Wednesday, December 8, 2021

A Bright and Merry Hodgepodge

Welcome to another edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Comments make the blog world merry and bright and the blog world needs more merry and bright. Here we go-

From this Side of the Pond

1. 'Tis the season to be jolly....so are you? 

In a word, not really. I know that's two words but eh. 

I have a pretty little carved nativity set I bought once upon a time on a trip I took with friends to the Christmas Market in Cologne. 

Remember travel? sigh. Anyway, this year I set it in my kitchen window, a reminder to keep my focus on the main thing. 

This is the main thing. 

2. Do you trim a tree this time of year, and if so is yours all done? What's something in your home-closet-life that needs to be trimmed in the new year? 

We do, normally more than one, but we're having a very low key holiday so just putting up one tree this year, and it's done. 

Something that needs trimming? My closet always, our file cabinet at the start of a brand new year, and my waistline but let's not think about that today. 

3. Are you 'dreaming of a white Christmas'? Is that a possibility where you'll be celebrating? According to this site the top ten places in the US you can count on for a white Christmas are- North Pole Alaska, Crater Lake Oregon, Yellowstone National Park, Winthrop Washington, Aspen Colorado, Ketchum Idaho, Mt. Washington New Hampshire, Whitefish Montana, Duluth Minnesota, and the Lake Tahoe town of Truckee California

Of the snowy spots listed which would you most like to visit? 

I do love a white Christmas, but in sunshiny South Carolina that isn't likely. For the record, a sunshiny Christmas is a-okay too. Honestly I wouldn't mind a trip to any of those spots but since it's Christmas I'm going to say Aspen. I'm sure it's especially beautiful this time of year. 

4. December 8th is National Brownie Day...will you be celebrating? How do you like your brownies-chewy or cake-like, frosted or plain, nuts or no nuts, a piece from the middle or give me the corner? As a child were you a member of a brownie troop? 

Brownies are one of my favorite desserts...chewy-no nuts-no frosting-and gimme a corner please (p.s.-I won't turn down the middle either) I don't think I'll be celebrating because we've had an abundance of treats lately and brownies in the middle of the week feels like something I should miss. See question #2. 

Yes, I was a member of a brownie troop, and at least one year my mom was the leader. 

That's me on the left and my baby sister keeping the tooth fairy in business on the right. I just noticed we're holding hands and is there anything more precious than sisters? 

 My girls were both brownies too, and I was a leader for Daughter2's troop. 

5. Share a favorite line or two from a Christmas carol or holiday tune. 

Every year on my blog I post the Casting Crowns version of I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day. I normally like hymns as they were written (this one is based on the Longfellow poem entitled Christmas Bells), but this particular song has been made better for the tweaking. I love the lyrics so much, this line especially-

'Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on Earth, good will to men.'

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

If I  listen to this song a couple of times I might have to change my answer to #1....

'Do you hear the bells, they're ringing? (Peace on Earth)
The light, the angels singing (Peace on Earth)
Open up your heart and hear them (peace on Earth)
Peace on Earth, good will to men'



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12 comments:

  1. Thanks as always for the writing prompts/questions! We will hopefully get our tree up tonight. I, too, have been looking at my nativities and reminding myself the real reason of the season. I love the quote you used - especially "God is not dead nor doth he sleep" - powerful words!!

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  2. I love the words to that song. The picture of you and your sister is so adorable!! Have a great day Joyce and thanks for the Hodgepodge questions.

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  3. Joyce,

    I didn't snag your questions this week. Maybe next time I can play along. I absolutely love Casting Crown's "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day". It's such a beautiful song! I think everyone feels a bit low key. Covid aka government control has dampened our spirits but like you pointed out the reason for the season and if we keep our focus on Jesus then everything else falls away. Thanks for sharing your responses. Your daughters were so precious. I miss the day when our kids were small. My how the time shot by! Have a joyful Christmas season, my dear! XOXO

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  4. We sang that song in church this past Sunday! Love the photo of you as a Brownie so sweet, holding hands!! Your nativity is very special.

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  5. Your 100% correct on the main thing! I'm not jolly but gathering with family is better than last year so that has given me some joy. Your tree looks beautiful. You would be perfect with Mark on a pan of brownies. He only eats the middle pieces, no ends for him! I love the Brownie photo. The song is beautiful. Thank you for sharing it.

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  6. I wish we could have gone to the markets this year! Also, I love that song too!

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  7. I was in the Brownies too and I check all those same boxes when it comes to eating brownies. I only ever feel meh and mostly happy about the holidays but I am never over the top jolly when it comes to Christmas/winter/ December. I am real hopeful we will NOT have a white Christmas. We have some snow flurries today but we shouldn't really have any accumulation.

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  8. Your tree is gorgeous. I plan on trying to trim my waistline!! Staying focused on the main reason for Christmas does help. Great song!

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  9. Are there any bad songs by Casting Crowns??? :)
    I soooo want to go to a Christmas Market. Your nativity scene is gorgeous.

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  10. Yes to the song. Amen. Yes to trimming the waist (I mentioned the same thing!) and thank you for another fun Hodgepodge, Joyce. You and your sis were cute Brownies! My two little sisters were Brownies and Mom was a leader (and cookie coordinator!). Hugs!

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  11. Our trees are very similar, ours in a 8 1/2' Slim Line from Balsam Hill. A fun group of questions today and I was glad to be back with it. Christmas blessings!

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