Taking Time for the Hodgepodge

This past weekend we celebrated Addy’s 5th birthday on Saturday and my belated birthday on Sunday since our whole family was together. Addy loaned me her birthday crown for my celebration. She’s wearing her queenly outfit that her Granny bought her for her birthday. Her favorite color right now is yellow.

Jo From This Side of the Pond has some timely questions for the Hodgpodge this week. Click over to join in the fun.

1. What’s something you never seem to have enough time for?

Being retired, I have a lot of time to do a lot of things. It’s a lie that convinces me I don’t have time. It’s an excuse. Getting my heart behind something I need to do is the struggle. The thing that is the biggest struggle for me is consistency with exercise. I should be getting my heart rate up everyday with a 30 minute cardio workout. That ‘not enough time’ excuse is really time I wasted away doing something else that isn’t as important.

I’ve done a simple exercise in the past to show just how much I can accomplish in 15-20 minutes time. Set a timer for 15 or 20 minutes and get after a task you have been putting off. You’ll be amazed at how much you can accomplish in that time. Do that once an hour for 8 hours in a day and you’ll really be impressed with your accomplishments.

2. If you could turn back time and relive just one day in your life, which day would you choose and why?

Truthfully I wouldn’t want to relive any day just as it was. I’d want to go back with what I know now and improve on the day by being totally there, relaxed, aware of what was going on around me, engaged and content.

3. Something you enjoy making that takes a long time to prepare/cook?

Blintzes or what some call crepes. First we make the blintzes and then we fill them, roll them with either savory or sweet fillings and bake them to enjoy, with a crowd.

You can see the process and recipe by clicking here.

4. A time recently where you needed/gave yourself a ‘time out’? How do you do that?

I give myself a ‘time out’ at least once a week. I choose a day that is event free and stay in my robe for most of the morning. When there isn’t a scheduled event in a day it is a most relaxing day for me even if I end up doing a project or two or three with no time limits or deadlines.

5. Something you’ve done recently that you’d describe as a ‘good time’?

This past weekend all of our kids were together and that’s always a good time. We ate together, partied together, went to church together, listened to each other commiserating with one another, laughed together, and prayed everyone back home safely.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Our dear granddaughter Addy turned 5 this past weekend and we celebrated her with a wonderful Tea Party that her mom put together.

Addy’s mommy made the cake and in the next photo you’ll see the teapot pinata she made with Addy getting the first blows in to try and break it open for all the treats that were inside!

Full Tea Party post is here.

Happy Hodgepodge everyone. Thank you for taking the time to stop by and scroll through my post. I appreciate it!

Birthdays and Spring!

A beautiful first day of Spring in our neck of the woods after the early morning fog burned off making the glorious blue skies visible. We had a full family weekend. Our west coast kids arrived on Friday night. Addy’s 5th birthday party was on Saturday. A wonderful Tea Party theme. On Sunday after church our kids put together a brunch to celebrate my birthday which was last Monday. Our west coast kids traveled back home on Sunday. I’ll be posting all about our times together as soon as the internets allow me to upload all the photos. Things are very slow going right now.

Our snow is almost gone. The clean up list is getting long. Happy Spring Everyone!

Keeping Up With Our Grands

Such busy ages that we are enjoying with our grands. Age 4 and 2 are such active ages. They can really tire out a 70 year old. I’m so thankful they choose to love me and tire me out.

Last Friday big sister had some other appointments so little brother got dropped off at our house for a few hours.

After some raking JJ was very interested in the watering possibilities.

He mastered our new water nozzle pretty quick. It was fun to watch the delight a powerful nozzle gave him.

Dear and I were able to get a lot of weeding done while JJ enjoyed the power of the hose.

Addy enjoyed some time with a homeschool Co-op which she is trying out while little brother was with us.

A big transition in the month of May for our 4 year old was the move up from this toddler bed to…

…this twin bed with new bedding. I think she is pleased.

The end of May we also enjoyed seeing our ‘Coast Kids’ via messenger enjoying a night out together.

We’ve been in the upper 90’s the last couple days. Friday we are supposed to be in the upper 80’s. Hot for Spring so there has been a lot of watering happening in the early hours or late hours.

Today Josh and Laura are driving across the Cascades from the ‘Coast’ for the weekend. We are looking forward to catching up with them and the grands will be thrilled to see Uncle Joshie and Auntie Lolo! A brisket will go on the Traeger early and cook long and slow for dinner here after they arrive.

Hope you all have a good weekend.

Busy Days

We have some busy days behind us and in front of us that demand our undivided attention so I’m stepping away from my blog until things settle down.

Thursday Bible Verse Challenge won’t be happening this week but will be back next Thursday (Lord Willing) which will be June 3rd.

Speaking of the Psalms, I’ll leave you with this portion from Psalm 145…

“All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you! They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures to throughout all generations.”

Hello Hawk

I was outside in our backyard when this hawk swooped in and landed on this tree house. My phone was in my pocket so I was able to get a couple photos before it flew away. We’ve seen it fly above the tall trees on the mountain behind our property. We think it has a nest up there.

Rhubarb Almond Cake

Rhubarb is ready for Spring picking or pulling or plucking. What do you call the harvesting of Rhubarb, anyway? Did you know that Rhubarb leaves are poisonous?

The recipe I picked to bake called for a pound of Rhubarb.

I got the recipe here.

BTW the rhubarb discolored my metal tart pan in an ugly way. I didn’t realize that would happen.

This is a post from a couple years ago but since my rhubarb is prolific again this year I’m reposting. This was a yummy recipe.

Smiles and Connections

We took a quick trip to Spokane on May 7th and the Fred Meyer Garden center was hopping and the Oscar Meyer Weiner Mobile was front and center. It’s always fun to see one of these vehicles and it prompts my mind to start singing that jingle…Oh I wish…

On the highway drive to and from Spokane these fields of yellow were a fun thing to see, too. There has been some debate on what kind of crop it is. Some felt too early for Canola also known as Rapeseed.

This past Wednesday after Dear worked on taping and mudding some ceiling drywall in the Shop we decided to head to Chewelah for early dinner (real early) and after our meal we stopped by this relatively new establishment on Main Street in Chewelah called Mountain Market on Main. We were glad we stopped. So far there are three separate shops in this old restored schoolhouse, Gather, Flora, and The Nest.

We had a nice long conversation with the owner of the building and came to find out we had mutual friends and connections from our times living on the west side of the Cascades. It’s a small world after all. There are plans afoot to expand the services offered in this great building. This will be a fun destination for family and friends who come to visit our corner of the world.

Deer Invasion

We had a record amount of deer in our backyard this past week.

They had their fill of our bushes and delicacies and then headed to the front of the property.

When they head for the road we all get a little nervous to see if they make it across the 50mph road with no incident!

Safe passage this time. Happy Saturday everyone!

Mama said, Hodgepodge

It’s time for Wednesday Hodgepodge where Jo asks the questions and we provide some answers. The first question is about mama so I’m sharing this photo of our mom from 2009 at a Mother’s Day gathering in Southern California. She escaped to heaven in 2013.

1. It’s like my mama always said, “____________________________________________.”

It’s a Russian saying that gets lost in translation. For scrapes and bruises and other things that we would get upset about the saying goes, “by the time of your wedding it will heal”.

2. May 11th is National Eat What You Want Day. What will you be having by way of celebration?

Everyday is eat what you want day around here. We hosted a card night on the 11th (last night) and I made a batch of my loaded Chocolate Chip cookies for the table while we played “Hand and Foot”. Everyone had their fill of cookies.

3. Describe your idea of a perfect spring day.

75 degrees with a blue sky and puffy clouds enjoying a stroll in a garden or very old cemetery filled with a variety of Spring flowers and blossoming trees like Dogwood and Lilac.

4. Success, fulfillment, growth, achievement…pick one and tell us how it relates to your life in some way, either currently or in days gone by.

I’m going with growth. I’m a strong believer of continued Biblical learning so that we can continue growing up in our Faith. Study to show thyself approved...

5. I saw this going around on various social media sites and thought it would be fun to answer here. The last thing you bought on Amazon is your weapon in battle. How will you wield it? (if you’re not an Amazon shopper, then the last thing you bought online anywhere)

Well we have an order arriving on Friday of 3 items, Prince Lionheart Squish Booster Seat, a fluted tart pan and a book, With the Master on Our Knees: A Ladies Bible Study on Prayer, by Susan J. Heck.

I’ll fling the tart pan at my enemy injuring the villain and then squish him with my Prince Lionheart Squish Booster Seat all the while praying to my Lord and Master to give me the victory!

6. Insert your own random thought here.

On May 4th we had our Colville kids over for dinner and the weather was nice so we spent some time outside after dinner.