church here has services on Saturday night and Sunday morning.  Usually, we attend the Saturday service with our daughter and grandson.  The church is open for in person services with distancing protocols in place.

2. When is the last time you sat beside a 'real' fire? Do you have a fireplace in your home? Wood or gas logs? Favorite thing cooked over a fire?

        I love fires!  We now have an outdoor fireplace which we used the last time in early November.

        Our new home has a gas fireplace which can be redone into a wood burning fireplace.  This we plan to do and use an insert to help heat this area of the house. 

3. Something that's currently got you fired up? 

        What has me fired up?  People's lack of preparation for emergencies.  Nuf said.

4. February also happens to be National Cabbage Day. Who knew? Do you like cabbage? Is cabbage on your menu Wednesday? Of the following cabbage dishes which is your favorite-coleslaw (mayo or vinegar?), sauerkraut, cabbage rolls, cabbage soup, kielbasa and cabbage, grilled cabbage, bubble and squeak, kimchi, or haluski? 

        Not a cabbage fan.  I will eat coleslaw if it is made with a vegan mayo.  Many years ago, our friends gave us some kimchi which they had made.  I liked it.

5. Do you hang on to pennies? What do you do with them? Last thing you purchased for $1.00? Last thing you purchased for $5.00? 

        I collect pennies (and nickels and dimes).   My uncle got me started in coin collecting when I was about six years old.  I still find coins fascinating.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

        It is vewy vewy cold here.  I woke up this morning to my phone showing me that it was 1F.  Now it is a balmy 21F.  Snow and ice everywhere.  And more snow and ice expected.  BUT!  I have heat!  And I am so very thankful for that.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

                                               

A Wednesday Welcome to you!  Here at Willow's Cottage, it is very very chilly.  But inside our cottage, there is heat and light.  Wednesday Hodgepodge is always fun, no matter the weather.  If you wish to participate, click on the picture above, and the link will take you to our host Joyce's blog.

1. Have you done more binge watching this past year than in 'normal' years? Any plans to break that habit in 2021? Tell us one or two shows you binged last year that you really liked. 

  

    I haven't really watched any more TV or movies in 2020.  Usually, we will watch some kind of show or movie after Jeopardy on evenings we are at home.  We did watch all the Endeavor and Inspector Morse episodes, and now we have begun watching Inspector Lewis.  (Do you see a trend here?  We love British murder mystery shows.  Have you seen Foyle's War?)

2. January 26th is Australia Day. Have you ever visited or lived in Australia? Have you ever tasted Vegemite, and if so what did you think?  Is a trip down under on your bucket list? We answered a question about travel three months ago (the October 21st Hodgepodge), but let's revisit now...where are you when it comes to planning or even imagining travel this year? 

    I have not yet visited Australia (although The Professor and Dr. Mike have).  We lived on the island just north of Australia (New Guinea), but never flew in and out of there via Australia.  Yes, I've eaten Vegemite--I'm not a big fan as it tastes bitter to me.  Nutella is better.

    A trip in the future?  Hopefully, we will get to visit Alaska as it is the only US state we have not visited.  Also, a trip back to California and Oregon to visit friends and family is high on my list.  And I can't forget Tennessee where two couples who are close friends are now living.  AND...Florida, to visit my cousin.

3. Something that zaps your energy? Something that energizes you? 

    What zaps my energy?  Not getting enough sleep.   What energizes me?  I love my daily walks (which I haven't been able to take for the past four days due to rain, snow and ice).  

4. On a scale of 1-10 what are your eating habits like these days? (1=all junk food all the time and 10= juicing every green thing in the frig) Healthiest meal you've eaten in the last week or so? 

    In general, my eating habits are 8-9.  I eat an almost completely whole food, plant based diet.  Lately, I've enjoyed a bit more chocolate since it was Christmas and then post-Christmas chocolate candy sale time.

5. What's your most often 'Back in my day....' thing to say? 

    Probably, I bring up memories from our years living in Papua, Indonesia.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

    Our grandson The New Boy (seventh grade now!) has started homeschooling.  The Professor and I are teaching him.  As I type this, he is sprawled on the floor reading a fiction book set in York during the reign of Elizabeth I. What a great way to learn!

It's a Good Wednesday Hodgepodge Morning

                                             

Hodgepodge Wednesday is here!

Here are my answers to Joyce's questions.

You can join in by clicking on this LINK.

1. What's something we'd find you doing most afternoons? 

    Most afternoons right now, I am reading.  But once warmer weather arrives, I will be out in my garden or walking local trails.

2. Who do you take after? In what way(s)? 

    In coloring, I take after my very pale English/Irish ancestry father.  But I look like my mother even though she had black hair and olive complexion.  My love and talent for piano and voice came from my mother.  Love of gardening skipped my mom, but hit me hard, as both my grandmothers were gardeners.

3. 'After every storm comes a rainbow' or 'the calm before the storm'...which phrase do you relate to more right now? Tell us why? 

    This is a hard one for me because I relate to both.  There is the rainbow of our helping to school our grandson.  But then I think, "Hmmm, there will be smooth sailing for awhile, but when will the storm come?"  Actually, I don't think there will ever be much of a storm with him.  He seems very happy about the idea of learning with his Bapa.   

    Then there is the literal interpretation...we had snow storms last weekend.  Now it is clear and cold.  Is this respite from snow simply the calm before the next storm?  Since this is our first winter in this climate, it's all a learning experience.

4.What are your plans for the day after tomorrow? 

    Friday.  I will be spending most of the day with my grandson helping with his homeschooling.

5. Complete this sentence-"After all is said and done_____________________."

    God wins.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

    I love sunny days for walking along the river.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

                                    

It's Wednesday Hodgepodge time.  Click on the picture and it will take you to Joyce's blog where you can team up with other people who are writing about this or you can just hop on and read what they have to say (after you read my post, of course).

1. When were you last a guest at an event or in someone's home? Tell us about it. Do you enjoy having guests in your own home? 

        The last time I was a guest at an event or in someone's home (not counting my family) was last summer when my friend hosted the women from our church small group for a luncheon in her avocado orchard.  It was also partly a good bye party for me.  Oh!  I just remembered another one!  In August, a few days before we moved away, everyone in our small group was invited to a front yard going away party for The Professor and me.  We sort of shared dinner and just laughed and chatted like we always do.

        

2. What has you 'tied up in knots' currently or recently? Are you any good at tying actual knots? 

        We are painting our daughter's downstairs bedrooms.  Why would that tie me up in knots?  I want to finish each room all in one day, but I have to be patient until the first coat of paint dries before we can start the second coat.

        I am much better at UNtying knots than tying them.  People know that if their yarn gets in a tangle, they can just hand it to me and I will untangle it for them.  Evidently, untangling yarn is one of my super strengths.

3. What's something you've been wanting to do and have decided 2021 will be the year you 'take the plunge'? 

        I am planting a GARDEN!  Vegetable, herbs, berry bushes and probably a couple of fruit trees!  I've been wanting a big yummy garden for years and our property in Southern California was just too small.  In fact, I have begun assembling a binder titled "My Ohio Garden".

4. Something in your home that's old? Something new? Something borrowed? Something blue? 

        Old?  My grandmother's cedar chest.

        New?  The whole house is new to me.

        Borrowed?  Do library books count?

        Blue?  The new cushions for the IKEA chair and ottoman our daughter passed on to us.  Other than that, well, there's a lot of blue in my house because I love blue.  For example, these vases and candleholders.

5. Share a favorite quote, a verse of scripture, and/or a bit of wisdom for couples getting married in this challenging and seemingly unpredictable season we're currently/still experiencing.

        Whenever people ask me one question about marriage, I always answer, "Make sure you laugh every day."

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

        Becoming Minimalist posted this on social media this morning.  Quote by Paige Kellerman.

   Not everyone realizes this,

but if you clean the pile of receipts out of a purse

and stack them together...

it makes a teeny tiny book

 about why you're broke.

Wise words.