My mind went to 1 Peter 3:3-4: Do not let your adorning be external–the braiding of hair and putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear–but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.
2. Have you ever taken a trip by train? If so where did you go and what did you think of the experience? If not do you have any desire to do so? Where would you like to go? (You might find inspiration here-The Best Train Trips in The World)
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We experienced parts of some trips by train in Scotland and England. York to Edinburgh in 2004 with our daughter and then Edinburgh to London on the same trip. With Josh and Laura we rode the train from Manchester airport to York and back to Manchester airport from York. On another trip we rode the train from Stirling to Edinburgh. In the Spring of this year Greg and I traveled by train from Cambridge to Ely and back to Cambridge again. All these journeys were good and seamless except for our Manchester to York trip in 2023 when the train suspended it’s journey midway to York and we had to scramble off the train to another platform to get on a different train to York. We made it but it was harrowing.
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3. Shell shocked, bombshell, bandshell, shellacking, in a nutshell, walking on eggshells…choose one and tell us why you chose it, or how it relates to your life in some way currently.
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I’m going to say in a nutshell since September has afforded a series of short life events that are very different from each other and that I have a short span of time to enjoy. Each nutshell is unique and short and over in 3 days or less.
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4. Tacos, pistachios, oysters, clams, eggs…your favorite food on the list that comes in/with a shell?
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I’m torn between tacos and eggs benedict! Lunch or dinner favorite, tacos! Breakfast out favorite, eggs benedict!~
5. Are birthdays a big deal in your house? Is your own birthday a big deal in some way? Elaborate.
~Some birthdays are more of a big deal than others for the adults in the family. All birthdays are acknowledged in some way. Sometimes big and sometimes small but a touch of love goes out on the special day. Our ‘Grands’ birthdays are always a big deal. Landmark birthdays like turning 16, 21, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 have been a bigger deal than others. From here on out making it to another birthday for Greg and Me is a big deal.~
A flashback to my 60th birthday that was very special with a great variety of celebrations. The one above is with the Mennonite Girls Can Cook (some of the gals). Some of the girls who live in British Columbia, Canada drove down to Chuckanut drive in Washington State with their husbands for a dinner in honor of my 60th birthday.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
This past weekend we enjoyed watching our granddaughter as she competed with hundreds of Irish dance pupils in Spokane at the annual Feis (festival). I’ll have two full posts coming soon about our time. I’m adding a couple Gifs showing a little of the action. Our granddaughter exudes joy when she dances. I’m unable to post a full video.
This year Wednesday Hodgepodge has landed on Greg’s Birthday. We will be celebrating simply today and more grandly on Friday in Spokane.
Our lovely hostess, Joyce, has another batch of Wednesday Hodgepodge questions mixed up for us. Thank You, Joyce!
1. ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? On a scale of 1-10 how much of a fan are you? (10 is never miss a game and 1 is I’m just here for the snacks). Who’s your team? If you’re playing along today, but live outside the US feel free to sub your feelings about futbol for the more American sport of football.
I like college football. We have 3 graduates of the University of Washington in our family so we are always ready to cheer the Huskies on. They beat their cross state rival on Sunday at the Apple Cup. My favorite sport is soccer/futbol. I keep up with English Premier league and of course I follow the Seattle Sounders. I’m a 10 for soccer and a 5 for football.
2. What’s something you currently have a game plan for managing?
I am trying to clean up my blog, long story. I made great headway over Labor Day Weekend while I had the time. I don’t know how long it will take but I’m committed to getting the job done. Some of the posts on my blog from the past have disappeared and I’ll be reposting the ones that are more dear to me here and there under the heading of Blog Restoration.
3. Do you like chicken wings? Hot, mild, or some other flavor? What’s a must have food for you on a tailgate menu? I know tailgating isn’t as big of a thing outside the US of A as it is inside the US of A, but you can also answer the question this way-what’s a must have food for you at a sporting event viewing party?
I do like chicken wings with moist towelettes handy. Hot dogs/brats and beans or mac and cheese sound like something good on a tailgate sturdy paper plate! For watching Fall or winter sporting events at home a big pot of chili, cornbread and chips and salsa is good and easy.
4. Teams typically have strict playbooks they follow. What is one unwritten rule or piece of advice in your ‘life playbook’ you think everyone should know?
Just one? I wrote this quote down from J.C. Ryle this week and it serves this question well.
“We must not pretend we are wiser than God.”
And from a recent sermon by our Pastor; “We don’t practice sin, we fight it!”
5. This is the week we remember and mourn all that was lost and changed on September 11, 2001. I always include a spot for bloggers to share anything they’d like to share about 9/11. Share as much or as little as you like.
On 9-11-2001 We were living in Kenmore, Washington. We put this flag on the side of our home that faced the street. We really didn’t know what else to do.
It was so surreal, so shocking, so disturbing and it changed our world as we know it.
I have a full post set to publish on Friday in remembrance of this day 25 years ago.
6.Insert your own random thought here.
Back to the birthday boy. Today he is 73. I like to think he’s catching up to me but come March I’ll still be a few years ahead of him.
Photo Above from a couple years ago and photo below several years ago with our middle son.
Today, on his birthday, he is with our middle son helping him to fell trees and loading those logs into the truck for firewood. They are in the Colville National Forest. Greg has the gift of service.
Yesterday I made this treat for him. It’s his favorite. It’s my recipe in the Mennonite Girls Can Cook, Celebrations Cookbook. We will enjoy that treat today at some point.
Looking forward to visiting and reading more answers to the questions or prompts.
From years ago, our sons heading off to the first day of school in Ventura, California and several years later our daughter waiting for the school bus on the first day of school in Bothell, Washington.
Hello to September and another Wednesday Hodgepodge hosted by Joyce From This Side of the Pond.
1. What’s something you wanted to do this summer that you never got around to doing?
With fires and smoke filled skies we never got around to our short summer road trips.
2. Were you the student who sat in the front row or hid in the back of the class? If you could go back and take one high school class again just for fun, which would it be?
When seats weren’t assigned, I’d tend to sit closer to the front than the back. We don’t sit in back at church, either.
If I was going to choose a class to go back to, I would choose English, especially literature.
3. What characteristics do you think are essential in a good teacher (this can be applied to anyone who teaches, not just classroom teachers)?
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Listening to and knowing those whom you are teaching would be good.
I get weary of teachers who talk too much or ramble on.
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The teachers that I remember fondly are those who treated me as if they liked me, understood me, and were kind. Teachers I remember fondly are my 1st and 2nd grade teacher, my 6th grade teacher who was my first male teacher, a high school English teacher, and my social studies teachers in high school. I had 3 older siblings ahead of me who were good students (my sister Vera was Valedictorian and a math whizz). I got tired of hearing, “you aren’t like your sisters”.
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4. September 2nd is National Grits Day. Have you ever eaten grits? Are you a fan? If so how do you like yours? Would people describe you as ‘having grit’?
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Growing up in Southern California and now living in the Northwest, Grits are not a common thing. I might have tried grits when we were in the Carolina’s but I don’t remember. I can’t say that I’m a fan.
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Yes, I think some would agree that I have grit.
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5. What’s something you’re never too old or too young to enjoy?
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The Zoo! 🙂
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If you are a Born Again follower of Jesus gathering on Sunday to worship Jesus is something you are never to young or old to enjoy!
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6. Insert your own random thought here.
These two started 2nd and 4th grade last week. Each year they answer the question, What do you want to be when you grow up? At the beginning of this Homeschool year Addy wants to be a Daycare provider and JJ wants to be a Hunter.
When I went to link up this morning for the Hodgepodge we had the news from Joyce that her dear Mama passed away earlier this week. Our hearts and prayers are with you, Joyce, and with your whole family.
1. How do you feel about the transition from lazy summer days to a busier fall routine?
I’ve always loved the transition from summer to fall. Even the years I was in school, I welcomed with excitement going back. These days I enjoy the fact that Ladies Bible studies will start up again and there will be more order in our days. I enjoy Fall weather and Fall events like cider fest and the corn maze.
2. Your favorite cookie?
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I like homemade Loaded Chocolate Chip Cookies with oatmeal, walnuts, almonds, and sometimes coconut!
I use the toll house recipe and load them up with extras.
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3. What’s something you’ve learned from a culture different than your own?
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I grew up in Southern California just outside East Los Angeles and the neighborhoods we lived in were multi cultural with Mexicans, Jews, Russians, Armenians, Japanese, Scots, and Heinz 57 Americans. I included Scots, although I only first heard of anyone who was Scottish in 5th grade when Karen’s parents moved to Montebello and she was introduced as a new student in our class. I was enthralled with her from the start and she taught me a few Scottish dance moves that we shared with the class for show and tell. I think we sang a song, too, The Bonnie Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomand.
Apart from the great food we enjoyed in the homes of my friends from these cultures, I learned about the Jewish custom of coming of age.
A bar mitzvah and a bat mitzvah are both Jewish coming-of-age milestones. A bar mitzvah (“son of commandment’) marks the religious maturity of a boy at the age 13, while a bat mitzvah (daughter of the commandment) marks the religious maturity of a girl, traditionally at age 12.
I was invited to one of my Jewish friends Bat Mitzvah and I was blown away by the lavishness of the celebration!
These are my multi-cultural Cheer friends from my high school at a Russian dinner at my house before a football game. (My Scottish friend from 5th grade, Karen, is the one with the rollers in her hair). We would have a meal at a different Cheer members home before Varsity games. They are eating borsch. That was just one of the food items my mother prepared for them. I think I see piroshky on the table, also. After the meal we would all get our cheer clothes on and head to the game for a night where we would work off every calorie we ate at dinner!
This is one of my best buddies from school days, Nanc. I spent a lot of time in her home where I learned how to make guacamole and we learned every popular Leslie Gore song by heart. Her parents brought me along to Mexican restaurants with them and to the downtown wholesale fashion district for shopping. Growing up, my family did not eat in restaurants so that was an eye opening experience all its own. Her dad drove a Volkswagon Square back and we spent many miles in that little car. One summer when she got back from visiting her uncle who was a jeweler in Mexico City she gifted me the ring below that he made for me.
While we were living in Camarillo for a short time Nanc and I reconnected online and we met up a couple of times for meals and to catch up on life. The photo above is of one of our meet ups. I hadn’t seen her for 40 years! There is a long story about that…
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4. Food critic, film critic, book critic, art critic…which hat would you most like to wear? Tell us why.
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Of these choices I’d choose the Food Critic hat because I love to travel and I love to try new restaurants and eat good food. I’d have a hard time writing bad critiques, though. I’ll just choose to be a traveler and enjoy trying new food in different places and being satisfied.
I’m not a film buff, or the reader of a variety of genres, and I’m definitely not artsy.
5. What’s a small, random thing from your childhood that you still remember clearly?
This will give you a little insight into my character. I remember hiding from my mother and father on Saturday mornings because I did not want to go to Russian School. When they found me, I would stomp my feet and say, “I’m an American!”. Well that didn’t work. In my latter years I was thankful to have learned the Russian alphabet and to learn to read and write in Russian.
To say “I am American” in Russian, use Я американец (if you are male) or Я американка (if you are female). If you want to say “I am from America” or “from the USA,” you can say Я из Америки or Я из США.
Я американка, Yah Amereekanka, I am American.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
These questions pulled up a lot of memories from my past.
1. August 19th is National Aviation Day…do you like to fly?
I do enjoy reaching special destinations by plane.
Last time you were on an airplane?
We flew to Southern California in May for our dear friend’s Memorial Service.
The date is chosen in honor of the history and development of aviation, and celebrated on the birthday of Orville Wright. Have you ever been to the Kitty Hawk area of North Carolina? The city of Dayton in Ohio (their birthplace)
No to both.
2. In what area of your life do you tend to ‘wing it’? Is this an area you should be winging?
Lately I’ve been in winging mode for meals at our country bungalow. I don’t know about should be, it is a phase.
3. A favorite book, song, or movie that relates to flight in some way?
I do still enjoy Leaving on a Jet Plane by John Denver.
This video was from August 19th, 1972!
4. Soft serve, gelato, sherbet, frozen yogurt, or good old fashioned ice cream…what’s your pleasure? Your favorite flavor? How often do you indulge?
Orange sherbet is a favorite. As far as old fashioned Ice Cream goes, Häagen-Dazs Coffee chip is a favorite.
5. I never get tired of______________________.
I never get tired of seeing our family and spending time with them.
We had a surprise on Sunday, clear blue skies and fluffy clouds. It was a one day event but we were grateful. The days here in NE Washington State have been like the following photo for a stretch now. Several fires are contributing to the smoke filled skies.
This photo isn’t the worst of how the skies have been but it gives you an idea of how our usual layered mountain views are hidden by the smoke.
1. What’s something on your August calendar you’re looking forward to? Or dreading if that’s easier to answer.
It is soccer month for our Grands with parks and recreation here in town and that is something I always enjoy. It’s the month that the folding chairs live in our vehicle ready to place on the sidelines to watch youth soccer.
2. August 5th is National Oyster Day…do you partake?
I do enjoy an occasional Oyster.
How do you feel about pearls?
I think pearls are elegant.
Here I am way back in 2008 wearing pearls to a ‘Tea Bridal Shower’.
3. Tell us about a time when you felt like ‘the world was your oyster’.
I think this phrase fit best with my High School and early college years. Carefree days, lots of choices, no huge responsibilities, still living at home, school achievements and awards, college acceptance letter, summer beach days, part time work, trip to the East Coast, and tours in England.
4. Trip Advisor lists seven islands in the US that require no passport (for US citizens). If you’re answering today from outside the US you’ll still need to produce yours. An-y-way, have you been to any of the seven? Let’s pretend you get an all expense paid trip to one this month…which one do you choose and why?
Catalina Island California~Martha’s Vineyard Massachusetts~Mackinac Island Michigan~Key West Florida~South Padre Island Texas~or Kauai Hawaii
I have been to Mackinac Island way back in the early 70’s. Greg was at Catalina Island for a school trip when he was in the 5th or 6th grade.
Twenty Six miles across the Sea, Santa Catalina is waiting for me…
This is a rare view of Catalina Island from Huntington Beach.
I lived in Southern California for 37 years and never ventured to Santa Catalina.
I would take an all expense paid trip to Catalina this time of year. The other spots, weather wise, are too hot and steamy for me this time of year.
Here are some photos I took on Mackinac Island. Heidi, Faye and I stayed in Michigan with Peter and Ruth who owned a cottage on a lake. Peter and Ruth generously entertained us at their home and took us up to Mackinac Island where we rode bikes around the island. I remember buying Mackinac Fudge and I have a letter opener that I bought for a souvenir.
I’m surprised Trip Advisor didn’t mention Whidbey Island in Washington State or the San Juan Islands.
5. Sylvia Plath is credited with the following-
“August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time.”
Agree or disagree? In other words, how do you feel about this month?
The quote doesn’t resonate with me.
Growing up we started school right after Labor day so August became the back to school shopping time. That was always exciting. There were big sales in downtown Los Angeles that we’d enjoy going to. We found great bargains at Buffums and in the wholesale shopping district.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
We are in full swing with Vacation Bible School this week. I love the theme this year. I’ll share more on Thursday.
The 4th of July and the 250th Birthday of the U.S.A.
2. July 29th is International Day of the Tiger. Besides the wild animal itself, when you hear the word tiger what’s the first person-place-thing-whatever that comes to mind?
I think of Tigger the Tiger. If there was a Tiger in my life I wouldn’t want to expose the fact here because they might just come after me! (Seriously) I’m happy to avoid tigers.
Our niece Hope and Grand Nephew Jackson with Tigger at Disneyland in 2009! Hope is headed to college in August and Jack is done with college and getting married in October.
3. The expression ‘eye of the tiger’ describes someone with intense focus, determination, and the drive to succeed. What area of your life are you currently bringing that kind of energy to?
These are the lazy days of summer and I’m not bringing that kind of energy to anything. I am considering a special quiet project that is going to take all my quiet energy, digging and sorting and putting it together. When it materializes, I’ll share.
4. What was the last meal you cooked?
I’ve been following Drew Cooks on Facebook lately and he shared a recipe that I made and my company really enjoyed. If you haven’t seen this guy cook a meal yet you might be entertained…or not. Go ahead…click on the link. 🙂
5. Describe your July using exactly five words.
World Cup Soccer Ole Ole!
Soccer camp started up on the hottest week of the summer and next week soccer season will start. My evenings will be full. Time to put the folding chairs in the back of our vehicle!
6. Insert your own random thought here.
More lazy day achievements at our country bungalow.
I completed this jigsaw puzzle on Monday. Another thrift store puzzle that had all the pieces! Woohoo!
Vacation Bible School starts on this coming Monday. I’ll be selling the t-shirts and other accessories each evening. We are hoping for cooler days and for more progress on our area fires so our air is not smoky. Praying for that end.
Happy Birthday to my youngest brother and sister, twins! We love you dearly.
1. Do your goals and dreams energize or exhaust you? Elaborate.
If I had unrealistic goals or dreams, I would probably be exhausted. These days I have simple goals and dreams and they energize me. I like to plan and I love a good plan. Truthfully, I get a little melancholy if I don’t have anything to plan.
2. July 23rd is national lemon day. Are you a fan of this flavor?
I am a fan of lemon flavor.
What’s a favorite dish or beverage you enjoy that calls for lemons?
I really enjoy this salad dressing that calls for fresh lemon juice.
Lemon curd is a favorite to enjoy on scones or in pastries.
3. “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade“…is this something you’re pretty good at managing? Have you had to do this recently? If so tell us about it.
Yes, I’d say I do pretty good at managing but that is because of knowing who holds the world together and who is the author of life. I’m in His hands.
Recently when our heat pump stopped pumping out cold air we managed with other tricks of the trade by cooling our house down overnight into the morning. We also bought a tower fan that moved the air for us quietly.
4. Something you love that is lemon yellow in color?
I like the lemony border on these plates. We don’t have a lot of lemony things in our home. I love the lemon colored day lilies that pop up in early summer in our yard.
5. How would you describe your attention to detail?
When it comes to planning a trip, planning a meal for company, planning how to set the table or planning holiday decor, I’m all about the details.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Speaking of Lemons, this memory of our Grands with a Lemonade stand at their Granny’s birthday party was so sweet to revisit.
Hope your summer days are filled with refreshing treats like lemonade.
1. “Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.” Sam Keen
Do you feel less guilty relaxing in July than you do in January? Elaborate.
No, but I would much rather sweat in January than in July. There is less for me to do in January. July is filled with mowing, weeding, watering which makes me sweat. Even if I weeded everyday there would still be more weeding to do. I generally do not feel guilty for relaxing.
Found this welcoming gate on a beach walk way back in 2009!
2. What’s a telltale sign you’re upset?
I stop smiling…
3. July 16th is National AI Day. What are your general thoughts and/or experiences with AI? Have you purposely used it? Does it excite you, scare you, or worry you? What do you see as a benefit? How about something relating to AI you see as a negative?
I haven’t given AI deep thoughts. I probably use it mostly in my google searches for information. I ignore the prompts that ask if I’d like help writing, etc. False information connected to people or misrepresenting images are worrisome.
4. You’re invited to a summer pot luck and are asked to bring an appetizer, salad/side, or dessert. Which category do you go for and what are you bringing?
5. It wouldn’t be summer without___________________.
It wouldn’t be summer without a trip to the beach…
…and Ice Cream.
We’ve had many enjoyable last minute adventures in the summertime.
Lavender Festival in Sequim, 2012. It always happens the third weekend in July. We enjoyed them very much in past summers. BTW: you pronounce Sequim -squim.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Update from last Wednesday’s Hodgepodge; I did manage to bake some blueberry muffins. I used this recipe. I left off the topping because I stay away from cinnamon these days, our grandson is allergic to it. I enjoyed them even more without the topping because the result was delicious muffin tops with just a bit of crispy edges.
I also liked the fact that this recipe makes 8 muffins, not a dozen.
Update on our A/C: A technician came out on Tuesday afternoon and within 20 minutes our unit was repaired and ready to cool us again. So thankful! Doubly thankful, as we are supposed to hit the 100’s next week!
Thank you to Joyce for supplying the questions each week.
1. What’s something you enjoy now that your younger self would never have appreciated?
Being able to climb into bed earlier in the evening, calling it a day before 9pm.
2. What was peaceful about today?
There is nothing on the calendar or to do list for today and we had already planned on eating out today so we’ll enjoy what the day brings and then being served a meal.
3. It’s National Blueberry Day (July 8). Will you celebrate? You can have one of the following right now-a slice of blueberry pie, a warm blueberry muffin, or a stack of blueberry pancakes…which do you choose?
I do have fresh blueberries in the refrigerator. Time will tell if I manage to bake some blueberry muffins on this very hot day.
This or that-blueberries or raspberries?
Raspberries
Blueberries or strawberries?
Strawberries
4. Do you need a break? From what?
I don’t need a break from anything but I could use some help in trying to get on top of our weeds.
5. What has surprised you most about getting older?
So much…
How hard it is to roll over in bed these days
How hard it is to get up off the floor
How quickly the wrinkles are forming
How hard it is to lose weight.
Now some positive surprises…
The wonderful freedom of travel.
How we can survive on one meal a day.
Good medical care w/o paying a fortune.
Cell phones and the internet and GPS!
6. Insert your own random thought here.
Our sons were able to attend the USA v Belgium game on Monday in Seattle. Even though the game was not the best that the US has played it was amazing for them to enjoy the World Cup Excitement together. One of the highlights of their day was getting Alexi Lalas’s attention so he could see a photo of the three of them from the 1994 World Cup and then for him to take a 2026 photo with them!
1994
2026
It was a wonderful treat for the two of them to spend this time together at this international event in their own backyard!
I’ll still be watching every game until the end to see who wins World Cup in 2026!
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 