Milk And Cookies With The Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. So glad you're here! If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Comments keep you on Santa's nice list. Here we go-

1. What's one task you'd like a little Christmas elf to sneak in and take care of tonite? 

Hmmm...there are many. I'm going with emptying my pantry, wiping down all the shelves, tossing what needs to be tossed, and then neatly and logically restocking. It's on my list to get done before Christmas, but if an elf wants to take it off my plate I'm happy to hand the job over. 

2. What's your biggest challenge during the holidays? 

Managing my expectations. 

3. Are you a cookie baker this time of year? If your year had to be summed up in the shape of a cookie cutter what shape would it be? 

I am most definitely a cookie baker. In fact, cookies are probably my favorite thing to bake, especially at Christmas time. Have I baked any yet this year? No. But I will. 

If my year had to be summed up in the shape of a cookie cutter I'm going with...

...a waterfall. The backyard project was a big part of our year, so that feels appropriate. Also you can barely see the waterfall in this photo, but I wanted the tree at the top all decked out in Christmas lights in my pictures. 

4. Santa likes milk with his cookies. Do you like milk? What kind of milk is on tap in your house? (whole, 2%, skim, almond, oat, etc). What's the last thing you made that called for milk? 

I like milk but it's not something I drink by the glass except on a very rare occasion. I do put milk on my cereal, I like milk on my oatmeal, and I put a small splash of milk in my hot tea. I buy skim, but when it comes to my coffee half and half only please. 

The last thing I made that called for milk would be this Angel Pie, which is a meringue crust with a custard filling, topped with whipped cream and shaved German chocolate-

This pie is every bit as delicious as it looks and I generally make one around the holidays every year. We had company for dinner on Monday night and I served this for dessert. It's a favorite here for sure. 

5. Share one favorite line from a Christmas carol or holiday tune? 

From the carol O Holy Night...

"Til He appeared, and the soul felt it's worth..." 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

A lot of life is lived in a decade and there's nothing like a Facebook memory to remind us that is so-

December 25, 2014

"Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still." Dorothea Lange 

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 581

Here are the questions for 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. What's one task you'd like a little Christmas elf to sneak in and take care of tonite? 

2. What's your biggest challenge during the holidays? 

3. Are you a cookie baker this time of year? If your year had to be summed up in the shape of a cookie cutter what shape would it be? 

4. Santa likes milk with his cookies. Do you like milk? What kind of milk is on tap in your house? (whole, 2%, skim, almond, oat, etc). What's the last thing you made that called for milk? 

5. Share one favorite line from a Christmas carol or holiday tune? 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Weekend Holiday-ing

Good Monday morning to all and to all a deep breath. Christmas will be here in 16 days. Are you ready? Santa's asking. 

Linking today's recap with Holly and Sarah as per usual here on a Monday. We had a very merry weekend with lot of decorating and holiday fiesta-ing, beginning Thursday night with our holiday wine club event. 

The dinner featured a Spanish style menu and excellent Spanish wines. This was dessert and it was muy deliciosa! Olive oil tres leche pancakes with fresh berries and shaved chocolate. Yum! 

I am all about dessert. I'm the person who always looks at the dessert portion of a menu first. 

Friday morning dawned with several bins holding various bits of decor still waiting to be unloaded sitting in the middle of the hall, the dining room table under wraps, literally as that's where we wrap, and my Christmas dishes still in the cupboard where I store them as I haven't had time to make the switch yet. I had plans to get to all of that Friday but we had some errands to run in the morning and the day just flew right on by.  

We had tickets to a holiday show in the nearby city Friday night with dinner reservations beforehand. I also wanted to see the gingerbread houses on display in a downtown hotel lobby so we needed to leave the house by 4. 

It was frigid (for South Carolina) so we dressed for the weather. Hubs bought me this coat in Canada while chaperoning a show choir trip for daughter1. She was in the 9th grade. 

Quebec, 2003

In case you're new here she's now been married almost ten years and has three children of her own, so the coat's not new. Still a favorite though!  

England, 2024

Also time is a mystery too big to comprehend. 

There were almost 40 entries in the gingerbread contest and it was fun to see all the many bakers handiwork. Pecan halves for the rooftop...so clever! 

There was a category for professional bakers and another for home bakers, and some really cute designs. 

After voting we made the short walk to a fabulous dinner (Bricktops for locals reading here)...

In one of those small world happenings Daughter1's mother-in-law and sister-in-law came in to the restaurant with a group of friends right as we were finishing up, and were seated just a couple of tables away from us. So fun to run into them. 

The show was terrific. This is our third year attending and we look forward to it every December (Holiday at Peace, again for the locals reading here) 

It's put on by the symphony, but there's always a ballet number, a little humor, and someone reading The Night Before Christmas. There's a guest soloist each year too and this year it was Siri Howard. She happens to be a local resident and also a Broadway actress with a most angelic voice. She's beautiful to watch and her wardrobe was fabulous.  

After the show we walked across the street to see the lights in front of the AC Hotel. So many people were out and about, the city was aglow with holiday sparkle, and everyone seemed in a festive mood. 

Saturday we had yet another non-holiday errand to run before we hit the grocery store. Hubs doesn't usually accompany me, but since we were already in town he tagged along. He paid while I reorganized the bags (it's what I do) and I think was a bit shocked at what groceries cost. Aren't we all???

I'm trying to finish up my cards, so I put a movie on Saturday afternoon while I stamped and addressed. Have you seen One Little Secret (Netflix) with Lindsay Lohan? It's super hokey but I liked it. Kristin Chenowith is in it too, and she's always adorable. 

Saturday night was our neighborhood holiday party, a lovely dinner at a nearby club. There was a photo op, a jazz trio, and lots of laughs with friends who just happen to be neighbors. 

We have some non-neighborhood friends coming for dinner tonite so I buckled down Sunday and knocked out more decorating, all the laundry, made a meatloaf for our Sunday dinner, baked a dessert for tonite's dinner, addressed a few more cards, and prepped the cranberry jalapeno dip to serve as an appetizer tonite. 

While I did all that hubs wrapped. He was super Grinch-y about it, but he got it done and I'm glad. I need to get a couple of boxes mailed pronto, and these unwrapped presents have been piled in my bedroom closet mocking me every time I pass them by. 

In other happy news, our two favorite teams made the college football playoffs this weekend, which you might say was the proverbial icing on the cake. Star on the tree? 

So what kind of fun did you get into this weekend? 

Share Your Shelf-November

Hello Readers. It's time to for the once a month Share Our Shelves link up hosted by Marilyn (Memphis Bridges), Jen (Overflowing With Thankfulness), Joanne (Slices of Life) and Tanya (The Other Side Of The Road). Here's what I read in November-

 1. The Angel Answer Book by Robert J. Morgan

I found this book to be a little gem. If you have questions about angels or just a curiosity about the topic of angels, this is a really good book, written in an easy to read style. The author uses a question and answer format so you can take your time with one question a day or read the whole thing in one sitting. Biblically sound with a lot of scripture to back up his answers. Enjoyed this one very much and I feel like I have a new perspective about the spiritual world all around us. 

2. The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck 

Our book club wanted to read a classic this year and we chose The Good Earth  as our January selection. Originally published in 1931, The Good Earth won the Pulitzer in 1932. I read it decades ago and was happy to see the story holds up, which I guess is what makes a book a true classic. The writing is beautiful. 

The plot is built around family life in an early 20th century Chinese village. The author grew up in China as the daughter of American missionaries, and she wrote The Good Earth while living there. Much of the story is drawn from her own observations of village life. The story follows a poor young farmer (Wang Lung) beginning with his wedding to a local slave girl (O-Lan), through the ups and downs of farm life, famine, land ownership, a reversal of fortune, child rearing, and on into old age.

I loved it. Five stars for me.    

3. The Last Flight by Julie Clark

This story is part mystery, part domestic drama and is told from two different character viewpoints.  Through a somewhat unbelievable circumstance, two women, both needing a fresh start-clean slate, make a deal to switch plane tickets and escape their current unhappy situations. Naturally their rapidly concocted plan does not go off without a hitch, but it does make for a pretty good read.  I gave it three stars. 

4. Mad Honey by Jodie Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan

Not my cup of tea. At all. My book club will discuss this next week and I think it will be 'lively'. I'm following the Supreme Court case happening currently relating to the topic of children and gender transition. 

Finney-Boylan, Picoult's co-author for this book, is transgender and wrote the chapters of the book which are told from the trans character's point of view. Here's my Goodreads review-

"I know I'm in the minority, but honestly would not have finished this one if it were not our Book Club selection in December. I've read many Jodi Picoult books, and think she's an extremely talented writer. She tackles controversial topics and social issues, and doesn't feel the need to tie things up with a pretty bow. Mad Honey was different though. It started off strong, but took a turn less than halfway through. 

I truly dislike a book where the author shoves an agenda in your face, or hits you over the head with it page after page. Not just one agenda either, but every 'hot topic' in today's culture and public conversation was jammed into this one. Gender, transgender, gender transition, LBGTQ, suicide, race, abortion, domestic abuse, police brutality, the list goes on. And on and on. It felt like a huge one-sided lecture, and was completely off putting to me as a reader. I gave it two stars because I found the bee portions of the book to be quite interesting and something a little different too."

5. No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister 

A very original book! A book within a book? Almost a collection of short stories cleverly illustrating all the many ways a single book can touch readers and impact their lives. 

Young author Alice Wien writes and publishes her first book, a novel entitled Theo. We're given glimpses of the content but we never actually read the book ourselves. That's not the point. Once Theo is published we see how Alice's novel, in the hands of nine different readers, impacts each one in different ways. An imaginative, enjoyable, easy-to read tale...I gave it four stars. 

What about you? Tell me something you've read and loved recently. 

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. 

Merry December

Good Monday morning friends. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Ours was lovely and I'm linking my weekend recap with Holly and Sarah as per usual here on a Monday.  

We spent Thanksgiving with Daughter2 and her family in Tennessee. Technically it was the in-laws year for Thanksgiving and it's our year for Christmas, but she asked us to join them and we all enjoy one another's company so it was nice. 

I baked a loaf of pumpkin bread in this cute dish a friend gave me back in October and this recipe is really good. I added white chocolate chips mainly because I thought the bag in my pantry was semi-sweet, but  turns out they were white chocolate and it also turns out white chocolate chips in pumpkin bread are a winning combination.

My daughter always makes the trip to her grandmother's the day before Thanksgiving to collect her and bring her back to her house for the holiday. This makes my heart so happy and I hope one of my grands does the same for me and the hubs someday. Hubs mother lives about an hour and a half from my daughter which means three hours of driving with her two littles in tow. She loves doing it though and my mother-in-law really enjoys it too. 

This thought reminds me I was mostly a photo failure because I don't think I have a single picture of my mother-in-law. 

Hubs got one. Whew. 

We just do not seem to manage the family picture taking thing very well. We try, but not too hard. Littles this age have places to go and people to see and sitting for a posed photograph is way down on their to-do list. We snagged this one (barely) the day after-

We did get a fun picture with our girl on the actual turkey day-

She bought these shirts for us at least four years ago, but we all decided to pull them out this year for Thanksgiving morning. My older daughter who is currently living in the UK and thus not celebrating Thanksgiving with the family, saw it and asked for one to wear next year. I cannot wait to have everyone on the same continent once more. 

Hubs and I drove over to Tennessee Thanksgiving morning. It's about three hours but we left early and arrived before 11. There were charcuterie style snacks and my mother-in-law's cheeseball, and we all just relaxed and caught up on life and baby girl snuggles. She is scrumptious...

 So is this one-

He is so smart and so funny and so chatty and we love him to bits. Nana had to bring him an early Christmas present because that's what Nanas do. He's a big fan of the Grinch. 

We ate about 4 PM and shoutout to my girl who made a fabulous meal with two under two, not only in the house but also under foot or, quite literally, on her hip. My son-in-law smoked the turkey and it was so good. He also cooked the brussel sprouts on the Blackstone because oven space was at a premium. 

I brought the dressing I'd made at home along with the cranberries, and Daughter2 did the rest-green bean casserole from scratch (no canned soup for her), mashed potatoes, the most scrumptious sweet potato casserole (recipe linked here-trust me, it's a keeper)-

There were homemade!! yeast rolls, plus two pies from scratch. Oh and there was a glazed ham too, which was yummy. 

Somebody 'helped' whip the cream.  

Friday we were back at it, the eating I mean, and we pulled out all the leftovers for lunch. My son-in-law was on call this weekend and ended up having to go in for a mostly minor work emergency Friday morning, and didn't get back to the house until almost 10 PM. 

Luckily there were four grandparents and a great grandmother in the house to keep everyone entertained. 

Hubs wonders why his back aches???

We spent the day mostly just chillin'. We read a lot of books to sweet baby J, watched Sugar trying hard to take her first steps, went for a brisk walk around the neighborhood...

And we set up a big jigsaw puzzle which kept us all occupied...

J couldn't wait to get into this 1000 piece puzzle lol. It had been sitting in the box on their dining room table the week before Thanksgiving, and every time we spoke on the phone he would tell me we were going to work this puzzle. 

Hubs and I headed home Saturday morning after dropping his mama off at her house. It's a challenge to get from our house to hers just now as Hurricane Helene continues to be a problem. The interstate we normally take is gone and the rebuild is going to take at least a year which means a work around for us. 

We found the Vols-Vandy game on the radio, and man the Vols like to keep you guessing until at least the third quarter. A win though so we'll take it. We stopped for lunch on the way home and ended up skipping dinner. 

We.were.full. 

Sunday we pulled out all the Christmas decor and made a dent in the decorating. Technically not all because we're not hosting and I won't have kids in the house, but can you decorate just a little? I'm finding that challenging. 

I've got a full day today so the dining room table will remain a mix of beads and baubles and Christmas cards waiting to be stamped. There are ornaments waiting to be hung, still in boxes in the family room, and we can't remember how we hung the garland but it will all get done eventually. I'll post some pictures here soon because I realized today I posted very few last year and a picture would sure be a help with that garland right about now. 

Happy Monday everyone!