Hodgepodge for a winter's day

 

 Again this week I'm joining in with Joyce and the gang for the Wednesday Hodgepodge at From This Side of the Pond.  Here we go ...

1. At the end of every year (or at least since the mid-1970's) Lake Superior State University posts a list of words they think should be banished from the Queen's English for misuse, overuse, and/or general uselessness. You can read more about the decision making process here, but this year's list includes-

cringe, game changer, era, dropped, IFKYK (If you know you know), 

sorry not sorry, skibidi, 100%, utilize, and period. 

Which of these words/phrases do you use regularly or even just every now and then? How many did you have to look up? Which of these words would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Is there a word/phrase not on the list you'd like to add? If so do share, then tell us why. 

I don't think I use any of these on a regular basis.   My hubby does quite often use the word "utilize" which always bugs me, but in general he uses it right in line with the definition "to make practical and effective use of".  As in some of his repair projects at his volunteer job: "We can utilize that scrap of countertop or leftover tile, etc. in the renovation in the _________ building."

I had to look up "skibidi".  I find IYKYK quite annoying and also sorry not sorry.  I think they just annoy me because they tend to be overused, and in the case of the first one, sometimes I don't know, so I don't know, if you get what I mean.

 

Another very annoying phrase is "POV".  I'm sure I've mentioned this one before.  Sometimes one sees it on Instagram and it isn't actually portraying a point of view in any way.

2. Your favorite soup? Do you make this one yourself or is it from a can? 

 

I make many different soups and we enjoy soup often in winter.  A favorite in our family is this one: Cheeseburger Soup. 

3. How do you feel about winter? What's one winter activity you look forward to? 

I like winter in many ways.  It's beautiful.  I don't mind the cold or snow really, though I hate driving on ice or on very slippery snow.   As far as a winter activity I look forward to, a winter walk is fun if the wind isn't too intense and the footing is okay.  I also like taking some time in the winter, when things are less busy, to sew, crochet, and cross-stitch.  Like the sampler below which I finally finished this year and now have displayed in the front hallway:

4. The Pantone color of the year for 2025 is mocha mousse (sample pictured here). What say you? The website describes it as 'a warming, brown hue imbued with richness. It nourishes us with its suggestion of the delectable qualities of chocolate and coffee, answering our desire for comfort'. Is this a color I might find in your home or wardrobe? Is it one you might add in some big or small way in the year ahead? 

I do like this color and in fact have a skirt in a very similar hue, bought at a thrift store for 99¢ some years ago.  I would use it in my home too.   A couch or chair in this color would work well in our pine paneled living room.

In a similar, but not really vein...if I were to offer you a choice right now of either a cup of mocha or a cup of mousse which would you say yes to? 

A cup of mocha!!  It is cold and windy up here in New Hampshire.  13 degrees,  16 mph wind, = feels like -4º.  It stands to reason I would go with the hot drink. 

5. Which of the following winter related idioms can best be applied to your life in some way right now? Choose one, then tell us why you chose it.  

snowed under, on thin ice, tip of the iceberg, chill out, break the ice, snowball effect, not a snowball's chance in hell, get cold feet, the cold shoulder 

Snowed under!  Not with snow, but with stuff!   My hubby and I really, really need to declutter and downsize while we still have the physical strength and energy to do so.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

So thankful for Christian friendship and fellowship!  We had a lovely day with our friends Syd and Cyndy yesterday, ate brunch out, shopped some unique stores, visited back at our home, and then enjoyed an early snack supper before they headed home.  Today, we had our friend Jennifer and her 2-year-old over for lunch (homemade alphabet vegetable soup and grilled cheese), and that was delightful as well.  

That's the Hodgepodge for this week!