Hodgepodge 159 UGH!

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 159….Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge.  Answering on my blog, soon to hop back to Joyce’s tomorrow to add my link to the party.

See you there!

1. It was decided on Sunday… the Denver Broncos will meet the Seattle Seahawks in this year's Superbowl 48. So when was the last time you bowled?  about 3 years ago…can’t do that anymore…my neck hurt for a week.
Do you like to bowl?   it’s ok
Are you any good? mediocre, at best
2.   Should sports stars be role models? My opinion will not influence it either way.  Those in places doing things others wish they were doing are always be ‘role models’…grass is greener kinda thing.
3. January is National Oatmeal month...are you a fan?  How do you like your oats?  I am a fan of oatmeal, wetter rather than drier, with honey/blueberries

4. What is one book on your reading list for 2014?  Don’t have one yet

5. What would you like your future self to say to your present self?  Ensure me these hot flashes will end…so tired of them; going on 5 years.

6. When scrolling through the TV guide, what is one movie title making you want to stop, grab the popcorn, and watch for a while?  Anything Harrison Ford

7. What are two style trends you hope never come back into fashion?  ‘pants on the ground’ and three-piece nylon suits

8.  My random thought:  I love watching the Australian Open when football has come down to its final days; but, I do so hate to hear all the grunting and moaning by some of the professional players. 
Didn’t their coaches ever stress to them ‘expending energy in that way takes AWAY from stamina and longevity on the court’?  Mine did.

Top Five by Decibel levels:

1. Maria Sharapova, 101 decibels Russian
2. Michelle Larcher De Brito, decibels unconfirmed Portuguese
3. Monica Seles, 93.2 decibels American
4. Serena Williams, 88.9 decibels American
5. Venus Williams, 85 decibels American

WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE

1. What's your worst food memory?  How about one of your best?
WORST:

McDonald's surprised me with broken light bulb in my "two all beef patties special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onion s, on a sesame seed bun"...thankfully it didn't cut my mouth...my parents were NOT happy.  

BEST:

What fun it was on a date with my first boyfriend and his family at a 'swanky' restaurant her in town...ordered escargot for the 1st time...blown away by it's wonderful garlic butter, panko crumbs and cute little 'plucking' fork...what a GREAT night that was for me at the age of 16...one of the first times feeling 'big'.

 2. Do you appreciate people telling it like it is, or would you rather a speaker temper his/her words and maybe beat around the bush a little?  How about when you're the one communicating...which type are you?
My appreciating speakers varies sometimes according to my time limitations...sometimes my ears are needing to move on to other things; however, truth and common sense play into it also for me.  Blowing smoke and deception turn me quickly. 

Over the years I've had to become more of a 'driving' speaker to my husband, because he doesn't want to hear a lot of fluff, hahah!  I can be wonderfully flowery with my gal pals though!


 3. What's your favorite place to hang out?

My blue leather recliner fits my body very nicely...and there's a sweet spot on the loveseat in our parlor at church. 
 4. When do you most feel like you're a slave to time?
Having dinner on the table between 6:00 and 7:00...sometimes bittersweet now that collegegirl is out on her own; always have someone missing from the table now.
5. What was the last concert you attended?  Who'd you go with? Was it any good?
July 4th our chancel choir at church performed their "Independence Day" celebration with full orchestra and Biblical readings/vignettes.
 6. Reality TV...harmful or harmless?  What's your guilty pleasure when it comes to reality TV?
There is no such things as reality tv; they've convince so many people that tv is real...believe me, it is not. 

I entertain the silliness of DUCK DYNASTY and their continuing in witness as they visit churches and give their testimonies.

7. What's something you think is overrated?
Being on reality tv is overrated...look deep at the many who have done it...certainly doesn't seem their lives are better because of it

kind of like politics and its ability to ruin someone's decision making.

8.  My RANDOM THOUGHT:  our MIRACLE!

MY GREAT NIECE, KATIE, WAS DISCHARGED FROM THE HOSPITAL

8 DAYS AFTER RECEIVING A NEW HEART!  

THIS IS HER HEART SURGEON...

Thank you, Dr. Kogon











FIRST OUTING in the sun, 8 days post heart transplant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Uncle Charles and I are so proud of you FOR: 

keeping the doctors and nurses on their toes

and loving on them like you love on US! 

 

I'm so eager to see you but I have a cold and don't want to share the germs with you. 

 

You keep loving on MoMo until I can see you for REALZ, okay? 

 

(I love You, Lord, and I lift my voice. To worship You, oh, my soul rejoice! Take joy, my King, in what you hear! May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear!)



 

APRIL A-Z CHALLENGE

"C" is for: 

Cooing...calmly...Creator-fed

Puffy grey couples
sharing daily nourishment
Creator's providence









I love hearing the mourning doves while they're visiting on our deck searching for more food. 

Sometimes they're bathing in the little birdbath and then fluffing out their feathers while drying them in the sun.













What begins with a "c" on your back deck today?


John 8:31  "If you continue in my word, then you are truly Disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
Blessings,

117th HODGE

1. Do you play games of luck/chance for money? rarely
Have you ever played bingo for money? nope

...Visited a casino? yep, in las Vegas but didn’t bet…and on our honeymoon cruise…I lost $5 at the nickel slots 

...Placed a bet on a horse? nope

...Bought a lottery ticket? I put scratch-off lottery tickets in hub’s stocking @ Christmas

2. Will you be preparing and/or dining on the traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage meal this St. Patrick's Day?  no, hubs can’t eat corned beef..I’ll probably make pork something

Mashed-baked-hash browned-French fried...your favorite way to have potatoes? waffle house scattered, smothered, covered, diced & capped hash browns

3. What's the last thing you felt 'green with envy' over?
2-acre lake lot with four-bedroom/four-bath ranch home in the north Georgia blue ridge mountains

4. What's at the end of your rainbow? walking/talking with my family and Jesus in his garden

5. March 12th ma: anniversary of the death of Anne Frank ). Anne's diary details her time spent hiding from the Nazi's ranks as one of the best selling books of all time.
Besides your blog, do you keep any sort of diary or journal? no
6. What's an item in your home or closet containing every color of the rainbow? an old clown wig we used at Halloween, birthday parties and dress-up play dates

7. Write a limerick with you as the subject.

YOUNG SWEETIE, OLD HOTTIE

As a mom, young life was so sweet

God’s love made her life so complete

Doctors saved her one day

"Hysterectomied" baby-making parts away

So, she "fans" seeking cure from the HEAT!

8. Insert your own random thought here. we celebrated one of my prayer sister’s birthday last night with s surprise party…

she liked her new garden knee pads…

come on over to Joyce’s

108th HODGEPODGE

   JOINING JOYCE AND GROUP…

1. What is ONE thing or area in your home or life you hope to report is completely organized when 2013 draws to a close?  Do you have a plan to make it happen?

CLOSETS AND OUR BASEMENT…
GRADUALLY PACKING BOXES TO BE DELIVERED TO A LOCAL CONSIGNMENT SHOP…$22 SO FAR…MORE IMPORTANT TO GET IT OUT THAN TO MAKE THE MONEY

2. What's the worst uniform you've ever had to wear for a job?  NEVER HAVE WORN A UNIFORM FOR BUSINESS…USED TO HAVE TO WEAR SUITS TO WORK, AND THE WORST PART ABOUT THAT WAS THE HEELS….

COMMUTING IN TENNIS SHOES/OVERCOAT WAS MY SAVING GRACE…FOR 15 YEARS I TROMPED IN AND OUT OF THE TRAIN STATION.

3. What was your last kitchen 'mishap'? This question comes to you courtesy of Betty who blogs over at A Glimpse Into Midlife...everyone go say hi to Betty!  REACHING FOR A LARGE BOWL, KNOCKED A SOUP BOWL OUT OF THE CUPBOARD, BREAKING IT TO PIECES…

4. How do you protect yourself from other people's negativity?  TRY TO IGNORE IT

5. Who in your family do you most resemble (physically)? If you have children, who do people say they favor? Do you agree?  MY DADDY GAVE ME MANY OF HIS PHYSICAL TRAITS…

LITTLE HANDS/FEET, SAME JAW STRUCTURE, SAME EYES…AND SKOOTS HAS MANY OF THE SAME

6. January 8th is National Bubble Bath Day...will you be celebrating?  NOPE, CAN’T DO BUBBLE BATHS…TOO MANY ISSUES ARISE IF I LATHER AND LINGER IN SOAPY WATER…

MAKE IT A HOT BATH WITH NO SOAP AND I’M GOOD TO ENJOY

7. Some of the 'world's best winter festivals' are - Mardi Gras (New Orleans), Quebec Winter Festival (Canada), Sundance Film Festival (Park City, Utah), Rio Carnivale (Brazil), Sapporo Snow Festival (Japan), Venice Carnivale (Italy) and the Harbin Ice Festival (Northern China). Of those listed (and if cost were not a factor) which would you most like to attend and why?
MY CHOICE WOULD BE VENICE’S CARNIVALE IN ITALY…

DAUGHTER loved ITALY SO MUCH AND I REALLY WANT TO SEE IT FOR MYSELF AND GET TO TASTE THEY WONDERFULLY PREPARED FOODS

8. Random thought here:
Today was a return-t0-crocheting day for our Prayer Shawl Ministry…we had fun meeting new people, catching up, sewing on crosses, adding Ministry tags and loading our NEW shawl closet.  Here’s the group,

and here are some of the ladies loading the cabinet…

(although, when I first looked at the picture it reminded me of my ‘boogie woogie’ dancing days)….

What do you think?

IN SUMMARY: 
CLEARING OUT more tomorrow, thankful for NOT having to commute on a bus/train every day, wondering what my NEXT mishap will be, praying NOT to come across negatively, missing my sweet Daddy’s laugh and smile, jealous of all the ladies who WILL BE having a bubble bath, making a new jar to save $$ for Italy and eager to start my next Prayer Shawl project after I finish this post.
Thanks for hosting, Joyce!

HODGEYNESS THIS WEDNESDAY

Welcome to this edition of Joyce’s Wednesday Hodgepodge.  Be sure to add your link at the bottom of Joyce's post. 

Here are my answers-

1.  Noah Webster was born this week in 1758...(wonder what he’d say about last night’s debate)

I own several dictionaries…softback, hardback, digital…nowadays the digital is getting more use simply because of the ease of going straight there while I’m composing posts or reading articles.

2.  Our public schools ban Halloween celebrations yet call their festivals FALL festivals…and the kids sometimes where costumes.  We typically did them on Saturdays so as NOT to take up school time.

3.  My favorite 'dog' movie as a child was OLD YELLER…
my fav as an adult is MARLEY AND ME
 
 
 
…sweet stories, both of them.

 
 
 
 








4. I don’t remember the last somewhere I would describe as 'too quiet'…speaks to our anxiety in this country, methinks.  

5. Neat cooking is what I desire…cleaning along the way; now the reality sometimes turns out much differently.

6.I heard about Felix Baumgartner, the skydiver who broke the sound barrier via parachute.  My first thought went straight to the safety issues surrounding that kind of extremism. 
 
I enjoyed hearing MORE the perspective of Dr. Jon Clark, who led his medical team…
Dr. Clark’s wife, Dr. Laurel Clark, was Commander on NASA’s Columbia mission back in the 80’s.  (third from the left in the picture)

His reason for being involved was covered by Katie Couric on her show…loved his perspective; it actually gave this adventure a much better conclusion in my opinion, rather than it just being a thrill for Mr. Baumgartner.
 
 





7. FELTERGARB should be a word, but only lives at my house (this is my remembrance of what was said on on the 1978 old Battlestar Gallactica meaning “oh cr*p”…the word they said was FELDERCARB but my ears heard FELTERGARB)…and I still say it incorrectly, actually I like my version better.
I say it when I get frustrated, or hurt a finger.

8. I’m hoping Joyce takes some really GREAT pictures of the leaves; we don’t have much color down here yet.  Have fun, Joyce!
skoots1mom 

WK 30 HODGE PODGE

JOINING JOYCE AND GROUP, PUTTING MY TWO CENTS ANSWERING HER QUESTIONS:

1. The Summer Olympics officially begin this Friday night...AND I'LL BE WATCHING...WILL YOU? I'D LOVE TO SEE THE GYMNASTICS EVENTS IN PERSON

2.  Lazy days make ME FEEL RESTED, WONDERING WHAT TOMORROW WILL BRING

3. July 25th is 'officially' Threading the Needle Day...I CAN SEW SOME...NOTHING TOO DIFFICULT. 

I ONCE MADE A CIVIL WAR CONFEDERATE UNIFORM FOR COLLEGEGIRL TO WEAR IN A 4TH GRADE CHORUS SHOW...

AND A TEA COZY FOR A GIRLFRIEND. 

I'M PROBABLY SOMEWHERE AROUND A 5 ON THE 1-10 SCALE.

4. 'Threading the Needle' can also mean to walk a fine line between two things or issues (think awkward social situation). The last time you had to 'thread the needle' ...WHILE PUTTING OUT THE GARBAGE LAST NIGHT AROUND 9PM, MY HEART ALMOST JUMPED OUT OF MY CHEST AFTER A LARGE, BLACK DOG CHARGED ME FROM OUR DARKEST SIDEYARD! 

I KEEP A VERY LARGE WALKING STICK IN MY GARAGE, SO I GRABBED IT IN CASE HE CAME WITHIN HITTING DISTANCE. 

CARRYING THE STICK WITH ME, I CONTINUED TO ROLL THE CANS TO THE STREET.

HE BACKED OFF...MEANWHILE, HIS OWNER CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET WHILE YELLING FOR HIM TO RETURN TO THEIR FENCED BACKYARD.


EVERY PART OF ME WANTED TO ANNOUNCE TO MY NEIGHBOR THAT MY NERVES HAD JUST BEEN SHATTERED
BUT I DECIDED TO 'SPEAK TO MYSELF'...
MUMBLING: "IF I HAD BEEN PACKING, HE WOULD HAVE 'BEEN NO MORE!"

SO GLAD I DIDN'T BLURT OUT MY GUT REACTION
HIS SCARING ME TO DEATH
AND MY UNHAPPINESS OF THEIR NOT FOLLOWING OUR LOCAL LEASH LAWS. 
BUT IF THERE IS A NEXT TIME, WE WILL BE HAVING A NEIGHBORLY DISCUSSION.

5. Kidney, pinto, black, or navy...BEING FROM THE SOUTH WHERE MANY BEANS ARE IN SEASON, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO CHOOSE A FAVORITE. 
I WOULD HAVE TO SAY IT IS A TIE BETWEEN GREAT NORTHERNS AND FRESH LIMA BEANS
(WITH SOME PORK FOR SEASONING, OF COURSE)!

6. Have you ever hosted a garage sale?  THROUGHOUT MY YEARS OF HOME OWNERSHIP, I HAVE HOSTED TWO GARAGE SALES...
ONCE WHEN I WAS RENTING MY SISTER'S OLD HOUSE ...
I MADE OVER $500 IN ONE DAY, MY BEST SELLER: OLD STEREO ALBUMS, OLD POTS/DISHES. 

THE SECOND SALE WAS AFTER MY DAUGHTER STARTED SCHOOL,
AND I SOLD A LOT OF HER BABY THINGS. 
THAT SALE WAS NOT AS SUCCESSFUL ONLY $300,
GETTING RID OF LOTS OF MATERNITY CLOTHES, BABY TOYS AND UNWANTED FURNITURE.

7. MY EYES BEGIN TO ROLL IN MY HEAD:  WHEN I GET TO HEAR MY HUBBY MAKE COMMENT ABOUT HOW MUCH STUFF I HAVE IN THE BASEMENT...
THAT DIDN'T SELL AT THE GARAGE SALES, HAHAHAH!

8. MY RANDOM THOUGHT:   TODAY I BOUGHT A BOAT-LOAD OF VEGGIES AT A LOCAL SIDE-OF-THE-ROAD MARKET ...
purple hulled peas, corn, okra, tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, sweet potatoes, zipper peas, pink-eyed purple hulled peas, crowder peas, lettuce, a pint of strawberries and two cantaloupes. 
I LOVE SUMMER-TIME VEGGIES! 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE VEGGIE TO 'OVER-INDULGE IN' THIS TIME OF YEAR?

John 8:31  "If you continue in my word, then you are truly Disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

Blessings,

WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE: Vol. 26

Come along...add your link to the bottom of Joyce's post 

Here are my answers-

1. How many times in your life have you moved house?

• @ birth...to a small, crackerbox, wooden home 
• @4yo...to brick home w/ air conditioning and sliding glass doors to the backyard
• @21yo...apartment w/ college room mate
• @22yo...condo w/ roommate's first purchase
• @23yo...first solo apartment...room mate got married
• @24yo...Sis's brick house...she moved to the 'country' with her hubs, boys and cows ;)
• @29yo...vinyl-sided traditional w/ new hubby
• @31yo...new 3-story brick w/ hubs and soon-to-be-babygirl
• Equals:  "Seven" wonderful moves up!

2. What subject would you study if you had a year to devote to it?  American Sign Language certification would be my goal

3. What in this world breaks your heart?  Seeing suffering children in the hands of their 'ignorant, don't-care" family

4. What is one item that symbolizes the times in which we live?  Cell-phone-itis...they are permanently attached to ears and hands across this nation, even at the most inopportune times:  no, i don't want to hear your music as you stroll down the street; no, i don't want to hear your conversation as you ride on the elevator or sit in the restaurant (and especially NOT when I'm trying to hear the movie-theatre movie).  Grow up, people...keep your private life PRIVATE.

5. Share a favorite bumper sticker: 
What if the hokey pokey is really what it's all about?

6. How do you like your spaghetti?  cooked by someone else ;)

7. What is one piece of advice you would give a recent or soon to be recent graduate? ALWAYS smile...it truly helps you and those around you...and they sometimes wonder what you're planning ;)  (really, my business professor always taught that a SMILE and a FIRM handshake were two of THE MOST important things for a professional to CONTINUE throughout their career; it helped me MANY times)

8. Insert your own random thought here.  
I sooooo enjoyed our recent trip to the NC mountains to attend our niece's college graduation...60's in the day and 40's at night were certainly enjoyed by ME and the company was fun, too!

Graduation, 2011

View from Eagle's Nest

Overlook from Sugar Mountain

Blessings,

HODGE PODGE WEDNESDAY, vol. 22

joining JOYCE @ THIS SIDE OF THE POND for wednesday hodge podge...

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HODGE  PODGE
	QUESTIONS	ANSWERS
	Rather talk to everyone at a crowded party for a short time Or have a significant conversation with two people?	I would prefer to have a significant conversation with family and friends; time is fleeting
	What objects do you remember from your parent's living room?	·        Mother would always play her high-back piano ·        Green sculpted carpet ·        Pleated drapes Mother made ·        Amber-colored glass rooster on her formal end tables ·        bookcase , front foyer, world book encyclopedias, family bible and bible story books
	Do you hog the bed…steal the covers? Snore?	We both snore…but I’m loudest…hold your applause…I HATE it.
	My favorite way to cook lamb is:	Grilled/smoked with BS&K’s apricot sauce, mmmmm!
	Where is your birth certificate? When was the last time you produced it to prove you're you?	Safe deposit box; had to secure a certified copy for my passport a couple of years ago…what a hassle…had to go 3 different times to get it…I believe I posted about that nightmare
	As a child, how did people describe you?	big-blue-eyed toe headed ballerina…hair white as snow; I always walked around on my tip toes
	What do you complain about the most?	‘horring’ mones, or the lack thereof…this is the worst experience of my entire life b/c it is unforgiving
	My random thought:	The most ridiculous fight I ever had with a family member:  A close family member (won’t specify which one)...anyway, this person got MAD at ME for being angry at MYSELF (they were tired of hearing me let my emotions out about another ‘stupid’ thing I did b/c of these ‘horring’ mones)…moan, moan, moan, I try NOT to do this to myself, but there are only so many repressions you can hold in and be somewhat healthy.

WORD-FILLED WEDNESDAY...DelightingOverYou

DRINKING UP Word-Filled Wednesday at Internet Cafe Devotionstoday...won't you join us? My sipping moments concern the following:

"For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. he will rejoice over you with joyful songs." Zephaniah 3:17(NLT)

Tuesday night I talked with God about this verse. "

God's people were struggling when Zephaniah wrote God’s Words for them…they were away from their homeland' and 'learning to adapt'. I can't relate to that. I can relate to "those who live among us" facing major changes, learning to adapt (i.e. college) that could be "unknown land of change"). Change can bring uneasiness and worry to the forefront...emotions become tender.

He IS delighting in us. Christ is sitting at God's Right Hand...interceding for us. (Matthew 26:64 Jesus replied,” You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.) Yes, He IS delighting in us.

Was our Savior ‘delighting in us’ while suffering through all the taunting of the crucifixion crowds and Roman army? There are no words noting such feelings or understandings...He remained quiet. (Matthew 27:31"When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified."

He seeks relationship with us to renew our hearts; our purpose is to rejoice in Him. REJOICING over what He did, is doing, will be doing for us!, He continues wiping clean our chalkboards of life as we daily scribble on them with our dirty chalk.

He offered Himself; He believed, as did His Father, that we were worth it.(Isaiah 33:6 "In that day he will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge.” The fear of the Lord will be your treasure.)

Imagine Him singing to His Father. (I wonder if He's a baritone or bass, I can imagine him a tenor. ) Don't ya know He'll still be singing when we get there!

"For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. he will rejoice over you with joyful songs." Zephaniah 3:17(NLT)

WORD-FILLED WEDNESDAY

Mark 14:36 "And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt."

Jer. 33:3

"Call to me and I will answer you

and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

Blessings,

WYW3...what you're working w/ wednesday ;)

For the FIRST TIME...

joining Jessica @ Me & My Bucket for

What You're Workin' W/ Wednesday

With our weather being sooooo hot and humid lately, I've been busily crocheting/knitting while creating prayer cloths for our church's prayer ministry...Chicks with Sticks

During the heat it's MUCH more pleasant to work on the smaller projects because there is not A LOT of extra thread lying in my lap. Above is a 'round' prayer cloth I crocheted without a pattern....it was fun doing the 'bobbles' in the center. Some days I just DO NOT want to follow a pattern.

The purple granny squares were easy to count and worked quickly.
Variegated yarn is another favorite...easy and felt great in my hands since the thread is cotton.



Here are a few of my 'no pattern' experiments....not too bad

The last yellow and white rectangular pieces are our one of our 'official' patterns...with the cross in the center. These only take about 20 minutes each to complete.

Hope you're enjoying your crafts today...

Jer. 33:3

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

Blessings,

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