Wednesday Hodgepodge November 30, 2016

 

1. Give us three rhyming words that say something about your Thanksgiving holiday. 

Love, because of course there was.
Glove, I found a pair of William's gloves he left here last winter and returned them to him.
Shove, because I hip checked him to get him out of my way when I finishing up prep for dinner.
2. When did you last say, 'the more the merrier'? Did you mean it?

I don't know if I have ever said that. I know I have said , "Sure, what's one more." Yes,  I am pretty sure I meant it. 

3. What's one piece of advice you'd give someone who is your same age?

If you don't know how to save... learn how now! Sock away every penny you can.
4. You're ordering a veggie plate, what four veggies are on it?

Cooked or raw? 
Sauteed thinly sliced Brussel Sprouts with S & P and butter, Asparagus with a dash of lemon and mayo for dipping (did you know asparagus was a finger food?), Corn with S & P and butter. I used to prefer my vegs raw, but the teeth just don't chew like they should.

5. Shop till you drop! Did you? Have you ever? Will you between now and Christmas?

I have shopped til I dropped. My mom and I would take Black Friday off from work. Long before the phrase was coined. We would go to downtown Minneapolis. We would start at Dayton's, then Donaldson's, take the skyway across to Woolworth's, then Penney's, a quick walk across 5th street to Power's. Then we would make our way back to Dayton's. We go up to the 5th floor and have lunch, then go through the Christmas Wonderland in the auditorium. About then we would probably, maybe be ready to go home. It was a special time with my mom.

6. What's your favorite chair in your house, and why is it a favorite?

I have my Grandmother's rocker. It is in my bedroom. It seems to fit just right no matter the size or shape of the body sitting in it. Short, tall, thin, plump we all fit perfectly. It is a huge chair all wood.  I treasure this chair because I rescued it from the trash bin. For whatever reason one day my mom decided to throw it out. A temporary moment of insanity I suppose. Whatever it was I rushed outside and brought it back into the house. I mean really! It was my Grandma's!



7. Share an early memory of faith, religion, or spirituality.

There are a lot. The first memories are from Catholic school grade 1 through 6. Singing in Latin at funeral masses starting in about 6th grade. My best memory of faith was the day I accepted the Lord Jesus into my heart as my Savior. It was at my cousin's funeral. I was devastated by his death. We had been very close. As we all walked into church I was crying. I sat down in the pew, and was thinking to myself that I didn't know if I was going to survive this. Clear as day I heard, " You will survive, because I am here to help you." I knew then. I have never felt such utter peace in my entire life.

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

At Thanksgiving we planned for our Christmas. William and Jen got out their phones I got out my calendar (how old school) and we checked our schedules. Christmas for us will not be until February. Harry knows that the day means a lot to me. A time for family. He just doesn't give a hoot about any of it. He used to go through the motions, but now nothing. So, he wants me to go away for Christmas. However, not too far. I am going to Minneapolis to spend Christmas with my BF (from now on known as RLL) and her family. I am family mostly, but I feel I am intruding on this most special of days. She says not. Is it weird?
A photo of last year's Christmas tree. I am not sure if I am putting one up for us or not. And, I haven't put out any other decorations yet.

 Yes, that is a flamingo.

The wreath for the door. I made it.

There is a story behind the colors I chose, but I think I have gone on long enough for now, but I will share the story at some point. Promise.

Thanksgiving Thankfulness

I was reading a blog. She listed the things she was thankful for in 2016.  I decided I would do the same. A chance to ponder each of them.

• I am thankful that God loves me no matter how badly I screw up. And I do! I know he will never give up on me even though there are times when I have given up on myself.
• I am thankful for the beauty of the four seasons. Although I do wish winter didn't last quite as long and that spring came sooner. But, they each bring their own beauty.
• I am thankful for music. I need to have a dose of music daily. It wakes me up. It gives me focus. It touches my heart and soul. I am a wannabe musician and singer. Only problem is I have no rhythm and I am tone deaf. I appreciate the musical talents of others and live musically vicariously through them.
• I am thankful for my husband. He doesn't always understand me, but still allows me to be me. He is a tease. He is a great bug teddy bear filled with love for me.
• I am thankful for my son. He hasn't lived at home in many years, but when he needs to make a decision he still calls home to ask for advice. He is always willing to come home to help with odd job that we can't do anymore. He lives 2 hours away so making the time is not always easy for him.
• I am thankful for my camera. It is an extension of my arm. I am thankful I was able to afford to buy a very good camera a couple of years ago. I am thankful for my "good eye". I take the camera everywhere with me, because ya just never know when the perfect opportunity will present itself. I HAVE to take photographs. It is like breathing to me.
• I am thankful for books. Physical books of which I have many.  I am also thankful for my Kindle books of which I have more. 
• I am thankful for my birthday. Weird I know, but stay with me a sec. My husband bought me the new Kindle Fire for my birthday.  I love, love, love it!  In orange
• I am thankful for having the best friend that I have, We were instant friends back in 1973 when we first met. We have been through everything together. The birth of our children (her 5, me 1). We have been through the loss of our mothers. We have laughed til we cried and then laughed some more. We have been seriously silly. Through all this time we have never had an argument, we have never been angry with one another.. Frustrated, yes but never angry. 43 years!
• I am thankful to live in a country where we are allowed to express our opinion on current events without fear of reprisal. Where we can have very differences of opinion on a political field and live to tell about it. That's all I will say about the election.
• I am thankful for a place that I can come to to write my thoughts. I am thankful to anyone who might take the time to read them. You take the time out of of your life and give me a few minutes of it. That is really something.

I am pretty sure if I gave it some more thought I would come up with more things I am thankful for, and maybe throughout this next year I will occasionally do that. I don't need it to be November to be thankful.

Hodgepodge 11/23/2016

'Twas The Hodgepodge Before Thanksgiving...

1. What's something you might say runs in your family? 

Sarcasm is what runs in my family. We are very good at it. No matter the topic we can find a way to put a sarcastic spin on it. Of course, it is all done  with  love and respect. My mom was a pro. I learned at the foot of a master in sarcasm. I in turn have passed it onto my son. It leads to some interesting moments.

2. I read here a list of ten things you should do before 2017 arrives (in less than six weeks!)...which tasks on the list might you do? What would you add to your own 'before the year ends' list? 

visit your Dr. or dentist, deep clean your home, donate unwanted items to charity, look someone in the eye and tell them you love them, write an honest letter to yourself, clean up your inbox-desktop-photos, travel somewhere you've never been, compliment a stranger, watch the sunrise, think ahead to your goals/plans for the new year

I have 2 large bags ready to be taken to the thrift shop, and another 2 with winter jackets  and pairs of shoes to give to a halfway house for women. It must be taken care of way before 2017. I will compliment a stranger. I love the look on their face when a compliment comes to them so unexpectedly. My bedroom faces East, and I get to  watch the sunrise most mornings.

3. What's something other generations (not your own) misunderstand about your generation? 

We had a cause. We knew how to have our opinions heard without violence and bloodshed. We didn't stop traffic on the freeway to protest. I  remember going to the state capitol in St.Paul to protest the draft and the war in Viet Nam. We were loud. We were boisterous. BUT, we were civil and peaceful.

4. Sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy, cornbread dressing-which would you miss the most if it weren't on the holiday dinner menu?

Hands down mashed potatoes and gravy. No contest. 

5. What are you overthinking right now? 

LIFE! I tell everyone to not worry, to take it easy,  to let things happen as they may. However, I rarely follow my own advice.

6. Your favorite slang word lately? 

I don't know if it is slang or not, but I have been trying to use the word cr**  less often. So instead I say crumb. 

7. Write an acrostic for the word grateful.

Grace to not trip and fall down while standing still. I can do that.

Rest when tired.

Attitude. Adopt a positive one. It makes life easier.

Telephone people not spoken to in a while. Brighten their day and yours.

Elegance. Decorate for Christmas with elegance and cheer.

Frivolous. It is sometimes  fun to be frivolous.

Us. Us as in family, friend, and loved ones. Weird saying. Because loved ones would be family and friends. What is left? Other loved ones? Wouldn't they too be family or friends?

Love life.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

We had Thanksgiving on Sunday. My son works on Thursday, but has off Sunday. It took me a lot of years to accept that it really doesn't matter which day the holiday is celebrated as long as you are all together. We had a lovely time. We ate too much. Laughed til our faces hurt.

Our centerpiece. A little lopsided. 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

{ Friday Foto Friends #54 }

I love sharing my photography. I am thankful to have such a place to do it. Thank you Debbie.
We are having an early Thanksgiving on Sunday. I am busy with preparations, and am going to use a few older photos this week. I hope that ins't against the rules.

A summer look down our driveway.

An autumn look down the driveway.

I couldn't find a winter photo of the driveway, but this is of part of the woods.

We are in a hazardous weather warning right now. For MANY inches of snow. SO far today we have had rain, thunder, and hail. No snow yet.

From This Side of the Pond Questions

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 285 Posted: 24 Oct 2016 09:01 PM PDT First things first...there will not be a Hodgepodge next week because whoohoo! I'm moving! It's only been 13+ months since we got started, but it looks like moving day is finally here. I will do my best to post a Hodgepodge the week after, but that may be dependent on the Internet fairies. I will post something so you'll know, but for now plan on no Hodgepodge Wednesday Nov 2nd, hopefully a Hodgepodge on Nov. 9th, and definitely a Hodgepodge on Nov. 16th. This week though, there is a Hodgepodge and here are the questions. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to share answers with all your friends and neighbors. 1. Besides your very own house, describe a place where you feel most 'at home'?  That would be my BF's house. I love her family and they love me. I go there and feel pampered. I can regenerate my soul. I totally relax. When there is a family gathering for something I am included. Even in family photos. I love her grandchildren as they were my own. To them I am Grandma Trudy. 2. When did you last 'hit a home run' with something? Explain.  Just this past weekend I had a homerun. It was the annual trip my BF (she doesn't like her name used. But, from now on she will be RLL) and I make to Duluth. We spend the night Friday. We shop til we drop. And eat til we can not eat anymore. We laugh (loudly), enjoy our time together, We are silly and stop along the way so I can take photos. We had a fabulous time and are already planning next year's time. 3. Tell us about something you love in your house or kitchen that is 'homemade'.  In my living room and in the hallway. In the living room is the entertainment center. The top is filled with photographs of family and friends. I have always liked the look of a grand piano that I have seen in movies that has lots of photographs on in. I don't have the piano but I do have a flat surface. In the hallway I have a gallery wall oh photos the cats we have had the privilege of caring for over the years. Many of these photos are of the feral cats that lived here. They are all precious. 4. 'A man's home is his castle'...which of the world's ten most captivating castles (according to The Travel Channel) would you most like to visit and why- Mont Saint-Michel (France), Edinburgh Castle (Scotland), Neuschwanstein Castle (Germany), Glamis Castle (Scotland), Windsor Castle (England), Chateu de Chambord (France), Hampton Court Palace (England), Prague Castle (Prague), St. Michael's Mount (England), and Leeds Castle (England) I guess I would say Windsor Castle. I would love to have Tea with the Queen and to have her show me around. 5. What's a recent or upcoming plan or project that's required you do a little homework before getting started? Did the homework cause you to abandon your plan or adjust it in some way? I have always wanted to have a dollhouse. My cousin was going to design and build one for me. I have decided I don't have a large enough free space to have a doll house. I will eventually have something of a similar nature, because I love miniatures, just not a 1/2 scale house. Sigh. 6. In your opinion, is homework an unnecessary evil or a valuable practice? Should schools be done with homework? Why or why not? ' I understand the need for additional work outside the classroom. Truly I do. However, when the child comes home with work that they need help with, and the parent isn't up on the latest "new" math that is a problem. I don't agree with the premise that for every year in school there is 1/2  hour of homework. The school district where we live tried to implement that theory, it didn't last long. The child has spent all day in the classroom and needs some down time.  7. Share a favorite memory of your childhood hometown.  I like remembering how safe it felt. It is a suburb of Minneapolis right on it's border. But, it always had a small town feel to it. Even today if feels like going to a small town. It has a main street where the businesses are .  The town/city had a summer festival (don't they all?) it was always the weekend after the 4th of July. It is called Whiz Bang Days. It was such fun sitting on the curb of main street anticipating the start of the parade. Later in the weekend finding the perfect spot to watch the fireworks. ANd through it all being without a parent and being safe. Or being able to walk to the movie theater with a friend or cousin for a Saturday afternoon movie. I gave more than one example.  8. Insert your own random thought here.  Instead of a thought I am going to show of a couple of recent photos I have taken.

Happy Wednesday Hodgpodge

Joining Joyce today for the weekly Hodgepodge. How does she ever keep coming up with new and fun questions? And often thought provoking.

1. Let's all think happy thoughts...share one of yours here. 

This is a good question for me today. I have been having a difficult time being happy the last few days. I know it is in there somewhere. I just need a thought to bring it out.

Here it is: We are having Thanksgiving (baring snow) this next Sunday. My son works on Thursdays, but has Sundays off. I am almost finished getting the house ready, and can now start to bake.  Plus, now that I think about it I am finished with the big gifts for Christmas, and can now get the fun things. Yes, I do have reason to be happy.

2. There's a Chinese proverb that says, "If you want happiness for an hour take a nap, if you want happiness for a day-go fishing...." What say you? If you want happiness for a day _____________.

If I want happiness for the day I leave the house and do the grocery shopping. I go to the thrift store. I buy a book. And I have lunch out. Home can be very stressful so going out and about is a very good thing.

3. Where do you go to decompress from the world around you? 

To regenerate? To become strong again? I go to my best friend's house. She pampers me, she doesn't expect anything from me, she plans her time around what I want to do. Her family plans meals that they know I can't make at home. And, as a bonus I get to be Grandma Trudy to her grandchildren.

4. What song never fails to make you happy? 

Music of any kind makes me happy (except some of the noise kinds).  The songs that make me happy are the kind to bring back memories. Led Zeplin's "Stairway to Heaven"  Harry Chapin's "Taxi" (which I just listened to - Thank you Spotify) . You are my Sunshine and Hush Little Baby that I sang to my son when he was a baby, and sometimes even now.

5. Wednesday is National Fast Food Day. Should that be a thing? Apparently it is, so tell us what's the last 'fast food' you consumed? If you were putting together your own version of a 'happy meal' what would you include? 

All of "National" day for things crack me up. I mean really?  The last fast food I had was actually a Happy Meal. Yes, it was. My fast food would include a taste menu of all my favorite fast foods. Little bits of everything.

6. In a few sentences tell us why you blog. 

I blog because I need to write. I had another blog years ago, but I lost it somewhere. It was called "Random Thought". It feels good to write. It also gives me a place to show my photography.

7. List seven things you're feeling especially grateful for today. 

1.  I am grateful today for a God who loves me no matter what.

2.  I am grateful today for the long fall weather we are having. 

3.  I am grateful today for my family and friends who also love me no matter what.

4.  I am grateful today for for my dishwasher. I went quite a few years without one, and I hate, detest, loath washing dishes. 

5.  I am grateful today for Ozzy and Boo. My 2 girls. They bring me joy continuously. Even when they are yelling at me for breakfast. Oh yeah, they are cats.

6.  I am grateful today that it is almost time to decorate for Christmas. I love to decorate for Christmas.

7.  I am grateful for my eyes to see, my ears to hear, my feet and legs to walk, my voice to let it be heard.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I'm sorry if I am a bit melancholy  today. I think it is the time of the year and recent events that have me feeling blue.

And on the note I will share a happy photo

As far as the eye can see Sunflowers. With their happy faces that follow the sun all day long.

I am joining in on the Friday fun at Breathing in Grace.

Here in Minnesota we are getting ready for Winter. I always try to put more non-perishable items on my shelves in the winter. Never know when or for how long we could be snowed in. Living 22 miles from town can make for a very long Winter.

Having said that I thought I would share some of the flowers and things from my garden this year.

I needed some whimsy this summer. And, what could be more whimsical than a fairy garden?

A purple flower. I don;t know the name I just like it. If you look closely on the left hand side is some sort of bug. I didn't know he was there when I took the photo.

A yellowish something.

An unwanted but necessary visitor.

A pansy after the rain.

There were twins this year. The little buggers tag teamed me. They came into the yard and munched on everything. The ate my one and only rose bush right into the ground. But I love them anyway.

In honor of all of our Veterans past, present and future thank you.

{ Friday Foto Friends #52 - One Year Linky Anniversary }

I am pleased to join Debbie from Breathing in Grace on her 1 year anniversary of  Friday Foto Friends.
I am joining for a couple of reasons. They are...I love to take photos, and I love for people to see my photos. Being out and about with my camera is like breathing to me. It is something I HAVE to do. Another reason I am glad to be doing Friday Foto is because it is a great habit to develop...getting used to posting on my blog, and possibly making new friends.
A description of each photo is under each photo.

 This is a river scene of The St. Croix River. I cross this from Minnesota into Wisconsin. One morning I need to go into town (Danbury, WI) for a few groceries.

 That morning the river gifted me with a bit of fog, and it's early morning beauty.

 The same morning as the above photos I saw this young bird. He is a young Bald Eagle enjoying his breakfast.

This is an example of the rugs I make. The technique is Knotted Toothbrush Rugs. It is a nice relaxing hobby to have. Sheets are torn into strips and knotted.

Thanks for taking a look at my photos. I hope to do this again next week.

Trudy