Skiing In To The Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's 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. Here we go...

1. Ice skating, skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, playing in the snow, or a snowy walk...which winter activity do you choose? Have you done any of these activities so far this winter? 

I choose a snowy walk. We haven't had any snow this winter so none of the above have happened. 

2. Everyone is posting pictures from ten years ago on their social media sites so let's jump on the bandwagon too. Share one photo and one thought to go with said photo from the year 2016. And maybe everyone isn't doing this, but many are and we're going to be part of the fun. 

I wrote a whole post relating to this topic on Monday which you can read here (Throwback Monday). Bring your coffee...it's not short. In a nutshell we spent 2016 building our current house so most of my photos are related to that event. 

I have a million so will share one I didn't include in Monday's post-

Our family has more than doubled in size. 

3. What's a trend you hope disappears in this new year? 

Rioting masquerading as protest. I'm so over it. 

4. 'They' say there's a day for everything and January 21st proves it. National Granola Bar Day. Do you like granola bars? How about just regular granola? Do you like bars of other kinds? 

I like granola okay. If I'm having yogurt for breakfast I'll put a small sprinkle of granola on top because I like the crunch. Granola can be calorie heavy and also full of sugar so there's that. 

I'm not a big fan of granola bars or other types of bars unless I'm hiking, and then I appreciate the energy boost they provide. 

Wait. Do candy bars count? I do like those. 

5.  A frozen lake, a trickling stream, a raging river, or a deep well...which one describes something about your life right now? Elaborate as much or as little as you like. 

I like the idea of a trickling stream at the start of this new year...gentle progress, subtle changes, reflection. That one seems to fit best right now. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I haven't ventured too deeply into the world of AI, but recently I used it for a little project with great success. My pantry had gotten out of control over the holidays. It was to the point where I was setting things in there telling myself I'd sort it out later and eventually get to a re-org in the new year.

Well the new year is here and the job felt overwhelming. Ugh. 

So I did what we do in the age of technology and snapped a photo. Then I showed it to my imaginary friend, aka AI, and asked her if she could sort it out. 

She did. In about ten seconds too. 

Also, I'm calling 'IT' a she and her response was amazing. 'She' started with some general suggestions then drilled down into some of the finer details when I said tell me more. She said she could organize it by shelf and even tell me what sort of containers I might need to purchase. 

I finally tackled the job today (Tuesday) which meant pulling everything out of the pantry, three bags of trash removed, a box of assorted items including some flower vases, pitchers and trays I've never used, etc to give away, all the shelves wiped down, the floor vacuumed, and best of all I now know what had been hiding there. Nothing exciting, nothing expired, but a lot of duplicates, including three jars of capers??? and an abundance of honey. 

Feels so good to have this job done. Now if only it will serve to inspire my cooking.