Friday Faves

 Joining Andrea (Momfessionals) and Erika (A Little Bit Of Everything) for their Friday Favorites link 

Here are five things I'm loving in this new year-

1. Eating lighter.  Who's with me? We've had so many heavy meals these past three months (yes the holiday-ing seems to start in October for some reason) and it's been nice to change it up here.   

Last night I made this yummy salad-arugala, tomato, cucumber, toasted pine nuts, a sprinkle of parm, and a light lemon vinaigrette topped with some chicken tenders browned and finished off in the oven with a little chicken broth and capers. 

2. This juice, Uncle Matt's Ultimate Immune made with orange juice, elderberry, zinc and more-

I had a glass at my neighbor's house on New Year's Eve and liked it so much I bought some on my next trip to the grocery. It's not inexpensive, but it is delicious and not overly sweet. Plus it's pretty. Elderberry is particularly good for you this time of year as it helps boost immunity and reduces cold and flu symptoms, among other things. 

I bought mine at Publix but it's available at Wal Mart, Amazon, and other shops too. 

3. Signs of spring. It's never too early, right? 

Actually I think it might be too early in some parts of the country, and we'll likely have some cold weather here before the calendar makes it official. These daffs are hardy and can handle the kind of winter weather we get in The Palmetto State.  

4. Moving-

Not house. Definitely not that! I mean moving me. 

Hubs and I have had some nice walks in this new year and I hope we keep it up. I still wear my ankle brace and that seems to help with the lingering off and on pain that has no medical explanation. We haven't done any extreme hills, unless you count my neighborhood walking trail (which I do), but mostly we're steering clear of trails marked strenuous. 

This is the flat part of our neighborhood walking trail. It's literally a short straight up and/or straight down bit to get here, but it feels good to move and I'm hoping more walking will actually help as opposed to hurt. 

5. Day dates. 

Still counting my 52 dates in 52 weeks we started back in the fall, and think it's going to end up being more like 52 in 60 or something like that which is fine. We were away over the holidays and spent time with family so missed a week and we had company here one week so missed another and I'm sure there will be one or two more misses before we get to 52. 

But we'll get there. Lots will involve hikes because we enjoy that. We love to be outside, and hiking is a quiet activity that allows for conversation and deep thinking. Hubs says I don't need a reason to think deeply, but he humors me. 

Episode lucky 13 was a hike through some beautiful woods and around a small local lake with fabulous views of Table Rock. 

70 degrees on January 7th.

 I'll take it! 

If you'd like to share five favorite somethings from the first part of this new year hop over to our host blogs and add your links. 

Have a happy weekend everyone! 

Hello Monday, Hello New Year

I say every January the official start to the new year for me is this week, sometime five or six days into the month. Christmas is still up at my house, but today is the day. Hubs took down the outdoor lights yesterday, but inside I'm still fa-la-la-ing. 

We had a nice weekend beginning with a walk to a nearby waterfall Friday morning. Let's go ahead and call it day date episode 12. 

I was wearing a hat. I forgot there would be a picture. 

The little brown dog loves this particular hike, and in fact he'd made this same walk just last week when he spent Christmas with my daughter1 and her family while we traveled. 

The minute he gets out of the car he starts panting like crazy because he smells the water and wants to get to it pronto.

We came home and had lunch, then mid-afternoon hubs and I went to the movies (episode 13). We were trying to remember the last time we went to an actual movie theater and couldn't be sure. I think it was way back in May when Mission Impossible came out, and before that who knows? We don't go to the movies often, but happened to be there twice this weekend. 

We wanted to see Song Sung Blue and had to drive a couple of towns over to where it was still playing. We loved it. Neither of us had read anything about it, and turns out it wasn't at all what we thought it was going to be. Still we loved it. I thought Hugh Jackman was playing Neil Diamond, but he's actually playing Neil Diamond in a tribute act. So good! The camera absolutely loves Kate Hudson, and the story was unexpected. Bring your kleenex. Just sayin'. 

We're rarely in this town so I checked the always trustworthy internet for a dinner rec. We ended up at a place called The West End Dinner Club which we enjoyed. It has a speakeasy vibe and the food was good. I had salmon and hubs had mahi and both were tasty. 

Saturday we did a few things around the house and I picked up a few groceries we'd be needing for the grandkids overnight visit. These two were celebrating their wedding anniversary and we said the kids could spend the night so mom and dad could have a night out in the city. 

They arrived just in time for us to load them back into the car to go see the new film David. This was the first movie in a theatre for Little Miss and she had a grand time. I mean there was popcorn and a comfy recliner so what more do you need? We liked the movie a lot and the message is excellent. It's an especially good boy flick which is rare. Also very true to the Biblical account which was nice to see. 

We came home and had a fondue party. You haven't lived until you've made fondue with a three year old lol. Little Miss pours and mixes with great confidence.  

I thought ahead and covered the table with a disposable cloth, but it still felt like there was chocolate everywhere. 

We started with cheese fondue and hubs also grilled some small steaks because it seemed like we needed more than cheese and chocolate for dinner. And popcorn. 

Hi. We're the grandparents.  

There were vegetables for the cheese and fruit for the chocolate so calling that a win. 

After dinner it was showers for the boys and a bath for little miss, and then pjs and basketball on tv. Everyone slept and we had bacon and waffles and leftover fruit before church. Shout out here to parents getting three kids dressed and fed and in the car along with themselves for church every Sunday. I felt a little like I'd run a 5k. 

Our sermon yesterday was on 1 Samuel 17 aka David and Goliath. We'd just seen the movie the day before so my ears perked up when the pastor mentioned the chapter he would preach from. Coincidence? Not likely.  In short...we all have our giants. Be like David and think less about my giant and more about my giant God. 

Wishing you a wonderful start to this brand new year. 

Joining Holly (Pink Lady) and Sarah (Sunshine and Books) today for their regular Monday morning hop. 

Happy New You!

That's how we say it in our house. Happy new YOU! When our oldest grandson was two years old this was how he greeted the new year, and we still love it. 

So will it be a new me, or the same old me in 2026? I'm hoping for a slightly improved version, but I suppose I'm the one who will need to make that happen, so the answer is still up in the air. 

We put a boatload of expectation on the turning of a calendar page, don't we? 

Before we move forward let's look back at the week that was. Monday around 5 hubs had a thought about whether or not his passport was expiring this year or next so he went to check. He returned shortly and asked, 'Where's my passport?' 

I don't know. I mean we keep them locked up always in the same place, but when he went to check it wasn't there. So we backtracked in our thinking trying to remember when the last time was that he flew, until I remembered we had taken the passports (and every single identifying piece of information we own including our birth certificates and our marriage license) to the DMV in August when we went for our Real ID. 

Hmmm...so what did I do with them? I mean we both knew I'd been the one carrying the bag and hubs kept his cool but y'all it was a problem. A PROBLEM!! 

We knew they'd been in a tote bag and we spent the next couple of hours turning our house upside down looking for that bag in obvious and ridiculous places both, because at this point I figured I must have put it somewhere that made no sense. 

We had gone to breakfast after the DMV and even though it was all the way back in August I still phoned the restaurant and the sweet hostess went and looked in their office and under the counter and anywhere she could think of which I appreciated. I knew I hadn't left it there because I'm kind of paranoid about this sort of thing, although apparently not paranoid enough to put it all back in the spot we have for important documents. 

At some point I got on the computer and asked what to do and the internet very helpfully laid it out for me.  I went ahead and ordered a copy of my birth certificate and our marriage license because those things were easy. Hubs birth certificate would be another story, because he was born outside the US in a military hospital that no longer exists. Whoo boy. 

We finally went to bed. Hubs said we'd figure it out and let's just go to bed and see it with fresh eyes in the morning. Neither of us slept much, and when I got up he was already on the phone trying to sort out his paperwork dilemma. We both were sure the bag was somewhere in the house as opposed to truly lost or stolen, but we couldn't think of any other place to look. I decided to go look once more in one of the places I'd already looked three or four times, but this time I methodically took each thing out of the space, and hallelujah! there it was.  

Honestly I felt like I had a little PTSD from the whole experience. I know this experience falls under the heading of first world problems, but it was a problem nonetheless.

Tuesday was nice. I piddled around the house, made a big pot of lemon chicken orzo soup, caught up on blogs, and played Mah Jong with some neighbors. 

On the last day of the year (Wednesday) we went for a walk. It was cool but not windy and the sky was so blue. Some of us chased chipmunks...

we smiled at the cherry tree beginning to bloom-

...and we spent the afternoon watching football. I made a Mexican style spinach dip to take to the next door neighbors that evening. They invited us, along with another couple, to ring in the new year with dinner and cards.  

It was fun and we didn't have to drive anywhere which I consider a win on NY Eve. 

We haven't taken down a single decoration yet and I'm not mad about it. We're relaxing and enjoying sitting by the tree still, so probably won't worry about it until next week. 

On the first day of this brand new year we took another walk and watched a lot more football.  'Tis still the season. I blogged a little , and we made a semi-traditional meal for dinner. Hubs grilled pork chops and made black eyed peas and I made cornbread and cooked cabbage to go with. Technically you're supposed to eat greens and I often do spinach, but I had a head of cabbage in the frig I wanted to use so we made it work. 

If you don't know what I'm talking about you might not live in the south. 

I played around with a winter bucket list and also took a look back at fall to see how I did. Remember fall? I kept my want-to-do's back then pretty simple-

Not sure why I made a list of the odd 11, but of the 11 I checked off eight. I didn't get my photo book made, I didn't memorize three verses (although I did memorize one) and I didn't make soup in my pumpkin tureens. I will definitely get the book made this winter, there were too many other holiday related tasks to be done this fall for me to spend a lot of time making a book. I'm not fast. 

Hubs and I tackled the attic but there's still more to be done there and we'll continue working on that job this winter. Good times. 

Moving forward into the new year, new season with a new list which I'll post soon. It's a work in progress. Like me. I hope your new year is happy and bright. 

Merry 2026! 

Pop! Clink! Fizz! It's The Hodgepodge

Hello Hodgepodgers and happy new year! I look forward to more random fun here on Wednesdays in 2026, but for now let's close out the year that was. 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. Cheers! 

1. Did you make resolutions or set goals for the year we're waving goodbye? How did that work out for you? Will you set any goals for this new year, new season, or new month? Share one or two if you'd like to share. 

My personal self-improvement (for lack of a better word) goals for this year were more in my head than written on a piece of paper or a blog. 

I also made seasonal bucket lists which always have a few tasks on them along with some fun things too. I did okay with those,  but there were many things I didn't get to and I'm fine with that. Mostly fine. I use the bucket lists more as a guide or reminder as opposed to a 'MUST DO!!' kind of thing. 

I need to review my fall list and make one for winter still, and hope to get to that this week. 

2. When did you have the most fun this year? 

It's hard to choose just one thing, but some of the most fun I had would definitely include time spent with grandkids (and their mommas) at the lake. 

We also took a beach trip all together and that ranks high on the fun list too. 

College friends here for a weekend was another highlight. 

3. What's a song or song lyric you'll associate with 2025? Tell us why. 

If you read my post yesterday (linked here-Anchored) then you already know my answer, but it's this one-

Cornerstone...'

 '...when darkness seems to hide His face, I rest on His unchanging grace

  In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil...Christ alone, Cornerstone, 

    weak made strong, in the Saviour's love, Through the storm He is Lord, Lord of all...' 

I also love this one by Christy Nockels and it's another that goes along with my word of the year. I've seen her perform live and she's so good. 

My Anchor   ...

'My anchor, forever, My shelter within the storm, 

You're my deliverer, You never falter, 

You're the rock I stand on...'

4. Best (or a favorite) bite of something delicious you tasted this year? 

 Again, it's nearly impossible to choose just one, but most recently this crab and cucumber appetizer with the coconut lime vinaigrette over all was so scrumptious and something I want to recreate at home. 

5. What do you want to do more of in the new year? Less of? 

More of? 

more time spent in creative pursuits, more movement, more prayer, more filling my mind with 'whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy..' I want to think on those things.  

The world screams the opposite so swimming against the tide has to be intentional. 

Less of? 

less spending, less couch time aka no broken bones, there's probably more but nothing is coming to mind

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

"Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning, but a going on, 

with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us." ~Hal Borland 

Thanks for joining in here each week. It's such a wonderful group of bloggers of every age, stage, geography, and background, yet we come together easily to encourage, laugh, share, discuss, and support. 

The world needs more of this. 

Wishing you peace in this next new year xo Joyce 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 634

Hello friends. Here are the questions to the last weekly Hodgepodge in 2025. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here on Wednesday (December 31st) to share answers with the rest of the world wide webbers. See you there! 

 

1. Did you make resolutions or set goals for the year we're waving goodbye? How did that work out for you? Will you set any goals for this new year, new season, or new month? Share one or two if you'd like to share. 

2. When did you have the most fun this year? 

3. What's a song or song lyric you'll associate with 2025? Tell us why. 

4. Best (or a favorite) bite of something delicious you tasted this year? 

5. What do you want to do more of in the new year? Less of? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Monthly Musings-December

Hello friends and happy Thursday. Joining Holly (Pink Lady) and Patty (Good Better Best)  for their Monthly Musings link up today, and mixing in some of our holiday home decor just because. Here are the prompts-

1. What holidays do you celebrate? 

In December-Advent, Christmas, and New Year's Eve. I'm not sure Advent counts as a holiday, but it is an important part of the season for me.

2. Scale of 1-10, how into the holidays are you this year? Be honest. 

I'm an eight. I'm excited to have my girls and their families all together this weekend. It's the 'in-law' year so we're having a little family Christmas here on Saturday. When your kids are grown and married and have children of their own, and those in-law children are also close to their families, well...some flexing and adjustment of your expectations as to how Christmas looks absolutely needs to happen. 

Not gonna lie-it may not happen year one, but we're ten years in now and it's all good. Different can still be wonderful. 

Firstly, I love that my girls have in-laws who love them and their children. That is no small thing. Plus hubs and I have spent our entire married life alternating Christmas between our two families due to geography, so we know the drill. I've told my girls if we can manage a get together sometime in December on the 'off' years then we'll make that happen. Personally I don't want to celebrate in January. My mindset shifts to quiet, low-key, and hey let's not eat cookies every night in January, so if we're going to celebrate Christmas together it needs to be December. 

3. Favorite things to make/bake during the holidays? 

I love to bake cookies, but haven't done very many this year. Both my girls bake and will bring their creations here so we'll have plenty. I always make cranberry bread too, and chex mix both the sweet and savory.  

4. Favorite holiday movies? 

I'm not big on the Hallmark movies, but I like most of what we think of as the traditional holiday films. White Christmas, The Holiday, Elf,  Love Actually, and The Christmas Story are all watched here. 

5. Most random holiday tradition?

A picture on the steps first thing Christmas morning, before coming in to the room where stockings have been filled and more presents added under the tree. It was torture when I was a kid, and I think my girls will say the same. Now their children have a picture taken on the stairs so yay for tradition! 

6. Are you hosting for the holidays? New Year's Eve or New Year's Day? 

We're hosting our kids and grandkids this weekend, and then will be with my extended family on Christmas Day which I'm also looking forward to. We haven't thought about the New Year celebration at all. We may have friends in impromptu, or it might just be us? We're okay with low key on the last day of the year. 

7. Favorite way to ring in the New Year? 

I'm not a night owl, but I do try to be awake when the clock strikes twelve to mark the start of a new year. #goals lol. 

Is just being awake considered ringing in the new year? 

Some years we're with friends, some years friends are here, some years it's just me and the hubs and I'm good with any of those. I don't like to be on the road on New Year's Eve. 

8. Any new year's resolutions or word of the year? 

There will be some goals set and many years I do have a word. This year mine was anchor and I'll write more about how that looks in hindsight after Christmas. I haven't given a lot of thought to the new year/new word yet and honestly I typically don't get it in gear in this department until about January 7th so stay tuned. 

9. Favorite holiday songs? 

The traditional hymns and carols from my childhood are still my favorite...

                '...a thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices...' 

                '...God is not dead nor doth he sleep...'

                '...the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonite...' 

10. Favorite holiday memory? 

I could never choose just one. What I treasure most from my own childhood is the warmth and love I felt from my family and for my family on Christmas day. Those feelings bubble up every year and I feel so much gratitude for the people who grew me up. My momma made it all pure magic. 

More Than Words

Good Monday morning friends. I'm not going to do a weekend recap because ours was spent mostly de-Christmas-ing the house which is such a chore and not that interesting to read about.  Hubs remarked that we put out fewer decorations this year but it seemed like it took us longer to get everything taken down. I tried to be more intentional in how I stored things for next year, which contributed to the process moving at a snail's pace. 

Anyway it's done, or at least it's mostly done. Always a few stray bits and bobs that turn up once we've lugged everything to the attic. 

Let's talk words. 

Do you have a word of the year (WOTY)? Is this something you always do, sometimes do, have never done? I've had words from time time, but only when I truly felt there was a word I couldn't escape. That's how God speaks to me. He has to flash something in great BIG BOLD letters everywhere I look, and then I pay attention.

I know some people just pick a word they like and call it their own, but that's not how my words have happened. My experience with a word of the year has gone something like this-I go into it in January thinking my word is going to make the coming year look one way and then my year ends up looking a whole 'nother way. 

I haven't had a WOTY since 2019 when I chose the word 'delight'.  Sounds pretty doesn't it? Sounds like you're in for a year full of awe and wonder, right? 

If you've been around here for a while you might remember 2019 was the year one daughter had a cancelled wedding, and then right about that same time my other daughter and her husband told us they were expecting baby boy2 and would be transferred to South Korea three months before his birth, so yeah. 

It's a little scary choosing a word.

You know what though? 2019 actually did turn out to be a year of awe and wonder, just not in any of the ways I'd envisioned. Sometimes hindsight is a gift, and I can look back at that year and see how I learned to delight in Him, even as life presented some most un-delightful moments. 

So I've landed on a word for 2025 and it's this-anchored. 

Anchored means, "to make something or someone stay in one position by fastening him, her, or it firmly." In the Bible the word anchor is an emblem of hope, and a definition I read in a Bible dictionary added this, which I love, 'held by an anchor, moored, fixed in safety'. That feels like a good way to go in to a brand new year. 

I always like to have a verse to memorize and mull over that relates to my word, and while there are several that apply I picked this one-

I expect come December I will once again look back, and stand amazed at all the many ways God does exceedingly more than I can ask or imagine. 

If you have a word, I'd love to hear it. 

And I always feel like the new year should officially begin around the 6th, so happy new year everyone! 

Happy New Hodgepodge

Happy New Year Hodgepodgers, and welcome to 2025! If you've answered today's questions add your link to the end of my post then leave a comment for the blogger before you. 

I'm going to try a little something new in the HP this year, nothing earth shattering but a change nonetheless. I'm going to start posting questions the Sunday before instead of the Tuesday before like I've always done. The linkup itself will still go live on Wednesdays, hence the title-The WEDNESDAY Hodgepodge. We'll see how it goes, but this will hopefully give folks a bit more flexibility in writing their answers. 

Now back to today and the first Hodgepodge of 2025...

1. Oxford's Word of the year for 2024 is 'brain rot'. Are you familiar with this term? Do you suffer from the condition? Ha! This is a term used to 'capture concerns about the impact of consuming excessive amounts of low-quality online content, especially on social media'. If you were choosing a word to capture 2024 (for the nation/world, not your own life personally) what word would you choose? 

I'm familiar with the term and I'm not suffering. I've become fairly ruthless in what I click these days and avoid anything that feels ad-full, sketchy, spammy, scammy, mean, lecture-like, or just plain ick. 

Oxford's word is brain rot, but Merriam Webster chose polarization. My thoughts ran in that direction as well, and sadly I'm going to say 'divided'. It's not an upbeat word, but honestly I've struggled to find patches of common ground this year with people who see our country through a whole 'nother lens than I do. I keep trying though! 

2. It's National Polar Bear Plunge Day (January 1)...will you be participating in one of these events (or even your own)? How will you spend the first day of this brand new year? Do you have a traditional New Year's Day menu? 

I've never done a Polar Bear Plunge but we live on a lake so the possibility is there. Hubs says he's in if I'm in so I guess it's all up to me. I'll let you know. 

A few years ago hubs sister and her family were here for the holidays and Daughter2, one cousin, hubs, and his sister all took the plunge. I volunteered to photograph the event because somebody had to do it. 

As far as the meal goes, we do have a fairly traditional menu every January 1st that includes all the 'must-eat' foods...pork (the movement of pigs when they root for food is supposed to represent moving forward), cornbread (representing gold), spinach (green is for dollars), and black-eyed peas (for luck). These foods relate to luck and good fortune, which may or may not be true, but we like them so we play along. 

As far as how we'll spend the day...I love to watch The Rose Parade and if it's not raining hard hubs and I will get out for a walk/hike, then spend the rest of the day relaxing and watching football.  

3. What's something that brings you joy and how will you do more of it in this new year? 

Writing. In the words of Nike-Just Do It. I'm also trying to pencil in some time blocks on the calendar in order to be more intentional about it. We'll see if that helps.  

4. Do you struggle with the January blues? What's one thing you can/will do to keep them at bay? 

I don't really struggle with the blues in January. Usually come January I'm feeling ready for a bit of down time. A quieter month after the frenzy of the previous year's 4th quarter, which is always jam packed with activity, is appealing to me. 

Course this year I'll have grandkids in the house, so not sure how the quiet part is going to work. Stay tuned. 

5. Will you choose your own personal word of the year for 2025? What about a goal, resolution, or maybe even a bucket list? Elaborate as much or as little as you like. 

I'd like to have a word but haven't settled on one yet. 

I'm working on a winter bucket list and will share it once I get it together. My bucket lists are always part fun, part growth, part stuff I need to do and if I put it on a list is more likely to get done. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I'm writing my answers on New Year's Eve, and have spent the entire day (so far) in my pajamas. I cannot remember the last time I did this and let me just say it felt glorious. I worked on my blog, did some laundry, made a pot of bean soup using the ham bone leftover from Christmas dinner, and prepped two appetizers to bring to a get together we'll be attending tonite. I won't wear my pjs there, but I might be tempted. 

We're ringing in 2025 with some neighbors and this is my favorite way to greet a new year...sticking close to home, no driving, snacks, friends and fun. Wishing you all a bright, happy, and healthy new year! 

Powered by Linky Tools

Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list...

Days Gone By

It was sixty degrees here yesterday so hubs and I (and the little brown dog of course) took advantage of the warm weather and hiked out to a nearby waterfall. We hadn't been on this particular path since Hurricane Helene hit, but she definitely left her mark. 

The rangers and crew have done a good job clearing the trail of most of the enormous fallen trees and they've made work arounds where needed.  

I do some of my best thinking while on a walk in the woods. I don't know if it's the quiet or the beauty or the freedom from distraction but I feel God especially near when I'm out in nature.  

As we walked yesterday I found myself thinking about this next new year getting ready to roll in...what I'm hoping for...what I need to do-untangle-notice-cherish. 

What will this new year bring? 

No clue, right? I mean we all hope for lots of goodness, but know most years are a mixture of both sorrow and joy. Every year is filled with the comfort of familiar, yet the unexpected will be woven in there too. 

There will likely be some muck along the way.

So much beauty too. 

There will be things to work out and things to enjoy. 

Time to play. 

And time to pray. 

A walk in the woods reminds me I don't have to think too deeply about the year I'm leaving behind. That it's okay to just let it quietly roll away and instead turn my gaze forward. 

To let my heart fill with gratitude for the way God goes before me into each new year. Each new day in fact. 

To rest in His unfailing love, knowing He'll show me the path I should walk. 

Creation reminds me to keep looking up. 

'The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him." Psalm 28:7

In the words of my grandson, 'Happy new you!'