Ten Pin Hodgepodge

Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge! We're tucked in under a blanket of fallen snow and frigid temps, perfect weather for hodgepodging.  Add your link at the bottom of my post and then go a-visiting.  Here are my answers to this week's questions-

1. It was decided on Sunday the Denver Broncos will meet the Seattle Seahawks in this year's Superbowl.  So, when was the last time you bowled?  Not where you thought this question was going is it? Do you like to bowl? Are you any good?

Go Broncos! I do like to bowl, but it's not something I do very often, nor am I very good at it. Unless of course we're talking Wii bowling, because I rock the Wii bowling.  I'm not terrible at 'real' bowling, but I think its one of those things you need to do on a regular basis if you want to excel.  

2. Should sports stars be role models?

Hmmm...should Miley Cyrus or the Kardashians, or any celebrity for that matter? Regardless of whether they should be role models, people who choose to be in the public eye are role models. Children (adults too!) admire and look up to sports figures, and often aspire to be like them in some way.  

I hope sports figures recognize the power they have to set a good example in terms of fair play, hard work, kindness, generosity, compassion, etc, but they're only human, and we humans let ourselves down on a regular basis. Sadly in today's world, if you're in the spotlight and you stumble, the media will eat you alive. 

3. January is National Oatmeal month...are you a fan?  How do you like your oats?

I'm a fan, and I like mine with sliced bananas and dried cherries stirred into the pot, topped with a splash of cold skim milk. I don't like warm milk on my oatmeal. I also have a really good recipe for crockpot oatmeal made with diced apples. The apples get all gooey and delicious.  I will dig it out and share.  

4. What is one book on your reading list for 2014?

I have a long list of books to read in 2014. Are you on Goodreads?  If so let me know and we can be friends there. It's a great place to find new titles, see what your friends are reading, and keep track of books you want to read in the future. 

One title on my 2014 list is this-

In Harm's Way: The Sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis and the Extraordinary Story of Its Survivors by Doug Stanton

5. What would you like your future self to say to your present self?

You did it! 

6. When scrolling through the TV guide, what is one movie title that makes you want to stop, grab the popcorn, and watch for a while?

The Rookie (the baseball movie with Dennis Quaid, not the police drama with Clint Eastwood) and Sweet Home Alabama.  I'm a sucker for Sweet Home Alabama.  Hubs would say The Patriot, The Hunt for Red October, and Dances with Wolves.  He was the inspiration for this question. 

7. What are two style trends you hope never come back into fashion?

High waisted jeans and track suits. 
Can you tell I lived through the 90's? 

We were looking at some old pictures recently and my girls commented on how everyone was in track suits. In case you're wondering, we were not running track. I guess they were kind of the yoga pants of the late 80's/early 90's only they swished when you walked. Yikes! 

I wore high waisted jeans, belted no less, back in that same time period too.  Never mind that I was skinny...I don't think that's a good look on anyone. I think women of all sizes look better with trousers just below the waist as opposed to right on the waist.  

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Crockpot Apple Oatmeal

2 cups milk (you can sub almond or coconut milk if you prefer)
2 T honey
1 T butter (no substitute)
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup dry old-fashioned oats
1 cup apples (peeled and sliced or cubed)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
2 T brown sugar (I omitted this, and it was plenty sweet)

Mix together all ingredients and place in a greased crock pot (or use a liner). Cover and cook on low 5-6 hours.  If you have a newer crock pot with a warm setting, use that instead of low, and cook 7-9 hours. 

I've looked at similar recipes,and you can add a bit more liquid if you're going to need to leave it longer than the 5 -6 hours, but don't have a warm setting on your crockpot.  I've also done this recipe on the stove, but cooked the apples down a bit before adding to the pot. Enjoy!

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 159

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

1. It was decided on Sunday the Denver Broncos will meet the Seattle Seahawks in this year's  Superbowl. So when was the last time you bowled? Not where you thought this question was going is it?  Do you like to bowl? Are you any good?

2.   Should sports stars be role models?

3. January is National Oatmeal month...are you a fan? How do you like your oats?

4. What is one book on your reading list for 2014?

5. What would you like your future self to say to your present self?

6. When scrolling through the TV guide, what is one movie title that makes you want to stop, grab the popcorn, and watch for a while?

7. What are two style trends you hope never come back into fashion?

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Mondaysaturday

Technically I'm still in weekend mode. It's Monday, a federal holiday, and Daughter1 is sleeping sweetly in her bedroom upstairs.  That all adds up to 'still-the-weekend'. Technically every day is a federal holiday when you're me, but even when you're not working outside your home its fun to mark days off.

Hubs is working today because holiday schmaliday, but Daughter1 and I have plans that include manicures, shopping, and a nice long lunch before I take her to the train station. She spent a large chunk of yesterday giving my blog a little face lift, so the least I can do is treat her to lunch.

Sometimes I get a little abnormally attached to things, and my yellow background might have been one of those things. I felt like it was time for something fresh, a new way of seeing things here in 2014, and and I love the transformation. It's a new look yet one that feels familiar. As Daughter1 would say, my 'brand' is still recognizable.

I have a brand.
Who knew?

Anyway, if you're looking for a blog face lift or redesign or new header or any other little graphic related project, hop over and visit Daughter1, click on Design Services, and she'll be happy to help you too.

Saturday morning we woke up to snow falling, and it was beautiful. I'm not at all tired of the snow yet, but I do acknowledge it's only mid-January. I pulled out the waffle iron and made homemade blueberry waffles, which were delish. I haven't had a waffle in ages, so it was nice to have an excuse to make some, and yes I use my children as an excuse to bake, doesn't everyone?

The roads were fine so we headed out to an afternoon movie. We were going to see Lone Survivor, but Daughter1 wants to see that with her boyfriend next week so we opted for Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. Oh my word I think I burned off every single waffle calorie watching that movie. Wow it was tense!  My hubs is a huge fan of the Tom Clancy series of books made into movies.  If he's scrolling through the TV guide, and sees Patriot Games or Hunt for Red October rest assured that's what we'll be watching. I don't think this one was a book, but I might be wrong. Regardless, the movie was really well done and we all liked it.

I have never been someone who 'sleeps in', but two weekends in a row now I've been a little slow getting up and 'attem.  Is that a word?  Hmmm...anyway, hubs brought me coffee before my feet hit the floor Sunday morning, and thought it was hilarious to deliver it in this cup.

Sunday afternoon Daughter1 and I worked a little bit on the jigsaw puzzle I had started with Daughter2 a couple of weeks ago.  It's been sitting partially finished on my dining room table, and I would love to put it away, but I can't until it's completely worked. Apparently my pup wanted in on the action, because suddenly we realize she's chewing on something, and sadly it was this-

Now there's going to be a super annoying space somewhere in the finished product. Bother.

Sunday evening I roasted a turkey breast tenderloin, wrapped in bacon because that's the only way to go with a turkey breast tenderloin, and we settled in to watch football. So happy for Peyton and the Broncos, but especially Peyton because he's the reason we root for Denver. Happy for the Seahawks too, but Go Broncos!  The Superbowl is being played in our corner of the world, but we'll be watching from home, on our comfy and most importantly warm, couch.

As we like to say here, it's Mondaysaturday, and I'm off to enjoy...hope you do the same!

Five Things Friday. Maybe.

Do I have five things to mention here? It's January (that doesn't count) and it seems like life quiets down in January. It's winter (that doesn't count either) so we tend to have more white space in the calendar which if I'm honest, and I always am, we need. December was full. In a good way but full nonetheless, so a little bit of breathing space is welcome.

Okay, five things.

1. Are you watching the new season of American Idol? I didn't watch last year, or much the year before that, because judging had reached the point of absurd. It's a new combination this year, and I think it just might work. I love that they're not showing a lot of the really terrible auditions, those poor people you feel embarrassed for, who insist they can sing because everyone has told them so, or at least that's how they interpreted it.  Keith Urban is back this year, and I have no complaints about Keith Urban. Plus they've added Harry Connick Jr and he's got wit and style and actual musical knowledge, so it could be good.

2. Wednesday I went on a little outing with friends to a nearby glass studio. We got our craft on. Well some of us did, and some of us tried. The projects were fused glass, so a little bit like mosaic or a stained glass piece. You laid out bits of glass into whatever design you wanted, then cut and glued before handing over to the studio for firing in their kiln.

I am not talented when it comes to stuff like this. I'm good at copying something, but not as good at envisioning something myself. Also, I'm a little bit messy, ahem, and the glue on my fingers took me back to my days as a kindergarten teacher...."Just a little dot boys and girls."

I decided to make coasters, and to keep it simple went with Christmas colors.  A lot of the glass choices were pinks and light blues which don't go with my decor, but Christmas colors work. In keeping with a familiar motto here, my design was a bit of a hodgepodge. In other words, abstract art-ha!

Shhh! Don't tell my hubs, but I had to actually cut glass. With a tool! Rest assured no one was injured in the making of these coasters. We won't get them back for another week, so I'll post an after picture then. Supposedly this all melts down into something beautiful. We shall see.

3. My women's Bible Study group started back up this past week and I'm always glad to get back into the routine there.

So. Remember my word for 2014? Yeah. Guess what Bible Study we're doing?

Walking By Faith. 

I'm not even kidding. It's a study by Jennifer Rothschild, and I'm really looking forward to it. Unafraid. Walking by Faith. Pretty sure those two things go hand in hand.

4.  One of the last things I un-do after Christmas is my Christmas card display. I have a holder in my kitchen for regular cards, and then I hang all the photo cards on our back stairs. I absolutely love walking by there several times a day during the month of December, seeing all the familiar faces from around the globe looking back at me....makes me so sad to take it down in January.

So what do you do with your Christmas cards at the end of the season? I know they can be sent to St. Jude's, or I could put them into an album of some sort, but let's not kid ourselves with that one. I'm still trying to catch up on scrapbooks from the 1990's!

This year I'm stealing an idea from a blogger I follow, Stephanie at The Honey Pot. She's adorable and wise, and you should hop over and visit, because she also has a pretty amazing story. Anyway, she posted this idea on Instagram and I knew I wanted to do the same. Here's the deal...each week in 2014 you select someone's card and pray for that person/family every day of that one week.

We received about 100 cards, so I've added two names per week, but you can do whatever works for you. It's not a challenge or a link up, it's just an idea, but it's one I'm excited about. Our friends and family really are scattered far and wide. Praying for them by name is a way of keeping them close in heart.

5.  In other happy news, Daughter1 is coming home for the weekend. She has the day off work on Monday, which makes it all just a little bit sweeter. No real plans, but I'm sure we'll get into something.

Okay, that's five. I don't know why I spend any time wondering if I can meet a particular number. If someone wanted to do a 500 on Friday link up, I could probably manage that too. Enjoy your weekend everyone!

Linking up with 5 on Friday-

And Friday Fragments too, because that's a nice place to be on a Friday in blogland.

Schussing Through the Hodgepodge

Welcome to another edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge! Add the link to your answers at the end of my answers, then go see what everyone else had to say.

1. Are you a force to be reckoned with? In what way?

That phrase tends to strike me as a negative right off the bat. When I hear it used my mind goes immediately to Maleficent or Ursula or some real life figure who swoops in, takes over, and is overbearing or mean. The more I think about it though, there's also a positive side to the phrase, and I like to think I fall on that side of the reckoning fence.  

My temperament is pretty mild and it takes an awful lot to make me angry. I live life wearing rose colored glasses most of the time.  But...if someone is being treated unfairly, and I can help remedy the situation, in that instance I might be a force. 

2. What are two things you love about the wintertime. Or, if love feels like too strong a word, what are two things you like about winter?

Christmas, hot cocoa in a favorite mug, the first few flakes in a snowfall, the staggering beauty of an untouched snowy canvas, the moon, trees dressed like fairies, deer tracks across the front lawn, chili and cornbread, a fire in the fireplace, the guy who plows our driveway, an excuse to wear my furry boots, snowdrops peeking up out of the ground, my fur collar, the hushed silence of snow falling from a moonlit sky...wait, you said two? 

3. Pomegranate, kumquat, persimmon, kiwi, and guava are all fruits said to have health benefits, particularly during the winter months.  Do you have a favorite on the list? Are there any on the list you haven't tried?

I've never met a fruit I didn't like. Some I do like more than others, but there's nothing on this list I haven't tried and enjoyed. Of the ones mentioned kiwi and pomegranate are my favorite, although I did have a most amazing dessert made with guava when we were in Florida last year.  I guess when they talk about fruit being healthy they don't mean this-

4. I passed a local church yesterday and noticed they had this on their sign, "When all else fails, do the right thing." Your thoughts?

I've passed this sign a few times now, and it always makes me scratch my head. Something about the wording feels off. I'm certain the intent was good, and I'm all about giving the benefit of the doubt, but in my head I keep thinking, 'when all else fails??' Maybe it's directed at people who are not inclined to do the right thing from the get-go, and they're advising them to now try doing the right thing? Let's go with that. 

5. Do you ski? According to one list I've seen, the top 5 ski destinations for 2014 are St. Anton Austria, Whistler Canada, Cortina Italy, Tahoe USA, and Zermatt Switzerland. Of the five listed which would you most like to visit? We can make skiing optional if that helps the non-skiers with their answer.

I can ski, but honestly I am not a gifted skier. I've said it here before that I love ski towns, ski clothes, family winter holidays, but the skiing? Not so much. Remember last week when I asked if you were clumsy? Yeah.  

That being said, if you've never vacationed in a ski town you're missing out. Some of my favorite holidays have been spent in ski towns.  Of the ones listed above I'm going to surprise you and say Whistler. I know you were expecting Italy here, but Whistler is on my list of places to see, so Whistler it is.  Course I wouldn't say no to any of the top 5. 

6. What's the last thing you looked for online? (besides my blog!)

I looked at a website showing the Best and Worst Dressed from the Golden Globes. I didn't watch the whole show, and I like to get a closer look at the clothes. Naomi Watts was my favorite.  I'd love to have somewhere to go in that fabulous sparkly gown!

7. What saying, slogan, quote, or motto, have you seen lately that inspires you for the new year?

Slightly awkward transition from #6-#7 but....

'The sea was not meant to be controlled. The sea was meant to be sailed."  

Jon Acuff

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Who's getting excited for the Olympics?  I love this ad...



Moms rock! 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 158

Here are the questions for this week's edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Ski back here tomorrow to link answers with all your friends and neighbors-

1.  Are you a force to be reckoned with? In what way?

2. What are two things you love about the wintertime? Or, if love feels like too strong a word, what are two things you 'like' about winter?

3. Pomegranate, kumquat, persimmon, kiwi, and guava are all fruits said to have health benefits, particularly during the winter months. Do you have a favorite on the list? Are there any on the list you haven't tried?

4. I passed a local church yesterday and noticed they had this on their outdoor sign- 'When all else fails, do the right thing.' Your thoughts?

5. Do you ski? According to one list I've seen, the top 5 ski destinations for 2014 are-St. Anton Austria, Whistler Canada, Cortina Italy, Tahoe USA, and Zermatt Switzerland.  Of the five listed, which would you most like to visit? We can make skiing optional if that helps the non-skiers with their answer.

6.  What's the last thing you looked for online? (Besides my blog!)

7. What saying, slogan, quote, or motto have you seen lately that inspires you for the new year?

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Pajama Party

We had a low key weekend, and I was just sitting here debating whether its worth mentioning or not.  Of course it is.  Low key weekends should be marked and remembered because they're awesome.  When my girls are the age I am now I want them to know they should feel no shame in spending an occasional rainy Saturday in their pjs. 20-somethings know this without anyone telling them, but 50-somethings sometimes need reminding.

See, even when there's nothing to say I manage to fill a lot of blank paper.

We met friends for dinner on Friday night, a local spot that has live music which we usually enjoy, but yowza! The band was LOUD!! My girls will tell you I like my music played loud, so if I say this was LOUD!! rest assured it was LOUD!! We didn't stick around after we'd finished our meal.

Hubs and I had discussed all week our plan to stay in our pjs all day on Saturday. Yes we made a plan, because we are not typically stay in your pjs kind of people. In fact, no one in my family thought I could do it because I'm an early riser, and normally get up and into stuff at the crack of dawn but...I did it. Hubs and I watched a couple of old movies, Charade with Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant, and Move Over Darling with Doris Day and James Garner. I don't think Audrey Hepburn is a particularly great actress, but she is so stunning you can't help but enjoy watching anything she's in. Cary Grant is also very easy on the eyes, and I think he's actually a good actor too. We napped off and on, and hubs made us one of his famous omelets about 1 o'clock. When we go lazy we go all in.

I read a lot, finished my book Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline, which I really liked a lot. The book is fiction, but loosely based on the Orphan Train Movement, a welfare program that took orphaned and homeless children from the East Coast to foster homes mostly in the rural Midwest. The trains ran from 1853-1929 and relocated about a quarter of a million children.

We had seriously crazy rain here on Saturday, the sun didn't peek out for so much as a minute, and we even had some weird thunder and lightning. All those factors combined made it pretty easy to stay in my pjs.  Saturday night we did leave the house to meet some of our favorite old friends for Thai food. FYI-in case you're concerned, we did put on real clothes for dinner. These friends are such great company, and so easy to be around. They live a few towns over, so we don't see them as much as we'd like, but we always enjoy spending time with them when we can line up our calendars.

The weekend wasn't a total do-nothing experience. We managed to get every last bit of Christmas taken down to the basement. I've been packing and boxing and undecorating all week, and hubs hauled the trees downstairs Sunday afternoon.  We moved furniture back into place, and he vacuumed while I dusted so that's something.

We watched a little football (love us some Peyton Manning!), and a very little bit of the Golden Globes.  I enjoy the fashion, but the speeches send me over the edge so we switched over to the new episode of Downton Abbey. I can see where this Anna storyline is going from a mile away, and I'm not going to like it.

That's it. And yet, I've managed per usual, a too-wordy post describing a weekend where we essentially did nothing. Sometimes I amaze even myself.