Finding energy for the Hodgepodge

 

It's Wednesday again -- and time for the Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond, where Joyce writes the questions and bloggers provide the answers!  I'm summoning up the energy to join is again this week, so here we go ...

1. What gives you energy? What takes it away? 

Cool, brisk weather gives me energy.  Hot, humid weather absolutely saps my energy.

2. How often do you shop for clothes? What accessory do you always wear? 

I shop for clothes as seldom as possible.  When I need something specific, when a clothing item wears out and must be replaced, when I lose weight ...  Whenever possible I shop at a thrift store or by catalog.  An accessory I almost always wear: earrings.  (Occasionally I forget.)

 Above and below, some of the handmade earrings in my collection.

3. What's something free that you feel grateful for? 

Fresh air!  I am also grateful for being blessed to live in what still, in spite of all its problems, feels like the freest country on earth.  When one thinks that in some countries people are being jailed for their thoughts or even praying inside their own head, it makes one appreciate the freedoms that we still have here.

4. Breakfast, lunch, dinner...which meal of the day do you enjoy most? What's your go-to comfort food? 

We intermittent fast so don't eat breakfast in the morning, but foods like bacon, eggs, pancakes, etc. are still favorites of mine any time of day, and breakfast is our favorite meal to eat out.  I guess probably breakfast foods would be my most-favored comfort food, but another might be macaroni and cheese.  I find baked potatoes very comforting also.  And chocolate pudding.

5. This week the world remembers the tragic events of 9/11. Do you mark the day in any way? 

I don't really mark the day, but I do remember it, and sometime during the day I will think about where I was and the people I was with when we got the news.  And that we all sat down and spent time in prayer for the situation.

 How do historical events shape your perspective on your personal challenges?

Now that is a thought-provoking question.  I think they help me to look at the big picture, especially when I consider that people have died to secure the freedoms that I have.  They remind me too that with God's help, people have overcome much greater difficulties than the things that may be a personal challenge for me.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

It was so chilly this morning here!  31º which is quite unusual for early September.   We have been in a severe drought here too, which makes us wonder how the fall foliage will be affected.

Photo is from a previous year.

There's the Hodgepodge for this week!

Hodgepodge for September 3

 

 It's Wednesday again -- and time for the Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond, where Joyce writes the questions and bloggers provide the answers!  Here we go ...

 1. Next Sunday is Grandparent's Day. Share a favorite memory, photo, recipe, or something you learned from a grandparent. 

My paternal grandfather died when my dad was 10, so I never knew him.  My maternal grandfather died when I was 4, so although I have some memories of  him they are not very clear.  My dad's mother was a lovely lady, but we only saw her a few times a year as she didn't live nearby and was often working.

My maternal grandmother lived next door to us was a completely amazing woman.  She was the matriarch of a large family and successfully ran a farm and business after her husband died. I know I was greatly impacted by her love of beauty and her creative bent.  She also had a beautiful singing voice, and I loved it when she would sing in the car or around the house.  I learned many things from her, but probably the things that stayed with me most were her adventurous spirit in cooking and baking and her love of holidays and  seasonal decorating, especially for Christmas.  She was very hospitable also, which has surely impacted me.  I think that I also inherited my camera-phobic tendencies from her.  Here are a few posts where I've shared more about her:

 From Gram's Corner Cupboard

Christmas on the Farm

Thanksgiving at Gram's

My Grandmother's Best Cookie-baking Advice 

In fact, memories of this dear lady are sprinkled throughout my blog like chocolate chips in a cookie!  That is her in her kitchen, below.

2. What's a quote from a book (besides The Bible) that has stayed with you? 

I know it's been quoted to death, but probably the Anne of Green Gables quote that "tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet."  I'm incredibly grateful for that every day.

3. What's your number one food pet peeve? 

I am trying to think.  Most everything that comes to mind would surely qualify as a first-world problem.

4. What's one thing about you that is still the same as it was when you were young? 

My eyes.  They may be the only thing about me that hasn't changed very much.  I am second from left in this 1950s photo.

5. September is National Preparedness Month...does your family have an emergency plan? Do you have some sort of preparedness kit you keep on hand? If so, tell us one thing that's kept there. 

Not a plan as such.  We do have emergency food supplies and extra non-perishables on hand, and we try to keep extras of first-aid basics and common OTC medications.  Anytime a serious weather event is imminent we try to keep our vehicles' gas tanks full and to have some jugs of drinking water available.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Oh goodness ... so many random thoughts are crowding my brain today that I'm not sure I can isolate just one.  Well, here's a thought: I am longing to try this 7-day Home Reset.  The problem is finding 7 uneventful days in a row!  Maybe later in September!

A paper coaster from my grandmother

And there's the Hodgepodge for this week!

Hodgepodge with a side of fun and ice cream

It's Wednesday again -- and time for the Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond, where Joyce writes the questions and bloggers provide the answers!  Here we go ...

 1. What's worth standing in line for? 

Homemade ice cream!  Especially with homemade waffle bowls.

2. Tell us about a favorite food related memory. 

Since it's still August, I'll continue with the ice cream theme.  When I was a child, it seemed that a few times a summer when relatives would visit at my grandmother's on a weekend afternoon, homemade ice cream would be made.  The flavors I remember being made most often were pineapple sherbet and chocolate ice cream.  That is my grandmother's sherbet recipe, below.

3. What are some things you find particularly peaceful or calming?

Watching ocean waves crashing in and ebbing out.  Sitting by a lake shore smelling sun-warmed pine needles and hearing the soft swish of gentle waves against the shore.  Looking up at the night sky full of stars. 

4. Is there something you do now that gets you just as excited as it did when you were a child? 

Making things that are beautiful, useful, or just fun.

Beautiful -- a Scripture sampler

Beautiful -- another Scripture sampler

Beautiful -- a Country Baking sampler in progress

Beautiful cross-stitch picture -- "They thought we were sisters... but we were closer."

Useful -- an apron

Useful -- pillow cases

Useful -- dish towels

Useful -- crocheted dishcloths

Just fun -- four kinds of felt pie slices!

Just fun!  Felt popsicles

Just fun -- pillow fight shields

Just fun -- a shield in use!

5. To what degree are you in touch with friends from grade school? high school? college if you attended college? 

To almost no degree.  Occasionally I see a friend or two from grade school/high school in the grocery store or at some other event, but there is no keeping in touch.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

After super hot temps last week, we are down into the 60s and 70s during the day.   It's fine -- I really prefer it not so hot -- but it was a sudden transition!

And there's the Hodgepodge for this week!

Perfect summer hodgepodge

 

 Nearly the midpoint of summer -- and it also happens to be time for the Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond, where Joyce writes the questions and bloggers provide the answers!  Here we go ...

 1. The midpoint of summer (believe it or not) is August 7th. Describe a perfect summer day. Have you had one this year? 

A perfect summer day: quiet time and coffee by the campfire; a long walk; a visit to some outdoor destination in our beautiful state; lunch at a picnic table by one of our amazing lakes; time spent cross-stitching on a dock or a screened porch; supper out at a treetop restaurant; an evening at our cottage with all the windows open.

No, I haven't had a summer day just like that this year.  Parts of them.

2. What's one thing you wish you knew before starting high school? 

Popularity is overrated.

3. What's something that bothers you if it's not done perfectly? 

Honestly, I can't think of anything like that.  Punctuation, maybe.  Misplaced apostrophes really bother me.

4. What's the most overrated food you're convinced people are just pretending to enjoy? What's a trendy food you actually do enjoy and would say is definitely not overrated? 

Oh, I don't know.  I don't pay a lot of attention to food trends.  Sushi (and yes, I know that's not new) doesn't intrigue me, but I know people who genuinely love it.  One new-ish food that I actually do enjoy is maple bacon ice cream.

5. Wrapping it up this week with five fun this or thats...

personal stylist or personal chef? 
dance like nobody's watching or sing like nobody's listening? 
unlimited tacos or free pizza? 

bookshelf organization-by size or by genre? 
ten minutes late or ten minutes early? 

* Personal chef, if I have to choose one.

* Sing like nobody's listening.

* Unlimited tacos -- especially at a taco truck.

* Both.  Only some of my shelves will hold tall books, so those ones are sorted by size.

* Ten minutes early whenever possible.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

We've been playing tourist lately and taking some staycation days.  Plus we did take 2 days away in Maine,  Delightful!

There is the Wednesday Hodgepodge for this week!

Goodbye July Hodgepodge

 

Nearly the end of July, and time for the Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond, where Joyce writes the questions and bloggers provide the answers!  Here we go ...

1. On July 29th 1957 The Tonite Show premiered with Jack Parr as it's host. This marked the beginning of the modern day talk show. Do you watch any daytime or late night talk shows today? Do you have any thoughts on the hubbub surrounding the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, or are you more in the camp of 'who is Stephen Colbert? 

Haven't had a TV in years so I watch no talk shows at all and am probably the better for it.  My thoughts on the hubbub are pretty simple: Networks tend to cancel shows that aren't profitable for them.

2. What's the best part of your day? 

 

Mornings!  Coffee, Bible reading, prayer, and often a walk.

 

3. What's something your generation does that you actually dislike? 

 Hmmm ...

 4. When you cook do you clean as you go, or clean it all up once you're finished cooking? What's the last thing you cooked/baked in your own kitchen? 

I usually clean as I go.  Last thing I cooked in my kitchen -- pork chops, yesterday.  I've been using this recipe: Juicy Baked Pork Chops and it has become a favorite.

5. Sum up your July in ten words or less. 

Ministry, hospitality, loss, travel, creating -- and yes, sweating.  (Not part of my word count, but it's been hot here in NH.)

Bee balm is blooming at our little cottage in July.

We also rode the Cannon Mountain tramway in July.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

There's not the best light for cross-stitching at our little camp, so I've been doing more small crochet projects when we're there, and rediscovering the fun of making these hot mats:

This is an older photo.  I haven't made this many this time around, but only a couple so far.

And there's the Hodgepodge for this week!

Just beachy Hodgepodge

 

July is three-quarters over!  How is that even possible?  But it's time for the Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond, where Joyce writes the questions and bloggers provide the answers!  Here we go ...

1. When does time pass slowly for you? When does time past quickly for you? 

I find that it often seems God expands my time when I have a lot to do.  Seems surprising, but it's happened often enough that I recognize it by now.  Time passes quickly for me when I'm doing something absorbing like needlework or writing.

2. Do you have a favorite beach? What's your favorite 'beach' activity? Tell us what we'd find in your beach bag.

I do have a favorite lake beach.   It's a state park on Newfound Lake in our state and I've been going there since I was a child. 

 

 

My favorite ocean beach is probably the one at Cabot Provincial Park on Prince Edward Island.  Popham Beach State Park and Reid State Park in Maine are also nice.  We enjoy several beaches in York, Maine, but only in the off season.  They are just too crowded in summer.

Reid State Park

 

Reid State Park

My favorite beach activity would depend on the beach.  In PEI or at Popham Beach, looking for sand dollars or sea glass.  At one of the York beaches, just walking.  At the lake, either reading, needlework, or picnicking.

In my beach bag -- a book and a needlework project.  Occasionally some type of snack.

Not sure on this one.  Maybe Long Sands in York.

3. Your favorite book or movie with a beach setting? 

It has to be both book and movie series -- Anne of Green Cables, with its lovely Prince Edward Island setting. 

4. What's a food you love, but find it's a pain to eat? Is it worth it? 

The lobster/clambake in progress

Lobster.   I might only eat it every few years and usually at the Cabbage Island clambake.  Thankfully we usually go with friends who are helpful in tutoring us in the method of eating.  We tend to forget from year to year.  It's delicious though and worth it for that day.

5.  Do you like roller coasters? What's the best (or worst) roller coaster you've been on? 

No, I don't.  Back in the day I went on a couple of the large, rickety old wooden type.  Can't handle any roller coasters now and just have no interest.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Have you visited Christmas in July over at my Christmas blog?  When July began I had literally no idea what I would post about.  Bit by bit the calendar has begun to fill in!

And that is the Hodgepodge for this week, friends!