Pancakes Today…

…no Hodgepodge tomorrow. I know some of you really enjoy the Wednesday Hodgepodge but Joyce is taking this week off and we’ll have to wait till next week for some new questions. In the meantime you can click over to Mennonite Girls Can Cook for a Yogurt Pancake Recipe I posted today.

Since we don’t have our regular Hodgepodge Questions why don’t you answer these next 4 random questions in comments.

Now here are my 4 random questions:

1. God has decided to send you on a Mission trip, where are you going and why?

2. You have a free afternoon to read uninterrupted. Where would you choose to read?

3. If you were stuck in an elevator for over an hour what music would you want playing while you were stuck?

4. You have to travel from the west coast to the east coast of your country, what 5 cities would you want to spend time in?

I’ll post my answers tomorrow.

We have sunshine today. I’m hoping to get out into it.

A Royal Tea

On Saturday I met up with our DIL Laura’s family to celebrate her Grandma Wilma’s 95th birthday. Laura made reservations for the seven of us at a new to us tearoom in downtown Bothell, Graham’s Royal Tea. Laura and her sister-in-law, Lisa, are flanking Grandma Wilma who had the royal chair and crown for the day.

Grandma Wilma has four daughters and a son. Three of the daughters including our Laura’s mom were at the tea. One of Laura’s aunts lives in Colorado and was not in town for this regal event. Wilma’s son lives in Australia. There was a room where you could choose hats and boas to wear. My mink Fascinator kept falling off my head.

I was very happy to be invited to come and celebrate, too. Doesn’t Wilma look fabulous at 95?

We all had a very nice time and enjoyed the savories and sweets on our three tiered servers. We are planning to return to this tearoom in the future. Thank you Wilma for inviting me along to enjoy your Royal Celebration. God bless you dearly.

And Can It Be That I Should Gain ~ Hymn

And Can It Be That I Should Gain

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.

He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Still the small inward voice I hear,
That whispers all my sins forgiven;
Still the atoning blood is near,
That quenched the wrath of hostile Heaven.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.
I feel the life His wounds impart;
I feel the Savior in my heart.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Words: Charles Wesley, 1738.

Weekend Roundup “I”

Weekend Roundup “I”~ Starts with “I.” A Favorite. Inside.

1. Starts with “I”.

Iwo Jima starts with I. The anniversary of the Flag raising at Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima is on February 23rd. I visited the monument in D.C. in 1970 for the first time. I was nineteen in this photo.

2. A favorite: Our day in St. Ives, England in September of 2013 with our oldest and his wife.

As I was going to Saint Ives,
I crossed the path of seven wives.
Every wife had seven sacks,
Every sack had seven cats,
Every cat had seven kittens,
Kittens, cats, sacks, wives,
How many were going to Saint Ives?

3. Inside:

Inside the heart of our home, the kitchen. Lots of activity happens around the kitchen Island.

Next weeks prompts: Starts with “J.” A Favorite. Joy.

Linking up with Tom The Backroads Traveller for Weekend Roundup.

Even though we had rain through our sleep hours the day dawned with no more sprinkles. Happy to run several errands without the need of a rain coat and all accomplished by the early afternoon. This weekend there are two events that are out of the ordinary and that I’m looking forward to. What are you looking forward to?

March Welcomes Daffodils

The Christian should be like those lovely spring flowers that, when the sun is shining, open their golden cups, as if saying, “Fill us with your beams!” ~ C.H. Spurgeon

It’s time for this happy flower again. These photos are from March of 2014.

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

William Wordsworth

My sisters in the “Host of Golden Daffodils” of Roozengaarde in Mount Vernon March of 2016.

March will also welcome the cherry blossoms at the University of Washington the week of March 19th or thereabouts. I changed my header with that hope.

We had a glorious day yesterday before the rains came in again last night. The sky was blue, the “Sound” was bluer and the sunshine warmed me through and through. Hope you all have a good Friday and 1st weekend of March!

The Best of February Hodgepodge

1. Are you currently operating at 100% capacity? If not, what % are you? What’s keeping you there?

At this stage of life I have spurts of working at different capacities. I’ve been working on one project at 100% which means my other daily operations are working at a lower capacity. I am learning more and more to appreciate the days and hours that my output is 100%.

2. Have you done your taxes? Planned/booked a summer holiday? Thought about or started your ‘spring cleaning’? Besides what’s listed here, tell us one task that needs doing before spring rolls around.

We have an appointment with a bookkeeper to do our taxes on Thursday. Spring cleaning is definitely on the schedule as we are putting our home on the market in May. Spring cleaning will probably start in April, with the most daunting project being the cleaning of our mini blinds. No Summer holiday this year as we will be using all our energy to move and adapt into our new environs. We do have a fall road trip planned in October to attend my 50 year high school reunion in Montebello, California.

3. What’s a favorite food from your part of the country?

Fish and shellfish stand out as the favorites for the Greater Seattle area. A favorite cooked in a variety of ways or smoked is Salmon. I did not grow up with much fish and it is not my favorite thing. A good barbecued Salmon is something I like. I also enjoy Penn Cove Mussels in a great sauce on occasion with a thick slice of bread that I can dip in the sauce. This next weekend the Penn Cove Musselfest in Coupeville is happening on Whidbey Island. I have to mention Dungeness Crab, too. We have Dungeness Bay, Spit and Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge in Washington State.

I’m amazed with myself that I’ve grown to enjoy a good oyster in a great sauce which would have made me gag years ago. A good piece of halibut, swordfish, or some good ole fish and chips cooked to perfection are dishes that I enjoy once in a while.

4. This isn’t a leap year, but let’s run with it anyway…look before you leap, a leap of faith, grow by leaps and bounds, leap to conclusions, leap at the opportunity…which phrase might best be applied to your life currently (or recently)? Explain.

We will be leaping at the opportunity to sell our home in a very hot market in the Seattle area and move to an area of Washington that is more affordable.

Special Side note about Leap Year: My sister Vera was born on leap year and only has her real birthday once every 4 years! We celebrate her on the 28th the other three years. Happy Birthday Vera! You are a dear sister and I appreciate you!

5. As the month draws to a close list five fun and/or fabulous things (large or small) you noticed or experienced in February.

The most fabulous/large experience I had in February happened at the very beginning of the month when I was able to fly down to Southern California with our son’s family and introduce our granddaughter to some of her Great Uncles, Great Aunts, her cousins once and twice removed. Most special was introducing her to her Great Grandfather (Dzeda).
We had some unexpected snow that only lasts a short time which is great, the short part.
Our kids, all of them, spent a weekend together which warms a mom’s heart. (Top Photo)
My dear old pop is feeling better in his health decline and he sounds better which is good to hear.
We are making progress on this old house, getting it ready to sell.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I’m looking forward to March. Our little granddaughter is turning one year old! Wow how fast the year has gone. She is just marching forward to her milestone! Walking, signing, lots of new teeth, eating some solids, standing up from a sitting position, climbing and learning some consequences from over reaching her limits and safety boundaries. Her Baba (me) will be enjoying a birthday in the month of March, too.

Thank you Jo, for the questions you ask for Wednesday Hodgepodge. Thank you, too, for those of you who swing by and read the answers. I appreciate you.

Ginger Snaps

On Saturday morning when I was catching up on visiting blogs I saw the cookies that Lorrie made with a recipe she posted. Lorrie’s blog is called Fabric Paper Thread. I checked my cupboards and was pleased to see I had all the ingredients I needed for the recipe. Dear and I enjoyed the finished product. When Josh and Laura were here on Sunday they enjoyed them, too. Click over to Lorrie’s to see the recipe. I put mine too close to each other on the cookie sheet. They still taste great! Lorrie’s look perfect!

Lorrie describes them well, “I like them because they are assertively ginger-flavoured and are crisp and snappy, but can soften to chewiness over time.”

Happy Monday to you.

Baby, It’s Cold Outside

We had a nice lunch and visit with our oldest kids this afternoon. Josh helped his dad with a two man project for an hour after lunch. Then we got a hail/snow storm later in the afternoon that made a mess of the roads. We now have a new layer of white on our grass and deck.

I’ve overloaded my capacity for creativity with a project I’m keen to get done this week. This creative venture is a gift so I can’t share it till it’s given away. In the meantime things will be sporadic on my blog.

Hope all is well with my bloggy friends. Looking forward to the month of March.

This is My Father’s World

This is My Father’s World

This is my Father’s world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world,
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:
He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass;
He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world.
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong
Seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
The battle is not done:
Jesus who died shall be satisfied,
And earth and Heav’n be one.

This is my Father’s world,
Dreaming, I see His face.
I ope my eyes, and in glad surprise
Cry, The Lord is in this place.
This is my Father’s world,
From the shining courts above,
The Beloved One, His Only Son,
Came—a pledge of deathless love.

This is my Father’s world,
Should my heart be ever sad?
The lord is King—let the heavens ring.
God reigns—let the earth be glad.
This is my Father’s world.
Now closer to Heaven bound,
For dear to God is the earth Christ trod.
No place but is holy ground.

This is my Father’s world.
I walk a desert lone.
In a bush ablaze to my wondering gaze
God makes His glory known.
This is my Father’s world,
a wanderer I may roam
Whate’er my lot, it matters not,
My heart is still at home.

Weekend Roundup “H”

1. Starts with “H.”
2. A Favorite
3. House.

1. Starts with H: A heron hanging out.

2. A favorite: Happy kids hanging out together last weekend.

3. House: A front view of our house in the snow.

A side view in the distance of our house in the Spring.

Linking up with Tom The Backroads Traveller for The Weekend Roundup.

Next week’s prompts Starts with “I.” A Favorite. Inside.

Our inch and a half of snow is now all gone since rains came in overnight and melted it off the roofs and grass. Yesterday we re-arranged one of our spare bedrooms and it makes better sense of the room. I’ve been walking in there a few times just to enjoy the new look. We have a quiet weekend ahead. How about you?

The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b.

To honor and encourage