Relaxing With The Hodgepodge

Hello December and hello Hodgepodgers. I'm glad you're here. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post then leave a merry comment for the blogger before you. Here we go-

1. What's the best $5 gift to give someone? 

A fun mug, a book, a coffee gift card, fuzzy holiday socks

2. What's your favorite way to relax/unwind during the busy holiday season? 

I like to sit beside the lit Christmas tree with the rest of the house lights off. Early morning with my coffee or at dusk with a cup of tea or glass of wine. Sit-marvel-pray-wonder. 

3. How do you feel about gingerbread? Love it or no thanks? Are gingerbread houses a part of your holiday tradition? If you said yes, how does that look? Do you like ginger flavor in other kinds of dishes?

I like gingerbread, especially with a cup of hot tea. I also like to use ginger when cooking, particularly in Asian dishes. And I always ask for extra pickled ginger with my sushi. 

Gingerbread houses weren't really a part of our regular holiday tradition, but there were some years we made them happen. Do graham crackers count because we mostly made ours using graham crackers. They're easier to keep together.   

No matter their ages my girls took the construction very very seriously. 

4. December 5th is National Blue Jeans Day...will you be celebrating? Do you have a favorite brand? A favorite pair? Do you have a hard time parting with a favorite pair of jeans? Blue jeans-joggers-leggings-yoga pants...which one do you wear most often? 

Blue jeans are one of my favorite items of clothing and I definitely have a favorite pair. Yes it's always a little sad to see them go (first world problem I know). I like a few different brands but currently have a pair of Liverpool that I love. Of the 'legware' listed jeans are my most worn. 

5. As we head into this holiday season what's your biggest priority or goal for the end of the year? 

Be present. Keep Jesus front and center. Find a little bit of joy in each new day. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

When you decorate the tree do you do it yourself, have a little bit of help, or maybe a lot of help? If you have help do you move your helper's handiwork around to different branches on the tree when they leave the room? Asking for a friend.  

It wouldn't be December without my annual posting of this carol, my favorite version, with lyrics that are timeless...

 

Wishing you peace in your heart and home this Advent season.

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 580

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here tomorrow to share your answers. See you there! 

1. What's the best $5 gift to give someone? 

2. What's your favorite way to relax/unwind during the busy holiday season? 

3. How do you feel about gingerbread? Love it or no thanks? Are gingerbread houses a part of your holiday tradition? If you said yes, how does that look? Do you like ginger flavor in other kinds of dishes? 

4. December 5th is National Blue Jeans Day...will you be celebrating? Do you have a favorite brand? A favorite pair? Do you have a hard time parting with a favorite pair of jeans? Blue jeans-joggers-leggings-yoga pants...which one do you wear most often? 

5. As we head into this holiday season what's your biggest priority or goal for the end of the year? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Going Bananas For The Hodgepodge

Hello Hodgepodgers! Here we are again with 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. Here we go-

1. What's a skill you think everyone should have? 

There are more than a few skills I think everyone should have so narrowing it down to just one is hard. Critical thinking, cooking, swimming, communication...each important in it's own way. 

2. Do you have a special place or organizational system for gift wrapping? Do you still buy 'real' cards to send for birthdays, anniversaries, get-well, etc? 

I sort of have a system, but it's not great. I actually keep my wrapping paper, ribbons, bags, etc in the attic. We have a walk up attic over our garage and I'm up and down the stairs there nearly every day for one thing or another. I need to better organize what I've got and also part with some gift bags that, let's be honest, I'm not going to reuse. Why are they so hard to part with???

I do still buy real cards. I love sending and receiving although will admit the cost has skyrocketed. I know that puts many people off, and I think the cost of stamps is going up too. Still l enjoy choosing cards that feel like they fit the recipient. 

3. It's National Banana Day...are you a fan? What's your favorite thing to make with bananas or, if you're not a cook, your favorite thing to eat that contains banana? 

Yes I like bananas, not too ripe and not too green either. Just right lol. I really dislike the overly ripe ones though, so they get turned in to banana bread which I love. I have a recipe that calls for coconut and has a lime glaze poured over top, which sounds a little odd, but trust me it's delish. I also love bananas in my oatmeal. 

My favorite thing to eat that contains a banana is a banana. Not too ripe and not too green. Just right. 

4. Do you believe in second chances? Elaborate. 

Yes. I think except in rare circumstances everyone deserves a second chance. 

5. What is your idea of fun? 

Jumping off the dock with my grandkids, a hike to a pretty waterfall, dinner parties, cards with friends, time in the kitchen with my girls, dining al fresco, boating to a friends dock for a champagne sunset, writing, a spontaneous road trip, a full house, porch time with my people...the list goes on. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I was inspired to clean out my closet today, a task that was long overdue. Have you ever gotten three quarters of the way through a job and decided you were no longer inspired? I feel ya. 

Happy Wednesday everyone! 

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Homemade Hodgepodge

Welcome to December and that most wonderful time of the year. Grab your cocoa and take some time to read what other Hodgepodgers had to say today by clicking the link at the end of my post. And don't forget to add your own link to the list and leave a comment for the blogger before you. Here we go-  

1. When it comes to gift giving are you more of a 'create something from scratch' or a 'buy something in a shop' kind of giver? Tell about a favorite homemade gift you've given or one you've received. 

I'm mostly a 'buy something in a shop' kind of giver, but I have done some homemade gifting through the years too. I definitely try to buy things that feel personal to the recipient. 

As far as favorites go, in 2013 our girls surprised us with a painting of our sweet pup Dixie. They had the artist copy a photo and we love it still. 

In completely unrelated news, look at me with my short hair. 

In terms of giving something homemade, one year I made both girls holiday 'notebooks'. They were filled with all of our favorite holiday recipes written on cute cards, all of our family Christmas cards/letters, and lots of Christmas pictures taken as they were growing up. 

I might not be crafty but I can tug at the heartstrings in my own way. These books are keepsakes and I enjoyed putting them together. 

2. Do you have the 'gift of gab'? Is that a blessing or a curse? 

An easy question-yes. I Gab. With a capital G. We all gab here which is mostly a blessing. We think so anyway-ha! Our listeners may disagree. 

3. What's something you have going on that you need/want to 'wrap up' this month? 

For the love, is this office redo ever going to be redone??? Also, hubs added a new piece to the project which is basically bigger and more involved than my original project but whatever, none of it has been completed.

On the bright side, the wood was delivered and is in the garage. The carpenter will be here Monday to do some measuring that needs doing before the electrician can come which needs to happen before the carpenters actually come back to do the work. I'm kind of like it'll be done when it's done, but hubs is not wired that way and wanted it done yesterday. 

4. A food you love that is 'wrapped' in some way?

Lots of things, but Beef Wellington, sushi, a spring roll, and a soft taco would be near the top of the list.  

5. December is upon us...share something here (quote, verse, poem, song lyric, your own thoughts) related to the word hope. 

One of my favorite Christmas songs...

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I recapped our Thanksgiving travels in Monday's post, but hubs reminded me I left out one teensy tiny happening. A drunk driver hit our (parked) car Thanksgiving evening while we were all getting ready for bed. Ugh. 

Our car was parked in front of my daughter's house and the road is wide. About 9:30 (yes, when there are toddlers in the house you go to bed early) the across the street neighbor knocked on the door to tell us she thought someone had hit our car, and then had continued driving on up the road. Her husband had gone to see if he could spot the vehicle, and fortunately for us (and probably the drunk driver too) he was stopped just up the street. 

He had somehow managed to completely demolish another neighbors enormous brick mailbox stand. The airbags deployed and the car was a mess, but the driver was uninjured although struggling to stay vertical. The police were called and we did not get to bed anywhere close to 9:30. 

We are so thankful the damage to our car, while aggravating, was relatively minor.

So thankful the driver hit that brick wall and did not end up getting on the highway and perhaps causing grave harm to an innocent person. 

Thankful it was night not day, and no children were on the sidewalk playing. 

Don't drink and drive. I guess we still need to say it. 

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 443

We're back at it this week and you'll find the Hodgepodge questions below. Answer on your own blog then hop back here tomorrow to add your link to the party. See you there! 

1. When it comes to gift giving are you more of a 'create something from scratch' or a 'buy something in a shop' kind of giver? Tell about a favorite homemade gift you've given or one you've received. 

2. Do you have the 'gift of gab'? Is that a blessing or a curse? 

3. What's something you have going on that you need/want to 'wrap up' this month? 

4. A food you love that is 'wrapped' in some way?

5. December is upon us...share something here (quote, verse, poem, song lyric, your own thoughts) related to the word hope. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Let's Review

Not the whole year, just Christmas. 

Because Christmas memories need to be recorded somewhere and a blog about the everyday ordinary is a good place to do just that. 

Also, there's nothing ordinary about Christmas. 

So how was your holiday in this strange year that feels like it might never end? Ours was smaller than originally planned, quieter than originally planned, and almost as sweet as originally planned. 

Holding plans loosely is the key to success in the year that was. 

Daughter2 and her groom arrived late afternoon on Christmas Eve Eve. We snacked on a delicious cheese ball my neighbor had dropped off earlier and hubs grilled salmon for dinner. We played a little pool too, before calling it a night. 

She takes her game playing seriously, but what can I say... she's got my DNA. 

It rained hard all day long on Christmas Eve and I have to say it felt quite cozy. We bundled up for a walk after breakfast, then spent the rest of the day in front of the fire, chatting, playing games, and prepping our dinner. I'd ordered a Prime Rib from Kansas City Steaks and it was perfect. They offer an assortment but this one was seasoned and tied so all we had to do was cook. 

And trust the probe we have in our oven when it says it's done approximately 42 minutes before we thought it should be. But it was and I would order again from them. 

Of course there were pjs to open. Not sure how my sons-in-law feel about matching pjs, but I buy them anyway and they humor me by wearing them on Christmas Eve. fyi-the pjs are still wrapped in this picture. Not sure how he feels about a photo in his pjs on my blog. teehee. 

Does he read here? 

I didn't take a lot of pictures this year. There were just the four of us so most of my photos are of the soon-to-be marrieds. We kind of just soaked up the moments and the company. 

Speaking of...my favorite moment of all the moments was this one-

I had my wedding dress made into a robe for my daughter2 and surprised her with it on Christmas morning. To be honest, this was one of those gifts I'd built up in my head and I worried a little bit that her reaction might disappoint me. 

It did not. Oh my word. Best thing ever. 

I'd written her a note to go with the robe and also had a picture of me in the actual dress and her in the actual dress (she tried it on once a long time ago) in the envelope in case she didn't recognize it, but it only took a few seconds before she said, "Wait...is this your wedding dress?"  

Cue the water works. It was so precious and so special and I'm not sure I'll ever give another gift that felt as personal and as perfect and as joyous as this one. 

I used a company called Unbox the Dress and they were so nice to work with. I had some pieces left over after they made the robe so the seamstress also made a pocket square for hubs to wear at the wedding and two angel Christmas tree ornaments, one for each of my girls. 

In other gift giving news, hubs asked for a few suggestions of things to buy for me and I jotted down some of the usual... makeup, socks, etc...but also said I wanted something not on the list-surprise me. 

And he absolutely did. We had fun guessing what was in this package. It looked a lot like the armoire in Beauty and the Beast, but I was fairly certain that wasn't it-

Even better! A popcorn machine! The super deluxe kind. The kind I cannot wait to show my grandsons. Popcorn is my snack of choice so this will be fun. 

The day passed at a leisurely pace. We had our go-to Christmas dinner of ham with a side of pineapple stuffing followed by too many Christmas cookies (again!) and more game playing and really just a very relaxing holiday. 

Of course we were missing family, nobody more so than the South Korean contingent, but we Facetimed with our grandsons, and saw all their new goodies and felt all the excitement and joy little boys bring to this very special holiday. 

We ended our day the way every Christmas Day is meant to end... 

...grateful for family near and far, for all the love between us, and for a Savior born this day. 

The Bracelet

I want to tell you a story. A true story. And I want to write it down because I want to come back here and read it when the world feels harsh.

I grew up in a neighborhood where kids walked to school. Where red rubber balls were kicked across the blacktop. Where we learned to write in cursive and play the recorder. Where we hit softballs on the diamond out back and learned to finally do a pull up on the playground monkey bars.

It was the kind of neighborhood where kids spilled out of doors and skated on a frozen pond. Where games were played and arguments occurred but where we always made up because we were a team. A pack. The kids from Barclay.

We lined up every year on the first day of school with our friends, our classmates, kids we'd known since kindergarten. While every year the mix of kids in each class varied a little, whatever the combination it would be recognizable. Familiar. The makeup of our elementary school didn't change a whole lot in all the years we were there.

We rode our bikes 'look no hands!' to the swim club on sunny summer days it seemed would never end. Except they do. Of course they do. We grow up and away and our circles expand. We make new friends and yet always always in my heart is a place I hold dear for the kids from Barclay.

Flash forward to the year 2019, last Friday to be precise. I was reading in our family room when hubs came in with the mail. He put a CD sized envelope in my lap and I noticed the return address immediately. It was from a childhood friend. A girl from elementary school I haven't seen in literally decades.

We're friends on Facebook and occasionally have had a message back and forth about something or other, but no real long talks or heart to hearts. I love her artwork and she likes my travel pics. She encouraged me to try to make our high school reunion this past year, but I wasn't able to go.

So I looked at the envelope and wondered what in the world she might be sending me. I kind of assumed she was mailing something from the reunion, maybe a picture or a CD of pictures perhaps, but y'all in a million years I could not have predicted what was tucked inside that envelope.

It was a bracelet. And a few words with big impact on the backside of the card. The bracelet is a pretty strand of chords held together with a delicate silver bead. In the center of the bracelet is a washer style charm with three tiny hearts and a single word stamped in the metal.

My word. Delight.

I was speechless. I'm still a bit lost for words. A true random act of kindness that made my heart sing.

So obviously she reads my blog and let me just say that's the first thing that 'delights'. When someone reads my blog and I didn't know they were someone who reads my blog. But still, how many people know my word and see my word on a sign or a piece of jewelry or wherever and think of me and then act on it.

Because acting on it is really the thing, isn't it?

I mean many of us have good intentions. We want to do something kind or thoughtful or meaningful for someone but we just never get around to actually doing those things.  I don't know what prompted my friend to act but it doesn't really matter. She saw my word. She made the bracelet. She hunted down my address. She bought the off sized envelope. She packaged it. She wrote the note. She mailed. it.

And I'm still not over it y'all.

I hope I never get over it. I hope I remember my delight at the surprise and the thoughtfulness and the intent and the oh so perfect words she wrote on the back of the card and I hope I pay it forward in a way that makes somebody else feel what I felt when I opened the envelope and saw this.

I've been wearing the bracelet and when I look down and see the charm peeking out of my shirt sleeve I feel my heart shift. My perspective change. Now how do you say thank you for that?

So I'm writing it all down here with the hope this sparks someone reading to act. To do that kind, generous, thoughtful thing you've wanted to do, meant to do, but haven't gotten around to doing.

Thank you V! It's honestly the best thing that has happened to me in forever.

A 30's-80's-Last Week Throwback

I have three things (more or less) to post that I think qualify as throwbacks, all baby related but I believe that's allowed since I'm going to be a grandmother.

First things first...my mother-in-law brought hubs and I a little gift when she was here for the shower. Technically it's for Baby M when he makes his appearance, and grows big enough to sit in a rocking chair, but we're going to keep it at our house.

This was my mother-in-law's rocker when she was a little girl-

Hubs and all his siblings rocked away in it too when they were small, and I'm excited for my grandson to rock there like a boss. Also, is this what you picture when you hear the word great- grandma? Ours are beauties with hearts to match.

Second thing next...this basket y'all!!

 I 'borrowed' this photo from my crafty friend's FB page because it shows all the goodies so well. 

A friend of mine in NJ put this together for my daughter, and I think also a little bit for me. I know I loved it every bit as much as my daughter did, and her thoughtfulness meant so much to me. This basket is filled to the brim with adorable little lamb onesies, booties (those booties!!), a bath towel with a little lamb hood, a super soft stuffed lamb, and more. Now here's the thing-this friend did not know our shower had a little lamb theme. Pure happenstance.

My mom was here when the box arrived on my doorstep and it was all we could do not to take out each and every item and ooh and aah over it. The only thing that stopped us was we did not want my daughter to miss out on the gorgeous presentation.

Our shower was neutral in color since the parents-to-be didn't learn the baby's gender until a couple of days before they got here. My daughter received several adorable onesies, sleep sacks, and teeny tiny little outfits as shower gifts, and as she pulled each one out of the bag I thought to myself, neutrals are for boys. The colors are perfect...the grays, oatmeals, and soft greens...they all say boy to me.

Also I'm glad the big trash bag made it into all the photos. That's very From This Side of the Pond-ha!

Third thing last...I ran across a couple of pictures from my very own baby shower circa-late 80's. Perms were a thing y'all.

Side note-are you ever shocked by how young you look in a photograph? I was pregnant here with the mama-to-be! which, I'm not gonna lie, kind of makes my brain hurt. I'm exactly the same number of months pregnant at my shower as she was at hers.

I remember absolutely loving this dress, which was a hand-me-down from my sister. She had a baby almost exactly one year before my little munchkin was born, so lots of my maternity wear was hand-me-down. Back then we wore great big balloon like tops and dresses as opposed to now when moms-to-be wear clothing that accentuates their baby bump.

Also, we didn't say baby bump.

Baby gear has changed 'just a little' in thirty years. Did you know there's now a port-a-crib where you press a button and it pops open and then you press again and it shrinks closed? Raise your hand if you ever traveled with a port-a-crib and cussed a little at trying to get all the poles in place?

And the strollers! Hoisting a stroller in and out of the car was an integral part of my daily aerobic workout way back when. Remember how they would sometimes threaten to partially open on you while you were lifting it into the trunk of your vehicle? Good times!

Not sure why we're all wearing blue? We didn't know the gender, but were all convinced she was a girl. This picture makes me so happy. That's my baby's great grandma between my sister and my mama.

And that's my friend on the end. We went to the same uni and our husbands were fraternity brothers. Then a few years went by and we ended up living in the same town and she had my baby shower in her home. Hubs and I loved her baby boy back then, and coincidentally that baby boy and his wife made my friend a grandmother just a few weeks ago.

I know the world can feel awfully harsh some days, but there are more often times when the sweetness of life makes my heart want to burst.

...'and the seasons, they go round and round, and the painted ponies go up and down...

Have Yourself A Merry Little Hodgepodge

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge! Just a reminder, we'll be on Christmas break here next week so no Hodgepodge on December 23/24th.  The Hodgepodge will return the following week (December 29/30th) and we'll all roll in to the new year together.  

We're here today though, so grab your cocoa and let's get started. Don't forget to add your link at the end of my post, but only if you've answered the questions please. Thanks! Here we go-

1. What's your biggest 'first world' problem?

At the moment, I'll say having everything we own in storage. I can't tell you how often I think I'll do something and then realize I don't have access to whatever tool or pieces I need to complete the task. First world problems are more frustrations than actual problems, right? 

2. Each year Time Magazine names a 'Person of the Year', someone who has 'for better or worse....done the most to influence the events of the year.' It was recently announced they've named Angela Merkel Person of the Year for 2015. You can read more about this year's selection here. Your thoughts? If you were in charge, who would you declare Person of the Year?

I'm okay with the choice. I thought they might select Donald Trump since he's certainly influenced the conversation this year. Personally I'm glad they went another direction. I read they also had an ISIS leader and Caitlyn Jenner on the short list, and I'm really happy neither of those names made the top spot. 

3. Do you have a nativity set in your home? If so share it's history and how you display the pieces.

I do have a nativity set, one I love that we purchased the very first year we were married. I think I got it at one of those home parties someone was hosting, but can't recall the company name now. It's always been in a prominent spot wherever we happen to be living, either on the mantle or on my coffee table. It's not on display this year because it's in storage. See #1. 

4. Do you make an extra effort to give back in some way during the holiday season? How do you encourage those who need encouragement this time of year?

Yes I think so. There are a number of things we do year round, but I look more closely for opportunities this time of year. I think the biggest way I can be an encourager during the holiday season is to not let my to-do list take priority over people. Set the list aside and have a phone chat with family or friends far away. Listen to that person in the long line beside you who just needs to tell someone why they can't sleep at night. 

This morning a gentleman let two people in an obvious impatient hurry get in front of him at the post office, even though we'd all been waiting a while and he had an armful of packages to mail. That sort of thing encourages me. The world is so harsh. I think any act of kindness this time of year is a blessing and encouragement, not just to the recipient but to anyone who gets to see it happen.  

5. Who is your favorite person to shop for? Why?

That's easy-my girls! Why? Because there are far too many adorable things out there that I know they'd love. 

6. What's the last delicious thing you ate?

My sister and brother-in-law came over for dinner Monday night and Daughter2 walked over too, so I made a pan of lemon bars for dessert. I get mixed results with lemon bars from year to year. If the filling isn't cooked just right they taste too eggy or the texture is too sloppy. These were perfect and definitely delicious. I used this recipe (found here) because my recipe is in a cookbook I sent to storage. See #1. 

7. The best way to spread Christmas cheer is__________________.

I actually think Buddy was onto something with his 'singing loud for all to hear'.  

I'm going to add be kind and patient with the people we encounter, whether it's on the road, in the long line at the post office, in the parking lot at the mall, in the too crowded lunch spot...wherever. Life is not an emergency. Not even in mid-December.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Our Internet and cable have been out all day, finally returning about 10 PM. Not sure it's going to last as it's been teasing us for hours, so I'll make this short and sweet, and hit post while I can. 

May your holidays be filled with much peace and joy my Hodgepodge friends. 

My Hodgepodge-reading friends too!  

Merry Christmas! 

You Say Potato, I Say Hodgepodge

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge! So glad you joined the fun here today. If you've answered the questions, add your link at the end of my post, then go say hi to the neighbors.  

1. What's something you take for granted, that when you stop and think about it you feel truly grateful for?

My health. I think when everything is rolling along with no real issues, I tend to forget (or at least not think about) what a gift my good health is.   

2. The color brown-love it or no? What's your favorite shade of brown? Most loved something in your home or closet in a shade of brown?

I favor warm woods like mahogany and cherry and have a lot of those in my home so yes, I like the color brown. In my closet I love the deep rich chocolate tones the best. My most loved something in a shade of brown would be my furry snow boots, which I will no doubt be wearing here pretty soon.

3. What's something you're looking forward to today?

I'm going for a dress fitting today for my mother of the bride dress. It would be way more exciting if the bride were here to go with me, but it's still pretty exciting.

4. The word 'feminism' is not new, but it has been generating all kinds of headlines in recent days and months. What do you think/feel when you hear the word? If you're a woman, do you want to be described as a feminist? Why or why not?

What do I think when I hear the word? 

Pass the Tylenol. 

Not that I'm against strong women because I happen to think I am one. Nor am I opposed to opportunity for women, BUT...like so.many.words. in our culture today, this one has taken on a life of it's own. It's become more than a word. Whenever an issue deteriorates into name calling I want to plug my ears and sing lalala. 

I hate the way our social and political vocabulary labels people. The way it sticks you in one camp or another based on your feelings about one small piece of very large and complex issues. That if you don't subscribe to all points under a particular argument you're out.  It all feels so unreasonable to me. 

I'm complicated. And strong. And not big on labels, feminist or otherwise.

5. What's something you personally can't eat without making a mess?

My family would say many things. I've got my mama's genes. I will say I've learned not to make or eat bolognese while wearing a white top. Or a light colored top. Or really any colored top that isn't protected by an apron. Even when I don't think I've splattered, I've usually somehow splattered. 

6. When did you last surprise someone with a little gift or when were you last surprised by someone with a little gift? What was it?

I bought four copies last week of Ann Voskamp's book The Greatest Gift, and sent them to some of my peeps.  The Greatest Gift is a beautifully written devotional for the season of advent. If you're looking for something to add quiet and meaning to your December I highly recommend. 

7. Share a favorite quote, saying, song lyric or scripture relating to gratitude.

'For each new morning with its light, 

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food, for love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.'  

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

8.  Insert your own random question here.

So whenever I peel potatoes (and sometimes onions) I have a problem with my hands getting red and itchy. My family used to think I made that up to avoid peeling potatoes, but honestly I did not make that up.  Anyway, I probably haven't peeled a potato since last Christmas, because mashed potatoes have sadly been relegated to the rare treat column in my diet, but I do make an exception on Thanksgiving. 

Last week when Daughter1 and I were preparing our mini feast I whipped out my handy dandy official potato gloves. Yes they are so a real thing-

My girls put these in my Christmas stocking last year, and last week was the first time I had the opportunity to use them. I wasn't kidding when I said mashed potatoes are like gold around here in 2014. Anyway, the gloves worked. They're a kind of thick meshy material and I think they bought them at Bed Bath and Beyond. 

As an added random, that black taxi apron I'm wearing makes me ridiculously happy. Hi Louise! I don't know if she's reading this today, but we bought our aprons together at Harrods once upon a time, and whenver I wear it I think of her. 

Nurturing the Hodgepodge

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge Hodgepodgers!  If you've answered this week's questions add your link to the end of my post. Then go say hi to some of the others who also joined the party today. Here are my answers-

1.What is something you'll never forget about the age you are right now?

Relating to my daughters as young adults. I love their wit, their sense of independence, their huge hearts, and their confidence. There's something completely amazing about watching those tiny creatures you've raised take on the grown up world.  

2. What's a household chore you've never done? How have you managed that???

Changed the filter in the furnace.  
Is it the furnace that has a filter?  
I think so.

I haven't consciously avoided this job, it's just not one that ever crosses my radar.  

I don't wash the cars either (unless we're talking drive it through a professional car wash). This is a job hubs prefers to do himself because apparently my idea of a perfectly clean car doesn't match his idea of a perfectly clean car. 

I'm okay with that. 

3. Does nature shape our personalities more than nurture? Explain.

Ah, the age old question of nature vs. nurture. Here's what I think-

I think its sometimes one, sometimes the other, but most of the time its a combination of the two. I'm sure we all know of children who've gone off the rails in spite of their loving parents and a warm nurturing home life. We can also find plenty of children who've thrived in spite of horrendous circumstances and a significant lack of nurturing. 

I think most children can be trained and nurtured into well adjusted adults, and its a parent's job to do the best they can to make that happen. I've never read any studies on this, but I'd imagine that most (not all, but most) seriously troubled adults were not born that way, nor can they blame their troubles entirely on a lack of nurturing.  

I'll leave it at that, because this answer could quickly become an essay.  

4. Friday (February 28th) is 'Something on a Stick Day'...funny because Zoanna at A Penchant for Pens recently sent me a question for the Hodgepodge relating to this topic.  What's your favorite food eaten on a stick?

A perfectly toasted marshmallow, preferably eaten beside the campfire upon which it was roasted.  A starry sky overhead only makes it better. 

5. Which of your five senses do you treasure most, and why?

It's hard to imagine being without any of the five, but I'll say the one I treasure most is sight. I'm a very visual person, and the idea of never seeing my children's faces, the ocean, the view from a mountaintop...I think that would be so hard.  

6. What's the best music, theatre, or sporting venue you've been to? What made it great?

I've been in a lot of wonderful venues but probably the best would be The Coliseum in Verona. What made it great? 

Uh, Italy.  
Also friends-

Italian opera

and the intoxicating magic of Italian night air.  

7. It's the last week of the month...in five words or less bid adieu to your February.

Loved your big beautiful snowfalls!

p.s.-Note to self, next time I ask something like this make it 10 words or less. Five is not nearly enough!

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I received a really nice surprise in the mail last week. Susan, who blogs over at Stew Mama Says, had emailed asking for my address. She said she'd seen something she had to buy for me...that when she saw it she thought of me, my brand, my blog, and my word for this year. That's a lot to squeeze into a gift, so I was really curious.  

The big box arrived on Friday and here's what was inside-

Another big box.  Fun!!
Inside that box was this-

A small globe. 

In my blog colors. 

With my verse written around it.

And a word closely linked to my word for this year on the other side of the world.  

Well, yes I guess she did have to buy it! 

You know, when I started my blog back in 2009 I never imagined that one day someone I'd never met in person would see something that so perfectly fits where I am right now, that they would somehow recognize that, and then would go to the trouble of buying, packing and mailing it to me. As a bonus, the box arrived on a day when I needed a little help remembering these words, so thank you for that Susan!