Hodgepodge Wednesday: Christmas Theme

Once again Joyce did a great job coming up with this weeks questions. With all she has to do, I don't know how she finds the time, but I am thrilled that she does. You can click on the box above to join her blog and either put your answers there, or here. The fun is getting to meet other bloggers and finding out more about them. So here are the questions for this week.

1. What is the most interesting thing you've done in the last year?

On a personal level I started my very first blog. It has been a time of learning: learning how to speak "Blog language", learning how to manage my time, learning how to write every day, learning how to take pictures, learning how to view the world with my bifocals on.

2. What is your most meaningful family heirloom?

That changes with the seasons, at this time of year, its the tree skirt that my mother-in-law made for us so many years ago. She was such a Godly woman and I loved her very much.

3. What food festival would you most like to attend? If you're not sure click here to see a list of possibilities.

Hubby and I went to dinner theater once to see a production of Arsenic & Old Lace and it was so much fun. It was comedy night and the food was wonderful, the company fantastic and the entertainment delightful. I would like very much to do that again.

4. Snow...do you love it or is it considered a four letter word where you live?

I only love it when I'm inside with a cup of hot cocoa sitting near the fire. It is very beautiful and when it's fresh, the brightness of it can be blinding! And it makes for magical Christmas. But after shoveling it for the 10th time, with no place to put it anymore, in sub zero weather, or driving in it going 10 miles a hours, while the cars skid all over the place, praying not to get hit or hit anyone else, or loosing power for days because the weight of it pulled down the power lines. Well, them I'm so done with all that it is no longer pretty to look at!

And who in their right mind would ever go jogging in the street when during all of this!!! Don't they know that the sidewalks are no longer available, and the roads are now barely wide enough for 2 cars to pass!!! OK I'll stop now before you all start rolling your eyes back into your head.

5. Can you ski? Do you ski? Are you any good?

No I don't ski. I really don't like the cold at all and so I am locked inside during ski season, sitting by the fire drinking hot tea.

6. What quality in your spouse or best friend are you most thankful for?

I cannot pick just one!! Sorry, Hubby has too many. His sense of humor is what I first fell in love with and he still has that to this day. But his integrity and his ability to fight for the little guy is also what I'm thankful for.

7. Describe the coziest spot in your home.

This past summer we redid our bedroom. It will now be summer time in there no matter what the outside looks/feels like.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Here is the Christmas outfit I wore today - it's one of the many that are now too big for my smaller frame.

AND for all of you---

Enjoy! I love their voices!

Hodgepodge Wednesday: Thanksgiving Theme

Joyce, From This Side of The Pond has once again come up with some really good thought provoking questions. She is doing such a good job with this. I love visiting others blog to see there answers. I find that I have a lot in common with so many people and so the blog world feels smaller and friendlier. So without further adieu here are this weeks questions and my answers:

1. If you had known what they knew then, would you have boarded the Mayflower?

I do believe I would have because they were looking for a new freedom, a new and better life and were fleeing from a live they could no longer tolerate so yes.

2. How far have you traveled on a boat and how do you feel about boats in general?

I think I have been on 2 boats in my life. In San Diego Harbor we took a tour for about 1 1/2 hours. No idea how far we went. The second time we spent 12 minutes on a Ferry crossing Lake Champlain. Both were fun. In general, boats are fine but I don't think I would want to be on one for an extended time. I like land.

3. What traditions have you kept, acquired thru marriage, and/or tossed? If you're single what are some of your family's favorite Thanksgiving traditions?

We still wait 2 weeks before the Christmas tree goes up but the rest of the house gets decorated shortly after Thanksgiving. That tradition we have been doing since we were married. We also open 1 gift Christmas Eve and the rest on Christmas Day. Some of the food/ cookies have been with us for a long time. My husband is a police officer so most years he worked Thanksgiving. As a result, we had Thanksgiving Brunch instead of Dinner since he was leaving to go to work. We still do that.

4. What time is dinner and how many will be round your table? And what is the one side dish you cannot do without on Thanksgiving day?

We will be having Brunch again this year but at our daughters house. It will be 9:30ish and one dish we MUST have is Memere's Meat Stuffing. It's a combination of hamburger, pork, potatoes, seasonings, and onions and my hubby cooks it. Every year, I ask him to make lots of it so it will last a few days. Every year, he doesn't make enough... :-(

Yes, I know it goes against all I believe in to ask for 'just one', but I made up for it by asking three questions here.

5. Have you ever used a fire extinguisher? Do tell....

I do believe that I have never used one, that goodness.

6. Tell about a situation that caused you dreadful trepidation and feet dragging, only to realize later it was a true blessing.

When we first got married hubby was in the Air Force and we were getting shipped to New Mexico. I had never been out of the state. I was young, married, and moving very far away from the only home I had know. God was taking care of us and we had to make it or break it as a couple. Because of this distance, we learned to communicate, learned to live together and learned to compromise. All blessings!

7. Baked, sweet, mashed, hash browned or french fried...which one's your favorite?

Wow! I like them all but I guess Baked Sweet Potatoes Fries is my favorite and since I live low carb, I do not get them much....but when I do.......

8. Do you watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade?

We have the parade on the TV and will sometimes sit and watch it but mostly it is back ground noise for us as we are busy talking, laughing, visiting and eating. So much more fun.

OK Your turn, you can answer the questions here, go visit Joyce's blog and like to her with answers or just leave a comment. I love comments.

The Wednesday Hodgepodge is ready

Once again, Joyce From This Side of The Pond has created a wonder Hodgepodge of questions to help us bloggers know each other better. Thank you Joyce.

To play, you copy the questions and post them on your blog with answers, then visit other blogs to see their answers and leave a comment. No blog, no problem, put your answers here! Joyce gives 7 questions and each blogger who plays comes up with question #8. This weeks questions:

1. What is the most amazing weather you've ever seen?

Hubby was in the Air Force and we did some traveling so I've seen the sand storms in NM which were petty awesome! But living through an Ice Storm a few back that left us without power for better part of a week and freezing cold - that would have to be at the top of the list.

2. What is a sound or noise you love?

This one sounds odd but I love the sound of hubby breathing! I feel so safe when I hear it and I can easily fall asleep in no time. Told you it was odd.

3. Do you like seafood? What's your favorite seafood dish?

I like cod or salmon, baked. I don't get it often but when I do, I can do a happy dance.

4. What part of your day requires the most patience?

Lines, I really hate to be standing in lines. I never know where to look and end up playing a game on either the phone or iPod Touch.

5. What's your favorite shade of blue?

OK what if I don't like blue? Sorry, I may have blue eyes but I don't like the color at all. My favorite color is Purple. Sorry.

6. Do people underestimate you?

I think they do. I feel that I give off an attitude of a snob but I'm really painfully shy and would love to blend into the wall. Public speaking makes my legs shake and so my talents don't shine like so many others that I know.

7. When was the last time you had butterflies in your stomach?

A few months ago, Becke the wonder dog and I did a Freestyle Demo (dog dancing) in front a lot of people and that made me not only have butterflies but sick too. Did you read #6?

8. So here is my question: Have you started your Christmas Shopping yet or are you going to end up doing it closer to the day?

I'm almost done! I shop a lot on line- I hate standing in line remember, and I really don't want to shop once the snow gets here. So, I start early and finish by Thanksgiving. Then it's time to wrap and mail. My cards are all ready to mail - how about you.

OK so here are the questions and my answers, now it's your turn.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

From This Side of The Pond is hosting a Hodgepodge Wednesday with great questions. Thank you Joyce for taking over this huge undertaking. If you have never taken part in this it's a great way to visit other blogs that you have never visited and to get to know some great people out there in cyberspace. Here are my questions and answers, I'm looking forwarded to yours.

1. Do you think you're more like your mom or your dad?

Neither, I really think I'm more like my paternal Grandmother (Grannie to me). Her name was Maude and she was born in Scotland and came here during the Potato Famine that took place in the late 1800's in Scotland. She worked hard and at one point got a job by mail as a man (there were not a lot of choices for woman working in the early 1900's) She was the really frugal one of the family.

2. Do you like roller coasters?

No! I like my feet to stay as close to the ground as possible and my head above my feet at all times.

3. How did you name your blog and do you now wish you'd thought about it maybe another five minutes before you hit publish? Would you change your blog title if it were not a huge pain in the derriere? (French makes everything sound a little nicer doesn't it?)

I had come from the eye doctor with the knowledge that I now needed bifocals and I felt old. Instead of whining about it, I decided to do something that made me feel young. Technology keeps me young (or least learning) so the blog was born. I like the name so it stays. It fits me.

4. What is the best wedding gift you received? Not married? Didn't get any gifts? Then what is the best wedding gift you've given?

We were married over 38 years ago so I don't remember the weddings gifts but when our son was born, my darling hubby got me a blender instead of flowers. I had that blender for over 20 years. I'll bet those flowers didn't last nearly that long. The best wedding gift I ever gave was our children to their future spouses.

5. What is the one bill you most hate to pay?

The car payment. I know that once the car is paid off, it will either start to break down and I will pay to get it fixed or I will trade it in and start all over again. Makes me nuts!!

6. Is the glass half full or half empty?

That depends on my hormones! So at any time on any day I can be half full or half empty. Makes me fun to be around - just saying.

7. What is your favorite word? Okay okay. Calm down. How about one of your favorite words?

One of my favorites words is "Grannie" the way my 19 month old granddaughter says it. It melts my heart every time and when she hugs my leg and looks up at and says it, I will give her the world! I love being a Grannie.

8. What will be your first question for God when you get to Heaven? OK so maybe not your first, but what would you like to ask Him when you get there?

Deer Ticks? Really?

So now it's your turn, answer here or on your blog and head on over to From This Side of The Pond to see their answers and visit new blogs.