Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Talking Turkey in the Hodgepodge

Welcome to the 150th running of the Wednesday Hodgepodge! It's a fun way to mark the weekly mid-point...thanks for playing along.  Add your link at the end of my post and then hop around and say hi to all your friends and neighbors-


1. Describe a typical Sunday in your childhood.

We went to Sunday School and church every single Sunday. My mother always warmed up a coffee cake while we were getting ready for church, and while she was and is an excellent cook, on Sunday mornings the cake was not homemade. My favorite was Sara Lee's Butter Streusal coffeecake...we all  thought that was such a great treat. Can you still buy Sara Lee Butter Streusal coffeecake? 

After church we typically came home for lunch, which was oftentimes more like dinner. Sometimes another family would be invited. One Sunday a month we went to a restaurant and that was a big deal. Back in the 1960's the average family didn't eat out like they do now. I also remember that every once in a while my dad would make potato soup for Sunday lunch, and that's still one of my favorites.

Hmmm...so far most of my Sunday memories are spelled f-o-o-d. 

After lunch my parents would read the paper and in winter months my dad would build a fire in the fireplace, which was sort of special.  Our fireplace was in the living room, aka the fancy room, so lounging in front of the fire there felt like a treat. I guess my sister and I played or finished homework.

We usually went back to church on Sunday evenings, but I didn't mind.  I always loved church and the people there. Sometimes after the evening service the youth group would go to someone's house to hang out or we'd go out for ice cream. I remember the feeling of wanting to make the day last. I still hate to see Sundays come to a close.

2. How comfortable are you with uncertainty?  Explain.

I'm finding a way to be comfortable with it. I don't always succeed, sometimes uncertainty makes me cranky, but I do think I'm learning to let go of what I cannot control in this season of life, which is a lot actually.

3. What's something you've accomplished recently that might be described as crafty, as in 'arts and crafts' crafty? If crafty doesn't work for you, how about handy? Or both.

I am what you might call a wanna be crafter. I have ideas, but the end result rarely matches what's in my head. Mostly I've made peace with that. Yesterday I put together a little 'crafty' thing to hand out to board members at a meeting I'm hosting. I like to give the board some little treat every month, usually something related to the season as a way of saying thanks for volunteering.  I'd seen cute potpourri bags on Pinterest so I bought the supplies and set to work. Essentially all I had to do was drop the ingredients into a bag, tie it up with a bow, and then add a tag. Sounds simple enough, right?  

I ran into trouble right off the bat because the only oranges in our market were the size of pumpkins, so I really needed larger bags.


I made it work though, maybe not as perfectly perfect as Pinterest, but these ladies are just going to take it home and dump it out of the bag and into a pan anyway. Their house will still smell delightful, even with a too big orange in a too small bag.    

p.s.-I am even less handy than I am crafty. Isn't that one of the reasons you get married?  

4. Have you ever worked in a 'food place'. What did you take away from the experience?

Yes. I worked as a waitress when I was in college in a tiny town called Jonesborough Tennessee.  Lots of people know this town now, as its home to a huge storytelling event every year, but that event was just taking root back in the early 80's.  I waitressed in two restaurants owned by the same gentleman who happened to be the mayor.  One was called The Parson's Table and it was in an old church.  The sister restaurant was next door, and was called The Widow Brown's.  The food was delicious and it was a pretty nice place to work as far as the food industry goes.

What did I take away from the experience?

Some people are shockingly rude.

Everyone should do this once in their life.  

Food smells linger in your car, in your hair, on your clothes, and inside your brain. 

5. Cold turkey, talk turkey, what a turkey...in recent days, which turkey phrase or idiom best applies to you and why?  Click on the word turkey if you need to read more about the meaning behind each phrase.

Gonna have to 'talk turkey' later today so I'll go with that one.  
See #7. 

6. If you could have any one guest join your Thanksgiving dinner table, who would it be?

Just one? How about someone with no where to go? I hate to think about people alone on Thanksgiving Day.

7. What is one thing you must accomplish today?

I have two meetings requiring my attendance. One will be fun, the other I'm not real excited about. How's that for honest?

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Speaking of crafting...I went to AC Moore last weekend and picked up several bits and pieces needed for three Christmas gift projects I want to complete before Christmas (obviously).

Christmas 2013. ahem. 

So far the bag is still on my counter. 

When it comes to crafting I think that saying 'my eyes are bigger than my stomach' applies.  Or maybe I should say  'my intentions are bigger than my ability to get things done'  

Here's hoping I surprise myself!





32 comments:

  1. OMGoodness...I'm first this week. I don't think I've been #1 on
    ANY meme. Wow.

    Joyce, you really made me laugh with your thoughts on 'crafty'...especially the part on handy and getting married. LOL

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  2. I feel the same way about retail: everybody should have to work in retail at least once in their life. People are sooo rude!

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  3. Your Sundays as a child sound a lot like mine. However, my dad never went to church with us. In fact, he didn't get saved and baptized until he was in his 70's, but that was one of the happiest days of my life! I love those little bags you made...very impressive! My problem is that I just don't have the patience to sit long enough and do a craft. Love your answer to #6.

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  4. I am the same way with crafting...see my response! I have great ideas and intentions! ha Good luck and enjoy with BOTH meetings today! How's that snow? (snicker snicker)

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  5. I love crafting but my energy drops so fast that what I start, I don't get to finish. Right now, I'm working on resting up and getting ready for more test, as well as loosing weight. Cancer sure has packed on the pounds!! I hate the way I look right now.

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  6. Good luck with your meeting and with your Christmas crafting projects.

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  7. haha, Christmas 2013 :) Well now that we all know about your Christmas 2013 craft, we can keep you accountable for finishing it...this year! I love the little simmering pot gift bag idea!! And they look adorable - I'm sure everyone will love them. I hate the idea of people being alone on Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The past 2 years we have made an extra large Christmas eve meal for after our Christmas eve church service, and invite anyone who is at the Christmas eve service alone to come over to our house afterwards. And we are planning to continue the tradition this year :) Thanks for the great questions - as usual! Happy Wednesday!

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  8. First off, the bags are adorable!! Second, I hear you when you say your eyes are bigger than your crafting stomach. I bought a stocking knitting kit that I have yet to begin. It requires colorwork in the round, which I don't know how to do. I am thinking this will be a summer 2014 project!! heehee

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  9. You're right ... everyone should spend some time serving in a restaurant. Not being handy may well be one of the reasons to get married ... alas, my hubby isn't very handy, but thankfully he knows that and doesn't try to do stuff he can't do ... he just hires it out or persuades a friend to help. ;-)

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  10. Nothing on Pinterest is as easy as it seems - for sure!!!

    Your Sunday sounds like my Sundays... the simple days!

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  11. Yes, some customers are shockingly rude, and I forgot how restaurant smells linger! My crafting experiences are very similar, but sometimes I pull it off!

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  12. Your potpourri looks really pretty - I'm sure they loved it. I love a simple craft project that can be finished fast, so you get the reward :-)

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  13. Oh, you made me feel bad with your answer to #6 because I feel the same way. I guess George has been on my mind since the CMA awards last week. Shame on me!

    I think your crafty project looks great and I'm sure the ones on the receiving end will be impressed.

    I can't believe you have come up with 150 weeks of HP questions. Goodness, that's a bunch!

    Hoping your meetings go well. I'm off to get my Dad for a procedure at the hospital this morning. It just never ends!

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  14. Thanks, once again, for making Wednesdays so interesting, and congratulations on #150!!! Wow! I always enjoy your answers.

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  15. Wish I'd had the time to participate this week....this was a good one! your pinterest craft sounds like a good one, I am going to check it out!! Enjoy the rest of your day!

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  16. Nobody doesn't like Sara Lee :) Loved that coffee cake! I'm going to be making some cute turkey's that I saw with Oreo's for Thanksgiving. Way to go on the Christmas projects, wishing you success....can't wait to see what you make.

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  17. No kidding, the 150th. What a milestone, Joyce! I too was in church both Sunday mornings and Sunday evenings. I loved it. My friends were there. Very often one of my friends would get to come home with me from church in the morning and stay until the evening service. Brought back great memories. :-)

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  18. Believe it or not you used less words for #2 than I did to say what I meant. Ha.
    Your craftiness is so cute! I go to the craft stores with my sister so she knows what I want HER to do for me. Haha
    Good luck with your meetings!

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  19. i love the pumpkins! how cute!
    I am actually glad i didn't get the job i applied for at a cafe or hot dog on a stick, i forgot the part how rude customers can get.

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  20. Such fun questions today, Joyce. Thank you again for doing this week after week. 150! Wow! I wrote on April's page that it is interesting that so many of us who follow each other answered #1 in much the same way. I think perhaps it this spiritual upbringing that tends to bond us unlike any other thing in common. Just a thought! Thanks again, and I hope your meetings went well and that the rest of your week is spent as you desire.

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  21. For sure, this season of life is certainly filled with plenty of uncertainty! I suppose it will be this way from now on. What ever happened to those care-free days, back when I was twenty?!

    I have a closet filled with crafting projects, waiting to be finished :( Either there's no time, or I'm not in the mood...

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  22. The potpourri bags are "generously filled", so don't sweat the "big stuff." LOL I almost said I took away the smell of grease from every restaurant I worked in. Yuck. But I did learn how to fold cloth napkins very well. That's one upside. Talking turkey isn't a lot of fun. Hope it goes smoothly.

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  23. Loved hearing about your Sunday's as a child. My memories are much like yours, minus the coffee cake.

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  24. I forgot all about those Sundays that we went out to eat! Thanks for reminding me! I guess most of my Sunday memories involve food and football. They still do! LOL

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  25. Those potpourri bags are so cute! And oh, I loved that coffee cake - I don't know if you can still get it, but you know I'll be looking now! Good luck with your meetings today!

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  26. Im so so horrid with uncertainty. I must learn to lean on the unknown and LIKE it.

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  27. I thought the potpourri bags were cute. I enjoyed reading your answers and I also think everyone should work in a restaurant just once in their life to see the job from another angle.

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  28. I am struck by the similarities of the answers to #1. Maybe we would be a better country if we got back to going to church as a family, dining as a family, entertaining ourselves as a family.
    Yes, I did watch the Billy Graham special. I admire the man and the integrity that he has displayed throughout his life and ministry.
    Thanks for stopping by my blog. I look forward to, and enjoy reading, your comments. God bless you and Hubs and of course your girls.

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  29. I like your crafty idea! So cute!
    Our childhood Sundays sounds similar!

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  30. I loved your answer about having someone over for dinner who has nowhere else to go. That's such a blessing...and a good one to remember. We often have a soldier over who has no place to go and he is as much a blessing to us as we are to him. Giving is the greatest gift. Your crafty idea is fabulous!

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  31. I'll bet that potpourri will smell wonderful (I like the smell of oranges). I'm the same way about the crafting being "eyes to big for my stomach." If I didn't refrain myself, I'd have a house full of yarn and no HOPE of ever using it all or making all the patterns I've saved off the internet.

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  32. Had so much fun answering these that I only managed to blog about 4 questions! Thanks again. Great questions.

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