Tag Archives: Wednesday Hodgepodge

More or Less Hodgepodge

My sister Vera, Me, and sister Kathy on the couch with our mom in the kitchen above us.

Joyce has some new questions for Wednesday Hodgepodge this week even with a house full!

1. What was your after school routine like when you were a kid?

To get home from the bus stop without getting jumped. (Okay…that only happened once) I made someone mad at school and they announced they would be jumping me at the bus stop after school. They had their own gang group of friends that were all excited to gather and watch this happen. Instead of getting off at my regular bus stop, I quickly jumped off the bus at the stop before my regular stop and ran home!

Growing up there really wasn’t a routine. Mostly we were on our own to fill the time before dinner.

2. January 26 is National Green Juice Day ( I guess it’s true everything really does have it’s day). Do you juice, as in make your own in an attempt to get healthy? Do you do the green juices? What’s your favorite kind of juice (home blended or store bought, either one)? 

No, nope and nyet to green juices!

A favorite juice is fresh squeezed orange juice. I enjoy cranberry and pink grapefruit, also.

3. What’s something trivial about which you have a strong opinion? 

Green juice! LOL!

4. What do you need more of in your life? Less of? 

More of…

Less of…following my own heart.

5. Give us three adjectives to describe your January.

Jubilant ~ Joyous ~ Devoted

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

We ventured to Spokane on Saturday to return an item to Lowe’s and do some other shopping. On our way home we stopped at our usual spot in Deer Park and were met with this special of the day.

We decided to try it and it was good. I had the soup of the day, Beet Soup, as my side and it was delicious.

Opportunity Abounds Hodgepodge

Fresh questions are up for Wednesday Hodgepodge thanks to Joyce From This Side of the Pond.

1.  It’s been said January is ‘the month of opportunity, inspiration, and change.” Which of the three do you need most right now? Elaborate. 

I’ll go with inspiration. A good dose of inspiration is always good. Inspiration to keep reading and learning. Inspiration to keep moving and giving my heart a good workout. Inspiration to encourage others. Inspiration to clean and organize the spaces in our home.

2. Do you consider opportunity as something that comes to you or something you create for yourself? 

I think it comes both ways. I’ve had many opportunities come my way in the course of doing what I enjoy. There’s a verse that comes to mind.

“Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the LORD is.” Ephesians 5:15-17

Some examples:

Through blogging (something I enjoy), God brought the Mennonite Girls Can Cook into my life with all the amazing experiences and friendships to enjoy.

Through singing in groups honoring Christ, God brought Greg and me together.

Through following Christ and staying involved in a church body, my life has had many opportunities to serve and enjoy many good gifts from God.

3. The British Museum opened on this date (January 15th) back”  in 1759. Do you like visiting museums? Do you have a favorite? 

I have a couple favorites in Southern California that I hope will still be standing after the fires in the L.A. area are finally under control!

The Getty Museum and the Getty Villa. These photos are from the Villa in Pacific Palisades from a visit enjoyed with my bloggy friends, Willow (Willow’s Cottage) and Sara (Come Away With Me) way back in 2008!

We’ve also had the opportunity to visit the Art Museums in New York, Chicago and London. They were all amazing. Unlike my husband and daughter, though, I tire easier than them and I am more casual about viewing everything.

4. It’s National Oatmeal Month (yes, apparently it gets a whole month as opposed to a single day). Do you like oatmeal? How often do you eat a bowl of oatmeal? How do you like yours? What about an oatmeal cookie? Is that a sweet treat you enjoy? 

I do enjoy all things oatmeal. I love a nice hot bowl of oatmeal with a little milk, brown sugar, raisins and walnuts. A good oatmeal cookie is always a treat I enjoy.

5.What’s something useful you learned in high school? 

I’m going to go with Junior High because that is where I learned to type and that is a skill that has been so very useful throughout my life!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Our two sons, Dan and Josh with our little granddaughter photo bomber.

We are celebrating these three this week in January! Jamie’s birthday is today, Dan’s tomorrow and Joshie’s is on Sunday. We’ll have a birthday dinner here on Saturday for our Colville kids and we’ll have to celebrate Josh over the miles with birthday greetings. God bless you and keep you and protect you! We love you, we love you, we love you!

Same son Dan and his wonderful wife, Jamie.

Hope all is well in your corners.

Happy New Year, Hodgepodge!

Glory to God in highest heaven,
Who unto man His Son hath given;
While angels sing with tender mirth,
A glad new year to all the earth.
~Martin Luther

С новым годом!

Joyce has a brand new set of Hodgepodge questions for a brand new year. Thank you, Joyce, and Happy New Year everyone! Happy 2025!

1. Oxford’s Word of the year for 2024 is ‘brain rot’. Are you familiar with this term? Do you suffer from the condition? Ha! This is a term used to ‘capture concerns about the impact of consuming excessive amounts of low-quality online content, especially on social media’. If you were choosing a word to capture 2024 (for the nation/world, not your own life personally) what word would you choose? 

I have to be honest and admit that I am suffering from brain rot because of smart phones, computers, and social media. It is easy to get into the habit of using my phone or computer for everything. I want to read more good books in 2025 and master some good questions to engage friends and loved ones into good conversations.

My pick for a phrase to capture 2024 for our nation would be ‘from downhill to hope’.

2. It’s National Polar Bear Plunge Day (January 1)…will you be participating in one of these events (or even your own)? How will you spend the first day of this brand new year? Do you have a traditional New Year’s Day menu? 

No plunging in the frigid waters for me but some of our kids do that more than just on the 1st. No traditional menus for New Year’s Day. Because I grew up in Southern California I got into the habit of watching the Rose Parade and and the Rose Bowl game on New Year’s Day. There were even years that I enjoyed both in person.

3. What’s something that brings you joy and how will you do more of it in this new year? 

Spending time with family whenever we can brings me joy and I will do as much as is possible in the new year.

4. Do you struggle with the January blues? What’s one thing you can/will do to keep them at bay? 

Thankfully, I do not suffer much from the blues. We have several family birthdays in January and I will concentrate on being thankful for these family members and celebrating them which will keep those blues at bay.

5. Will you choose your own personal word of the year for 2025? What about a goal, resolution, or maybe even a bucket list? Elaborate as much or as little as you like. 

No personal word but some of the same old goals like losing some pounds which means eating less and exercising more. A new devotional with a reading the Bible plan as part of it is on my desk.

Bucket list is always about adding a place to travel to. We already have airfare purchased for Dallas but where else will we go, LORD willing. Still pondering that.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Another antique postcard Happy New Year Greetings to you all.

Smile, Your On Wednesday Hodgepodge

Blogging…where everyday is Candid Camera day.

Time for a holly jolly candid Hodgepodge. Thank you to Joyce From This Side of the Pond!

1. What’s one thing you want to get done before the calendar flips to a new year?

There is not one thing that stands out to be accomplished. I was considering weeding out some Christmas decor before everything is put back into the bins for next year. Some of our stuff is tired looking. Maybe I’ll designate one bin for the things I can let go.

2. What’s something that brought a smile to your face this year?

Thankfully there were many things. I am a smiley person in general. Our family times together always brings a smile on my face and generally there are belly laughs, too. The wonderful weather we enjoyed in Scotland in September brought many smiles and gratitude! We have our children’s play/musical this coming weekend and I know that will keep me smiling. It is called The Loaned Manger, a western themed presentation. Both Addy and JJ will be performing. Addy has some key singing parts and JJ is Joseph this year.

3. What do you like on a cracker? Do you have a favorite cracker variety? 

We really enjoyed Jo’s Cranberry Jalapeno dip at Thanksgiving and when JJ was here on Monday he said “I’ll get the crackers for the cream cheese” as if I kept that dip around every day. Hilarious! (JJ is Five)

4. Do you have plans for ringing in the new year in a fun or special way? Are you typically awake at midnight on the last day of the year? 

We have entered the dud zone when it comes to New Year’s celebrations. We are typically in bed and the fireworks might wake us up at midnight! In our part of Washington state it is generally too dry with fire danger on July 4th so people around these parts stock up on fireworks to shoot off on New Year’s Eve instead.

5. What are three words that describe your 2024? 

Celebrating Fifty Years! 

We were married in 1974 so 2024 marks our 50th wedding anniversary. We have celebrated well starting at the end of June with a getaway to Walla Walla for a weekend of fun with our family of 10. We celebrated again in Scotland in September and we celebrated on the actual day with an overnight trip to Coeur d’Alene.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I saw that common phrase this year on facebook, ‘keep Christ in Christmas’ and my reaction was a new one. There is no way anyone can keep Christ out of Christmas, even if you don’t know Christ or celebrate Him. The darkness (Satan) has been trying to eliminate God from the beginning of time. It started in the Garden of Eden. The light of the world will always overcome the darkness. Christ brought His light into the world and will continue to shine till one day the darkness will finally be cast away. Herod tried to kill Christ as a babe and did the unspeakable by killing all the male children in his realm thinking he could eliminate Jesus. God in His mercy preserved Jesus Christ for His role in becoming the Savior of the world by his sacrificial death on the cross so that man can be at peace with Holy God. Because of Jesus Christ’s perfect life and righteous sacrifice and resurrection our repentance, turning from sin, makes us acceptable to God and makes us redeemed in His sight. Christmas is all about Jesus Christ’s incarnation, Emmanuel, God with us. Jesus, fully God, became man for us. He condescended with love to make it possible for us to be reconciled to God and have eternal life with Him instead of eternal damnation in hell.

Praying that God is calling you to repentance and opening your spiritual eyes to see His Truth today.

Merry Christmas Hodgepodgers!

On the Road Hodgepodge

A few photos from Christmas past.

Thank you, Joyce, for the Wednesday Hodgepodge questions each week.

1. What’s one task you’d like a little Christmas elf to sneak in and take care of tonite? 

I would love for a little elf to come in and address all my Christmas cards!

2. What’s your biggest challenge during the holidays? 

Writing our Christmas letter is harder some years than others. Once the letter is written, the cards are addressed, and the envelopes are taken to the post office and dropped down the slot I feel a load off!

3. Are you a cookie baker this time of year? If your year had to be summed up in the shape of a cookie cutter what shape would it be? 

Cookies are not something that get baked every year. This year I hope to make some cookies for our Children’s play/musical coming up soon. My cookie cutter shape for 2024 would be thistle in honor of our trip to Scotland.

4. Santa likes milk with his cookies. Do you like milk? What kind of milk is on tap in your house? (whole, 2%, skim, almond, oat, etc). What’s the last thing you made that called for milk? 

I like milk but I can’t have too much of it as it doesn’t sit well with me. We typically have 2% on hand. Cereal is the last thing I enjoyed with milk, not something I made but something I put together.

5. Share one favorite line from a Christmas carol or holiday tune? 

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus, There is room in my heart for Thee.

and

O come. let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!

And there are so many more!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We are on the road again today, on our way back home from the westside of the Cascades. We were in Canada on Monday and overnight into Tuesday. Lots of time in our vehicle. I will be late in visiting Hodgepodgers. In Canada we enjoyed time with the B.C. Mennonite Girls Can Cook. More photos of our time to come later but here is a preview of some of the food we enjoyed.

Tis the Season Hodgepodge

The tree is up and some of the ornaments are on it. I’m debating about how many to fill it with. Maybe it will be simplified this year. The rest of the Christmas bins are coming down today (Tuesday) and hopefully all the decorating will be accomplished before I visit Hodgepodgers this week!

Thank you to Joyce for the Wednesday Hodgepodge Questions! Click over to join in.

1. What’s the best $5 gift to give someone? 

Oh boy, this is a tough one. How about meet someone for a cuppa that you pay for and give them an hour of your time. I would have said buy them a cup of whatever and a little sweet to go with it but it would have to be a cookie because pastries are up in the $6 range these days!!

2. What’s your favorite way to relax/unwind during the busy holiday season? 

Sitting with my feet up and enjoying some quiet. Going for a drive and enjoying the winter views.

3. How do you feel about gingerbread? Love it or no thanks? Are gingerbread houses a part of your holiday tradition? If you said yes, how does that look? Do you like ginger flavor in other kinds of dishes? 

A little gingerbread is enjoyable but it wouldn’t be missed. Houses have not been a big part of our tradition until lately with the Grands and it’s a nice craft for them to enjoy. Ginger is a nice addition to other kinds of dishes and in tea.

4. December 5th is National Blue Jeans Day…will you be celebrating? Do you have a favorite brand? A favorite pair? Do you have a hard time parting with a favorite pair of jeans? Blue jeans-joggers-leggings-yoga pants…which one do you wear most often? 

Any jeans that fit well and stay put at the waist are fabulous in my book. When I find a brand that will do that I’ll cling to them forever! Around the house and working in the yard joggers are the comfort go to for bending, kneeling, pulling weeds, etc.

At night when the day and work is done it is always time for comfy pants! (Jammy bottoms)

5. As we head into this holiday season what’s your biggest priority or goal for the end of the year? 

Remembering that God is my portion. With Him I have all I need. He is the strength of my heart.

“Christ’s divinity has no starting point in time. He always was. He was God before time began. He is God at this very moment. And He will continue to be God forever.” Alistair Begg ~Let Earth Receive Her King. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Pour It On Hodgepodge

Joyce from This Side of the Pond is dishing up some new Wednesday Hodgepodge questions just in time for Thanksgiving.

1. Talking turkey…are you cooking the turkey this year? Does ham belong on a Thanksgiving day menu?

I will not be the one who is cooking the turkey this year, our Colville kids will do the honors. Ham is not typically on our Thanksgiving day menu but this year there will be one. My side of the family grew up Kosher so I don’t crave any pork products. But now that I said that a BLT sounds real good right now! 🙂

When it comes to gravy do you pour it over your whole plate, skip it altogether, or land somewhere in between?

I pour the gravy on the turkey, potatoes and stuffing.

Cranberries-homemade or jelled right out of the can?

I’ve gone to the trouble of making homemade and the response to eating it hasn’t been great so it comes out of the can.

Do you look forward more to the main course, the savory sides, or the desserts?

On Thanksgiving, it’s the main course that I look most forward to.

I know there are at least a couple of bloggers who participate here who live outside the US and won’t be celebrating Thanksgiving. If that’s you feel free to adapt this question to your December (or any) holiday meal.

2. Holiday movies…tell us your favorite and what it is about the film that makes you love it. Is it the film itself or a memory it stirs?

Miracle on 34th Street is a Christmas movie that I enjoy. The original Die Hard is another favorite…what a contrast to Miracle on 34th Street!!

3. A favorite way to give back and help others? 

Giving unexpected gifts to those in need without them knowing who it’s from.

4. Name a place or setting you encountered this month that made you feel grateful.

Our church worship services make me feel grateful to be able to worship God with the melting pot of people in our congregation. 

5. Knowing what you know today, if you could redo yesterday what would you do differently?

Yesterday as in Tuesday the 26th of November I wouldn’t do anything differently. If you go back to my teen yesterdays there are a lot of things I would do differently. Naming just one: I wouldn’t date most of the guys I dated.

6. Spill your own random thought here.

Looking back at our Grands at their first Thanksgivings in 2017 and 2019…

 

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you Hodgepodgers in the USA. Happy end of November to everyone around the world!

Hometown Love Hodgepodge

 

After today, there are only 5 more Wednesdays in 2024 and the last Wednesday of the year is Christmas! Thank you, Joyce, for the Hodgepodge Questions again this week!

1. What was your favorite part about growing up in your hometown? 

My hometown was a melting pot of people from many cultures that opened up my eyes to the world. Besides friendships with other Russian-Americans like myself, there were many Mexican, Jewish, Japanese, and Armenian Americans in my friendship circles. The photos are from a mini-reunion with some high school friends.

2. Do you prefer ‘material’ gifts or ‘experience’ gifts? If you answered experience, tell us about one you’ve received and truly enjoyed. 

At this stage of life I’ll say the experience gifts are the best! The gift of our whole family being together is always so so good. Our 50th Anniversary weekend in Walla Walla with all our kids and grands and our Scotland trip with our oldest and our dear DIL were priceless!

3. Is brown a color featured prominently in your home decor? Your wardrobe? What’s a favorite brown thing you own? Of the brown foods listed here which one is your favorite and/or most often consumed… brown sugar, brown rice, pretzels, coffee, dates, cloves, German chocolate cake, whole wheat bread?

Shades of brown do play a dominant roll in our home especially since all of our wood furniture and chairs and sofas are brown. Our walls are Khaki Shadow. As far as foods go, it’s coffee for me.

4. Which ‘Charlie Brown’ character do you relate to most? If you’re not sure, you can take a fun quick quiz by clicking here-Which Charlie Brown Character Are You?  or the one found here-Charlie Brown Quiz. I got the same answer on both. 

I got Linus and Marcie and I’m really not an introvert. I don’t need a security blanket, either. 🙂

5. What’s a favorite item you’ve purchased this year? 

This ‘Coo’ print we picked up at Hobby Lobby to remind us of our Scotland travels is a favorite. This Highland Coo puts a smile on my face each morning as I walk from our bedroom to our living area for my cuppa black (dark brown) coffee!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Here’s a real Highland Coo…

This one is a baby.

Thank you to all who visit here and double thanks for leaving a comment.

Artful Hodgepodge

History and art is something I enjoy together. I took this photo at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C.  spring of 2011. George Washington in our National cathedral with the stained glass window and sunlight adding some highlights!

If it’s Wednesday it must be Hodgepodge. Thank you, Jo!

1. What’s something you think is under appreciated. Explain.  

The work that policemen have to do dealing with people who are mentally ill, drug addicts, and other people who have no respect for their authority is under appreciated. Policemen are important in restraining evil, for the health of our country and the safety of our citizens. I appreciate our Border Patrol Agents in the same way.

2. As winter approaches how do you stay productive?

It helps me to stay on top of things if I have company coming. Winter does make things harder when the snow and ice appear. Keeping my lists and ticking off the items is a good motivation for me.

3. What’s a popular food you don’t like? 

Sushi

4. What do you think is more interesting-art or history? Elaborate. 

Seeing works of art in an amazing historical cathedral is very satisfying to all my senses.

I find history in art very interesting.  It’s enjoyable to connect some historical facts to the places we travel to. Art is more interesting when I know something about the artist. Modern art has no appeal to me.

Children’s story illustrations/artwork are a favorite of mine, too.

5. What advice would you give to someone half your age? 

Don’t put off traveling. Plan the trip and go!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Speaking of being productive in the winter, this two have a way of getting me moving…

We had our first sign of some snow in these parts. Addy also lost another tooth!

Thanks for popping by and leaving a comment. You are appreciated!

A Bold Hodgepodge

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It is time again for Wednesday Hodgepodge. A good distraction this week! Thank you, Jo.

1. What is one good thing you often take for granted? 

There are so many good things I take for granted. Electricity is something that comes to mind especially this time of year. At our country bungalow, electricity is the power source for everything including the pump on the well. If it goes out, besides lights and heat and hot water, we don’t have water any running water.

2. What’s the boldest piece of clothing in your wardrobe? 

My bold days are long behind me. I had to go look and see what I’d consider the boldest. I’ve got nothing for you unless black is bold!

3. Do you think common interests or common values are the key to people getting along? Elaborate. 

Even with common interests or common values people will clash. Those aren’t the key to getting along. Pride and selfishness are strong in our post Adam world. This verse is one that can help me if…I stop and consider it.

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4

That doesn’t mean I’ll condone values that go against the clear teachings of the Bible just for the sake of getting along.

4. November 6 is National Nacho Day…do you like nachos? How do you like yours? Do you make them at home or only order out? 

Nachos are not generally on my radar. We never order them at a restaurant. Once in a great while when a snack is on his mind and there is nothing else, Greg will make a quick small plate of them in the microwave.

5. Have you spent any time in Washington D.C.?  If so what did you think? If not, is that a place you’d like to visit? What do you think about politics as a career choice? 

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I have been to Washington D.C. twice in my life, once when I was in college and then in May of 2011. In the 70’s the average citizen could be trusted to get closer to the building. My best friend, Heidi, and me in the summer of 1971 in the photo above.

This Ecuadorian mother insisted on being in the picture with me far from the Whitehouse in 2011. Her son finally persuaded her to step away so he could snap a solo photo of me, too.

I really enjoyed my visit to D.C. in 2011. There is so much to see and do. The monuments, the museums, the National Cathedral, Arlington National Cemetery. It is rich with history and worthy of a good visit.

Politics as a career choice has made a lot of people rich and unpopular. We still need good people as leaders and I hope we have a pendulum swing from the status quo.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

The Korean War Memorial was one of the most stirring for me. He’s looking right at me…

In this Temple

As in the hearts of the people

For Whom he saved the union

The Memory of Abraham Lincoln

Is Enshrined Forever

On the left is a tucked away staircase in the crypt of the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. On the right is a painting we own that was painted by a friend of ours. We knew she was inspired by this scene and when we visited the cathedral we were on a quest to find it. It was a joy to see the original. It makes us enjoy our painting even more.

Thank you to everyone who visits today.