Hodgepodge

1. Do you believe in miracles?

Absolutely! They  are around us daily. The sunrise, the sunset, the miracle of each snowflake being different, and most important especially at this time of year is Christ's birth, and God's love for us.

2. What's a recent fad you admit to trying?

I can't think of any fad recently that I have tried. Unless, gasp!, it is texting while driving! Shame on me. Only once or twice and it scared the **ap out of me. I pull over to the shoulder now.

3. Peppermint-are you a fan? If so, what's your favorite food or beverage containing peppermint?

Peppermint is one of my favorite flavors. Right now I am enjoying Coffee Mate Peppermint creamer in my morning coffee. I always, and I mean always have Ice Breakers peppermints with me. Andes mints a wonderful. However, I don,t like candy canes. Yeah, I know I'm weird that way.

4. Break the ice, on thin ice, as cold as ice (emotionally, not literally)...which phrase have you run into most recently? Explain.
As mentioned above I love Ice Breaker mints. Not the same thing I know. I suppose maybe break the ice. My brother was cranky the other night, and ended up wailing at me. Online it is hard to really express your anger, but he did a really very good job at it. So, I discontinued our chat. I don't take kindly to yelling, and he was yelling. So, last night he was online and I broke the ice and asked if he was over his snit. He said he thought I was in a snit, and was just giving it back. A misunderstanding that if left untouched could have seriously damaged our relationship, and we only have each other.

5. Have you ever broken or spilled something in someone else's home? Still friends?

Ever? How about almost always. I have left a trail of my muddy footprints through a friends house. On the carpet, through to the hardwood floor, right into the tiled kitchen. She is my BFF , we have been friends for 40 years.

6.  'Tis the week before Christmas...are you feeling more like Buddy the Elf or theGrinch before his heart grew?

I don't know who Buddy is, but I am certainly not the Grinch. I am stressed out because I have so many thing to accomplish before company comes next week. But, I have found that no matter what everything always seems to get done. I ordered a new tree this year. On December 1st. It has not arrived yet. Just one more thing. The packages are wrapped, I have an empty space in the living room for it, and I have been assured it will be here today. We'll see.

7. Share a favorite quote relating to Christmas.

Trite, but true...It's not the receiving , although that is good too, but the giving that is the spirit of Christmas. I murdered the quote but you get the idea. I also try to remember that Christ is the reason for the season.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

The snow just keeps coming. Two weeks ago we got 18-20  inches, and it hasn't really stopped since then. It seems everyday we get 1 or 2 more .inches and wake up to even more that has fallen over night. It has been a long time since we have seem snow like this. This is winter of my childhood. I liked it then, right now I am not a fan. As a child I lived in the city. I remember walking the entire length of my block on the snow mounds people had made when they shoveled the walkway. Some were taller than I was. I remember making "igloos" out of the mounds to use as snow forts. The winter we have just started is already shaping up to be that kind of winter. I wonder where I should build my fort?

Note: The tree came yesterday, but someone made a mistake somewhere along the way. It is a SILVER tree. I know I did not, would not, could not have ordered a silver tree. I am a green tree person. It will have to do for right now, but it will be returned next week or shortly thereafter. I think the whole saga of the tree is a future blog post.

I thought I would a couple of pictures of the Christmas village that gets set up each year. This year my son and his girlfriend did it, and I think they did a fine job.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. According to Oxford Dictionaries, the 2013 word of the year is 'selfie'. Your thoughts? When did you last take a selfie? Do you post them online somewhere?  Do you prefer to be in front of the camera or behind the lens?

I am not sure I even know what a "selfie" is. Although it seems to be a self pprtrait. No I don't take photos of myself. There are very few photos of me. I don't think I take good pictures. They scare old women and babies. I love being behind the camera.

2. Will you send out Christmas cards this year? If so, are they ready to go? If not, are you glad or sad about leaving that tradition behind?

I still send out a few to people that I won't be spending time with at Christmas. I send a few to friends I have made online. About 8 cards in all. I have not even purchased them yet. I am sad to not get cards in the mail. They always were a fun part of the decorations. I detest the form letters that so many people write now. I never know who is doing the writing, and they are so very impersonal.

3. Do you trust easily?

I trust until I am given a reason not to trust. At that point any kind of relationship ends.

4. Pine-cinnamon-peppermint-vanilla (as in sugar cookie)...of those listed, which one is your favorite December scent?

That's a tough one. I like them all. I would have to chose cinnamon though. It works in any part of the house. 

I have a set of tree ornaments that we used when I was a child. They came scented. Imagine how strong the scent was 40 years ago that I can still smell them now. And the level of scent is perfect.

5. Did you do more talking or more listening yesterday? Was that by choice or necessity?

I did more listening. A friend called in the morning in distress because one of her kids is acting inappropriately. I listened and commiserated, and prayed with her. In the afternoon my husband was all fired up about a Christmas gift he has already received...2 way radios.  So I listened and enjoyed his excitement.

6. What's the last song that got stuck in your head? Sorry if it's back there now :  )

That would be the Thanksgiving song..."Over the River." I don't know if that is the title. The first line is "Over the river and through the woods to grandmother's house we go."  It was a family favorite when I was growing up. My mom would play it on the piano. We would laugh because my grandmother lived with us.

7. Which world explorer (in the whole history of the world) would you most like to have traveled with, and why? 

If you think of Christ as an explorer, and he was of sorts then I would go with him. Because how wonderful it would be to learn at the feet of the great Teacher himself. If you don't consider him an explorer then it would be Lewis and Clark. Because I would have liked to discovered those parts of out country.
8.  Insert your own random thought here.

On Thanksgiving day my son and his girlfriend fixed the appearance of my blog. It had been broken by yours truly. I will start to post more often.Especially after the first of the year. I have many post ideas moving about in my head. I am excited to start a new journey. Again.
We are smack dab in the middle of our first Minnesota snow storm. So far we have about 12 inches and they say we could get 10-12 more today. Then it turns cold. Minus degrees cold. That's winter in Minnesota.

CHATS ON THE PORCH

I am joining Patrice on the porch today. The weather here has been so unbelievably perfect , I mean really. Daytime highs in the low 70s nighttime lows in the 50s. Low to no humidity. What could be more perfect. Excellent porch sitting weather.



Questions

1. Do you have any type of air cleaner in your home? I have a wall vent that helps to suck smells out. And windows. I think about getting an air cleaner, but it never seems to make it to the top of the priority list. 
2. What do you do with the spare change you accumulate in your car, purse, pockets, etc? I don't know about any accumulating change. Is this a new phenomenon? My change goes into the change compartment of my wallet, and then is used to make the odd change at a store register. How does one get in on this accumulating change? Is  there a web site where I sign up? Do I need to provide my own wrappers?
3. What's one chore you wish you never had to do again? Dishes! I hate doing dishes . I mean truly and fervently hat it. Even with a dishwasher I hate it. I hate all the other chores that come with dishes. Scrubbing the stove, cleaning off the counters, putting away the clean dishes.  Did I mention I hate this chore? If I could I would use throw away pots and pans, and dishes, and glasses, and silverware.  A girl can dream right? I mean I hate it.
4. Are you outgoing, quite, shy, reserved, or life of the party?  I am outgoing, but have had moments of being the life of the party.  I don't sit in a corner , and wait for life to come to me, but I don't go out of my way to draw attention to myself. Usually.
5. Have you understood your parents more as you've gotten older?  I have actually heard my mothers voice come out of my mouth.  Not just phrases she used to say, but the actual tone of her voice. And now I see her every time I look in the mirror.  I do understand my mom more now. I wish I knew then what I know now and could have helped make her life happier. 

I was fortunate to meet Wendall a few weeks ago. At first I was not sure if he was a person, dog, or cat. He could have been a fish, except who ever heard of a talking fish?

The garden experiment has been declared a huge success. There are 8 tomatoes, 2 squash, 1 pepper, 4 healthy cabbage plants. I don't know yet how the potatoes are doing, but the plants look healthy.  I am already planning next years garden.

I was in the city last week. I was supposed to be a long weekend, but turned out to be almost a full week. Car trouble. It was a relaxing good time though. We went to a yarn store, Micheal's  Jo-Ann's , out to lunch, out to dinner, spent many hours just laughing. I saw my son while I was there and had a very enjoyable evening with him and his girlfriend. It was good to get home, but I can't wait to go again. 

Chats

I am joining in on the fun at Everyday Rurality for Chats on the Porch.

As you can see my header is still broken. I need to have my son take a look at it.

QUESTIONS

1. QUESTIONS
   1. Are you looking forward to fall? I am looking toward fall, but only because it means (hopefully) cooler weather. I do like all the fall colors when the leaves change, and crisp mornings. The fall brings back memories of school days, and piles of leaves burning and hot dogs on sticks.
   2. What are the three best colors for you to wear, and the three worst? My best colors are magenta or bright pink, bright yellow, and royal blue. My worst colors are brown, black, and peach. I look like death in them.
   3. What is your favorite kind of juice? If you are not into juice, you can tell us your favorite flavor of soda, tea, coffee, Tang, mud, etc. My favorite juice used to be grapefruit juice. Now because of medications I can't drink it. I guess my second favorite would be grape juice. My BF cans her own grape juice and it is just the best.
   4. Have you ever been in the hospital (at least an overnight)? You don't need to share the ailment, but tell us what the longest time is. I was in the hospital when my son was born for 10 days. Back then (29 years) they kept you in a long time with a C-section. Six months later I was in the hospital for another 10 days for another surgery. 
   5. Do jingles, songs from ads, and TV or movie themes stick in your head?  Jingles don't stay in my head. I do sing along with the music in a store though. Does that count? Do you find yourself singing them? (This question means that I'm trying to find out if I'm the only crazy person who sings quirky stuff!) My husband is always telling me I am crazy so I doubt you are alone.

  


I am joining in the fun at Acting Balanced today for the Monday Quiz About Me. Stay for the fun.
I still have not fixed my header, and every time I talk to my son I forget. Oh well, it will get fixed eventually.

1. What is your favorite pair of shoes?
That would have to be my pink Birkenstocks. They were my first pair. I got them at a garage sale for less than a dollar in 1991. I still have them. Birkenstocks are the only thing to touch me feet. I even wear them in the winter. They make real shoes! Who knew? Not me until a few years ago.
2. Do you get embarrassed easily?
.My husband can embarrass me when we are alone. But, as a rule I don't. I talk to myself all the time, and have been caught doing it by strangers. I just smile and go on my way. I often sing along with the music in a store. Not loudly, but loud enough for me to hear. I don't have a good voice, in fact it is a rather pathetic singing voice. It makes people cringe. So when caught singing in pubic I smile then too.
3. What makes you cringe?
You mean other than nails on a chalk board right? That would be parents not taking control of their children and letting them run wild. I also cringe when a parent treats a child too roughly. There have been a few times when I have stepped into a situation.  It is amazing what the presence of a stranger will do to an unruly parent.
4. July 29th is National Lasagna day... are you celebrating?  What kind of lasagna do you prefer?

I like just plain old regular lasagna with lots of cheese. In fact, I have some in the freezer. I think I just answered the other question. We are having lasagna for dinner.

Recently, not too far from my home a young boy (2 years) was bit in the face by a rabid skunk. He was in day care, the day care provider went to help another child and the skunk appeared from nowhere and bit the child. He had to go through rabies treatments  So did his other, because she got some of the blood on her hands. The skunk was killed. This made my heart go out to these people, and made me much more aware when I go outside. I wear an emergency whistle around my neck in case of bears,  but now if might just be be case of skunks.

Chats from the Porch

I am joining for the first time Everyday Rurality for
Chats on the Farmhouse porch.
If you have been to see me before you know about my dilemma with the header/title. I still have no idea how to fix it.




QUESTIONS

1. Do you use any type of water filter (pitcher or sink mount)? We gave well water which is normally very good. But, alas we have a poor well. We have the Culligan man come once a month to change up the softener thing, and we have from Culligan under the sink reverse osmosis. This makes our water very tasty.
2. Do you have any tips for staying hydrated in the warmer weather? I always make sure to have water, and V-8 handy. V-8 is a great way to get the electrolytes back to where they need to be in case of dehydration. Popsicles work as does Pedialyte.
3. Is your hair naturally curly or straight? My hair is so straight it has been used in place of ruler to make a straight line. JK, but it is straight. My brother got all of the curls.
4. Are you on top of all the chores/work you do, or are you always running behind? I am always behind. The older I get the behinder I get. I remember when I could go from one end of the house to the other in one day and have a spotlessly clean house. It seems that the one day jobs now take 2 or 3 days. I wonder what I will be like in 10 years and shudder.
5. If you could sing a song to Wendell, what would it be? Well, for starters since this is my first time here I am not sure who Wendall is,however, if he is a cat...I would ask him what he wanted to hear. Because as all people know cats have a very large vocabulary. My experience tells me that most cats like to hear "Don't Fence Me In" or "Puff the Magic Dragon." If Wendall is some other sort of animal it is up for grabs what to sing.  If he is a human well then he probably would ask me not to sing.

This has been fun for me. I hope it has been fun for you.

1. What's something people might ask you for help with?

The only thing that comes to mind is I might be asked to crochet something for them.  
2. What's something you might ask people for help with?
I have a garden this year for the first time in 20 years. I have lots of gardening questions. I also ask my son for help around the house with things I can't do...wash windows.
3. Did your family take summer vacations when you were a child?  If so, where did you go?  If you're a parent, did/do you plan summer vacations for your own family?  Did/do they resemble those you took as a child?
We didn't every year, but I have some wonderful memories of trips to Colorado. I remember one year  we went by train to Colorado, and spent some time there. Then we took the train to Idaho and spent time with relatives there. We went by car into Washington to a state park and met more family. We camped for a few days and then went onto the uncle's farm. After being there a few weeks we took the train back to Colorado and then eventually the train home. A wonderful time for kids. However, I am sure it exhausted my mom.

4. Pool-lake-ocean...which one is most appealing to you on a hot summer day?
I don't swim, and in fact am terrified of the water. A pool is definitely out. I do like to put my feet in the water, and since I live in the middle of the country with no ocean in sight I have to say a lake. However, my ideal day at the water would be in a boat just enjoying the easy movement of the waves.
5. Have you ever justified using the expression 'you gotta be cruel to be kind'? Was it really necessary or were you rationalizing?

I don't believe in spankings, because of this I had to be creative with punishments. I took special toys away when my son was young. As he got older privileges were removed. Fortunately, he didn't really need the tough love. As for the expression I don't think I have ever said it or thought it.
6. The Journal of Psychology recently mentioned the results of a survey identifying the ten most hated foods as-liver, lima beans, mayonnaise, mushrooms, eggs, okra, beets, brussel sprouts, tuna, and gelatin. Of those foods, how many do you actually hate?  Any you'd add to the list?

I really really hate mushrooms. I mean really and truly. I don't care for okra, too slimy  As for the rest of the list they are some of my favorites..  

7. What's your favorite book or movie set in a beach or lake town?
.  It has to be "Beaches" with Bette Midler. A testament to friendship. Always god for a cry too.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
I am so 
excited. My tomato plants actually have tomatoes on them! The squash has a flower. I am feeling successful. I got my idea for my gardens from a magazine. Easy peasy.

As you can see I still don't know how to fix my header. This goes along with question #2. If you know how to center this and the title, could you please tell me how.?

Monday Quiz Acting Balanced

Here are the Questions:

  

1. What is your favorite summer activity?

I really like to sit outside on a coolish morning, and have my coffee. I like to hear the woods waking up to the new day. The birds start singing their praises, and I can often hear the deer ambling along their way to the daytime feeding area (did you know that deer have specific time tables for their days?). I like to do most things in the summer in the morning before the heat of the day starts. The heat and I don't get along. This year with a garden to tend I do my weeding in the morning too.

2. Do you have a honey-do list? or a to-do-list of your own?

I am a great list person. I have list for everything. I do have a mental honey-do list, but my list is written down. I just do the next thing. It keeps me organized. I usually even start the next grocery list when I get home from grocery shopping.

3. Would you go for a massage?  Facial?  Spa treatment?

I used to go once a month for a facial. What a treat that was. I have only had one massage, and it was wonderful. I would willingly go for a spa treatment. I believe that we all need to pamper ourselves occasionally.

4. What was the last song you danced to?

My husband won't dance. Not in public and not privately at home. I dance to music usually whenever I hear a good song. I don't mean a full out rowdy kind of dance, especially if I am in a store, but I will sway a bit. If at home I do dance.  I sing along also. Even in public.

My re-cap:

As you can see I still have not figured out how to center the title of the blog in the box. I will have to ask my son. Unless there is someone new reading this who can tell me how.

I went to Duluth on Friday for miscellaneous shopping. I really like the new Hobby Lobby, but am disappointed in their yarn section. One row?! And most of it was empty. Something wrong there. I also got to see our great lake Superior. Every time I see it, it takes my breath away. It is so beautiful. It fill s me with awe and wonder at God's majesty of creation. The rest of the weekend was uneventful.

Except for the squirrel that thought he was going to have dinner in my garden. The garden hose proved him wrong.
I tried to put the label on for this post, but I guess I don't know how to do that either. I could use some help, please.

Til Next Time....Trudy

It's Baaa-aack...The Wednesday Hodgepodge

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 2013

It's Baaa-aack...The Wednesday Hodgepodge

I'm happy to be back in the Hodgepodge this week after a mini-blog break.  Here are my answers to this week's questions-

1. Summertime is a season of reunions, weddings, and other family celebrations and gatherings...are any of the above on your calendar in the next two months? 
This summer is starting out slowly. So far not much happening. I have a family reunion in August, but I do believe that is it. I am hoping for a couple of weekend trips sometime, although those are still in the planning stages. In September we have company from California coming for 10 days, but I don't know if that is still summer or if it is fall.

2. June is National Iced Tea Month...are you an iced tea drinker? If so, how do you like yours (sweet, flavored, etc)?
Love iced tea. I normally don't like flavors, but last summer I discovered that Caribou's Hot Cinnamon tea makes wonderful iced tea. I love to have sweet tea, but these days use Splenda to sweeten it. No lemon please.

3. When were you last nervous? Looking back, was the event actually 'nerve-worthy'?

It is hard to remember the last time I was nervous. I try not to let things get to me that way, however, It probably was in February. I was driving to Minneapolis in a snow storm. The trip normally takes about 1 1/2 hours that day it took close to 3 hours. Plus I had just quit smoking so it was doubly tense.

4. The bristle toothbrush was invented in China on June 26, 1498...not sure how that date was pinned down so precisely but, on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being sick to your stomach and 1 being not at all, how nervous do you feel when you're headed to the dentist? Do you see your dentist twice a year?

I'm definitely a big ole' 10. I need to have the gas just to have my teeth cleaned. I usually cry on the way to the office.  I have dentures now and realistically know that there won't be any pain, but I still get sick to my stomach. 

5. What's making news in your town this week?

Last week a horrible thing happened in town. A 20 something young man was helping a motorist who was having car trouble. He had gone to a service station and was crossing an intersection to go back to the car. Another car hit him and did not stop. The young man was airlifted to a Duluth hospital. The last I heard he was in critical condition. The sheriff and highway patrol took chase after the car that hit him, and eventually caught him. He was intoxicated. That isn't any excuse in my book, and makes me wonder about his conscience.
6. Curtains, drapes, blinds...your window treatment of choice?  Are there any bare windows in your house?  Is that by choice or because you just haven't gotten around to covering them?

We live in the woods so we don't have to close up the windows at night for privacy. The only thing to look in would be a deer. I do have curtains on most windows, but just for looks. There are mini blinds in the living room to block out some of the light that shines in the afternoon on the television.
7. Summertime is officially here (in the Northern hemisphere anyway)....whatone song is a must-have on your summer playlist?

I love Scott Mckenzie's song "San Fransisco" (be sure to wear flowers in your hair)  .It always makes me slow down  and love what I am doing. I really like "Under the Boardwalk" by The Drifters, and anything by Bob Seager. Yes, very loud.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

As you can tell I have been trying to work on the appearance of the blog. See how the header wording is not centered? Does anyone know how to fix this?

I am having a vegetable garden this year for the first time in 20 years. So far so good!

Something happened to my answers of questions 4 - 8, The font changed. I can't fiz it. Sorry about that.

1. April 15th is the deadline for Americans to file their state and federal income taxes...what's a job you do on a regular basis that could be described as 'taxing'?

I think it would have to be cleaning the kitty litter boxes. They need to be cleaned daily. We have to 2 cats who demand clean boxes. They run through the house with crazy impatient antics if  they think I am going to forget their boxes. I hate to think what would happen if I did forget. Oh my!
2. I'm participating in the April A-Z blog challenge and the Hodgepodge happens to fall on letter O this week. In keeping with that theme...olives, onions, oysters, okra...of the foods mentioned, what's your favorite O food?

It has to be onions. I put onions in just about everything I make. I get picky about what kind of onion I use. White, yellow, red (purple), shallots, and green. I love the Vidalia Onions when they make their way north. Their season is much to short. I try to buy extra and then freeze them. Other than sweet things and breakfast cereal I can not think of anything that isn't better because of an onion.
3. What is something memorable you experienced as a child that your own children (or future children/nieces/nephews) will not get to experience?

I think it is experiencing something firsthand on the television. We watched John John salute at his father's funeral. I remember John Glenn walking on the moon. I remember watching the Viet Nam war unfold as told by the brave reporters. Today they can still see those things, but they watch on the computer. It is a solitary experience. We watched things as a family and had discussions about them. I think the togetherness is something they are missing out on also. 

4. Term limits for our elected officials...your thoughts?

Term limits are definitely are something that needs to happen in our government. We need to have new people with hopefully new ideas. We need people who are more willing to work together. If they know their time is short they may be more apt to work together than if they know almost for sure they will be re-elected and don't really care except by the principle. 
I also believe that the president should have a change in terms. I think term should be for 5 years, but  only twice. I do not believe that 4 years in long enough to get much accomplished. Think about it...the first year is probably spent just getting used to the idea of being president, an awesome (I hate that word, maybe it is a future post) responsibility. The second year is probably spent learning exactly what everyone the hidden agendas of Congress and Senate. The third  year is finally time to present actual ideas (good or bad). Finally, the fourth is spent pushing for results. Five years would give a President the time needed to make a real difference.
5. On April 18th 1775, Paul Revere made his famous 'midnight ride'....when did you last make a midnight ride?  Perhaps the fate of a nation wasn't hanging in the balance, but tell us where you were headed anyway.
I don't go out much at night. I live 22 miles from town so driving home on a long dark road is not my idea of fun. However, about a year ago my aunt was in the hospital and my cousin and I spent our days with her there. They live 1 1/2 hours from where she was at. So after our day with her we would make the long drive home. It was always late ad always dark on our way home from the hospital. But, it was so worth it. She will 90 years perfect this week. We are having a surprise party for her next week (another post).
6. What would freak you out more...a mouse running across your floor or a big fat hairy spider?

I hate them both. In a perfect world the mouse would be eating the spider. It has to be a mouse though, because of the chance of a mouse house filled with babies. EEK! 
I keep cans of anything in a spray bottle in every room of the house just in case I see a spider. Anything from a spray bottle is sticky enough to cause the spider to curl up and never move again. I use hair spray in the bathroom, counter cleaner in the kitchen, furniture polish in the living room, and air freshener anywhere in between

7. I love it when people ask me____________________________.
   About my son. He is a wonderful young man and I love  talking about him.
 

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 
I am getting back into blogging slowly. I think the best way to re-introduce myself is to do a few of these intro participation posts. I will continue with them even after I start doing posts of my own. They are quite fun and thought provoking. I have a thousand ideas floating in my head for posts. I can't wait to get started.

I have blogged in the past, but not for a few years. I have been trying to get back into it, but in the process I broke my blog. I can't even show it to you, because I have now lost it.  I hope to start slowly, and gain momentum with a daily slice of my life on Rosebud Lane.

Here are the Questions:

1. What is your best solution for getting rid of a headache?

After years of suffering and trying many things to get rid of migraines I have found that 2 aspirin and a cherry coke work the best. Chocolate doesn't hurt either.

2. Do you enjoy taking naps?

I don't take planned naps. I mean like going in and laying down, but I often wake-up from a nap with the crochet hook still in my hand and a 1/2 has passed. Those I do enjoy.

3. What was the last 'block buster' movie you saw at the theatre?

The last movie I saw in the theater was about 8 years ago. I think it was called 9/11. It was about the firefighters who wouldn't give up trying to rescue people trapped in the rubble after the collapse.

4. If you could have anyone cook you dinner who would it be?

Hands down it would be Gordon Ramsey. He is a very "colorful" guy, but I think his food would be the best in the world.