Thursday, January 30, 2014

Alice's Adventures in Hodge Podge




1. It's  been said that one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. Do you think that's true? Do you find that an easy exercise most mornings? What's something positive you told yourself today? If you missed that boat, what's something positive you could tell yourself tomorrow?
At least the sun is shinning.......

2. There will be karaoke at the next party you attend...are you in? Or will you be faking a sore throat?
I'm all in....Love Karaoke and often sing along with my own machine here at home....
3. January 29th is National Puzzle Day...what's something you've found puzzling recently?
Just this morning, I was trying to figure out how to borrow ebooks from my public library....I think I've got it.
4.  Jigsaw, crossword, acrostic, logic, sudoku, word search...what's your favorite kind of puzzle, and when did you last work one?
Jigsaw.......if you read my post yesterday you know I worked on one every week in January. It is a favorite wintertime activity and I probably last worked on one Tuesday

5. Recently a writer by the name of Amy Glass ruffled feathers with a post she wrote saying she looks down on young women with husbands and kids and she's not sorry. Among other things, she says women will be equal with men when we stop saying house work and real work are equally important. You can read the whole piece by clicking here
What say you? Do you think men and women are equal in the 21st century? Why or why not?
Ooo, I could really get on my soap box over this....I have two children and ...they're all grown up now and I consider them my greatest accomplishment. If done right, running a home is certainly equal to running a business....I've done both......anyone who says otherwise, isn't doing it all.....I couldn't find any personal info on Amy so I don't know if she has ever married or had children.. She says anyone can get "knocked up", there are certainly many heartbroken women who could tell her that is not true....okay, I'm not done but I'll quit here.

6. What's a product you've noticed in the grocery store that you'd like to try, but haven't yet?

I haven't seen this in the grocery store, but a friend demonstrated her irobot vacuum and I'd love to have one......I keep seeing ads for crescent roll sheets and recipes, also, but haven't found them in the store.

7. The author, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll) was born this week in 1832 (January 27th).  Which character from his celebrated novel, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, would you most like to meet, and why? Here's a linkto a character list if you need help on this one. 

I like the White Rabbit

8. Insert your own random thought here.
Still very cold here in Alabama....after such a mild winter last year, I think the cold temperatures are harder to take......Honey Bear says we're in for a heat wave with temperatures in the 40s.....I don't usually say I look forward to Spring but I am this year.....we're so used to milder winters that the Princess and Wonder Boy don't even own coats....they've been layering with hoodies for when they have to be outdoors.....I'm keeping heavier coats and blankets in the car just in case....with a windchill of -9, one doesn't want to be caught unprepared in case of car trouble.
Okay, its getting late and I need to get some work done.

Visit Joyce at This Side of the Pond to play along

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

A Simple Woman's Daybook



FOR TODAY...Wednesday, January 29, 2014, 9:26 am

Outside my window...16°F, -9°C,the sun is shinning...lots of Bird activity

I am thinking...change is good...do you find yourself looking at your home decor or your hair-do or your clothes and thinking you need a change? Is this a January thing?

I am thankful...for a warm home, a garage that isn't so filled with junk that I can't park my car inside.....for my family and friends......but especially for Honey Bear

In the kitchen...some leftovers in the fridge that need tossing........a fridge that just plain needs cleaning.....I'm thinking Barbecue for dinner from the local place

I am wearing...jeans, a black, long-sleeved knit T which I plan to cover with a royal blue sweater before I go out....and my brown boots.

I am creating...

 this jacket at a workshop last Thursday


 these puzzles from a Christmas gift....there are 8 in the box, different sizes.....do you like to put together puzzles?



I am going...to the hairdresser and then to lunch with my friend, Rene

I am wondering...when I'll get these extra pounds off

I am reading...Defending Jacob

I am hoping...this will be a short Winter with no snow accumulation 

I am looking forward to...Celebration Day (our club's awards day), Retreat, our anniversary trip in the Spring

I am learning.....more about Benjamin Franklin than I ever wanted to know...Just finished Book of Ages

Around the house...leaves and bird seed tracked in the back door.....still needing to attack those two extra rooms.......a scrapbook page that needs completing........a new printer

I am pondering...ways to change

A favorite quote for today...Waste not, Want not

One of my favorite things...Eating... thus the problem with extra pounds

A few plans for the rest of the week: Spending the day with Daughter on Friday, having my nails done

A peek into my day...
at the conference center where we had our annual state meeting in October

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Hodge Podge #158


1.  Are you a force to be reckoned with? In what way?
Only when pushed too far.

2. What are two things you love about the wintertime? Or, if love feels like too strong a word, what are two things you 'like' about winter? 
Sweaters........Soups  Sorry, hard to come up with more and I live in the South. Snow, which is rare here is wonderful to see falling.

3. Pomegranate, kumquat, persimmon, kiwi, and guava are all fruits said to have health benefits, particularly during the winter months. Do you have a favorite on the list? Are there any on the list you haven't tried? 
I like Kiwi. The others, can't say I've actually eaten, and don't want to try them.

4. I passed a local church yesterday and noticed they had this on their outdoor sign- 'When all else fails, do the right thing.' Your thoughts?
Strange for a church to post that when we should be doing what is right all the time.

5. Do you ski? According to one list I've seen, the top 5 ski destinations for 2014 are-St. Anton Austria, Whistler Canada, Cortina Italy, Tahoe USA, and Zermatt Switzerland.  Of the five listed, which would you most like to visit? We can make skiing optional if that helps the non-skiers with their answer. 
I would visit any of them but not in Winter

6.  What's the last thing you looked for online? (Besides my blog!)
Someone else's blog. Besides that: I looked at current movies this morning.

7. What saying, slogan, quote, or motto have you seen lately that inspires you for the new year?
I have nothing for this one.

8.  Insert your own random thought here. 
I found a little January motivation on Friday.....I cleaned blinds, windows and curtains in the kitchen and living room. There are much more areas that need attentions but they'll wait another day. I am amazed at the dust and dust webs in my home. Is there more dust than there used to be or do I just notice it more?

Thursday, January 16, 2014

A Simple Woman's Daybook


FOR TODAY...Thursday, January 16, 2014, 8:30 am

Outside my window...23 degrees and partly cloudy although I did see some sun when I first got up this morning....expected to reach 50.the chickens are out scratching in their pen, for a few days last week when it was so cold, they hibernated inside their A-frame, this week they've actually laid eggs...

I am thinking...about what a busy week its been and how this is my first post

I am thankful...that I can stay home today

In the kitchen...leftover chili and porkchops.......I'm not sure what I'll prepare for dinner today...........I'm thinking of baking some Pumpkin Bread, though.....hmmm, it seems like a casserole kind of day so maybe ham &vegetable casserole?

I am wearing...pajamas and a red robe, cozy socks

I am creating...this blog post......no projects started but I saw a quilt block here that I want to make.....its the Friendship Star

I am going...to catch up on some of my favorite blogs today

I am wondering...where some of you found your January motivation

I am reading...Command Authority.........my book club met last Thursday and chose books for the year...February's book is  Book of Ages.....I'm not sure I'll finish the book I'm reading in time to read this one also, both have lots of pages

I am hoping...to lose a pound this week

I am looking forward to...each new day and what God holds in store for me

I am learning....always learning

Around the house...Smokey is curled up under a blanket on the sofa......natural light is coming in the windows.....

I am pondering...projects I might start

A favorite quote for today...Feeling a little blue in January is normal.
Marilu Henner 

One of my favorite things...a cup of tea on a winter afternoon

A few plans for the rest of the week:Since this is Thursday and the week is almost over, I'll say: Monday I had a planning meeting for my local Homemakers' Club......Tuesday I had a dentist appointment for a cleaning.......Wednesday I had a planning meeting for the County organization I belong to, then lunch with my Daughter......today and tomorrow I'm staying home and doing some household chores....we have no plans for the weekend except Honey Bear needs a hair cut.

A peek into my day...

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Wednesday Hodge Podge


Ahem, The Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 157


1. Every January 1st since 1976 Lake Superior University has published a list of words they'd like to see banished from the Queen's English.  Words may be banished due to misuse, overuse or just general uselessness (go here to read more about how the words were chosen).  Here are the words/phrases they'd like to see banished in 2014-

selfie, twerk/twerking, hashtag, Twittersphere, Mr. Mom, T-bone, ____on steroids, the suffixes-ageddon, and -pocalypse added to anything and everything, from the world of politics the words-intellectually/morally bankrupt and Obamacare, and from the world of sports the words-adversity and fan base

Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Is there a word not on the list you'd like to add?
Really? Some of those I've never heard used.  Obamacare seems like a misnomer to me so let's banish it.

2. What one unfinished project nags at you begging to be completed in this new year?
A genealogy scrapbook for the kids with their surname. I did ones for my side of the family and need to get the ones for Honey Bear's done while I still can, otherwise what good is all my research.

3. When did you last have a bowl of soup? What kind? Homemade or from a can? What's your favorite soup?
For dinner last night. Homemade Loaded Potato Soup. Lobster Bisque.

4. Snowed in, snowed under, snow job...which one most applies to your life in recent days, figuratively speaking.
snowed under as in too much clutter plus my regular cleaning service took holiday week's off in November and December and it fell during the week for my service.....add that to being under the weather health wise for weeks and you get the picture.

5. What's the funniest movie you've ever seen, or at least one of the funniest?
Recently, it would be Red 2.

6.  In general, would you say you're clumsy?
Since I have balance problems due to having Meniere's Disease, I'd have to say yes...door ways jump out and hit me all the time.

7. Elvis Presley was born on Hodgepodge Day (January 8th) back in 1935.  Are you an Elvis fan?  What's your favorite Elvis tune? If that's too hard, which Elvis tune do you dislike the least?  Click here for a list of his songs.
Yes, I was an Elvis Fan and it was sad when he passed away......Suspicious Minds.....I Did it My Way....The Battle Hymn of the Republic.....these are all great renditions in my view.

8. Insert your own random thought here.
After temperature readings in the single digits and wind chills in the minuses, today and tomorrow with highs in the 40s and 50s will seem like heat waves..........But I kind of like the January days of reflection and list making of projects to do.....I don't make resolutions as such but I do make a list of personal goals and projects for the year....

Thank you, Joyce, for continuing to come up with probing questions and for hosting........

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

A Simple Woman's Daybook


FOR TODAY...Tuesday, January 7, 2014, 11:00am

Outside my window...it is 14 degrees, up 9 degrees from when we got up this morning and expected to reach 23....this is unusually cold for our area......but hey, the sun is shinning and the Birds are out looking for food....I'm inside where it is warm

I am thinking...that I am blessed with a garage to park my car in so I don't have to go out in the cold and melt the frost off my windshields and warm the car before I go to work in the morning....blessed not to have to go out and work....

I am thankful...that we have a warm house, plenty to eat, and love to share

In the kitchen...yesterday I cooked a pot of pinto beans and one of rutabagas for Honey Bear to eat with cornbread and slaw...the slaw is all gone so I've put on a pot of Spinach to go with the meal for lunch today..........I've started a pot of Potato Soup for dinner...we could eat that with some Sour Dough Bread my friend makes and gives me......

I am wearing...an Auburn tee with some knit pants

I am creating...Oops! Well, I'm creating sorted files and agenda for a planning meeting next week......plus this Blog post.......and I've started my 2014 Journal

I am going...out this afternoon to pick up the Princess at school and take her home....

I am wondering...how long this change in weather will last....I know it is supposed to be in the 40s on Thursday......won't that seem like a heat wave after these frigid days...

I am reading...Command Authority

I am hoping...to continue clearing out and organizing......January is always a good time to do this.........I'm putting the pantry on my list....

I am looking forward to...all the things God has in store for us this year.......

I am learning.....to appreciate the simple things in life more.....

Around the house...laundry as usual........still keeping the doors closed on the spare rooms so can't get in there until it warms some but there is lots of sorting and clearing out to do in there.......sun is shinning in the window and door.........

I am pondering...I always have problems with this prompt....isn't pondering the same as thinking?

A favorite quote for today..."God has given us memories so that we might have roses in December...J M Barrie" ....saw this one over at Susan Branch's blog.......do you follow Susan, her posts are all about living in New England in a big old house.......

One of my favorite things...eating, I'm afraid, I've managed to gain quiet a bit this Fall and Winter which I'm going to have to lose.......woe is me....

A few plans for the rest of the week:Lunch with my friend Rene tomorrow......Book Club at noon on Thursday and then a meeting that night.....busy week coming up, too...

A peek into my day...

a picnic by at an overlook on the Blue Ridge Parkway

Smokey