Wednesday, December 07, 2016

A first


Today, as a first for me, I am borrowing some questions from the Wednesday Hodge Podge hosted by Joyce from From This Side of the Pond.  Today's theme is holiday decorating, most apropos.

1. a) Let's talk holiday decorating. On a scale of 1-10 where do you fall? (1=Scrooge and 10= Clark Griswold).

I guess I would probably give myself a 5 or a 6.  I love to decorate, but I don't decorate every corner.  And I try to keep it tasteful.
   
b)What's your favorite corner-room-table-space to decorate? Is it done?

 I'd have to say my hutch.  There's a picture at the top of the post, but the hutch is very likely to be tweaked when the Christmas decorations come out of the attic.

2. Is there a nativity scene in your decorating somewhere? Post a picture or, if it's special to you in some way, tell us why. Or do both-it's Christmas!

Yes, I mentioned this in a recent post.  My dad made the wooden stable and that's why it is so very special to us.  Thankfully, he also made them for married grandkids, so my grands get to see them every Christmas.

3. Do you live in a social neighborhood? If so are you glad? If not do you wish you did?

We don't really socialize with our neighbors, but we do all wave when we see one another, and some of our neighbors will chat if the opportunity arises.  At Christmas we exchange goodies with some of our neighbors -- I make cookies, and our neighbor across the street always brings us sourdough rye bread that he bakes.  It's fantastic.

4. As the saying goes, 'there's no time like the present'. How does that ring true in your life right now?

I need to just jump in and get some cleaning done so I have space to put the wrapped gifts and so that the living room is ready for the Christmas tree.  Then I need to begin wrapping the gifts and also work on obtaining a few gift cards/certificates.

5. Do you dread Mondays? Why or why not?

No, I look forward to Mondays in some ways.  It's a new start to the week, for one thing, and I also look forward to getting the house back in shape after a busy weekend.

6.  Poinsettia, Christmas Cactus, Amaryllis-which on the list is your favorite holiday plant? Are any of these on display in your home right now?

Poinsettias are my favorite, though I did have a very small cactus once that bloomed on holidays.  Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Martin Luther King Day, Valentine's Day -- one year it bloomed on each of these.  I thought of it as a Christmas cactus since we received it in a Christmas gift exchange at church, but as time went on I became more puzzled.  I'm sure Vee could tell me what kind it is.

7. Share a favorite quote from a Christmas movie.

"Darkness is cheap, and Scrooge liked it." My hubby's favorite quote from A Christmas Carol, which we have watched the Muppet version of with our daughter and son-in-law.  It's their Thanksgiving night tradition, I think, or used to be.  My hubby is tickled by this phrase every time he hears it, and often quotes it as he turns off the lights in the evening.  He likes darkness for the same reason Scrooge did: it saves money.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

 This Saturday we'll be taking three of our grandkids on a little outing that we do with them each Christmas season -- out to eat (this year it will be breakfast), then Christmas shopping for their parents and siblings (which we fund) and then to an ice cream sundae buffet.  Always fun times.

At the ice cream shop

19 comments:

  1. Lovely first post to the Hodgepodge. Stopping by as your neighbour. What a lovely outing to look forward to with your grandchildren. Hope you have fun.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Wendy! It is so nice to meet you!

      Yes, we have done this -- I think -- for about four years. The kids look forward to it so much. And truthfully, we do too.

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  2. Well that was fun! What did you think? I don't know what happened to my link on Mr. Linky. It went up in a poof of smoke and I don't dare to put it back on in case it's a temporary glitch. Your grands are cute and will love the excursion. It might be good if they subsidize your funding. LOL! I like your husband's quote and feel similarly about lights on when not in use, though, I must say, my neighbor's house is lit up like a birthday cake and it looks fantastic.

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    1. It was fun to take part in, also, Vee. I have often taken part in link parties but never this particular one. I'll hope to link up with the Hodgepodge more often. And my link also seemed to disappear, but later I found it.

      These three are wonderful kids, easy to take places because they're well-behaved and cooperative. My daughter told them it was to be breakfast this year. Josiah's (age 8) comment: "Ah! Sausage biscuits!"

      Actually, our shopping will be funded by a Crazy Deals gift card which we earned buying a generator (or other big-ticket item, I forget what) at Ocean State Job Lot. Perfect place to take the kids shopping. We used to take them to the dollar store, but this is better.

      We have a handmade lighted star on our garage with multicolored large lights that glow from under the eaves. We will light that probably for all of Christmas week. We do have a little fir tree with a string of colored lights on it that we light at night now -- so pretty glowing through the snow.

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  3. By the way, the colors in your hutch dishes are so fresh and pretty. Now what was I saying about my post disappearing? Bunk. It's all bunk. It is back and probably never went anywhere.

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    1. Thanks, Vee. As I mentioned, I'm likely to tweak the hutch when the boxes of Christmas decor come down from the attic. I just used what I had accessible for this look and I really liked it. May not tweak after all, who knows?

      I'm not sure my link actually disappeared either. More likely that I just didn't look in the right spot.

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  4. Visiting today from the Hodgepodge. Seems like many ladies like Mondays. An ice cream buffet sounds delicious. What a fun day you have planned for your grandchildren.

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    1. It will be fun for us too, Theresa. They are delightful children and it's a joy to take them places. It will be a delicious day, I am sure. Thanks for visiting!

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  5. Loved your Hodge Podge Mrs T. I love your tradition of shopping and breakfast with the grands. I need to think of something to do with our two that are local.

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    1. That is a fun tradition for us, Arlene. Highly recommend it for you to do with Kendall and Landon. Have fun!

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    1. Thanks, Regine, and welcome to my kitchen table!

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  7. Congratulations on your first hodgepodge, Mrs. T! Isn't it fun? I really enjoyed reading your answers. I love the dishes on you hutch and it's a favorite of mine to decorate too. My nativity is on display on my hutch every year and yours is so very special with that handmade stable made by your father. That is what Christmas memories are made of! Your grands are just darling. Enjoy this wonderful season!

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    1. Oh, it is fun, Debbie. I didn't know what I was missing out on!

      Thanks for your sweet comments and for stopping by to visit. You might also enjoy my Christmas blog!

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  8. Welcome to the Hodgepodge, Mrs. T. Thank you for visiting my blog page and for leaving a comment. I'm sorry but I have to ask...Does your Mr. T sport a mohawk hairstyle and is he decked out with lots of gold necklaces? I am kidding, of course...I do that! Merry Christmas to you and yours from the Granite State.

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    1. Ha, ha! Nope, my Mr. T sports graying hair, glasses, mud-encrusted work boots and a muddy, grease-smeared camo jacket. (He works in the forest industry.)

      Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

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  9. Thank you for visiting my blog. So nice to meet you and your blog looks lovely. You are a no-reply so I couldn't answer your comment. I totally forgot about my hutch, your right, I put all my Jim Shore Christmas on my hutch and it is a favorite of mine. Yours looks awesome. Your red cactus is beautiful. Mine is pink. Have a wonderful time with your grandchildren. I have not been blessed with them yet. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

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  10. You are welcome, Debby! Thanks for visiting here at my kitchen table. You also might enjoy my Christmas blog, Mrs. T's Christmas Kitchen (link in sidebar). Lots of ideas in the archives there.

    Merry Christmas to you and your family as well!

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  11. Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment! I have enjoyed visiting your site and have become one of your followers! I look forward to your other posts. I enjoyed your cactus photo!

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Thanks so much for stopping by to visit my kitchen table! I love company here in my kitchen, so be sure to leave a comment so I'll know you've visited! I'll answer your questions and comments here on the blog unless you request otherwise.