Slowing down for the Hodgepodge

Here we go again with another weekly Hodgepodge. Joyce asks the questions here: From This Side of the Pond -- and bloggers answer them on their own blogs.  It is so much fun, so head on over to Joyce's and copy the questions.  Then share the answers on your own blog.  Here we go, steady and slow!

1. 'Slow and steady wins the race'...tell us about a time this was true in your own life. 

That has been true many times in my life.   Writing a book took me years.   The summer kids' devotionals I've written have taken months of writing a daily devotional page (or 2 or 3) a day until they were finished.  It also takes me months to finish reading a book.

Two of the many kids' devotionals I've written over the years

Every cross stitch sampler I've made has taken me years.  Years!  Not because I am necessarily slow, but because I tend to fit cross stitch into little snippets of time.  I find it hard to devote large blocks of time to stitching.

Currently, the slow-and-steady project involves decluttering, cleaning and sorting.  It is the accumulation of years and may well take years to finish.

2. 'As slow as molasses'...Do you like molasses? How about maple syrup? Caramel? Butterscotch? What's your favorite of the slow moving treats mentioned here, and what's your favorite food made with that sweet treat? 

Oh, I love molasses.  I buy the Crosby's which is made in New Brunswick.   I also love maple syrup, caramel and butterscotch.  Probably my sentimental favorite of all these is maple syrup, for I grew up with sugaring.  It's something you never forget.

Favorite food made with maple --- probably just new maple syrup over pancakes with plenty of butter.  Best of all would be freshly boiled maple syrup, served straight from the spigot in an enamel mug, consumed in the sugarhouse with plain raised doughnuts for dipping, and a tiny sour pickle or two on the side.

3. Your favorite slow song?  

Maybe the Pachelbel Canon -- we used to have a recording called Pachelbel by the Sea that included crashing waves and so on.  Beautiful and relaxing.  Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring is also beautiful.

4. Your favorite thing to make in a slow cooker or crock pot? 

Probably my very favorite thing is just simply cooking chicken -- usually breasts, but sometimes a whole chicken -- in a crock pot.   I then cut up and freeze the cooked chicken.  You can read about it  here: A Fowl Tip.  It has vastly simplified my life, figuring this out.  Makes quick suppers very simple when I can just start with cubed cooked chicken.

But I have loads of other slow cooker recipes that I love.  (Check out the "slow cooker recipes" link in my sidebar at right to see my favorites!)  I use my slow cooker nearly every Sunday and many times throughout the week as well.  If I want to spend time cleaning, studying, decorating, or crafting, it's a lifesaver to have supper cooking in the slow cooker all by itself.  Also, this time of year when Mr. T could arrive home as late as 6:30 pm and I don't know for sure when he will get here, it's such a help to have supper in the slow cooker, all ready for whenever he arrives and wants supper.

5. 'You may delay, but time will not.' ~Benjamin Franklin Are you more a hurrier or a delayer when it comes to unpleasant tasks that need doing? What are you currently either delaying or hurrying to get through this week or month?

I tend to be more of a delayer when it comes to unpleasant tasks that need doing. Oh, not simple unpleasant tasks like cleaning a toilet or going to the dentist or whatever.  I can get those done and over with.  It's more the bigger things like preparing tax papers or decluttering a house.

This week my hubby is unexpectedly off from work and we are trying to tackle the unpleasant tasks together.

6. Tell us three things you encounter regularly or even just occasionally that you find to be annoyingly slow.

Hmmm ...
1) There is one intersection that I occasionally have to use.  Turning left at this intersection is a near impossibility (there is no traffic signal at it) and one has to wait and wait and wait.  Often I will turn right and then turn around somewhere or take a longer route home, just so I don't have that interminable wait to turn left.
2) I'm acquainted with a few people who take forever to tell a story.
3) Very occasionally I'll make a call and end up on hold for a long time -- but honestly, this has happened so seldom that I should be very thankful. 


7. March is National Craft Month. Are you crafty? Tell us about something crafty you'll try in the next thirty one days. Or something crafty you'd like to try or wish you had the skill to make happen.

Yes, I am crafty.  I am currently working on a crocheted hot mat (a portable project);

 a crocheted throw (UFO gift for an April birthday); a cross-stitch Christmas ornament (just for fun); and fabric alphabet letters (UFO toddler gift).

I would like to try making one of these gorgeous Table Runners which Barbara was kind enough to post a tutorial for.  Not sure I will get to trying that in the next 31 days, but I definitely want to make one.

8. Insert your own random thought here.  

On my mind today are monthly goals that I need to set for March.  That will be a post, hopefully, for tomorrow.  I was working on my Sunday School lesson a few minutes ago (we are working through Elizabeth George's Following God with All Your Heart and are currently working through a section on contentment) and found an encouraging thought regarding goals..  Come to think of it, this Sunday School study is another of those slow but steady things that is characterizing my life right now.

Anyway, back to the quote.  "Goals provide focus.  As a busy woman, you're pulled in every direction.  But have you evaluated your busyness recently?  For instance, are you sufficiently involved in the really important areas of life?  Are you possibly wasting time running around being busy with secondary efforts and having little time for the primary areas of family, home, and ministry?  Paul wrote in Philippians 3:13, 'This one thing I do'.  Make sure you're not living by 'these many things I dabble in'.  Goals are wonderful because they put boundaries on your life.  They bring calm in the midst of chaos.  Having goals ensures that you concentrate on the most important events and decline the others.  Focus gives a sense of contentment as you move forward and accomplish specific steps day by day."

Good encouragement for me as I set goals for March!

Happy Wednesday, everyone.