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| Nevada, October 2010 |
1. What's something blogging has taught you about yourself?
Blogging has reminded me of how much I love to write. It has taught me many things about disciplined use of time and fine-tuning my writing to phrase the information I want to share in the most effective way. It has taught me that I can be organized and plan ahead to schedule posts. It may also have showed me that I never seem to run out of things to say (just time to say it in). Not sure if that first part is good or bad.
(Next 2 photos also from Nevada, October 2010)
2. Leftovers...are you in the 'reheat and eat' camp or the 'put them in the fridge until they spoil and then toss them' camp? What's your favorite thing to have leftover? What can you not abide as a leftover?
We love leftovers at our house. We love it when we have enough leftovers for an entire meal. My least favorite thing to have as a leftover is salad with dressing already on it. My most favorite thing ... hmmm. Just about any soup is better reheated. Thanksgiving leftovers may be my very favorite. (And this year we don't have any!)
3. 'Me time'...your thoughts?
This is a hard one to answer, but I'm glad you brought it up. I think it's healthy for anyone to have some time they can sort of call their own. Otherwise we can burn out very easily. On the other hand, I think we often tend to think we "need" more time than we really do, and some people are downright selfish with it. I have learned that if I need time, the Lord will provide it. In looking through the archives at this blog, I re-read this post: A moment to catch my breath and was blessed all over again as I was reminded what God had done for me in that busy season.
The most important "me time" that we can possibly take is a quiet time with Him every day. It grounds us and settles us and prepares us for whatever the day may bring.
I also feel that I need some creative minutes every day, but I don't always get them as such. I've learned that doing something creative doesn't have to mean dedicated time to work on a needlework project or a blog post. I can find creativity in preparing a meal or figuring out a better way to do a task.
Hmmm.... usually a recipe! My daughters have nicknamed my phone number "Mom's cooking hotline" and even friends call occasionally for recipes or cooking advice. I once had a missionary friend email me from Panama to ask for a recipe of mine she'd misplaced!
5. If your childhood had a smell what would it be? Tell us why.
I'm going to say wood smoke. We had a Franklin stove when I was really young, and then later a fireplace, where we often roasted hot dogs and marshmallows.
We also had a really nifty outdoor fireplace, which we kids absolutely loved, but it got destroyed the year we tried boiling maple sap on it. After that, my dad built a sugarhouse for boiling sap, with all of the right equipment in a smaller size. But the outdoor fireplace was never rebuilt.
My grandmother's summer cottage where we all loved to spend time was redolent of wood smoke from the fireplace there. To this day the place has its own unique scent -- decades of wood smoke have permeated the pine paneling.
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| The cottage is behind the children. See the white steps? |
6. Insert your own random thought here.
The closeness of Christmas. I cannot get over how quickly it is coming. I'm never ready, but this year I'm far less ready than usual. I have, however, purchased a number of gifts already, so that's something, at least. (The plate below was a gift from my daughter, last year. Love it!)
My childhood memory is close to the same as yours. Mine is my Daddy coming in and giving us a hug. He always smelled of the Outside...in the winter that included wood smoke. The gift of memory is such a blessing especially as we get older.
ReplyDeleteThe gift of memory is indeed a blessing, Arlene. Have you ever taken time to write down many of your childhood memories? I have done this with my Christmas memories, but not with much of the rest of my childhood. I really need to do this.
DeleteLoved your thoughts on creativity. My daughter and I love leftovers. It has become our time to eat lunch together and eat whatever I cooked the night before. My hubby is not a good leftover eater, so that has worked out wonderfully since Lindsay works close by.
ReplyDeleteWhat fun times you and your daughter must have sharing leftovers for lunch! That is really nice.
DeleteThat plate! It's lovely! And the picture of the kids and the smell of wood smoke... My granddaddy made a fire every year on Christmas Eve whether it was cold outside or not. I loved it. We love leftovers, too. Or maybe I'm the one because that's a night off from cooking. LOL Have a wonderful Wednesday!
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice tradition to have a fire on Christmas Eve even if the weather was not cold.
DeleteYes, leftovers. We really do enjoy them.
And the plate. I love it also. My daughter gave me two of them for Christmas last year. I'm pretty sure they came from Walmart!
I love that wood smell too. :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely scent, wood smoke.
DeleteLOVE that plate! Last night, I saw a t-shirt that had a similar image on the front and it made me feel all warm and happy on the inside!
ReplyDeleteYes, I love that plate too. I have an entire Pinterest board called "Bringing Home the Tree". I enjoy those images so much.
DeleteOh...that adorable plate! I really like Thanksgiving leftovers the best too and I really like your #3 answer. And yes, Christmas will be here before you know it!
ReplyDeleteThe plate was a gift from my daughter last year and I'm pretty sure she got it at Walmart. Thanks for stopping by, so fun that we have similar answers.
DeleteI really enjoyed your post, especially #3. And the wood smoke memory. We burn wood, so when I walk out the back door, the scent of maple smoke mixed with fresh, cold Wisconsin air hours me. It is probably one of the best things about winter. So cool about the phone call from Panama to ask for a recipe! I've been tempted to phone Bolivia to ask for the salteña recipe!
ReplyDeleteYou *should* phone Bolivia some time. The person who has the recipe you're seeking would probably love to hear from you!
DeleteMy mother’s number was often used for calls about recipes, especially in the years I was away from home. Your thoughts on personal time were very good. Yes, we don’t need huge chunks of time...just enough...a bit of decorating or whatever is enough every day.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that fun about your mother's phone number serving as a "cooking hotline" as well?!
DeleteBits and pieces of time; it's a good thing we've come to recognize that they are enough to fuel our creativity. Otherwise life would indeed be frustrating. God is so good.