Wednesday Hodgepodge

 1. I write the Hodgepodge questions so they'll post on Sunday, which sometimes throws me off in terms of what day it is. St. Patrick's Day will be celebrated on Monday, March 17th. Did you mark the day in some way? Wear green? Make a special meal? Watch or participate in a parade? No, we didn't do anything related to St. Patrick's Day.

2. Do you think luck plays a part in your life? Explain. No, I really don't. 

3. Of the 15 green foods listed, which one is your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Any on the list that are a hard no for you? In general do you like fruits and veggies? As a kid did you eat them willingly or did you hide peas in your napkin hoping your momma wouldn't see? 

Asparagus, avocado, broccoli, celery, cucumber, grape, green bean, kale, kiwi, lettuce, lime, pear, peas, pistachios, spinach

Grapes, Asparagus, Green Beans would be my favorite of those above.  Kale and avocado would be my least favorite, although I'm not a fan of celery either.

4. What's something that makes you 'turn green'? (with envy or with illness... whichever way you want to run with it) The only thing I can think of is trying to read a book while riding in a car.  Makes me nauseous pretty quick.

5. Did you spend a lot of time outdoors as a child? Doing what? Do you spend a lot of time outdoors now? Doing what? Yes quite a bit.  Riding bikes, baseball, playing in the woods, swimming the years we had a pool, etc.  No, I don't spend a lot of time outside at this age, except for walking the dog and walking myself.  Sometimes I'll sit out on our front porch and read a book if it's not too hot.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Thanks for visiting and I hope you are having a great day.  I plan to have a good day, after I'm finished at the dentist.

Cathy

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. Many of our earliest presidents created words or expressions widely used today. Teddy Roosevelt is credited with mollycoddle, pack rat, frazzle, and loose cannon...which of those words/phrases currently relates to your life in some way?  Probably pack rat.  I can be a bit of that, but I'm working on getting rid of a lot of stuff a bit at a time. 

2. Have you visited many (or any) of the US Presidents homes, monuments, libraries or related sites?  I've visited a few. If so what's been your favorite? My favorite is Lincoln's Monument for sure. Are there any you particularly want to see? I'd love to see Lincoln's Monument again or anything else connected to him.. Here's a link to presidential sites listed by state which is kind of fun to read-Presidential Places by State. And since several bloggers who participate in the HP each week live outside the US, here's a link to Presidential Places Outside the US. Have you seen any of those? No.

3. February 20th is National Cherry Pie Day...will you celebrate? I don't think so.  Given your choice of cherry pie, cherry cobbler, cheesecake with a cherry topping, or black forest cake which would you choose? Probably black forest cake.

4. Last time you worked a puzzle of some kind? Something that had you puzzled recently? I work word puzzles almost every day.  I've got a jigsaw puzzle laying out for me to start soon.

5. Of the early blooming flowers (January-early March depending on your zone) which one's your favorite? snowdrops, lenten roses, pansies, violets, snapdragons, reticulated iris, crocus, winter jasmine Do you have any of these in your own yard/garden? Of those listed, I would say pansies.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  I was on a school trip with my oldest daughter's class.

Thanks Joyce for another week of fun questions. The Hodgepodge Link-up is here. Thanks for visiting my blog.  I hope you have a great day.

Cathy

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. What's a winter memory you treasure (can be from any winter in your lifetime)? Going to the horse carriage parade in our town with hubby and the girls and my sister and her husband and their grandkids.  So much fun.  

2. Tell us about the last time or a recent time you were caught up in red tape.  When I was trying to get signed up for Medicare and all the retirement stuff. Does it send your frustration level off the charts or is it something you've come to expect when dealing with any sort of bureaucracy?  Mostly it just made me really nervous because I was afraid I'd make the wrong choices.

3. Do you eat/like fish?  I love white fish, like cod.  Do you cook fish at home? No, unless you count frozen fish sticks or canned tuna fish. What's your favorite fish dish?  Broiled Cod.  Ever been ice fishing? Nope.

4. Did you watch any of the US President's Inauguration coverage on Monday, Jan 20? Yes  On a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being not at all and 10 being very very) how interested are you in politics in general? Probably about 4-5 Do you follow/keep up with/ get involved with local politics? I do not get involved other than to vote.

5. What's the coziest thing you own and what makes it so? I don't know but probably the blankets we use when watching TV in the evenings.  What makes it so...just that I love to wrap up in a blanket.

6. Insert your own random thought here. Enjoying the Bible Study that Kelli and I are doing together on FACETIME.  "Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a good day.

Cathy

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. It's been said January is 'the month of opportunity, inspiration, and change." Which of the three do you need most right now? Inspiration  Elaborate. I feel like I want to spend more time practicing the piano.  I know I did that in December and I really felt like I was playing better.  Then with all the snow and being closed in at home, I have gone back to the only time I play is for our church services.  It seems I just stay so busy that I never sit down and do it.  I need to be inspired to drop some of the other stuff and give myself at least a few hours each week in order to keep my fingers more flexible.

2. Do you consider opportunity as something that comes to you or something you create for yourself? I think it can be both, but whether you create it or it comes another way, you still have to grab ahold of it and use it.  It does no good to get an opportunity, if you don't use it.

3. The British Museum opened on this date (January 15th) back in 1759. Do you like visiting museums? Yes, I do.  Do you have a favorite? In my area, I would say the Wright Patterson Air Force Museum in Dayton.

4. It's National Oatmeal Month (yes, apparently it gets a whole month as opposed to a single day). Do you like oatmeal? Yes, I do. How often do you eat a bowl of oatmeal? Once or twice a month maybe and then I won't have it for a long time and then I'll eat it multiple times in a week.  How do you like yours? With milk and raisins and cranberries, and other things. What about an oatmeal cookie?  Is that a sweet treat you enjoy? Yes, I do like them but rarely eat them. 

5.What's something useful you learned in high school? Typing and I've used it all my life.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  Just some fun stuff.

Thanks for coming by today and I hope you have a great day!

Cathy

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. At the end of every year (or at least since the mid-1970's) Lake Superior State University posts a list of words they think should be banished from the Queen's English for misuse, overuse, and/or general uselessness. You can read more about the decision making process , but this year's list includes- cringe, game changer, era, dropped, IFKYK (If you know you know), sorry not sorry, skibidi, 100%, utilize, and period. Which of these words/phrases do you use regularly or even just every now and then? How many did you have to look up? Which of these words would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Is there a word/phrase not on the list you'd like to add? If so do share, then tell us why. I don't particularly have a problem with any of them.  However, I do not know skibidi.

2. Your favorite soup? Do you make this one yourself or is it from a can? Potato Soup and I make it.

3. How do you feel about winter? It's okay as long as I don't have to spend too much time out in the freezing cold.  From inside our warm house, it's beautiful.  What's one winter activity you look forward to? Being inside, reading a good book while wrapped in a warm blanket.

4. The Pantone color of the year for 2025 is mocha mousse (sample pictured here). What say you? I don't really like it. The website describes it as 'a warming, brown hue imbued with richness. It nourishes us with its suggestion of the delectable qualities of chocolate and coffee, answering our desire for comfort'. Is this a color I might find in your home or wardrobe? Probably not. Is it one you might add in some big or small way in the year ahead? Nope In a similar, but not really vein...if I were to offer you a choice right now of either a cup of mocha or a cup of mousse which would you say yes to? Mousse

5. Which of the following winter related idioms can best be applied to your life in some way right now? Choose one, then tell us why you chose it. snowed under, on thin ice, tip of the iceberg, chill out, break the ice, snowball effect, not a snowball's chance in hell, get cold feet, the cold shoulder Snowed under, because we literally are. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a great day!

Cathy

Wednesday Hodgepodge - The First of 2025

 

Click above to link up with Wednesday Hodgepodge.

1. Oxford's Word of the year for 2024 is 'brain rot'. Are you familiar with this term? Do you suffer from the condition? Ha! This is a term used to 'capture concerns about the impact of consuming excessive amounts of low-quality online content, especially on social media'. If you were choosing a word to capture 2024 (for the nation/world, not your own life personally) what word would you choose? 

I am not familiar with the term "brain rot."  I don't think I suffer from the condition, at least not on most days anyway. lol  For 2024, I would choose "Turmoil" as the word of the year.

2. It's National Polar Bear Plunge Day (January 1)...will you be participating in one of these events (or even your own)? How will you spend the first day of this brand new year? Do you have a traditional New Year's Day menu? 

No, I will not be participating in a polar bear plunge.  I do not have plans yet, but just whatever floats our boat.  No, we do not have a traditional menu.  Again, just whatever sounds good at the moment!

3. What's something that brings you joy and how will you do more of it in this new year? 

Being with family and I hope we'll make a greater effort to do that.

4. Do you struggle with the January blues? What's one thing you can/will do to keep them at bay? 

I don't think so.  I would be more likely to have that in about March when the weather has been too wintery for too long.  I think staying busy helps keep the blues away.  It may be working, or reading, or crocheting, or working puzzles, or whatever.

5. Will you choose your own personal word of the year for 2025? What about a goal, resolution, or maybe even a bucket list? Elaborate as much or as little as you like. 

I don't really plan to choose a word for 2025.  But if I did, joy is what seems to come to mind a lot lately.  

6. Insert your own random thought here.

In our Sunday evening Bible Study, hubby talked about being still and knowing that He is God. Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth. And he also used Jeremiah 9:23-24 "Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgement, and righteousness in the earth.  For in these I delight" says the Lord."  While he was commenting about these scriptures, he said the following phrase that I think would be a very good goal for 2025.   

"Find peace instead of going to pieces."  

This is what I hope to get better at in 2025.

Thanks Joyce, for another Wednesday Hodgepodge.  If you'd like to join Joyce for the Hodgepodge, click here.

Cathy

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What's one thing you want to get done before the calendar flips to a new year? Finish reading the 2 books I'm currently reading.  I'm sure there are many other things, but that's what popped into my head first.

2. What's something that brought a smile to your face this year? Our oldest daughter coming home for a visit this past summer.  

3. What do you like on a cracker? Chicken Salad or Cheese Ball or peanut butter.    Do you have a favorite cracker variety? Wheat Thins, Club Cracker, Chicken in a Biskit, Saltines with soup, etc.  But mostly I eat Wheat Thins  

4. Do you have plans for ringing in the new year in a fun or special way? No plans yet, except to be with hubby.  Are you typically awake at midnight on the last day of the year? Yes, now I may have to wake up first in order to be awake at midnight. lol

5. What are three words that describe your 2024? We have survived!  I know that's probably not what you meant, Joyce, but...

6. Insert your own random thought here. "Jesus did not promise to change the circumstances around us. He promised great peace and pure joy to those who would learn to believe that God actually controls all things." ~ Corrie Ten Boom

Thanks for visiting.  Click on the Hodgepodge button at the top of the page to link up with others answering these questions.

Cathy

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

Good morning:  I'm linking up today with Joyce for the Wednesday Hodgepodge.  Hope you will consider joining Joyce today too.

1. Thursday is National Walk To A Park Day. I know these celebratory days are mostly made up, but some are fun to think about. Do you live close enough to a park to walk to one on Thursday? Will you? The most famous park in the world is Central Park located in NYC. Have you ever been to Central Park? What did you think? If you haven't been is this a place you'd like to see? 

No, I do not live close enough to walk to a park.  We do have nice parks in our town and surrounding areas.  I have never been to Central Park, however I've seen lots of murders take place there in all the TV series I have watched and continue to watch.  Yes, if I got the opportunity I think I'd like to go to NYC and see the park and many other things.

2. Something you've done recently that turned out to be a 'walk in the park'? Can't think of a thing at the moment.

3. Can you parallel park? Do you have to do this often where you live? Can I...probably.  Will I...not if I can avoid it.

4. The colors of fall...red, brown, russet, golden bronze, golden yellow, purplish red, light tan, crimson, orange red, and scarlet. Are these colors you like to wear? Is this your season in terms of color? What about your home? Would we see these tones in your home decorating?  I don't wear these colors, nor decorate with them except in the fall.  I have a couple orange sweatshirts from past years that I still wear.  My few fall decorations are out right now too.

5. What part of history do you find most interesting? Elaborate. I love reading fiction books about the wagon trains and people heading to the west.  I also enjoy reading fiction books that take place during Biblical Times.

6. Insert your own random thought here. Our crochet group hasn't been together for quite a few weeks now.  We're supposed to meet up this afternoon again.  I'm looking forward to this.

This is what I'm currently working on and have been working on, off and on, for quite some time.

That's about it for me today.  Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a really good day.

Cathy

Wednesday Hodgepodge - Fall Y'all!

 

Click above to link up with Joyce

1. It's officially fall y'all...in the northern hemisphere anyway. What are three of your favorite things about this particular season of the year?  

The beautiful colors of the trees 

The cooler temperatures 

Crockpot cooking and soups

2. Your favorite fall fabric-denim, flannel, tweed, corduroy, tartan, polar fleece, leather? Do you own something made with your favorite fall fabric? What I love is wearing hoodies.  

3. According to Everyday Health here are ten healthy fall foods- apples (flavonoids may improve brain health), pears (for heart friendly fiber), cranberries (helps your body fight oxidative stress) winter squash (for eye health), pumpkin (another great source of Vitamin A), leeks (an anti-inflammatory food), brussel sprouts (full of fiber and anti-oxidants), sweet potatoes (loaded with Vit A and C), parsnips (keep your bones healthy with Vit K), and broccoli (may help prevent cancer). How many on the list do you eat on a regular basis? Which one is your favorite? Which one gets a big no thanks from you?   Of this list sweet potatoes is probably the favorite, but I like apples and cranberries too.  Least favorite is brussel sprouts.

4. Tell us about the last time (or a recent time) you experienced a wave of nostalgia? I feel nostalgic when I see pictures of my mom and dad.  The other day I drove by one of the many homes I lived in growing up.  Definitely, it brought back a lot of memories.  Someone has painted it and I think it's very pretty.  But I loved it when dad built it and we lived there.  It was red brick with a beautiful yellow front door.  The 2 window on the right was the girls' bedroom.  All 3 of us girls lived in there.  It was a huge room, or at least as a young girls I thought it was large.  It had pink walls (think Pepto-bismol).  As we lived there dad finished out the basement.  There was a second kitchen down there and a huge fireplace and there was a shuffleboard area worked into the tile and we also had a ping pong table.  So many memories were made in this home, even though we only lived there about 3 1/2 years. 

Memories

5. Sept. 22nd was National Daughter's Day. Like mother, like daughter...does this idiom ring true for you? You may answer in terms of your own role as a daughter or, if you have daughters, then your role as a mother of daughters. Yes, I think it's true.  I act like my mom a lot and I'm okay with that.  She was a pretty great lady.  Now if I can be just half as good as her, that would be great.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  Some funnies I ran across and posted on my blog many years ago.  Still, they make me laugh.

I think I found this on a bathroom wall.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you have a great day.

Cathy

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

Good Morning:  I'm linking up with Joyce today.  You can link up here.

1. Something that's had you 'chuffed to bits' (very happy or pleased) recently? I'm very pleased with our Ladies' Bible Study.  We had such a great time together last night.  We had a really good time of prayer at the end.  It seemed we were all together in one accord, which is a wonderful place to be.  I love all these women, most I've known for a long time and some not so long and then we had a completely new person join us this week and two new ones last week.  I cannot even begin to tell you how they have encouraged me and prayed for me over the years and I've done the same for them.  If you are not part of a Ladies' Bible Study, I would highly recommend finding one or starting one.

2. Tell us about an instance recently where you were tempted to 'throw a wobbly' (expression used to describe tantrums thrown, usually by adults or people who should know better). I can't think of anything in particular, but little insignificant things can sometimes make me want to throw a wobbly. For instance, maybe a reckless driver and I may fuss at them in my car, but never in person.  

3. Something everyone seems to love but is not your 'cuppa tea'? Tea and coffee.  I do not like either.

4. Fish and chips, bangers and mash, shepherd's pie, roast beef with Yorkshire pudding...which entree would you choose? Yes, you have to choose. Fish and Chips, but I also would be willing to try all of them.

5. Something you want for your birthday this year? Too late as mine has already passed. As long as I hear from both my girls and can be with hubby, I'm all good.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  This sounds about right.  lol

Thanks for visiting.

Cathy

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

1. When the Hodgepodge lands on September 11th I want to acknowledge that. Will you purposely pause to remember, pray, or attend any sort of ceremony on 9/11?  I'm sure I'll find myself thinking about it.  Actually, I think hubby recently found a documentary about 9/11, so maybe we'll find time to watch that. Share any thoughts or memories you'd like to share about this day. I was in surgery that morning to have my gall bladder removed. I was the first surgery of the day.  My surgery had just ended when the first plane hit.  So at least, my surgeon was not distracted by that.  I remember they told me as they were taking me back to my room and there was a small TV on the wall that looked so far away.  I really had no idea what they were talking about.  But after getting home, that's all we watched for days.  So sad!

2. Growing up, did you spend a lot of time with your grandparents? What's something you learned from a grandparent? I don't know if I'd say a lot, but we saw my mom's parents every week as we went to church together, and then when I was in high school, they built a house right next door to us.  I saw my dad's parents when they were home in the summertime and quite often we visited them in Florida during Christmas break from school.  I'd say I learned the love of the Lord and our church (because both sets of grandparents started the work of the church that I grew up in)  I would not change that heritage for anything.

My Dad's Mom and Dad. These are the ones who had the Fruit Loops
and lived in Florida in the winter.  I also remember their little dog,
Bubbles, who was from the same litter as our dog, Poochie.  Grandpa
had taught Bubbles to bow her head when they prayed before
 they ate.  We loved Bubbles and Poochie.

This Mom's Dad and Mom.  Grandpa always sang
bass in quartets at our church.  He was very good. 
He also played guitar, although I can't remember that. 
He was injured in a farming accident and cut off his 4
fingers on one hand.   I only remember him this way. 
He later gave his guitar to my mom and as an adult
with 5 kids, she took lessons and learned to play. 
That guitar has now been given to my nephew who is a
fabulous guitar player.  It wasn't too long ago he brought
it out when we visited their home and played
it for us.  What a blessing that was!

3. What's your go-to breakfast? I really don't have a go-to breakfast.  I almost always eat breakfast, but what I eat changes daily.

4. Tell us the story behind one of your favorite photos. 

This photo was taken in the courtroom on Adoption Day of our girls.  And that is my brother's son with them.  Aren't they all just the cutest!  Some day, I need to share the full story of their adoption and all the miracles God did, just to bring us all together as a family!  God is so so good!!

5. This week Friday lands on the 13th. Are you superstitious in any way? Do you like scary movies, and if so what's your favorite? I am not superstitious and I'm not fond of really scary movies.

6. Insert your own random thought here.    I saw this on Instagram and wanted to share it and this seems like the perfect place.  It was posted in by @heidileeanderson.  

Thank you Joyce for another great Hodgepodge of Questions.  Thank you all for visiting and you can click on the Hodgepodge button at the top of this post to link up should you like to join us all.

Cathy

Wednesday Hodgepodge and Currently - September

 

Click above for Hodgepodge Link

1. Something you're working on currently?  A crochet pink baby blanket   

2. Tell us something about your first job? I got my first job the week after I turned 16.  I worked at Kings Island Amusement Park in a gift shop located in the front gate area. Was it a positive or negative experience for you?  Positive.  Did your parents insist you work while in school (either high school or college) or did you work because you wanted to? They did not insist on me working during school, but they let me and even drove me there part of the time because I did not have a license, let alone a car.  

3. Have you ever had a job that required overnight travel?  No, except for some of the training I did for the police department required me to go to an academy and stay overnight.   How did you feel about that? It made me nervous, but it was good.  Have you ever had a job that required you to wear a uniform? Yes, I wore a uniform at Kings Island and I also wore a uniform for some of the years I worked at the police department (see photos below).   Do you work better in the morning or at night? I prefer mornings.  I hated when I had to work midnight shifts from midnight to 8:00 am.   

  

4. What's something you bake or cook that is labor intensive? Lasagna Is it worth it? My husband thinks so. 

5. One thing you're looking forward to in the month of September? Our upcoming women's Bible Study which starts next week.  

6. Insert your own random thought here. My random is the September Currently post.

Click above for the Currently Link

Welcome to the September edition of Currently! Here are the prompts for September:  loving, looking forward to, smelling, watching, and admiring. 

Click on the blue Currently above to link up with Jennifer.

Loving:  The Linda Ford books I've been reading lately, you can see them in my side bar.

Looking forward to:  I'm writing this late Tuesday night.  I'm looking forward to tomorrow as we're (being Tracy, his mom and me) meeting my sister and her husband for lunch and then we're heading to a town called Bainbridge.  We've heard there are some Amish there and we're going to do a bit of exploring.

Smelling:  Not much of anything, as I lost most of my sense of smell and have never gotten it back.

Watching:  NCIS, CSI Cyber, Cold Case and documentaries here and there.

Admiring:  These photos of the Ohio River and these old buildings beside it.

 We took a drive along the river yesterday. It was a gorgeous day.

Thanks for visiting.

Cathy