Welcome to December

As I sit here at my computer on this Tuesday morning, listening to Christmas music, thinking about the things I need to do before our upcoming trip, and answering questions Joyce has given us, my heart is filled with gratitude for all the blessings God has so generously bestowed upon our family in 2025.  Thank you, Father, for your faithfulness.

It is Wednesday, and that means it is time for the Hodgepodge. 

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

 Click here to join the fun!

1. What does it mean to have the 'holiday spirit'? On a scale of 1-10, how is yours this year? (10=off the charts, 1=still looking for it)

Norman Vincent Peale expressed it well:  "Christmas is the season of joy, of holiday greetings exchanged, of gift-giving, and of families united."

To me, it means a magical time of joy in the air, a sense of togetherness, time with our family and friends, worship, and music celebrations.  But especially it is a time of rejoicing because God loved us so much that He sent his only Son to be born that we might know God the Father in a personal way.  So let our hearts be filled with gratitude during this season of joy.

"The spirit of Christmas is in every shared joy and in every act of kindness during this wondrous time of year."

 

2. What's your favorite character from a (December) holiday-themed movie, book, or TV special? Tell us why.

I don't have a favorite character and couldn't tell you the name of a single actor/actress in any Christmas movie or show.  We always watched Polar Express and Elf during the holidays with our son and his family. This year, I'm sure those traditions will carry on to the next generation. Once is enough for me, but I love being part of this family tradition.

We do, however, enjoy traditional and classic musical performances.  

Our church does the "Gift of Christmas," which is the most amazing live performance you could want to see.  People come from all over to see it.  Our granddaughter has performed in it since middle school. Above is the Nativity portion from last year's performance.  It involves over a thousand volunteers for fourteen performances.

3. Do you like gingerbread? Are gingerbread houses part of your holiday tradition?

I do like gingerbread, but gingerbread houses are not part of our tradition. 

4. Much of our vocabulary is determined by where we live or where we grew up. What say you-

sprinkles or jimmies? 

lightning bugs or fireflies?

soda or pop?  Coke

sneakers, trainers, or tennis shoes?

sub, hoagie, grinder, or hero?

freeway, highway, or motorway?

frosting or icing?

sauce or gravy?

5. Share a favorite holiday memory from your childhood.

Our baby sister, Sarah, was 7 years younger than me and 5 years younger than Gin.  She was our baby doll.  Her first Christmas Eve in 1951, our dad climbed on the roof of our house and pretended to be Santa with all the required sounds of reindeer, and "Ho, ho, hos."  Gin and I were convinced that Santa had actually visited us that night, and we told this story to Sarah every year.  This memory is especially poignant since Sarah's sudden death was two years ago this week.  Memories will always hold special places in our hearts.

 6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

Being that I am in a reflective state of mind, let me share with you some pictures of time past and special memories.

Sisters

Until our dad died in 1994, our family always met at their house for Christmas.  It was looked forward to all year long by all our families. These are some of the most precious memories we share, and I love that we have the privilege of making memories with our grandchildren that will bring them joy for years to come.

Our last picture together.  Little did we know.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Birthday, Gin

Today is my sister, Gin's birthday.  Love her so much.

It is Wednesday, and that means it is time for the Hodgepodge. 

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

 Click here to join the fun!

1. Do you feel like you have a 'full plate' at the moment? In what way?

My 'full plate' consists of appointments, events, and packing for a hopefully snowy Christmas trip beginning in mid-December.  We will be visiting friends and family from Atlanta, Georgia, to Indy before reaching our son's home in the far reaches of Indiana.  This requires a lot of different attire, but we have room to hang whatever we need.  So, that's that.

  

2. How did you learn to cook? If you have children, did you teach or encourage them to cook? Do you like to follow a recipe, or is your cooking style more 'let's wing it'.

I learned to cook by doing it, much to my husband's chagrin.  My mother was a good cook, but she measured by pinches and dabs.  I am a recipe follower and to this day, use them for dishes other than omelets for the most part.  I did not teach my children to cook, as neither of them showed any interest.  That being said, both of them are good cooks.

  

3. Last time you bit off more than you could chew? Elaborate. 

I can’t really relate to this question, as I don’t tend to respond that way. However, when I served as Chief Facilities Officer for five campuses in the Louisiana Technical College System, twenty-five years ago, there were times when I wondered if I had taken on more than I could handle. Even so, God carried me through, and He blessed every one of my efforts with success.

  

4. When did you last say 'the more the merrier' and mean it?

Never!  That is not in my vocabulary.  I am a planner and not necessarily a 'more is better' kind of person. 

5. Write an acrostic using the word T-H-A-N-K-S. 

T – Thoughtfulness shared and received

H – Health

A – Answered prayer

N – Nurturing kindness in every interaction

K – Keeping a grateful heart

S – Sharing joy with others

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I had the strangest thing happen to me in the wee hours of last Thursday morning.  I woke up around 1:50 and could not put weight on my left foot.  It was a deep stabbing pain from a spot inside and above my left heel.  Crazy!  It wasn't any better during the day, and even worse on Friday.  By Saturday morning, I knew I needed to see about it, so off to Urgent Care.  They were as baffled as I was, and the X-ray showed no fractures.  They did a coin toss and decided it could be inflammation.  I stayed on the sofa all the remaining day and Sunday while wearing my supportive walking shoes.  By mid-afternoon, I got relief and our fill of college and NFL football.  By Monday, I was back to normal, despite a bit of tenderness.  I had asked Jesus to take it away as quickly as it appeared, and He heard my plea.  So grateful for His goodness.

Hodgepodge of Squashy

I am again joining Joyce at From This Side of the Pond for this week's,

Wednesday Hodgepodge.  Click over and either join us or read others' answers to the questions.

1. Let's do our gratitude question first this week...what's the best thing about your home, and have you taken time to enjoy it lately?

There are several things I like about my home - its location, safety, convenience to everything we need access to, (our church is 5 min.) size, etc.  However, my favorite thing is the sunroom.  This is where Dick and I spend our mornings together and where I sit to read or do computer work, during the day.  It is where visitors gravitate to because it is so bright and comfortable.  Besides, God gave it to me.

2. Do you like squash? Of the varieties listed, which one's your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Is squash of some sort on your Thanksgiving menu?? 

acorn, butternut, delicata, spaghetti, zucchini, crookneck (yellow squash), patty pan

Yellow squash and zucchini are my favorites.  We prefer it simply stewed down with onions.  For many years, our family favorite was squash casserole, but I haven't done that in quite a while.  Another family favorite when the kids were small was "Squash Boats."  Yellow squash sliced lengthwise, covered with cheddar cheese, and baked.
  No, it will not be on the Thanksgiving menu.

 

3. Last time you were 'squashed in' somewhere, or felt squashed? 

That would be returning from South Louisiana a couple of weeks ago on I-20.  The traffic was horrible, and 18-wheelers were dominating the highway.  I won't mention how fast I had to go to get out of their way a time or two.

4. Have you ever played squash? What about other 'racquet sports' such as racquetball, tennis, pickleball, badminton, table tennis (ping pong)? Are these sports something you enjoy?

I attempted to play tennis in high school, but no one wanted to play with me.  I hit the tennis ball like I was batting a softball, which I played with much greater success.  My sister, though, was quite the tennis player.  I also played a bit in college, a tiny bit better in order to pass PE.  We often played badminton with the kids and attempted table tennis.  My eye-hand coordination just wasn't what it needed to be to prevent embarrassment.  Definitely no squash!  I could, however, run, speed-walk, do palates, and lift weights.  Does that count?

   

5. Something in today's society or culture that feels like a 'racket' to you? If you don't like that one, tell us about a place you've been recently where there was a lot of 'racket'.

Politics!  We watched the Netflix movie series, "Death by Lightning", the story of President Garfield, this past weekend.  Dick and I commented on the fact that corrupt politics have always been a reality.  For so many politicians, their careers have been one long racket to advance only themselves.  We also reminded ourselves that this corruption is as old as the Old Testament.

   

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

We may actually see some fall weather later this week and next week for sure.  To us, temps in the 50's and 60's are enough to at least make us think it's fall.  As I write this on Tuesday, we are breaking records for high temperatures this time of year, with a high of 89.  I look around at my few Fall decor items and think I should have beachy stuff instead, and can't imagine putting up Christmas decor.  And yet, they are everywhere.

  I don't decorate for Christmas at all since we leave mid-December for Northern Indiana and don't return until after the New Year.

 Knowing that, a sweet friend sent us this Fresh Cut Pop-up paper tree this week, so it will be my only decoration, and easy to fold up and put away when we get back home.  So, I'm not altogether a Scrooge!

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Patriotic Hodgepodge

Thank you, Joyce for this week's questions.

1. What does patriotism mean to you?

Patriotism means loving our country and honoring all that the Founding Fathers intended it to be. It is embracing the history, culture, traditions, and customs that have long shaped our nation. It is feeling a swell of pride when the National Anthem is played or sung, and being grateful for the many men and women who have sacrificed everything to defend the freedoms granted to us by our forefathers and enshrined in our founding documents. Patriotism means standing firm for the rights and liberties that define our nation so that future generations may also know what it means to be a proud American patriot.

I saw the video below on Facebook and found it to be so stirring.  There is nothing more powerful than children's voices in praise and gratitude. 

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/17EL7hpgNg/?mibextid=wwXIfr

2. September-October-November...your favorite fall month? Tell us why. If you live in the southern hemisphere, use these months but sub spring for the word fall. 

The answer most definitely is November, the month of my birth and the first signs of Fall in Texas.

3. A song you love with the word thanks (or some form of that word)  in the title or lyrics?

"Give Thanks" by Don Moen

4. November is National Peanut Butter Month. Are you a fan? What's the last peanut butter bite you had? Fill in the blank: peanut butter and _bananas____________________ . 

Oh, and you can't say jelly. 

5. This week's gratitude question-What event from this past year are you most grateful for?

Seeing our granddaughter, Cassidy, and her husband, Angelos, and meeting our great-grandson, Noah.  He is everything and more than we expected.  He is seriously the most advanced 9-month-old that I have ever seen.  He is already pulling up, taking steps, repeating sounds, and making everyone around him happy.  They fly back to Greece on Thursday, so it may be a while before we see them again.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

 

Our Northern Indiana family got their first snow on Sunday and Monday of this week.  It was a beautiful snow and I only wish I was there to enjoy it.  Hopefully, there will be plenty for Christmas.

Fair Well October

Yes, I will be one year older on Saturday, Nov. 1.  Thank you, Mother, for holding off one more day to bring me into the world.  Who wants to be a Halloween baby!

And, thank you, Joyce, for this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge.

1. Are you a risk taker? To what degree? 

No, I am not much of a risk taker.  For one who likes to be in control and able to predict to some degree what is coming, taking a risk is not something I desire.  However, I do enjoy planned spontaneity.

2. What's your favorite candy? Would you say you have a sweet tooth?

Most anything chocolate is good for me.  I could eat my weight (and that is getting higher every year) in my friend's Millionaire bars.  Thank you, Judy!

I wrote last week about our Greek grandson-in-law, who runs his family's patisserie, which is one of the best in Athens.  He brought our granddaughter and our adorable great-grandson to Dallas last week, and they were so thoughtful to bring gifts.  One is a little jar of the most wonderful chocolate-covered hazelnut balls.  This is my new favorite.  We are allowing ourselves only one a day.

I do have a sweet tooth that is being controlled these days.

3. Somewhere you've been recently that had you feeling 'like a kid in a candy store'?

I hate to bail out on this one, but I haven't been anywhere that meets this description lately.

 

4. What do you think is the most effective way to make a positive change in the world?

Live and love as Christ did.

 

5. Do you like surprises?

Only if I can choose the surprise. Refer to the answer to #1.

 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We got to meet our little Greek great-grandson last Friday, and we totally agree that he is the most adorable little blessing.  He is such a happy, healthy, beautiful, big nine-month-old.

Now, how about the cutest little 3-year-old boy's school picture and his sassy little 1-year-old sister?

Have I told you lately how wonderful our great-grandchildren are?

Who Loves Orange?

There has actually been a bit of Fall wind in the mornings around here this week.  I was finally in the mood to plant some flowers in my entry pots that will last all winter.  Ornamental cabbage and a colorful mix of petunias did the trick.

Thank you, Joyce, for hosting the Hodgepodge as always.

1. What do you like most about your family?

What's not to like, I ask thee!!  My family has personality overload, especially the grandchildren.  We are a loving family with a sense of humor that is delightful.  Everyone is an individual with their own likes and dislikes, personalities, and gifts.  Some commonalities are family traits, yet we are all so different and unique.  I like that!

2. What's something nice that's happened to you recently?

I was recently told by a new friend that she thought I was in my 60s.  That was something pretty nice, since I will have my 81st birthday next week.

We had a gathering after church to celebrate our youngest granddaughter's 19th birthday.  Any time I'm with my kids is nice.  We also celebrated her boyfriend being selected as 2025 PCA Homecoming King.  That was a pretty big deal as well.

3. Do you like the color orange? Besides a pumpkin and an actual orange, what's something orange you love?

Orange is probably my favorite color besides an orangy red, so yes, I like that color.  I love orange clothing and have several items in my closet.    This is a picture taken a few years ago on the 1st day of Fall.  I do not, however, use orange in my home decor except in the fall.

4.  What's something you have now you couldn't have imagined having five years ago? How does that make you feel? What's possible now because of it?

 Five years ago, we could not imagine living in Plano, TX, near our daughter.  We were not ready to move, yet when the decision was made, we were more than ready for the change.  We could not have imagined being as happy and blessed as we are at this point in our lives.  God has been so faithful, and we will be forever grateful.

What is possible now because of this move?

We get to sit with our daughter, granddaughters, and family for worship on Sunday mornings. We are close enough for occasional family gatherings.  We have immediate access to all aspects of our healthcare.  We have made life-long friendships and have had opportunities to serve and grow spiritually that he didn't have before this move.  We are 2 minutes from our church and 30 minutes from the DFW airport.  We can easily pick up visiting family members and out-of-town guests.  As I said, we are so very grateful!

5. Let's wrap this one up with an October this or that...

• pumpkin bread or apple cider donut
• pumpkin bread w/apple cider
• cozy sweater or cozy hoodie
• cozy sweater but only after October
• apple picking or pumpkin picking
• pumpkin picking from a grocery store
• scary movie or Hallmark movie
• depends on how scary; otherwise a Hallmark movie
• hay ride or corn maze
• hay ride, if I were still a teenager, but neither is appealing at this point
• twinkle lights or candles
• candles but twinkle lights are also good
• autumn hike or autumn bonfire
• a slow autumn hike with few inclines.   Winter firepit fires are enjoyable when in Northern Indiana.  We just don't have bonfires in Plano, TX

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Our granddaughter and her husband who live in Greece, gave his father a surprise trip to NYC for his birthday.  He is a lifelong resident of Athens, Greece, and it has always been his dream to visit this city.  Below are a few pictures of their week.  He especially enjoyed spending this special time with his only grandchild, Noah.  I think Noah enjoyed it as well.

Later this week, Noah, along with his mom and dad, will arrive in Plano to meet his Texas family.  We can't wait.

Peaceful Hodgepodge

"I am the Lord.  I have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will hold you by your hand.  I will watch over you, and I will appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations, in order to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those sitting in darkness from the prison house.  I am the Lord.  That is my name, and I will not give my glory to another..." Isaiah 42: 6-8a

What a week we have been blessed to experience.  May God be praised and no other.

Thank you, Joyce, for this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Do you make an effort to see/hear live music? Last time you went somewhere for live music?

 I assume you aren't including the Sunday worship service.  In that case, we made an effort to attend our youth's annual Fall Follies last Sunday night.  It was an amazing production with unbelievable talent.  They give four performances and every one only gets better.

It seriously is Broadway-worthy.  No kidding!   Other than that, we do not make an effort to attend live music performances.  Before moving to Plano, we had season tickets to the Shreveport Symphony. 

2. According to HGTV, the colors of the year for 2026 are mostly decided. Top paint companies declare a color of the year, and decorators will incorporate that into their new year home and room designs. Here's what's on tap in terms of paint trends for 2026 (check out the link here to see photos)

• Sherwin-Williams universal khaki (inspired by heavy canvas and outdoor gear)
• Behr-hidden gem (a confident shade of teal)
• Valspar-warm eucalyptus (a warm silver-tinted green)
• Dutch Boy-melodious ivory (a honey-tinted beige)
• Glidden-warm mahogany (a classic brick red)
• Krylon-matte coffee bean
• Clark and Kensington -Hazelnut Crunch (warm reddish-brown)
• Graham and Brown-Divine Damson (cherry red with a subtle violet undertone)
• Dunn and Edwards-midnight garden (the green that works everywhere) 

First question: Did you know there were so many different paint manufacturers? Which color on the list most appeals to you in terms of your own decorating style? Do you have plans to do any painting in your home in the coming year, and if so, might you choose a color from this list?

 No, I wasn't familiar with some of these.

Sherwin-Williams universal khaki is the only one I would consider, but I would prefer a lighter shade of this color.  It is similar to the wall color in our previous house.  The Behr Hidden Gem

would be a color you might find in my closet but never on my walls.

I do not plan to do any wall painting any time soon.

Now, forget painting walls, which color name appeals to you most?

Midnight Garden

3. What's something in your life you have to do - watch - or participate in that's about as exciting as 'watching paint dry'?

Housework?  Did I mention previously that we have a housekeeper who comes monthly?  She asked me last time if I cleaned between her visits.  I did sort of lie and insist that, of course, I do.  That was partly true because I do run a swiffer over the furniture and vacuum a couple of times.  May I just say that I did not appreciate that remark and wanted to say, "Why do you think I pay you to come?"  But I was nice because I do like her, and she does a great job.  You can be sure that I will have cleaned before she comes next time.  Does anyone else clean before the housekeeper comes?

4 . Tuesday, October 14th is/was National Dessert Day...did you/will you celebrate? Tell us how? What's your absolute favorite dessert? Yes, just one. I know!! 

Brownies are my favorite dessert, and as I am writing this on the 14th, I think a celebration is in order.

5. Perhaps today is the day I will start a new book to complete the series I started a few weeks ago while eating a plate full of brownies.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

This past Saturday morning, we picked up friends to visit the Coppell Farmer's Market.  Our friends frequent it often and were familiar with many of the vendors and their products; however, this was our first time.

It was a lovely morning and such a nice location.  It was not as busy as it obviously is because they were having a "Dressed Dog Show" in the pavilion, which left the shopping wide open.  We did not attend the show.

This lovely lady at the beSpiced station sold me on a jar of Turmeric Churna.  I have made a couple of cups of tea and can't wait to be inflammation-free.

These cute ones sold Dick on pita bread, homemade chips, and humus.

These folks at the Jersey Dairy tent sold us on their Peach Yogurt.  Delicious, but the bottle was too small for my liking.  We would have loved to bring home a gallon of fresh Jersey milk, but at $9 we decided to leave it there.

After doing all the walking and looking that we cared to do, we found a delightful brunch spot nearby.  Let me just say that the Pumpkin pancake topped with toasted pecans and a delicious sweet cream was the pièce de résistance.

I think Dick and I may return, perhaps when it gets cooler.

Apples & Nuts on the Hodgepodge

It appears that we will not experience Fall in North Central Texas any time soon.  It will remain in the upper 80s and 90s until late October at the earliest.  By then we will be more than ready for the slightest drop in temperature.  In the meantime, I will stay inside as much as possible and hope for a road trip out of town to see some sign of Fall somewhere.

Thank you, Joyce for this week's questions and Hodgepodge connections.

1. 'The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.' How does this saying ring true in your own family, either the one you grew up in or the one you made?

I inherited my mother's brown eyes and passed them on to my son.

My personality is similar to my dad's, and I have also passed those same traits on to my son and a bit to my daughter.

My dad's eyes were a beautiful blue, and my daughter inherited those.

I inherited my parents' love of reading and Bible study, as well as my dad's love of history.

My parents passed on their legacy of faith, and thankfully, we have passed that on to our children.  In this respect, we are so grateful the apple didn't fall far from the tree.

2. Something you're nuts about these days? How about something that's driving you nuts?

I really can't think of anything that I am nuts about other than nuts themselves.  I read that if you have thyroid issues, you should have nuts at every meal.  I have no idea if that is true, but it sure sounds reasonable to me and something I can do happily.

Something that drives me nuts!  I know this sounds very persnickety, but I can't stand for my dining room chairs to be out of place.  And by that, the legs must be perfectly placed against the table legs.  I have a round table with four chairs, if that helps you envision my issue.  There are other OCD concerns, but let's leave it here with the chairs.

3. What does abundance mean to you?

Over and above what is necessary or common, a rich supply.

 Jesus said that He came that we might live life abundantly.  The Old Testament gave this example of abundance:

"Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou hast   anointed my head with oil;
My cup runneth over
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." (Psalms 23:5-6)

4. Caramel apple-caramel cake-caramel corn-caramel sundae-caramel macchiatto...what's your caramel treat of choice? 

Caramel Cake

5. What's a childhood memory that always comes to mind as the leaves start to fall?

I remember vividly playing in the woods with my younger sister.  We loved making "houses" by doing the outline of the house and rooms out of pine straw.  We loved being outside all year long, and could do that in the south, but the fall was a particularly fun time of the year.  We also enjoyed squirrel hunting with our dad.

 

6. Insert. your own random thought here.

I have learned how to keep avocados!  Once they have reached the desired stage of ripeness, put them in a large container, covered with water, and put them into the frig.  I keep mine whole.  They will last about two weeks like this and peel quite easily.  Make sure they are ripe, because the ripening process is stopped once you put them in the frig.  You can thank me later.