So Long 2013, Hello Hodgepodge!

Happy New Year!  There's no party like a Hodgepodge party! Add the link to your answers and then be sure to go mingle with the other guests...10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1-Happy Hodgepodge!

1. Times Square is the setting for the infamous ball drop signaling the start of a brand new year....when did you last 'drop the ball' on something?

I'm sure there are many little balls dropped on a monthly basis around here, given that my memory is not what it used to be. One thing that came to mind was a big platter of hors d'oeuvres I'd made for a gathering which I never got out of the frig. There was plenty of food without, but ugh! I hate when I do stuff like that.  

2. What is one thing you resolved to do in 2013 that you actually did?

Exercise. It took me a while to find my rhythm, but I am all in now. Shhh...don't tell anyone, but I like boot camp.

3. Jack London is quoted as saying, "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." Agree or disagree? Why?

I fall in the middle on this one. 

So often we're inspired by something or someone when we're not necessarily looking to be inspired.  But...there are also seasons in life where inspiration is lacking, and the world feels gray and flat. In those moments I'm all for grabbing a club and hunting it down.

4. What was the best thing you ate in 2013?

Now this is a tough question!  I looked back through my photos to see if anything jumped out, and lots of things did. Lots and lots. I guess I'll go with my tried and true...

Maryland blue crabs steamed, picked, and eaten by the river in Annapolis. Add in some of my favorite people, and voila~perfection!  

Wait...it was about 110 degrees with 99% humidity, so maybe only near perfection. 

5. Share an anti-resolution...that is, something you plan to keep on doing in the new year?

Saying no to the unimportant. I've done a lot of serious thinking these past couple of months, about what my life looks like, trying to identify the stuff that isn't working and to fill my days with more of what will matter in the grand scheme. 

6. The Pantone color of the year for 2014 is radiant orchid. Like or no like? Would I find this color anywhere in your home or wardrobe? Will you add something in this shade to either?

eh...not really.  I mean I like it in an actual radiant orchid, but in my house or closet no. I prefer the deeper more vibrant shades of purple if I'm wearing or owning the color.  

7. In three words or less, sum up your 2013.

Jesus never fails. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

We took Daughter2 and her boyfriend into the city on Monday, and guess what? We weren't the only ones-ha! It only took us forty minutes to find a parking space, but it was a good one, so there's that. 

We started out in Bryant Park which always has a gorgeous tree. I like it almost as much as the one in Rockefeller Plaza. 

We ended the evening on Top of the Rock. I think the Empire State Building looks so pretty all decked out in her Christmas colors.

May your 2014 be chock-a-block full of peace, love, and joy!

Hodgepodge Questions Volume Brand New Year

Happy New Year Hodgepodgers!  What better way to get back into some sort of routine than by joining the party here on Wednesdays? Answer the questions on your own blog, then hop back here on the first day of 2014 (which just happens to be a Wednesday) and add your link to the party.

Here we go-

1. Times Square is the setting for the infamous ball drop signaling a brand new year....when did you last 'drop the ball' on something?

2. What is one thing you resolved to do in 2013 that you actually did?

3. Jack London is quoted as saying, "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." Agree or disagree? Why? 

4. What was the best thing you ate in 2013?

5.  Share an anti-resolution...that is, something you plan to keep on doing in the new year.

6. The Pantone color of the year for 2014 is radiant orchid.  Like or no like? Would I find this color anywhere in your home or wardrobe? Will you add something in this shade to either?

7. In three words or less sum up your 2013.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Had Ourselves a Merry Little Christmas

I suppose it's time to post a little Christmas recap, but to be honest I'm still enjoying Christmas.  I know some of you rip down the decorations and insist any evidence of the day be removed as of December 26th, but that is not me.

I'm still getting up every morning, pouring my coffee in a Christmas mug, grabbing the super soft blankie I won at our neighborhood Christmas party, and sitting for my quiet time by the tree in our sunroom. Favorite thing people. Savoring it. Basking in it. Not quite ready to tuck it away for another year.

My entire family was here for Christmas, and my girls are still home, although Daughter1 heads back to D.C. tonite. Daughter2's boyfriend flew in yesterday to ring in the new year with us so still lots to look forward to here. I guess technically he's here to ring in the new year with Daughter2, and hubs and I are just a bonus, but still...happy new year!

There were 8 of us here for Christmas Eve, and I roasted turkey breast tenderloins with lots of sides.  I wrapped the turkey in bacon and hubs said it might have been the best meal he's ever had. After dinner we went to the candlelight service at church and snow fell, which made it all perfectly perfect.

The girls opened their traditional Christmas Eve present, except my niece's gift was in my brother's car and he wasn't arriving until Christmas morning so oops. She took it well, and posed for the traditional Christmas morning step photo with a smile.

  

Hubs spoiled me rotten on Christmas Day, and the girls surprised us with a fabulous present-

A painted canvas of our sweet pup...it is an absolute perfect likeness, and they were so proud of Daughter1 themselves for keeping it a secret.

I had a couple of fun surprises for my little family this year too, one I'll mention in a later post, and then this one-

That's our England house.
That's my family crying happy tears.

We're all sappy when it comes to unexpected mentions of the small island we once called home.  I had these polymer clay ornaments custom made by Dyane at Garden Art and Moore (an Etsy shop) and they turned out exactly as I'd imagined.  Hubs and the girl's reaction was Hallmark worthy.

The rest of my family (one brother, one sister-in-law, one sister, one brother-in law, one nephew, and one carsick puppy) arrived early afternoon. The dog was bathed, more presents were opened, more memories made.  

Oh, and we ate.
Mercy.

In my defense I was feeding 13 people, so there was a whole lotta food. I did my best to go heavy on the vegetable sides, but there was still a lot of sugar and more carbs on the menu than I've had in three months. 'Tis but a season!

The day after Christmas my big sis celebrated a milestone birthday. She collects pig 'stuff' so Daughter2 baked her a pig cake.  

Absolutely positively too cute for words! She made the pigs out of a light pink marshmallow fondant, her first time trying that, and it was so adorable. The cake itself was a deep rich chocolate with more rich chocolate in the form of ganache on top-super delicious!

My family left Friday, but we've carried on in holiday mode around here, and I intend to keep that up for a few more days. Early in the season I declared this year I absolutely would not let anything steal my joy. No worries...

 ...it's still here.

'Twas the Monday before Christmas

About this time every year is when I fall off the blog wagon. There is just too much life happening to spend hours writing about it, but by the time the Christmas dust settles the idea of catching up feels overwhelming.  It's a Christmas conundrum.

So while I'm waiting for daughter2 to rise and shine (no worries, there's plenty of time) I thought I'd share some Friday Fragments. On a Monday I know, but see paragraph above.

Christmas is coming!

Just thought we'd get the big one out of the way right off the bat. And that picture was taken last week when we were blanketed by a most beautiful snow. We've been in the 60's all weekend, but it's supposed to drop about 30 degrees before tomorrow.

Speaking of tomorrow...I  have my whole family coming and I can't wait. Just have a few
hundredthings to do before the first wave arrives on Christmas Eve, yet somehow I know it will all get done.

The magic of Christmas.

More like a mom armed with lists and fueled by coffee, with a grown up daughter in tow to bake cookies and cheer her on, but that's kind of magical too.

Daughter2 flew in from South Carolina on Friday night. She's a teacher and will be home for a nice long break, which makes her sister only a teensy bit envious. She's also tired, because third graders the month before Christmas...self explanatory, right?

Saturday we stayed in and she baked while I wrapped and hubs dealt with the never ending Christmas light drama. Outdoor lights on Saturday, indoor on Sunday. Our outdoor lights tend to go out when there is a lot of wet weather due to some pesky fuse design, but I think hubs finally got that sorted.  They were working last night so I suggested we all take a picture in our head just in case the fix isn't permanent.

Sometime after dinner on Saturday I noticed the tree lights were out. Well, not all of them, because the very bottom of the tree was lit, but the rest had gone dark. Bother. 

My mantra this Christmas is not to let anything steal my joy, including a partially lit Christmas tree, but that was put to the test when hubs said we'd have to take everything off the tree to find which strand was bad. FYI-undecorating a perfectly decorated tree four days before Christmas was not on my to-do list. Sigh.

Daughter 2 suggested I take pictures so we could get the ornaments back in place pretty quickly, and fortunately we didn't have to un-do everything. We started at the bottom and discovered the first strand was the bad one so whoohoo!  Course that meant hubs had to go to Walmart, which is not his favorite thing to do anytime let alone the week before Christmas, but he dug down deep for his Christmas spirit and got 'er done.

Sunday evening we attended a Christmas cantata, and all was right with the world once more. Absolutely beautiful!  We all loved the music so much, and it just reminded me how important it is to have more 'Christmas'-less Walmart in this very special week and in my life year round.

I leave you with a link to one of the songs we heard last night...it wasn't Kari Jobe singing, but wow! the woman in our church did such an amazing job with this song.

"...and redemption begins with a stable in Bethlehem..." 

Wishing you a happy Christmas from this side of the pond!

O Christmas Tree

We have college friends living on the other side of the country, who are spending a few days in the Big Apple this week.  He and hubs are fraternity brothers, and last night we trekked in to meet up for dinner.

Traffic! Bah humbug!

Actually, not bah humbug. Even ridunkulous traffic cannot dampen my Christmas spirit when I'm en route to New York City.

Well, maybe a little, but not completely. And you people who commute in and out of here every.single.day, well bless your hearts.

We met at a restaurant near Madison Square Garden called Pennsylvania 6.  It was hopping!  Our friends have a son living in the city so he joined us too, for a fun night of gabbing and celebrating his mom's birthday.

Their 30th wedding anniversary is also this weekend, and I think we can all agree NYC is a grand place for marking and celebrating life's milestones.

After dinner we walked about 20 blocks in the icy cold air, but hey it's New York at Christmastime, and we needed to see the tree.  Plus hubs and I never leave the city without a stop in Times Square, since that's the law.

Our law, but one we never break.

We got down to the tree about 11 PM, and here's a helpful tip for all you tourists...visit the tree at 11 PM in 30 degree temps, and you'll find it's not wall to wall people at that hour or degree.

It's not no-people, but definitely a smaller crowd.
The tree is just beautiful.

Rockefeller Plaza in December is one of my favorite places on earth.
Positively magical.

I can see how people fall in love in New York City at Christmastime.

On Dasher, On Dancer, On Hodgepodge...

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge! Add your link at the end of my post, then go say hi to your neighbors. Remember...no Hodgepodge next week (12/25) but do come back to ring in the new year the week after (1/1/14). 

In the words of Tiny Tim, "God bless us everyone!" 

1. Do you believe in miracles?

Yes.

2. What's a recent fad you admit to trying?

Kale chips. 
Surely the obsession with all things kale is just a fad. 

I love most veggies, but kale chips? Blech!

3. Peppermint-are you a fan? If so, what's your favorite food or beverage containing peppermint?

It's funny how our tastes change. I never used to be a fan, but all of a sudden I love it. Not so much on its own, but combined with something chocolate it's my new favorite thing.  I make a peppermint chocolate chip cookie that is delish. I also like to stir my cocoa with a candy cane for a great chocolate peppermint combo.  

4. Break the ice, on thin ice, as cold as ice (emotionally, not literally) which phrase have you run into most recently? Explain.

Nothing comes immediately to mind, so I'll say break the ice. I'm on the board of a local women's club, and meet new people all the time.

5. Have you ever broken or spilled something in someone else's home? Still friends?

When my girls were little we went to a friend's house for a morning play date.  The mom and I were enjoying a lovely cup of tea in her cozy kitchen and our daughters were happily playing upstairs. After we'd been there a while Daughter1 and her friend came into the kitchen wearing bright pink lipstick, artfully applied on and around their lips, which sent my heart racing and my feet running to see what Daughter2 was into.  

That would also be lipstick.  

It was all over her AND all over their just cleaned carpet.  Did you know lipstick is oily, especially the cheap kid kind?  Somehow it all came out of the rug, and we're still friends who can laugh about this twenty years later.  In her defense, Daughter2 was only about 2 years old, so her mother should have known better than to take her eyes off her. Also, she's Daughter2 so her mother should have known better than to take her eyes off her.  Hi Daughter2!

6. 'Tis the week before Christmas...are you feeling more like Buddy the Elf or the Grinch before his heart grew?

No Grinch in me, but I haven't reached full on Buddy mode either. 

7. Share a favorite quote relating to Christmas.

These words from the beautiful carol Oh Holy Night,  composed by Adolphe-Charles Adam-

"...Long lay the world, in sin and error pining 

Till he appeared and the soul felt it's worth...."

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

In keeping with my plan to share the happy in my random space this December, I'm linking to an absolutely precious rendition of The Christmas Story. Click here to watch. Seriously one of the most adorable things I've seen, and guaranteed to make you smile!  

Wishing you peace and joy this Christmas season!

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 155

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge...answer on your own blog, then skate back here tomorrow (12/18) to link up with the rest of Santa's elves.

I'll be taking a break from the Hodgepodge next week (12/24) because CHRISTMAS!, but will be back to ring in the New Year the week after (12/31).

1. Do you believe in miracles?

2. What's a recent fad you admit to trying?

3. Peppermint-are you a fan? If so, what's your favorite food or beverage containing peppermint?

4. Break the ice, on thin ice, as cold as ice (emotionally, not literally)...which phrase have you run into most recently? Explain.

5. Have you ever broken or spilled something in someone else's home? Still friends?

6.  'Tis the week before Christmas...are you feeling more like Buddy the Elf or the Grinch before his heart grew?

7. Share a favorite quote relating to Christmas.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.