Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 334

1. Where have you found unexpected magic or delight this holiday season?

I don't intend to be Debbie Downer, but this has been an unusually difficult holiday season this year. Plans are so up in the air I don't even know if I'll get to see my precious granddaughter this Christmas and I was so looking forward to enjoying her first real Christmas with her and watching her face as she opens her gifts. 

2. What's your favorite type of holiday gathering? Will you/have you gathered in your favorite way this month?

Lessons and Carols at church with my mentor playing the organ

3. Time has named 'The Silence Breakers' (women who came forward with stories of harassment)  'person of the year' for 2017. Would you agree? If not, who do you think deserves the title?

I haven't given this any thought and for personal reasons I'm not going to comment at this time.

4. How did you spend your time this year? Are you happy about that? Elaborate

I spent my year doing what I always do, taking care of home and family, teaching and serving in the church. It's my calling so I'm at peace with that and yes most days I'd say I'm happy.

5. Bid farewell to 2017 in ten words or less.

This has been a bit of a rough one for me and I wouldn't want to go through it again. I'm ready to shake the dust off and start fresh!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

All I can think of tonight is...T-I-R-E-D

An Ultra Violet Hodgepodge

1. 'Hurry less, worry less'...what's your strategy for making that happen this holiday season? How's it going so far?

I am a big time worry wart. I don't worry about holiday stuff though. I have learned over the years to keep meals and such simple, if someone wants something else, they are more than welcome to make what they like. We're not even exchanging gifts so it takes that worry off,  whether someone will like their gift. 

2. Do you have a list of to-dos that need accomplishing in order to prepare your home and/or property for the winter season? What are some of the jobs on your list? Are you a do-it-yourselfer or do you hire someone to accomplish these tasks

Dear Husband usually does, but not much for me. I just empty any pots of dead flowers, clean the flower beds out, put away my shepherd's hooks, wind chimes, pots of flowers that winter indoors, my gnome, etc. Dear Husband has to take down the garden fence, and till...he never got to it this summer so it will be waiting for him when the snow melts. We have to have all our chores done by mid October...winter has been here for a while already. 

3. According to dietitians surveyed, the most popular health foods for 2018 will be -turmeric, sprouted foods (bean sprouts, breads with sprouted grains, etc), veggies in place of grains, dairy free milk, and pulses (lentils, chickpeas, etc).  What's the first thought that ran through your head when you read this list? Of the foods listed which one might you add to your regular diet? Also, can milk really be dairy free? Is it still milk?

I have been using turmeric for a while now to combat my inflammation. I haven't learned about the sprouted foods yet...heard about them but haven't learned how to implement them. I try to eat lots of green leafies but that's difficult in winter months. We do eat a lot of our garden veggies that I have frozen. I like lentils in soups, I hadn't heard they were a new popular health food though. I stopped drinking milk a long time ago when it would give me stomach cramps. I can have a little and sometimes I crave it...I just have to not overdo. I use coconut milk in my morning smoothies these days. 

4. The Pantone Color of the Year for 2018 is Ultra Violet. According to the Pantone site 'Ultra Violet communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking pointing us to the future.' What say you? Do you like the color purple? Did you see the movie or read the book-ha!?  Is purple a color you wear often? Describe for us one purple item in your home without using the word purple.  If you were in charge of such things what color would you select for 2018?

I like some purples. I Googled this one and saw some home decor...not for me, it's a bit too intense. I like what I call a harvest purple that you see in the fall. I don't know what it's real name is but it's deeper, maybe with a touch of gray. I may do some of this trendy purple as accents in my wardrobe, but only a touch. I haven't seen the movie or read the book. Something in my home of that color...the only thing close is my shower curtain, but it's not nearly as bright as the Ultra Violet. I would have no idea what to choose if I were in charge. 

5. Favorite book you read this year?

One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

I've been in a slump this week. Tired, no motivation...could be my cleanse is starting to work, I can't wait to get over this first hurdle so I can start feeling better. 

Hodgepodge Volume 332

1. What title would you give this current chapter of your life?

I would call this chapter of my life Pressing On While Tying Up Loose Ends. I'm so busy with life right now, my job(s), my ministry, friends yet I have so many projects that I've started that need to be finished...things I really don't want to leave undone. I want to leave some important things and thoughts for each of my children, scrapbooks, heirlooms and such, but organizing them is a task that is taking much longer than I had hoped and I can't seem to find the time to tackle them.

2. December 6 is National Microwave Oven Day. Who knew? Besides popcorn and coffee reheats, what's the most common thing you microwave? Could you get along without a microwave?

Honestly, all I use my microwave for is coffee reheats and leftover reheats. It comes in so handy because of our crazy schedules around here. Often we have to eat separately and because I teach piano during the late afternoon and evening hours, I prepare our supper that morning or the night before and everyone reheats in the microwave when their schedule allows. It's invaluable for that but I don't even use it for popcorn anymore since my husband bought me a Whirly Pop! I've always preferred popcorn on the stove top and now I use coconut oil and love the flavor. I could get along without it...I grew up before they were available for our homes, but it does make my husbands life much easier.

3. If you could insert yourself into any Christmas carol and experience the lyrics in real life, which Christmas carol lyric would you choose and why. 

O Come All Ye Faithful because I always try and picture what it must have been like for those privileged to worship Him at the manger. O come, let us adore Him...the word 'adore' is one of my favorites...can you imagine being able to adore the baby Jesus? Do we take time to adore Him today?

4. Describe the most beautiful drive you've ever taken.

I'm blessed to have lived in two beautiful states. I have taken many beautiful drives through the mountains of Colorado as a child...most beautiful in the fall. Here in Michigan my favorite drive was one winter several years ago when we drove north on Highway 41 towards Copper Harbor in the winter. We had just had a big snow and the trees were heavy with it. It felt like driving through a white tunnel and it was so quiet it was almost eerie.

5. What's something on your Christmas list this year? (an actual list or figuratively speaking, either one)

We're not exchanging gifts this year. I'm a little sad about it and I know I'll miss it come Christmas morning, but it's actually nice not having to figure out gifts. Since I'm not buying for anyone I bought myself a new dress coat I needed for winter. I found a black Friday sale and purchased it for $20. Mostly on my list is for our whole family to be together and getting along...is that too much to ask for?

6. Insert your own random thought here.


We had our first blizzard of the season this week. It didn't drop a great deal of snow but it sure has been blowing around a lot. Most of the hazards have been due to visibility. I need to venture out today...not looking forward to going anywhere.