With only five more days until Christmas, I’d say the holiday season is well upon us! I have a few more things to do, in preparation, but first things first, so let’s answer some more Hodgepodge questions. As always, thanks to our hostess, Joyce, for everything she does!
1. Where have you found unexpected magic or delight this holiday season?
I don’t know that about “unexpected magic or delight”, but I’ve found delight, this Christmas, in the usual things–our rotating Christmas tree, with its beautiful lights and ornaments, a Christmas Parade of lights, the children’s Christmas play at church, just to name a few.
2. What’s your favorite type of holiday gathering? I like the informal kind of gathering, with family/friends, finger foods, and perhaps a fun game or two for fun.
Will you/have you gathered in your favorite way this month? No, we haven’t, but we did gather last Saturday to celebrate a couple of December birthdays.
3. Time has named ‘The Silence Breakers’ (women who came forward with stories of harassment) ‘person of the year’ for 2017. Would you agree? If not, who do you think deserves the title?
The choice of ‘The Silence Breakers’ is okay with me. Perhaps, bringing/keeping the issue of sexual harassment into the spotlight will help this on-going situation for women. Probably not, but I can always hope.
4. How did you spend your time this year? Are you happy about that? Elaborate
I spent more time reading the Bible, and less time on my computer. I spent more time in church, and less time elsewhere. I also began a card ministry (sending cards to sick/bereaved) and, for the first time, in many years, I taught a youth class [at church] on Wednesday evenings. During late spring and early summer we also ‘canned’ fresh vegetables from our garden and made jelly. I used my time in better ways, this year, and, yes, I feel good about that.
5. Bid farewell to 2017 in ten words or less.
Farewell 2017, you came and went much too quickly!
There are only twelve more days until Christmas! Can you believe it?! Me either. I’m NOT ready… but I don’t suppose a few more hours of procrastinating is going to make much difference, so I’m participating in The Hodgepodge–or at least I’m going to try. Last week, the ‘Linky’ mysteriously disappeared after a few hours, so I wasn’t able to read everyone’s posts:( Hopefully, this week will go better! As always, thanks to our gracious hostess, Joyce, for everything she does. Here we go:
1. ‘Hurry less, worry less’…what’s your strategy for making that happen this holiday season? How’s it going so far?
“Hurry less, worry less” is my strategy, this year, along with making it a point to always keep in mind the real reason for the season. For the most part, it’s going good. This year, I’ve hurried and worried less than usual, and I’m trying hard to stay focused on Jesus rather than Santa.
2. Do you have a list of to-dos that need accomplishing in order to prepare your home and/or property for the winter season? We don’t make a list, but there are a few things we do.
What are some of the jobs on your list? The outside faucets need wrapping and the flowers need protecting, so the greenhouse has to be put back up. We also drain/cover our large fountain, and cover the plants [at night] that won’t fit inside of the greenhouse.
Are you a do-it-yourselfer or do you hire someone to accomplish these tasks? Ed takes care of everything, thankfully, and spent most of last Saturday doing just that!
3. According to dietitians surveyed, the most popular health foods for 2018 will be -turmeric, sprouted foods (bean sprouts, breads with sprouted grains, etc), veggies in place of grains, dairy free milk, and pulses (lentils, chickpeas, etc). What’s the first thought that ran through your head when you read this list? My first thought was “YUK”.
Of the foods listed which one might you add to your regular diet? None of the above.
Also, can milk really be dairy free? Not to me! I hate almond milk, and won’t even try soy milk.
Is it still milk? Again, no, not as far as I’m concerned. Give me the real thing, please!
4. The Pantone Color of the Year for 2018 is Ultra Violet. According to the Pantone site ‘Ultra Violet communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking pointing us to the future.’ What say you? I say, it doesn’t communicate those things to me.
Do you like the color purple? No, I’m not really a fan of it.
Did you see the movie or read the book-ha!? Yes, I watched the movie twice.
Is purple a color you wear often? No, it isn’t.
Describe for us one purple item in your home without using the word purple. It’s knee-length and has a jacket that goes with it. I’ve had it for over a year and only worn it once. I’m not sure what I was thinking when I bought it.
If you were in charge of such things what color would you select for 2018? I’d select candy apple red!
5. Favorite book read this year? I’m going to say the devotional entitled, Every Day in His Presence by Charles Stanley. I received this book as a gift, last Christmas, and it’s been such a blessing to me all year.
Random:
Yesterday was our oldest grandson, Caden’s, birthday. He turned nine!
It scares me to death when I think about nine being half-way to eighteen!!! Oh, be still my heart, where is time going?! Wasn’t it just yesterday when he was getting a bath in the kitchen sink?
Apparently not! And wasn’t it only a week or two ago when we celebrated his third birthday in my kitchen?
I guess not. Time has a way of slipping by…
Happy Birthday, again, Caden. I hope the next nine years don’t pass as quickly as the first ones did–and I hope Mimi and E are here to experience every one of them with you.
After a two month hiatus, I’ve finally made my way back to blogging! Sometimes, a person needs to just take a step back, so that’s what I did. Before I knew it, one week had turned into two, then a month, and so forth. I’m back blogging, for now, and there’s no place I’d rather start than with The Hodgepodge. As always, thanks to our hostess, Joyce, for keeping this fun meme going!
1. What title would you give this current chapter of your life?
One Day At A Time
Just like the title of that old song I love. The lyrics of this song seem to fit my life, these days.
2. December 6 is National Microwave Oven Day. Who knew? Besides popcorn and coffee reheats, what’s the most common thing you microwave? Could you get along without a microwave?
The things I use my microwave most often for are baking potatoes or defrosting ground beef. Yes, I could get along without it, and I did for many years, but a microwave sure makes life [in the kitchen] easier.
3. If you could insert yourself into any Christmas carol and experience the lyrics in real life, which Christmas carol lyric would you choose and why?
I’m going to choose Sleigh Ride.
I’ve never been on an actual sleigh ride, but it looks like so much fun in those Hallmark movies! I imagine myself snuggled under a blanket, holding Ed’s hand, while a horse (or two) pulls us through the snow in a sleigh… There’s a scene like that near the end of one of my favorite Hallmark movies entitled The Christmas Card. Has anybody else seen it?
4. Describe the most beautiful drive you’ve ever taken.
The most beautiful drive I’ve ever taken was through the Great Smokey Mountains. It was beautiful, but also a little bit scary, with its steep mountains and sharp curves!
5. What’s something on your Christmas list this year? (an actual list or figuratively speaking, either one)
I’ve been so blessed, I can’t think of a thing that I truly want or need, this Christmas. Our family drew names, this year, and I had a hard time even thinking of some “hints” to put on my list. So…
The main thing on my Christmas list, this year, is going to be staying focused on the real reason for the season–celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. It’s easy to get caught up in all the ‘hoopla’ of Christmas, and forget what’s really important. I don’t want to be guilty of that!
Random:
Ed and I haven’t been idle during my blogging hiatus.
As of November 5, we changed churches (again). Sadly, it became painfully apparent that things weren’t going to work out in the church we’d been attending for the past nine months. We had to leave some great new friends behind, but ended up going back to worship with some great old friends at a previous church we’d attended. I hope and pray this will be our last move!
Ed celebrated his 68th birthday on November 13, with family and a birthday cake. I didn’t bake his German Chocolate cake until the day before Thanksgiving, though. It took us that long to finish off his birthday cake!
Ed with two of our grandchildren
In November, I bought a Christmas comforter set, and wanted some window treatments to match. So, what did I do? I bought a couple of matching shower curtains and turned them into valances! I even made a matching throw pillow for the bed, and a pair of curtains for the bathroom, too!
Christmas comforter and matching valances
Thanksgiving came and went. Our family spent Thanksgiving at our daughter’s house, this year, which was nice for a change, plus it gave me a break. The only glitch was our grandson, Evan, got sick, so he and his family weren’t able to be with us for Thanksgiving. After lunch, the girls did some browsing on the internet while the guys watched football.
On the day after Thanksgiving Ed and I pulled out the boxes of Christmas decorations! We’ve been decorating, outside and inside, ever since. As of Monday evening we are ‘officially’ finished and all boxes are put away…and it only took eleven days!!! Whew, this task gets more difficult every year!
a not-so-great picture of our living room tree
Would you believe, after almost six years of raising chickens, we’ve suddenly been plagued by several visits from two different chicken hawks?! I’d often wondered if a chicken hawk could actually kill a grown chicken, and I recently learned they can–they start with the head. We’re now down to seven very nervous hens, who are wondering who’s next.
“Trouble”, the cat, is still living at Ed’s parents’ house. I swear this cat has nine lives… Ed feeds her twice daily and still closes her up in the freezer room at the end of each day. Since the time change, we have to time our outings so we can be home by 4, to put the cat to bed each evening! I tell you, it’s like having children again.
It will be late this evening or tomorrow, before I get around to visiting everyone’s blogs. Ed and I will be accompanying our daughter into the city, today. She has a doctor’s appointment and we’re planning to do a little Christmas shopping, as well. See y’all when we get back!
Reflections...by Kathy 