December 20 Hodgepodge

Can you believe it?  It's Wednesday again,  time for the Hodgepodge with Joyce and friends at From This Side of the Pond.  Head on over to get the questions.  Then answer them on your own blog and go back over to Joyce's to link up!   Here are this week's questions:

1. Where have you found unexpected magic or delight this holiday season?

In things that I've been finding as I clean out my childhood home.  Whether it's photos I didn't know existed, letters I could pass on to bless other family members, or gorgeous vintage Christmas cards and trims, there has been much delight in this journey along with the drudgery and some frustration.

2. What's your favorite type of holiday gathering? Will you/have you gathered in your favorite way this month?

I like low-key, very simple holiday gatherings. Things like Christmas Eve supper and gifts with my granddaughters,  sharing a Christmas Day meal and gifts with my local daughter and her family, having a few friends in for cookies and eggnog, or impromptu cups of tea at a kitchen table.  Obviously, the first two haven't happened yet this month, but they will.  The last two have happened and were a relaxing way to enjoy the season together.  Last evening a friend and I hosted a simple cookie swap here at my house.  Good food and fellowship and cookies to take home.

A few of the cookies

3. Time has named 'The Silence Breakers' (women who came forward with stories of harassment)  'person of the year' for 2017. Would you agree? If not, who do you think deserves the title?

Oh, I just don't know how to answer this.  I do admire them for their courage, obviously.  I don't know that I would name them "Person of the Year", but then I seldom agree with Time's choices.  I have no real idea who I would say deserves the title, but I liked Joyce's idea of naming our nation's firefighters person of the year.  While we were out in Nevada, we saw a number of signs expressing appreciation to the firefighters for battling the wildfires in that part of the state.  And one night, out for pizza, we saw a number of firefighters getting their supper.  These are incredibly courageous folks that leave their homes for weeks on end (or more) and go to the aid of others in distant states.

4. How did you spend your time this year? Are you happy about that? Elaborate.

I have spent a good deal of time since my dad passed away working on responsibilities having to do with his estate.  Just how busy I've been was brought home to me this morning.  I ordinarily change out the paper treasures under the glass-topped desk in our bedroom seasonally, sometimes even monthly.  I cleared off the desk to pay the oil and electric bills for his house, and noticed what I had not paid attention to before: the cards under the glass had to do with springtime and Mother's Day!  My dad passed away the end of May.

As to being happy about it -- well, I am happy to do this task as a way of honoring my dad, but it has been and continues to be quite a task.  Let's say I'll be happy when this task is more complete than it is now. 

Glass desktop in a previous year

5. Bid farewell to 2017 in ten words or less. 

By God's grace I navigated it wisely and with joy.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

Today has been a "desk day" in more ways than one; paying bills, writing a few cards, working on blog posts, planning menus and making a grocery list.  I definitely need more days like this.

And this ends this week's Hodgepodge.  Logically enough, there will be no Hodgepodge next week so we can all celebrate Christmas with our families and friends.  Merry Christmas!