Thank you to Joyce for another Wednesday Hodgepodge.
1. What’s a winter memory you treasure (can be from any winter in your lifetime)?
All three of our children were born in the winter and their births are memories that I will always treasure.
2. Tell us about the last time or a recent time you were caught up in red tape. Does it send your frustration level off the charts or is it something you’ve come to expect when dealing with any sort of bureaucracy?
No red tape issues lately that I can think of. We did have a time back in 1996 with major landslide issues with the first home we owned in Washington state. Lots of red tape with FEMA and banks and city agencies…the list goes on. It was freeing to walk away from that home and leave all that behind us.
Some art that friends and our daughter drew for us during this traumatizing time in our lives.
The impact this crisis had on our children and us was a hard trial that God brought us through.
This is a lousy photo of the rear of our home and the hillside after the major slide showing how it came right up to our foundation.
3. Do you eat/like fish? Do you cook fish at home? What’s your favorite fish dish? Ever been ice fishing?
For me personally, fish is an after thought and thought about infrequently. Growing up, fish was not part of my diet. I do not like to mess around with little fish bones. I would go as far as admitting I’m concerned about swallowing a fish bone. If I’m going to eat fish I prefer a white chunk of meat like swordfish or halibut. I enjoy fish tacos. When we are in the United Kingdom I do enjoy ordering fish and chips. I have not been ice fishing but our son here in Colville has been ice fishing.
4. Did you watch any of the US President’s Inauguration coverage on Monday, Jan 20?
Yes, we watched the first hour of the ceremony in the Rotunda with Josh and Laura. We got to clap and holler a bit together which made it more memorable. The first lady was stunning in her outfit as was the second lady. Franklin Graham’s prayer was meaningful and good to agree with. Cheers to Carrie Underwood for stepping up and singing acapella when the music malfunctioned. Josh and Laura left for their 5ish hour drive back to the West side of the Cascades shortly after 11am here on the west side of the country. After they left we kept the TV on for the rest of the afternoon to see all the pomp and ceremony.
On a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being not at all and 10 being very very) how interested are you in politics in general?
I used to be more interested but for several years it has been so disheartening to follow politics and all the ridiculous attempts by politicians to control too much of our lives.
Do you follow/keep up with/ get involved with local politics?
I follow and use my privilege of voting.
5. What’s the coziest thing you own and what makes it so?
My jammies, robe, and ugg slippers…all three together because when they are all on it means I’m relaxed and have nothing urgent to do!
6. Insert your own random thought here.
My sisters with our cousin Bill at the funeral of a friend. This was in Southern California this past Saturday. Hi cousin Bill, thank you for reading my blog! Good to see you in this photo. God bless you.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
Great family photo and happy memories. Take care, enjoy your day!
I love reading your answers and seeing your photos. Adorable Family. Hugs.
Thank you, Maristella. Hugs to you!
…sorry, my brain is too sleepy this morning to process this.
Tom, sorry to make your brain spin…
Two of my kids were born in the winter as well and that is what I said for my best winter memory. I’m so sorry for what happened to your first house and then dealing with the aftermath had to have been terrible stressful. Great pic of your kids! Have a great day!
Thanks, Maria. God taught us life lessons for sure!
What a lovely winter memory.
Red tape is so frustrating, I am glad you haven’t had any lately to deal with. The landslide issues sound awful!
Thanks, Kim. It was awful but we learned more clearly who holds our future.
Ellen, I just want to say that I appreciate you. I so agree with you on the question regarding politics.
Dianna, you are an encourager to me. 🙂
WOW… a landslide. I am sorry about that… I do appreciate your strength in our Lord. And once again you shared it so well in your story about the landslide. Thank you for that.
I enjoyed the photos today.
Love, Carla
Carla, thank you, learning more and more each decade of our lives Who we can truly depend on.
Your children and grandchildren are real gems!
I have to agree with you, Mary! 🙂
I love the photos of your children. That had to be a bad experience with your other house. Very scary. Yes, fish and chips is really good. I think I had some fried fish growing up but I don’t remember much about it. Jammies, robe and slippers sound nice. That is a sweet photo of your sisters and cousin. Enjoy the rest of you day.
That last photo of my sisters was from your part of the country, Debby, Rose Hills.
That must have been such a scary time to live through a landslide. Bet you are glad to live where you do now. Nothing beats good old British fish and chips. Definite comfort food. B x
Barbara, One of many things we learned was NOT to buy another home on a hillside! I agree that nothing beats your fish and chips!
I like all kinds of fish but don’t like to cook it. 🙂
Scary about the land slide.
I’m with you on the politics question!!
Karen, I’d much rather order a fish dish instead of cooking it, too!
oh my on the landslide. Very scary for you and your family. My parents experienced a mudslide where they lost 50 feet of their property into the swollen creek. Mud was everywhere – they couldn’t get out of their home. Just awful.
I feel for So Cal and eventually the rains over the burn areas.
Debby, that must have been a frightening experience for your folks. Ugh…mud. That is always a scare for burned out areas, mud slides. I do hope they’ll be spared that.
I can’t imagine having to deal with a landslide. That sounds absolutely awful! It’s nice to have family reading the blog, especially those we don’t live near. It keeps them in the loop on our lives. Hope you have a great week!
Joyce, it was fun to hear that he reads my blog. He told my sisters he doesn’t know how to comment but he reads it everyday. Happy days in your full house!
Great family photo! That’s pretty scary about the landslide – glad you came through that experience with stronger faith! I was so impressed with Carrie Underwood’s poise in that situation, and her talent and confidence in performing so beautifully despite the tech problems. Our first lady and second lady and their families all looked lovely. Hope you have a great week!
Kym, we were also impressed and how nice it was to make it a crowd moment with many chiming in, too. Loved the sophisticated style of the first and second ladies. Happy week to you, too.
The weather in that last photo looks amazing. I was stunned looking at the photo of your home. Oh my goodness. I can’t even imagine the horror of a landslide.
I’m sure you understand house horrors, Lisa. Thanks for coming by. You have been one busy lady!
Oh my – Southern California looks like my kind of winter!! What a great photo at the top there…of the winter babies, I presume. I cannot imagine all the red tape that would be invovled with a natural disaster or something similar. I’m glad you were finally able to walk away. Hope you are having a good week!!
Always very special to see your family and the older photos are precious!
What a lovely post! We enjoyed the inauguration for many of the reasons you mentioned. And fish and chips is a favorite for us when we eat out. Lots of good seafood places in our neck of the woods!