Mid-May Hodgepodge

Here we are -- it's Wednesday again.  They sure do come around swiftly.  And since it's Wednesday, that means it's time for the Hodgepodge with Joyce and the gang at From This Side of the Pond.  Joyce asks the questions: bloggers copy and paste, then answer the questions on their own blogs.  It's an easy process, so why not jump in and join the Hodgepodge this week?   Here we go!

1. May 17th is National Pack Rat Day. Sidebar-should we be celebrating this? Hmmm...
Are you a pack rat? Even if you're not a full fledged pack rat, most people have one thing or another they struggle to part with. Tell us what's yours.

 To name a few ....

Cookbook I learned to cook with

Circus carafe from my grandmother's kitchen

Sugar and creamer just like my grandmother had at the family camp

Vintage cookbooklets I've acquired

The tooth fairy brought me this back in the day!

No, I'm not at all sure that we should be celebrating this.   I would have to admit that I am somewhat of a pack rat.  Vintage items and memorabilia are probably the hardest things to part with.  That said, I am actively working at decluttering and purging.

2. What are two things you know you should know how to do, but you don't?

 Changing a tire and reading music.

3. Do you crave sugar? 

Not sure that I really crave it, but I do enjoy sweets.

Strawberry Lovers' Pie

 Do you add sugar to your coffee and/or tea? 

No; I drink tea black, and coffee with cream only.

Do you use artificial sweeteners or sugar substitutes? 

No, I don't.

When dining out is dessert a given? 

No, it isn't.  We seldom have room for dessert when dining out.

Are you someone who has slain the sugar dragon, and if so tell us how you did it.

 I eat a lot less sugar than I did, but I wouldn't say the dragon has a stake through its heart yet.

Coconut Pudding Dessert

4. What's a trend it took a while for you to come round to, but now you can't imagine living without?

Hmmm.... now this is a long time ago, but probably a microwave.  I use mine quite a bit for cooking and for various steps in a recipe, not just reheating.

5. What's a song that reminds you of a specific incident in your life? Please elaborate.


The Gospel song "The Lighthouse" by Ronnie Hinson.  Here are the lyrics:

 There's a Lighthouse on the hillside
that overlooks life's sea.
When I'm tossed it sends out a light
that I might see.
And the light that shines in the darkness,
now will safely lead us o'er.
If it wasn't for the lighthouse
that ship would be no more.

Everybody that lives around me says,
tear that lighthouse down,
The big ships don't sail this way anymore,
there's no use of it standing 'round.
Then my mind goes back to that stormy night,
when just in time I saw the light,
Yes, the light from that old lighthouse,
that stands up there on the hill.

And I thank God for the Lighthouse,
I owe my life to Him,
For Jesus is the Lighthouse,
and from the rocks of sin
He has shone a light around me
that I can clearly see,
If it wasn't for the Lighthouse
where would this ship be?

I love this song and it reminds me of the decision I made to trust Jesus as my personal Savior at a very stormy, dark time in my life -- the most important decision I have ever made or ever will make.   This song says it all.

Light at Pemaquid Point

And just for fun ... three grandkids inside the Pemaquid Point lighthouse.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

The most exciting thing on my mind right now is that just  yesterday we finalized our plans for our trip to Nevada to visit loved ones.  This is a gigantic relief to me.  It was beginning to feel just like a logic puzzle ... you know, if Bill, Bob and Betty are all at the library, and Betty is doing research, Bob works 30 hours a week, and Bill replaces books on the shelves, what time is the story hour?  (Maybe a bit of an extreme example.)  Those logic puzzles that aren't very logical.  I used to be quite good at them, but I find myself getting more confused by details as time goes on.  In my case, the details involved choosing between 4 airports (2 on either end), whether or not hotels would be necessary on both ends, if a bus to/from Boston would be needed (and if so, would it line up with the flights), and how to do all this in the least expensive way possible.  I'm thankful, so thankful, that my hubby had the day off yesterday and that we sorted it out together and got great (nonstop!) flights at a great price.

Beautiful Nevada -- where we're headed

Happy Hodgepodge Day, everyone!