I’m keeping up our Christmas and New Year cards for a little while longer.
If it’s Wednesday it is time for answering a new set of Hodgepodge questions that Joyce From this Side of the Pond is asking.
1. What kind of winter person are you-snow lover, fireplace snuggler, winter adventurer, or indoor hibernator? Elaborate.
I’m in the winter of my life here on earth and need to adjust to that reality. When we lived in southern California winter walks on the beach were my favorite. Living in NE Washington State my winter adventures are more in the fireplace snuggler or indoor hibernator realm. Slipping on ice is something that we really need to avoid at our age. I’ll still walk on the beach in winter if given the opportunity.
2. The Pantone color of the year is cloud dancer, described as a gentle, billowy off white shade. The color symbolizes ‘peace, clarity, quiet reflection, renewal, and a soft reset’. Of the terms just listed which do you need most in your life this winter?
I’ll go with renewal, to restore to a good state.
3. Every cloud has a silver lining, on cloud nine, head in the clouds, storm clouds gathering, or cloud of suspicion...which ‘cloud’ idiom do you most relate to currently? Explain.
Personally, ‘every cloud has a silver lining’, is my choice. My present and future are secure in my relationship with the God of the Universe so I can rest and see that He will keep me to the end not matter what storms brew.
State of the world, ‘storm clouds gathering’. So much evil intent and noise going on. Law and Order is being challenged like it never has before. Hats off to Ice, Border Patrol, Police Officers and National Guardsmen for keeping their cool as they do their jobs while subversive lawless individuals try to impede, attack and even kill them.
4. coconut, cauliflower, cottage cheese, mayonnaise, onions, ranch dressing…of the white foods listed, which would be the hardest for you to give up? Do you like all or any of the foods on the list?
I can enjoy all of these white foods but the one that would be hardest to give up is onions. I love the flavor that onions add to meat, vegetables, salads, sauces. I could go on. I enjoy raw onion on a burger. Caramelized onions are so good!
5. Thomas Wentworth Higginson is credited with this quote-
“How many lessons of faith and beauty we should lose, if there were no winter in our year.”
Agree or disagree? Tell us why.
There are lessons of faith and beauty in every season including winter. I’m so happy for having all four and learning and growing in each season.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Our Spider Plant has really taken off and it started tiny.
Have you seen these flower arrangements made out of wood? There is a gal in our area who makes them and sells them at one of our local stores and at Craft fairs.
This one is in one of our guest rooms.
Happy Hodgepodge y’all. See you soon.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
Great answers Ellen! Your spider plant is looking good and I love the flower arrangement. Take care, enjoy your day!
I have seen the flowers made out of wood. I´ve not purchased a bouquet but seeing how pretty yours looks makes me want to buy one the next time I see one for sale! Oh, the state of the country and lawlessness being heralded by some as good! Yes, thankful for law enforcement and ICE. The number of violent criminals whom ICE has apprehended is a high number- and yet this admin has not come close to deporting as many people who are in the country illegally as Obama did. Yet not a peep of protest back in his presidency about it. Hmmm, I wonder why that could be? On a lighter now, agree about onions! I use them with just about every savory dish that I made. Have a great day!
I almost said storm clouds brewing, although the clouds seem to have opened up lately. I too am grateful for law enforcement and those who are quite literally risking their lives for our safety. I haven’t seen the wood flowers but they’re lovely. Have a great day!
…those wood flowers are so life like.
some really nice answers here… I’ve not seen the arrangements made out of wood. Who would know because they look so natural and beautiful. When it comes to onions, I do cook with them, but I don’t really like them. My husband does and this is the main reason I cook with them. Of course, I’m not a meat eater…mostly fruit and veggies. But, a big pot of veg soup does need an onion. sounds like I’m contradicting myself here..lol..
If it weren’t for getting out to work every day I would be hibernating! LOL! I don’t much care for the cold. Nice to see your splashes of green in this winter post! 🙂
Those flower arrangements are wood??? Incredible. That’s the only kind of plant I could have in my house since I manage to kill just about everything else…except then I would need to dust them! 🙂 Have agood day!
Loved your answers today! We are enjoying our Christmas a little longer too with the dark days, the lights are so nice. Those wooden flowers are gorgeous! And I love all the seasons. Winter is my current favorite but my favorite will be spring when it arrives. I’ve learned to love all that the days bring me, to find beauty in the moment. There is a joy in each season, different from the others. Very much enjoyed your post today!
Your Christmas cards are so pretty, I would keep them up for longer too.
Walking on the beach in winter sounds a great experience, in California. The only time I have done it was not fun with the wind coming in off the North Sea. Brr!
The state of the world makes me sad, there really is storm clouds gathering which is so worrying.
Those plants look great!
Hi, I am going to work backwards here … yes, I have seen the bouquets made of wood. My friend Lori attended a wedding and the groom made all the flower arrangements for the wedding. They were beautiful.
I would love a spider plant baby. 😉
#3 … I agree!!!
And as far as slipping on the ice, my husband did just that on Saturday. He is alright, but he did say it is time for a strong pair of cleats. We had a lot of rain last week, and now we are cold, cold, cold sadly making for a lot of ice. I would rather have snow. 😉
As always, I enjoy reading your answers, as we share so much in common—not only in our faith, but also in our outlook on life and, yes, even politics. I had never seen wooden plants or flowers before; it’s hard to believe they aren’t real. They are truly beautiful!
Your spider plant clearly loves its spot and is thriving. Wishing you a wonderful rest of the week.
Good questions and answers. I like winter and do all of those things inside and out!!
I too enjoy leaving Christmas card up longer to enjoy! Happy 2026!
Those flowers are amazing. I’ve not seen flowers done like that but I have seen all kinds of birds and feathers and other things in nature that are hand carved by an artisan in Garrett County Maryland. His name is Gary Yoder and he has appeared on shows on PBS before. They are beautiful…and expensive because of the craftsmanship involved.
I love putting my Christmas cards out like that. Yes, you definitely need to avoid slipping on the ice. Your answers for #3 are so true. It’s wonderful having a relationship with God. Yes, definitely hats off to those who are protecting us. I agree, onions are pretty awesome. We use them a lot. Your planters look lovely. I do love spider plants too!
As much as I love winter walks, I agree with you that slipping and falling is a growing concern as I get older! I am super mindful of where I’m stepping, and probably more fearful of slipping than I should be, but it is a real worry for me.
I agree with you about the the state of the world and our nation, and very glad for those in government and law enforecement who are working to uphold law and order and keep citizens safe. I pray for their safety all the time.
Those wooden flower arrangements are amazing! I’ve seen similar artwork and love it.
Sorry for the lateness of my visit this week – enjoyed reading your answers!
I enjoyed your answers and the thought you put behind them. Your photos are beautiful too. I’m taking a trip with my youngest daughter in march and she was trying to talk me into ice skating. That was a hard no for me. I mean, I’m only 57 but I know what would happen if I fell.