A Quick Wednesday Hodgepodge

Well.... I spent my blogging time tonight redesigning my header (above) so now I  need to rush through the weekly Wednesday Hodgepodge questions. Tomorrow I'll join the other participating bloggers at this link: 
http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/2017/09/fall-in-for-hodgepodge.html

1. What's something you'd rate a 10/10? Tell us why.

Canned cherry pie filling. It never disappoints me. If I didn't know better, I'd eat a whole can of the stuff and call it dinner.

2. What job would you be terrible at? What makes you think so?

I would be an absolutely terrible cashier. I am not good with math/arithmetic/numbers. 

3. When did you last take a fall? What's something you're falling for (in a good way) these days?

There's my famous fall on December 6, 2008 when I fell from the kitchen counter while putting decorations above the cabinets, shattering my left shoulder and getting a replacement the very next day.

As for what I'm falling for now? Living in Florida with more family members and the ocean nearby. It's very nice.

4. According to the Travel Channel here are some of America's best fall festivals-

National Apple Harvest Festival (near Arendtsville PA, close to Gettysburg), Harvest on the Harbor (Portland Maine), German Village Festival (Columbus Ohio), Wellfleet Oyster Fest (Cape Cod), and Wine and Chile Fiesta (Santa Fe NM)

Have you ever been to any of the festivals listed? Which one appeals to you most? Does your hometown have any sort of fall celebration, and if so will you make it a point to attend?

I'd like to go to the Harvest on the Harbor in Portland, Maine. I don't know if Jacksonville has a festival -- right now people are pretty busy with cleaning up after Hurricane Irma.

5. What is your goodbye message to summer?

Is it really "good-bye" to summer when I live in Florida??  Compared to the last twenty years in Colorado, I think not.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Disasters are coming more often these days: hurricanes, fires, earthquakes, shootings, protests.  Here is some thought provoking scripture from Matthew 24:35-39

Heaven and earth shall pass away,

but my words shall not pass away.

but of that day and hour

knoweth no man,

no, not the angels of heaven, 

but my Father only.

But as in the days of Noah were,

so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

For as in the days that were before the flood

they were eating and drinking,

marrying and giving in marriage,

until the day that Noah entered into the ark,

And knew not until the flood came, 

and took them all away;

so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Linking up at

http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/2017/09/hodgepodge-questions-volume-322.html

Eclipsed By Clouds

Some of this week's Hodgepodge questions by Joyce have to do with science. I'm answering the questions and then linking up with other bloggers over at http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com.

1. Did you watch the solar eclipse? Your thoughts?

We watched the solar eclipse on TV. The event in my town obscured due to clouds with rain showers, but it still got 91% darker, so that was good enough.

Sun Chips, Moon Pies, Starburst candies, a Blue Moon beer, a Sunkist orange, or a Milky Way candy bar ... what's your favorite eclipse-related snack on this list?

I'll go with the Starburst candies. I love that rush of sweet-sour in my mouth!

2. What are you 'over the moon' about these days? What's something you enjoy doing every 'once in a blue moon'?

the forest in our back yard

I'm 'over the moon' with the abundance of green trees, palms and the blue ocean here in Florida after living so many years in the semi-arid West where there is an abundance of brown.

Something I enjoy doing every 'once in a blue moon'  -- hmm, that would be going to a concert, a play or a conference downtown. Once I get there it's all good, but the traffic and crowds involved with going and coming back are not my favorite things at all.

3. Tell us about something in the realm of science that interests  you. How do you feed that interest?

I've never been much into science. But I do enjoy watching science fiction movies with my husband (Star Wars, Star Trek, etc -- nothing gory or too scary). I saw a space launch in person once at Cape Canaveral. That was very neat.

4. What are a few things  you remember about going back to school as a child?

I've had more than my fair share of new schools because my family moved a lot, so going back to school as a younger student was not a favorite thing for me. But as I got older, I looked forward to the back-to-school shopping for clothes.

5. I've seen several versions of this around the net so let's make one of our own...share with us five words that touch your soul and briefly tell us why.

Jesus Christ - without Him and what He has done for me, I'd be a genuine mess!

Heaven - it will be better than any of us can possibly imagine.

Marriage - the blessing of my husband has helped to keep me sane and focused on better, wiser pursuits.

Family - I'm thankful the Lord has seen fit to give me very dear relatives.

Quilts - sewing quilts over much of my adult life gave me a creative outlet and a means for serving others. Note: with this move I have given up sewing except for the occasional mending that may be necessary. I gave away all but the most basic of my sewing necessities so I can now devote myself to more reading, improving my cooking skills to accommodate my food allergies, and perhaps improved blogging.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

"before" the screen installation

This week our back porch will get screened in. I'm excited for that so we can enjoy sitting out there without the bother of bugs and other creepy crawlies. Yes, I realize that 'nature' can still find their way inside, but the screening will be a huge help.

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Linking up at From This Side of the Pond, http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com

Hodgepodge Wednesday

"I saw the light!" when replying to Joyce's questions this week on the Hodgepodge. See my answers below, and then go to Joyce's website to see how other bloggers have responded to these same questions.

1. Do you try to set rules for yourself about how you use your time? Explain.

.Yes, I have scheduling rules for myself that I use MOST of the time. I wash clothing on Mondays, wash towels and clean bathrooms on Wednesdays, plan menus and the grocery list Monday - Wednesday, grocery shop on Thursdays, try to serve a dessert on Friday nights, attend church on Sundays, and have a daily quiet time of Bible reading and prayer. There are other rules I have for myself, but these are the ones I’m willing to share.

2. Monday was National Lighthouse Day. Have you ever visited a lighthouse? If not, do you have any desire to see one up close? Of the 10 Most Beautiful that made this list which would you most like to see in person? 

Lindau Lighthouse (Germany), Fanad Lighthouse (Ireland), Portland Head Light (Maine), Yaquina Bay Light (Oregon) The St. Augustine Light (Florida), Peggys Point Lighthouse (Canada), Start Point Lighthouse (England), Tower of Hercules (Spain), Bass Harbor Head Station (Maine), and White Shoal Light (Michigan)

.We have been to some lighthouses and they are interesting.  On the list given above, I’ve been to Portland Head Light in Maine, and the St. Augustine Light in Florida. Of those listed that I have not been to, the other one in Maine, Bass Harbor interests me, as well as White Shoal Light in Michigan. The one in Spain looks really great (and is OLD!!!), but I'm not interested in international travel right now.

When you've been away, what's your 'lighthouse' telling you you're on the right road home?

.We use the map app on our iPhones when traveling. It has also been VERY HELPFUL as we learn to navigate our new home town!!

wall decor in our den

3. What have you unintentionally stopped doing? Is this something you need to pick back up and begin again, or is it something you need to let go of for now (or even permanently)?

. I can’t think of anything I have unintentionally stopped doing. I tend to be pretty disciplined about the things that really matter.

4. We've had a full week of August. Share a GRAND moment from your month so far.

.Two of our grandchildren came to see us this past weekend and we all went to the beach together. We made the move a couple of months ago from Colorado to Florida so we could do this very thing: see the grandchildren more often. It’s wonderful!!

a tickle fest on the floor this past weekend:
grandkids, pups, and their mommy

5. Tell us one song you love with the word 'baby' in the title.

. Beloved and I collaborated on the answer to this one:

"The Ronettes" singing Be My Baby. (click on the title to watch the performance) By the way, spell check doesn't like the way this group spells their name and keeps "correcting" it to Rosettes. But if you are from my generation, you will know who I mean.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Raggedy Ann and Andy wait for the little girl to arrive

.This past weekend was the first use of the bunk beds we bought for visits of our grandchildren. We have 6 sets of them, 3 sets in each of two "dorm rooms" as we are calling them. We debated for weeks about the bedding options and finally decided to put sheets on the bottom bunks only, and make a rule that the top bunks would have sleeping bags only, AND you have to be at least 6 years old to sleep up there.  

If you have ever tried to put sheets on a top bunk, you will understand this reasoning perfectly. I am happy to report everybody cooperated fully with this idea. 

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I'm linking up today with Hodgepodge Wednesday! Will I see you there?

Hello to the Hodgepodge!

After over 3 months away from the weekly Hodgepodge, I'm back. When I checked to see the last time I had submitted replies to the Hodgepodge questions, I was surprised it had been so long (April 5th). 

It was just 10 days after that when Beloved and I began the inquiry into a cross-country move from Colorado to Florida and that adventure took on a life of its own, so to speak. By April 26th we had flown to our new home town, put a contract on a house and contacted our realtor in Denver to put The Brown Bungalow on the market. 

Blessedly, our house sold immediately. We closed on that house on June 16th and closed on the house in Jacksonville on June 26th. It has been a whirlwind that [for the most part] has settled down in just the past week. 

That said, it's good to be back with the Hodgepodge community. Let's see what questions Joyce has given us for today:

1. We've reached edition number 315 here in the Wednesday Hodgepodge. So tell us, what were you doing at 3:15 yesterday?  Is that typical? On a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being low and 10 being high) what's your energy level usually like at 3:15PM?

We went to Whole Foods to buy specialty items we can't find at Walmart or Publix. Usually I try to do my grocery shopping earlier in the day because I am a morning person and by mid-afternoon, I start to drag.

2. A frisbee, a tantrum, a towel, a party, a punch, or a curveball ... which have you most recently thrown or had thrown at/for you? Elaborate.

I'll say I've had a frisbee sent my way, meaning that although I was NOT expecting it, it just glided into my hands. I'm referring to this move of 1, 724 miles cross country. While it's unrealistic to think there won't be any curve balls in a venture of this magnitude, the move went very well. The Lord has blessed us at every stage.

3. What are three things that would help you right now. Tell us how or why.

1) I'd like to find a dedicated health foods store besides Whole Foods. If I don't, I'll need to shop the Internet. I enjoy Whole Foods but there are some things they don't carry. The smaller health food chains I'm familiar with in Orlando and Denver are not in this city.

2) We are actively seeking the Lord's guidance on a new church home. As life-long Southern Baptists so far, we have visited 3 SBC churches and there are more out there because we are in the 'Bible belt,' (which is a big difference from out west in Colorado).  It is fun to visit around to see what the various congregations are like, but we do want to settle on one sooner rather than later.

3) We look forward to making new friends here, people we can really bond with.

4. Do you think you're strong? Why or why not? What makes  you strong?

Physically: no I'm not all that strong

Mentally: I'm average

Emotionally: well, I cry easily

Spiritually: hat comes from my relationship with God and He does some pretty amazing things in my life.

Daily Bible reading, prayer and meditation make me stronger. 

Healthy eating also makes me stronger (going against my food allergies and intolerances is a quick way to really bring me down).

5. Do you enjoy reading historical fiction? What's your favorite book set sometime in the past?

I can't seem to find the time to just sit down and read nearly as much as I would like, but when I do, historical fiction is my favorite. I don't have a favorite book because I never re-read a book. But when I do get to read, I most enjoy historical fiction based  on Bible characters. In the past I've read about Old Testament Esther, David and Noah; New Testament Mary the mother of Christ, Paul, Mary Magdalene, Martha, and others.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Here's a snapshot of our house taken from our back porch the other night:

looking through the windows to the family room,
breakfast nook, kitchen, and the stairs to the second story

This picture was taken from the covered back patio, which the locals refer to as a "lanai." I don't relate to that word but prefer the homeyness of "back porch," so that's what I intend to call it. We are in the deep South, after all.

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Linking up with other bloggers today at

http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com

A Yellow-Hued Hodgepodge

Wednesday Hodgepodge is when Joyce issues the questions, bloggers give their answers and link up at her blog, From This Side of the Pond.

1. April is Lawn and Garden Month. On a scale of 1-10 what's the current state of your lawn and/or garden. (10=a showpiece, 1=send in the professionals). Tell us about any lawn or garden plans you have for this month.

I can’t really answer this question yet because my lawn and gardens are covered with snow. But the moisture we are getting is promising!

2. "Many things grow in the garden that were never sown there."~Thomas Fuller  What does this quote mean to you?

This quote reminds me of the surprising things that come out of our children that we never sowed into their lives (both good and bad).

verybestquotes.com

3. What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think about God?

He loves us unconditionally and wants each one of us to have a personal relationship with Him.

4. If we were chatting in person, how would I know if you were nervous?

When I’m nervous I tend to say so.

5. Do you like the color yellow? Would I find any in your home or wardrobe? Daffodils, tulips, roses, sunflowers, day lily, black eyed susan...which yellow bloom on this list is your favorite?

Yes, I like yellow but it does not look good on me, so I don’t wear it unless it’s part of a floral print in a scarf. I enjoy all yellow flowers, even dandelions because I eat their greens (store-bought only, of course).

Yellow Roses from my neighbor for my birthday a few weeks ago

6. Flip flops or bare feet?

Neither. In warm weather I enjoy sandals but flip flops don’t give my feet the support the rest of my frame requires.

7. Tell us about any Easter plans, celebrations, or traditions you'll carry out this month.

We usually attend the communion service at our church on the evening of Good Friday. Our son and his wife plan to attend church with us on Easter Sunday and we’ll have lunch together.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

wreath in the great room of The Brown Bungalow
"Alleluia, He is risen"

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Today I am linking up with other bloggers who have replied to these same questions at From This Side of the Pond.

The 300th Edition of Wednesday Hodgepodge

Today we are celebrating the 300th Wednesday Hodgepodge! Joyce surprised us last week with a new (beautiful!!) header to her blog last week, and today, in celebration of this 300th edition, she has a new Hodgepodge button! Isn't it beautiful?! 

I don't know how long Joyce has been issuing the questions for us to answer, but my guess is it's over six years! Isn't that amazing? (I've been with her 3 or 4  years)

As per the way Hodgepodge works, I'll give my responses to her questions and then link up with other bloggers at Joyce's blog, From This Side of the Pond.

1. What is one area of your life where you're a perfectionist? Is that a good thing?

Contrary to what some people may think, I am a perfectionist when it comes to my hair. It's okay as long as one doesn't spend too much time or money on it.

2. What's something you find perfectly ridiculous?

Yesterday we had extremely windy and cold weather. As we were leaving Walmart, a woman came in dressed very immodestly. She was grabbing those paper hand sanitizers beside the grocery carts. I wondered how the hand-washing was going to prevent her from getting sick when so much of her bare skin was exposed to our frigid weather.

3. What's a skill you've developed by way of that old fashioned saying, 'practice makes perfect"?

Typing. I've been typing nearly every day of my life since 1968.

4. What's your idea of a perfect breakfast?

My idea of a perfect breakfast is a green smoothie blended in my Vitamix. My usual recipe is poured into a wide-mouth mason jar and enjoyed with a long, fat straw:

2-3 cups of dark leafy greens 

(kale, chard, spinach, romaine, dandelion greens, etc)  

1 cup of orange juice or almond milk

1 cup of water

half of a frozen banana

1 cup of frozen fruit

a superfood powder

(ground turmeric, maca, lucuma, camu, red beet, matcha)

1 teaspoon sunflower lecithin

1 teaspoon agave syrup 

a nut or seed

(ground flax meal, hemp, chia, etc)

ice cubes are optional; I seldom use them

I vary this with different dark leafy greens, different fruits, and different nuts. I can't tell you how much this smoothie has helped me over the last 3+ years since my food intolerances kicked in.

5. What's a trip, holiday, vacation, or day outing you've taken that you'd rate a perfect 10? Tell us why.

the park at Post Falls

Our trip to Couer 'd Alene, Idaho last June was wonderful. This place is so beautiful with blue sky, lots of water, huge evergreen forests and we ate well. I loved it.

Lake Coeur d'Alene 

6. What quote or saying perfectly sums up your life right now? If you can't do perfect, how about one that comes close?

The hymn, Haven of Rest, sums up where I am right now. Here's one of my favorite versions of it from YouTube: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU4HgK-R6C4

Guy Penrod and Glen Payne (of the Cathedrals)

7. How would you spend $300 today?

Let me see the $$ and I'll give it some thought.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Finally brethren, 

whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are of lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue,

and if there be any praise,

think on these things.

Philippians 4:8

Fishing for Answers

large fish in aquarium at The Couer d'Alene Resort (Idaho)
during our vacation last summer

This week our hostess has asked us questions having to do with "all things fish." To learn what that's about, read on. I'll be linking up at Joyce's blog today, From This Side of the Pond.

1. Have you ever been fishing? Did you catch a fish? If so did you keep it or throw it back? If you haven't been fishing, is that something you'd like to try?

I have been on a lot of fishing trips times although I no longer actually fish. My grandfather took Sister and me fishing in Oklahoma when we were in high school. I baited my own hook (live bait) and caught some (Crappie).  

My husband is a fly fisherman. While I love to watch him standing in his waders casting the line (it's pure poetry!),  I prefer to remain on the stream's bank reading a book or hand sewing. He usually fishes where the rule is "catch and release" so we stop at The Cracker Barrel on the way home to have trout for dinner.

Beloved considers his options alongside the South Platte in Deckers, Colorado

Fish out of water, big fish in a small pond, living in a fishbowl, packed in like sardines, this is a fine kettle of fish, plenty of fish in the sea, or cut bait... which fishy phrase most recently applies to some area of your life?

Our house is situated on a corner. The back of our property drops off in such a way that the people living and traveling on the street alongside and behind us can see everything we do on our deck and in our back yard. With that said, I feel like we live in a fishbowl. We have plans to improve that situation... (smile) I'll surely blog about it when the dream is fulfilled.

the back of The Brown Bungalow

2. What's something you're always fishing  for in your purse, wallet, desk, or kitchen junk drawer?

Keys. They always end  up underneath my wallet, at the bottom of my purse.

3. Your favorite fish tale or movie?

photo from Google Images

Disney's The Little Mermaid. 

4. Are you sunrise, daylight, twilight or night? Explain why you chose your answer.

"Sunrise" would best describe me. I love to get up early, preferably before dawn, and get a good start on the day while I'm feeling fresh and rested.

5. What's the oldest piece of clothing you own and still wear?

I have several pairs of Naturalizer low-heeled pumps, all in neutral colors that I love. I have had them for maybe 17 years or so. I only wear them on Sundays and for other dress-up occasions. Since we don't dress up nearly as much as we used to, these shoes have not worn out. (can you tell I'm not on the cutting edge of fashion?)

6. We've got one more month of (officially) winter here in the Northern hemisphere. Are you feeling the need for a getaway? What's been the best and worst part of your winter so far?

Internet photo

My idea of a great getaway would be  to a warm place where I could sit on a balcony above the white sugar sand, watch the turquoise ocean waves roll in, read a book, nap, and enjoy the kitchen just steps away. 

The best part of my winter so far has been getting to spend a few days with Surfer Girl and her family when they came to see us between Christmas and New Years. 

The worst part of my winter so far? Hmm...

7. The Wednesday Hodgepodge lands on National Margarita Day ... will you be celebrating? Frozen or on the rocks? Are you a Jimmy Buffet fan? If so, what's your favorite JB tune?

Not a Jimmy Buffet fan. The most exciting beverage I enjoy these days is apple cinnamon herbal tea.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

The new movie, "The Shack" is coming out soon and Christians are abuzz as to whether they should see it or not. I don't plan to see it because it gives an erroneous impression of how one gets to heaven. I can't support a film (or the book) that misleads people about the most important decision they will ever make for all of eternity.

Here is an interesting link discussing the book and the movie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTWZk1VFnYI

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I'm linking up today at:

From This Side of the Pond

A Tardy Celebration of the Hodgepodge

Hey Hodgepodge buddies, 

My contribution is late this week but now I've got a few minutes to join you in our weekly habit. 

1. What do/did you call your grandparents? If it's something unusual tell us the story behind the same. If you're a grandparent what do your grands call you? Who chose your moniker?

My maternal grandparents were known as Gramper and Grammer. I am told I (as the first grandchild) gave them those names when I was very little because apparently that was the best I could enunciate "Grandma" and "Grandpa."

Beloved and I are known to our grands as Grammy and Grandad. We were very deliberate in letting our littles know our names because we didn't want to get saddled with something we didn't like. 

2. Ever taken a road trip along the California Coast? If so what was the highlight of your trek?  If not, any desire to do so? What's one tourist attraction along the coast you'd add to your must-see list?

photo by Fodors on the Internet
golden gate bridge

When I was sixteen years old, my father took a new job that required us to move from the San Fernando Valley in Southern California to Vancouver, British Columbia. After the moving van was loaded and gone, we took several days to drive up the coast to our new home. It was a long drive, but pleasant. I remember a highlight was crossing the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco.

3. What are three things you don't know how to do?

I don't know how to play the piano, speak French, or play golf.

4. Tom Peters is quoted as saying "Celebrate what you want to see more of."  If that's true, what and how will you celebrate?

I would like to see more health-conscious foods at potlucks. I usually take a salad that is chock-full of colorful, nutrient-dense ingredients tucked in with the dark leafy greens.

5. Thursday (February 16) is National Almond Day. Do you like almonds? Which would you prefer -- an Almond Joy or a macaroon? What's something you make that calls for almonds?

Love Almond Joy and macaroons -- both of which I cannot have any more due to food allergies. I use almond milk often in my cooking.

6. What does Saturday morning look like at your house?

On Saturday mornings we usually have homemade waffles or pancakes for breakfast. Then we clear away the dishes and bring our laptop computers to the table where we both catch up on our emails for about an hour and drink coffee.

7. Share with us a favorite book you've read this winter.

I am in the process of reading Beth Moore's first attempt at writing a novel...

The Undoing of Saint Silvanus. I'm not halfway through yet, but it's got me hooked. I even read several chapters aloud to Beloved in the car and he enjoyed it.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Earlier this week Beloved and I were traveling I-80 through Nebraska when we were thrilled to see hundreds and hundreds (I'm not exaggerating) of Snow Geese flying overhead. It was a thrilling sight. I have since then learned that one of their most popular migration patterns from the Arctic Sea to Patagonia takes them directly over Nebraska. We were able to enjoy them for a couple of hours as we drove. Their flocks were huge and as they swooped in the sky they looked silver-like. We loved it!

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Linking  up today at

From This Side of the Pond