Category Archives: Spring

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.

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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.

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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.

These Johnny Jumpups are taking over!

It’s time to get our soccer goal out on the grass again.

A little snack was in order after playing hard and before they headed home.

Hope May is flowering for you!

On the Move…

We’ve had several deer coming through the yard lately. They’ve been moving about in groups. This one was rushing to join up with her gang.

We are warming up again in these parts so I’ll have to be watering again.

Spring at Our Country Bungalow

This very pregnant mama deer was lounging in our yard for a full day last week.

I think she’s going to have twins.

We see this hawk flying above our area regularly. I had to zoom way in to capture it sitting at the top of a tree.

Our resident swallows have returned.

The rhubarb bush has exploded!

The earliest of our peonies that will flower are the red ones.

It has been fun to see these Johnny jump ups appear all over our property. They are such a sweet flower.

Hope May is bringing some sweet blooms in your corner of the world.

Smell the Hodgepodge

Time for Wednesday Hodgepodge where Jo comes up with the questions and we come up with the answers. Thank you Jo From This Side of the Pond.

1. What are some memories you associate with spring?

Strawberry Stands in Southern California. Fresh strawberries right from the fields were so juicy, sweet and delicious! Both of our grandchildren were born in the Spring and that is a very special memory being at the hospital waiting to hear about their entry into this world. Addy was born on the first day of Spring. Easter celebrations are also high on the list of things I associate with Spring. Easter is a favorite of mine to celebrate with joy. After we moved to Washington State a trip to the tulip fields in April make for a wonderful visual picture of Spring!

2. April showers bring May flowers…was that saying proven true where you live? Snapdragons, anemones, carnations, lilacs, sweet peas, tulips, lily of the valley, orchids, roses, gardenias…which one on that list is your favorite May bloom?

If I have to choose one I’ll say lilacs!

Here’s a lilac memory from April 2010 of my niece and grandniece at Descanso Gardens in Southern California.

3. What are your top three distractions and how do you deal with them?

Noise, Empty chatter, devices as in smart phones.

If I can’t get away from the noise I have my headphones.

If I can’t get away from the chatter I try to tune it out. I do tend to sigh when the chatter stops.

Devices, I turn them to silent, or turn them off.

4. Do you eat beef?

Yes!

In the course of a week, how often is beef on the menu?

I would say at least 3x’s a week.

A hamburger, steak, prime rib, or a roast beef dinner…which beef entree would you choose and yes you have to choose. Unless you’re a vegan, and then you may pass.

In a restaurant I would most likely choose Prime Rib if it’s on the menu. If not then I’d go with a hamburger.

5. In what way were you creative during the month of April?

I was creative in planning, organizing, recruiting, cooking and serving 58 pastors last Thursday and Friday. We served dinner, a dessert social, lunch and dinner.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

 

These grabbers are a favorite with our grands. Toys just don’t hold as much interest. They were trying to grab uncle Andrew’s feet.

Mid Spring

Things are really greening up around here. We are getting some rain today and tomorrow which I’m thankful for. I enjoy my plants being watered from above. I already am behind in mowing because of being busy in the church kitchen for the conference last Thursday and Friday. Speaking of the conference, everything went really well and we had good teams in the kitchen helping and others who volunteered and brought dessert items. Being in charge meant lots of mental and physical exertion. We are recuperating today with our feet up and laying low. Thank you to everyone who prayed.

Happy Weekend everyone!

Not So Taxing Hodgepodge

Wednesday Hodgepodge is back this week thanks to Jo From This Side of the Pond.

1. What is something you currently find ‘taxing’? 

Getting my brain to stop organizing an event that I’m in charge of the kitchen for when I’m trying to fall asleep.

2. I’ve seen this question asked in various forms on several social media sites…you can only keep three-

coffee, jewelry, tacos, wine, books, dogs, chocolate, Netflix, make-up, leggings, cheese, cats

Which three do you keep and how easy or hard was it for you to decide? 

This was not hard for me. My three would be coffee, books, and chocolate.

3. Tell us something you know or have learned about forgiveness? 

If you are a believer in and a follower of Jesus, we are commanded to forgive. It is not an option. Sometimes it is hard but forgiveness brings peace. We have to grasp the fact that without forgiveness we would be lost in our sins and damned to hell. But thanks be to God that we can be forgiven and because we’ve been forgiven from so much we need to extend forgiveness. When we forgive we acknowledge that God is in control and we are not.

4. What’s something you’d recommend that is often overlooked and under appreciated? 

Reading the Bible everyday not just a devotional.

I heard this yesterday and will quote it here.

“Sloppy sentimental devotionalizing of all the scriptures just doesn’t get at the issues. Teach with exactness.” from a sermon in Acts by John MacArthur

I’ll add, go to the exact source and read for yourself what it says.

Here’s another quote:

“Visit many good books, but live in the Bible.” ~ Charles Spurgeon

5. Give us a favorite word that starts with letter K and tell us why this is the one you chose. 

Our daughter’s name starts with a K and I thought of her first but since you want a word not a person I’m going with Kindred Spirit, (okay it’s two words but one of them starts with a k) a person whose interests or attitudes are similar to one’s own.  In this day and age it is so comforting to find those with whom you can express yourself and not be silenced by or condemned. I get weary of social police…but I will forgive.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We have a busy weekend coming up and next week that event that my brain is not shutting off for will demand all of my attention from Wednesday through Friday so I’ll be absent from my blog and from visiting other blogs.

In the meantime I’m posting this photo again that our DIL sent along to make you smile. He’s turning two on Friday!

On the Road

We traveled some new roads this week and found some spots we want to explore more along highway 17 in Washington State between Coulee City and Soap Lake. Along highway 17 there are several lakes and deep gorges that look a little Grand Canyon-isk.

It was fun to see the pops of yellow from these wildflowers

We stopped at the entrance to this park at Sun Lakes. We are interested in seeing the Dry Lakes area and Lake Lenore Caves in the future.

The state of Washington has such an amazing variety of landscapes to enjoy.

We are enjoying a little break from our everyday routines. Hope all is well in your corner.

Happy Friday!

Sunshine, Bubbles and Sticks

We’ve had some sunny days with temps getting up to the low 60’s. The ‘Grands’ enjoyed some new bubble guns in the sunshine.

This little guy loves sticks.

This stick turned on him and smacked him in the face leaving a couple scratches. When I was over last week and we went on a little walk down the drive he pointed at that stick and touched his wounds filling me in on that accident. He is still in the process of forming words and learning to communicate more with words but we have to fill in the blanks and he’ll nod yes or no if we have it right.

All these photos were taken by their mommy.

No Wednesday Hodgepodge this week as Jo is taking the week off from coming up with questions.

Get Ready Hodgepodge

If it’s Wednesday it must be time for the Hodgepodge! Thank you Jo From This Side of the Pond for the questions!

1. The Hodgepodge lands on the last day of March…in ten words or less bid the month adieu. 

March ushered a new decade with joyous celebrations and love.

2. March 31st is National Tater Day…your favorite way to have a potato?

Baked and loaded

Given a choice would you opt for sweet, white, or red?

Depends on what they are a side to. I like them all.

How often are potatoes on your menu in one form or another?

Maybe once a week.

Ever been to Idaho?

Yes, we were just there to celebrate my 70th birthday. It’s our next door neighbor state and only a short drive away.

3. Last time someone or something ‘rained on your parade’? Explain. 

The obvious ever present culprit is the virus. I miss the ease of traveling and just being out in the world. Not a fan of masks and fear and mixed messages.

4. Put all your eggs in one basket, get cracking, nest egg, bad egg, good egg, egg on, have egg on your face, or walk on eggshells…choose a phrase from the list that applies to something in your life currently and tell us how or why.

‘Get Cracking’ With Easter coming this Sunday the song “People Get Ready” is on my mind. If you haven’t made peace with God through Jesus Christ it’s time to ‘get cracking’ people!

5. If I visited your home would I find a lot of baskets there? Something you like to keep in a basket? 

Not a lot but a few. We keep comfy socks/slippers for company in a basket under our entry bench. Hats and gloves, too.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Tomorrow we remember the Last Supper and the time that Jesus spent with His disciples preparing them for his coming death and resurrection. This photo is a life sized artist’s depiction of that night that I took at the Monumentale Cemetery in Milan Italy in 2013. “Do this in remembrance of me”

This next photo I took at Wells Cathedral in England.

Hope you have a meaningful and joyful Easter Weekend!