An Excited Hodgepodge

Joyce posts the questions on her blog From This Side of the Pond and we answer them on our blog each Wednesday.  Thank you for joining me this week.

1. What's a talent you wish you had? 

I would love to play the piano like my friend, Sarabeth.  But since there is no one like her, that is only a dream.

2. In one word, what's your state of mind right now?

Excited !  (See #6)

3. What's the next major purchase you need to make? Will it happen this month? This year?

A new vehicle and hopefully it will happen this month. 

4. Tuesday (April 2nd) was National PB and J Day...did you celebrate? Is a peanut butter and jelly sandwich something you eat weekly or more? What's your favorite kind of jelly?

I did not celebrate and wasn't even aware it was PB and J Day.  I do love a good PB & J sandwich though and would  eat one on a weekly basis for sure, if it weren't so fattening.  The only jelly to eat with PB is grape.  Otherwise, my favorite is peach. 

5. Are you easily intimidated? Who or what intimidates you?

I am not easily intimidated, and there isn't anyone that I know who intimidates me.  However, I could be intimidated were I in a room with highly skilled mathematicians or scholars and expected to compete. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Why am I excited?  Our son and daughter-in-law fly in Wednesday morning for a several day visit with us.  We can hardly wait.  Also, this Saturday, our first great grandson will have his 2nd birthday and his mother will turn another year older on Monday and we get to celebrate them both on Sunday.  Those are all good things to look forward to and reasons to be excited.

Easter Hodgepodge

Thank you Joyce for asking thought provoking questions each week.  If you're interested in seeing how she answers her own questions, click HERE.

1.What do you love about your life right now? 

This is my fifth week of living like a princess.  Who can complain about that!

2. March 26th is National Spinach Day...are you a fan? If so, how do you like yours prepared/served?

 Even though I love fresh spinach in a salad, or cooked in a quiche or added to an omelet, I never turn down the opportunity to have creamed spinach.

3. In this current season would you say you need to spend more time looking inward or that you need to get out of your head? Tell us why.

I can't say I spend a lot of time looking inward and nor do I want to.  When I find that I'm "in my head", I realize it quickly becomes very selfish thinking and that's not where I want to spend my time. 

4. Are you following the 'March Madness' madness? (That's US college basketball in case you're out of the loop) What's something that feels like actual madness to you right now?

Yes, we are all in with the women's trek to the Sweet Sixteen.  

I have enjoyed following Caitlin Clark's road to stardom this year as she has helped take Iowa to the #1 spot.  Of course Bayou Barbie, Angel Reese with LSU is our favorite player on our favorite team.  As they won the national title last year, we are hoping for a repeat, but the pathway is tough.

What is actual madness is this crazy world and the blatant injustice all around us.  There seems to be very little that actually makes sense anymore.  I'm so glad "this world is not my home - I'm just a pass'n through."

5. How will you celebrate the Easter/Passover holiday this year?

I am hoping to be able to go to church for the first time in several months to worship our Risen Savior with my family. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Green Pi Hodgepodge

Click here for a song to help celebrate National Pi Day - "That's Amore"

Thank you, Joyce for giving us such a variety of questions to consider each week.

1.  Thursday is National Pi Day...are you good at math?  What was the last thing you had to calculate?  did you use your head or technology?  Last slice of pie you ate?

No, math was never my strong suit inspite of all my dad's efforts to turn that around.

The last things I calculated were totals for my tax forms.

I definitely used technology!

The last slice of pie I ate was the last slice of peach pie in the pan provided by a sweet friend.

2.  What makes a house a home?

The people who live there!

3.  Your current favorite green thing?

Green is not one of my favorite colors but I do love my green plants.  I brought this bamboo into my bedroom so I can keep it watered and enjoy it from my bed.  Dick gave this to me years ago and it continues to thrive.

4.  How do you define achievement?  How does your personal definition look similar to, or different than, society's definition?  What's something you think is worth achieving in life?

Definition:  a thing done successfully, typically by effort, courage, or skill

My personal definition isn't too different from the one above.  I have never achieved something without putting forth an effort to do so.  Those achievements also came with a lot of perseverance and determination as well as failure.  That being said, nothing I have ever achieved was done so by my own power.  I believe that I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength, according to His purpose, because I am among His called.

The thing I most wish to achieve is learning to love God above all else, and my neighbor as myself. 

5.  What song is a good soundtrack for your life right now?

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Our granddaughter #2, Cassidy, spends most of her time traveling abroad.  Recently, she posted these pictures from Milan, Italy.  She could have stepped off the fashion runway.

Granddaughter #6, Ava Grace, spent last week on a mini-mester mission trip in the Amazon.  Above, they are swimming with a pink dolphin.  She is on the left and I'll let her facial expression tell you what she thought about it.

 Their older sister, granddaughter #1, Chandler has been doing some modeling of her own.  Check out @stylekalon on Instagram to see other fashions worn by this beautiful mom.

And that's just three of my amazing granddaughters.

A Purrrfic Wednesday Hodgepodge

Welcome to another Wednesday Hodgepodge with Joyce asking the questions.

1.  Has March come in like a lion where you live?  If not a lion then what animal would you use to describe the weather in your area this first week of March?  Does the weather affect your emotions?  When did you last feel 'under the weather'?

March certainly did not come in like a lion in Plano, TX.  Instead it was more like a frisky kitten who loves to chase anything that moves when not lying out in the sunshine.  We have had plenty of sun and wind.  The only weather that affects my emotions is a storm.  Bad weather seems to feed my soul and I feel very content.  I don't remember when I last felt 'under the weather'.  Even two weeks post surgery, I have not felt bad at all.

2.  Do you know what your name means?  Does the meaning of your name fit with your personality?  Do you like your name?  If you have children did you consider the meaning of their names before choosing them?

Elizabeth:  My God is abundance

Claire:  Clear, bright or light-colored

Yes, I think both my given names fit my personality.  My God is all I ever need.  As for the meaning of Claire, it is true I am probably more clear and bright some days more than others, but always light-colored.

Yes, we considered the meaning of our children's names.

John:  "Yahweh has been gracious"

Christina:   "Follower of Christ". 

3.  It's National Sauce Month...what's your favorite sauce?  Last thing you ate that used a sauce?

I found the most delicious tomato basil sauce at Home Goods a while back that we have used as a soup more than a sauce.  I bought all they had and wish there had been more.  I don't remember the last time I used just a sauce.

4.  Something you've seen, tasted, done lately that you'd describe as 'awesome sauce'?

I discovered Cauliflower Gnocchi a while back that I used in making a Chicken Gnocchi Soup.  It has quickly become a favorite dish for us and for sharing.

5.  What kinds of things do you love to collect?

I no longer collect anything.  Space is too limited for collecting.  In the past I collected white pottery pitchers and still have some of my favorites.  I also, for a period of time collected vintage and antique gravy boats.  When we moved three years ago, I gave all of my collection to a friend.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

End of February Wrap Up

Two blog posts in two days is a new record for me, but it is so good to have nothing else to do but think about doing something a bit creative for a change.  If you are interested in seeing how I do little vignettes in my house, click here. 

A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR BIG BOY, JACKSON!

Love you to the moon and back!

1.  February is coming to a close.  Give us a two-word phrase that tell us something about how yours went.

February came in with a lot of pain and closed with the elimination of said pain.  Thank you God for sending your angels of healing.

2.  If you had to describe how you're feeling right now as an amusement park ride, what ride are you on?  Explain.

The carousel seems to fit what's going on with me right now.  It was one week ago as I'm writing this that I had my left hip replaced.  My surgeon has a regime to accomplish maximum healing but it isn't overnight.

My daily schedule is going round and round and getting up and down doing 5 - 10 minutes of walking every hour; icing the incision; increasing the reps of exercises every day and then simply resting in bed.  So round and round and up and down about describes my month of March.

3.  What's something on your desk or a nearby wall that cheers you up when you see it or walk past?

Since my lap is my desk right now, my view is this large beautiful piece of furniture that holds a TV I rarely watch, a glass vase I enjoy seeing and all the printed copies of my yearly blog posts.  On top are two favorite pieces that were purchased in Greece many years ago.  There also is a tiny picture from my dad's last driver's license.  Normally, those doors would be closed, but I enjoy the view.

4.  Are you a salad eater?  How many salads do you typically eat in a week?  Your favorite kind of salad?

Yes, we are salad eaters and typically eat one a few times a week.  My go-to salad is a Cobb with black beans, corn, chicken and all the fixins'.

5.  Without telling us the category give us your top five ---

1. Sitting in my sunroom on a bright sunshiny morning
2. Walking outside on a brisk cool morning
3. Doing Facetime with a great grandson
4. A good nights sleep
5. Waking up alongside my beloved

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

I know you are more than ready to get caught up on our great grands since it's been a while since an update.

Landon, who will be 2 in April entertained me on the foot of my bed the other day with his "happy face" and sweet antics. He is such a little ham and so full of life.

Jax is so fascinated by all the new house building going on in his neighborhood and loves to watch for the dump trucks and excavators.  We love our FT visits with this Indiana baby boy who will be 2 in July.

Jasper Rex lives in Fayetteville, AR and is not quite 1.  Isn't he an absolute doll?

Four months ago I was adopted as grandmother to this precious little girl, Piper.  She has stolen our heart as did her mother a few years ago.

And that about wraps up the Hodgepodge for this week.  Come back next Wednesday because I'm not going anywhere.

Happy Valentine's Day Hodgepodge

Happy Valentine's Day

1.  What does love mean to you?

This is a complex question with a simple yet complex answer.  To love things is to enjoy and take pleasure in them, such as a few of my heirlooms and collected pieces.  To love others is a command that is not always so easily carried out.  Perhaps it can be most easily answered by paraphrasing  this command:  "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and others as Christ has loved you."

To be loved is perhaps the greatest of life's joys and to love in return is the greatest joy and life's fulfillment.  It is the small things, the giving of one's self to someone else.  It is seeing the unconditional love in a child's eyes; hearing them call your name with a great big squeeze.  It is having your husband bring in a bird feather he found; handing you a bouquet of flowers along with bags of groceries just because; or picking up his dirty clothes off the floor without being reminded.  It is a hand squeeze and a final "I love you" at the end of the day.

Love means a lot of things that simply make life worth living.

2.  Is love blind?

No, love is not blind because we are not ignorant of the flaws and shortcomings of others and we don't always 'love' these things; but loving someone does mean we love inspite of. Love is forgiving; love is patient; love is kind.  But not blind.

3.  How do you remember Valentine's Day as a kid?  Do you have any special plans for the day this year?

It meant decorating a Valentine box that would carry my often homemade valentines to be given to classmates, then to carry home all the treasured special cards shared with me.  I would sit and look at and re-read the messages for days.

No, we do not have special plans for this day.  It will be a regular Wednesday for us.

4.  Are you a fan of the movie genre known as 'rom-com'?  What's your favorite (or one of your favorites)?

I actually had to look this up.  No, I am not a big fan of romantic-comedy movies favoring more mysteries, thrillers, and historical documentaries.  I do however have a few favorite romantic movies such as Sleepless in Seattle, You've Got Mail, and The Notebook.  Do these count?

5.  What's something you recently put your heart into?

Reading the Bible through chronologically.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

I will be having a total hip replacement on the 20th, a week from the day I'm writing this.  It will entail five weeks of doing nothing other than walking a few steps every hour on the hour with a walker, sitting a few minutes each hour, wearing leg pumps and lying in bed.  No leaving the house, no rocking, no bending, no lifting, and lots of healing.  This might be a good time to fall in love with rom-coms. It will definitely put Dick's love to the test, but he is up to the challenge because he loves me unconditionally as "Christ loves."

A Final 2023 Hodgepodge Tea Party

Merry Christmas

Thank you for joining in for the final Wednesday Hodgepodge blog post for 2023.

1.  Did you do more talking or more listening yesterday?  Was it by choice or by necessity?

I think I did more listening yesterday.  We are currently at our son's home in northern Indiana for Christmas.  Yesterday brought the most beautiful wintery lake effect snowfall, so I spent most of my day watching the flakes swirl and fly around before landing on the many surfaces that this morning reflect the abundance.  Listening was definitely by choice.

2.  Are you a tea drinker?  Hot, cold, or both?  Flavored?  What do you like in your tea>  do you make Christmas tea this time of year?  What time of day do you like to sip your tea?

I am a tea drinker, and the above is my early morning preference year round.  During the warm temps I enjoy a mid-day glass of sweet iced tea with a touch of lemonade.  We call it an Arnold Palmer.  Now, for a teabag cup of tea, I prefer it in the evening with a touch of honey or my favorite liquid sweetener.  We used to make a Christmas Spiced Tea using instant tea and Tang, but I haven't made it in ages.  Maybe something to think about doing again.

3.  What's an activity you won't try, an event you won't attend, or an athletic challenge you won't take part in not even for 'all the tea in China"?

Won't try:    Hang-gliding

Won't attend:    Rock concert, NWA (professional wrestling) match

Won't take challenge:    Rugby or anything else involving contact, movement or agility skills

4.  What's something most people seem to love but is not 'your cup of tea"?

Coffee

5.  How does your family celebrate New Year's Eve?

It is usually only Dick and I for New Year's Eve so it is a quiet evening usually in front of the TV.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

The past couple weeks have been the most sad and emotional time for my family.  On Dec. 1 both my sisters and my middle sister's husband were involved in a head-on car collision resulting in the death of my brother-in-law and youngest sister.  How do you deal with such loss?  Only through the assurance of knowing they knew Jesus as their Saviour and through the strength and comfort He provides.

This Christmas and days and months following will be difficult to say the least, but treasured memories abound and the bond we shared as sisters will bring so much peace and comfort.  Below is a collage of a few Christmases past when we all gathered at our parent's home.  You may notice that we are touchers and huggers.

Don't leave anything left unsaid or unshared this Christmas season, and may God's blessings abound.

A Post Thanksgiving Hodgepodge

After months of being away from the Hodgepodge, I finally found a Tuesday with time to sit a minute between appointments to put together a blog post.

Thank you Joyce for always being here even when one of us isn't.

1.  Does anybody really know what day it is?  Last week we skipped the Hodgepodge and I just assumed this week would find us in December, but nope.  Still November.  Do you wear a watch?  Use a paper calendar or strictly electronic?  What's your favorite hour of the day?  Why?

It really does seem like November has been unusually long for some reason.  The most longed for month has gone on long enough for me.

I do not always know what day it is and that is why I keep both a paper calendar and electronic.  Even with these helps, we get confused some days.  In fact, just this week, we both realized we had doctors appointments set on the day we are to be out-of-state for a funeral.  Alas!

I do wear a watch.  While my Apple watch is charging overnight (why do they not hold a charge longer???) I wear my Fitbit watch to sleep and for my early morning walk.

My favorite hour of the day is just before daylight.  I love to be outdoors walking at this time, regardless of the temperature.

2.  Tell us something about how you celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday.

We traditionally celebrate the day with our daughter and her family as well as her husband's family.  I will let the following pictures describe how our day was spent.

Nothing quite like enjoying special days through the eyes of toddler, especially when he is your Great Grandson #1.

3.  What's a sound you hate to hear?

It used to be an alarm clock but thankfully we don't set those anymore.  These days it would be the sound of emergency vehicles because it means someone is in trouble.

4.  Where do you not mind waiting?

I seriously cannot think of anywhere.  Waiting is not my favorite pastime; however, I do try to be content and keep my mind preoccupied in whatever long wait I find myself.

5.  I really wish all my family could be together for Christmas.  But, since that will not happen, I wish for a new administration to be in charge of running our government in 2024.  This may also be a stretch.

My biggest wish and prayer is that all those who are struggling and without the knowledge of and belief in Jesus Christ would come to know Him as their personal Lord and Savior.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Although we were not with our Indiana bunch for Thanksgiving, let me share a few of their special pictures, simply because you need to see our big Great Grandson #2.

We can't wait to spend Christmas with this part of our beautiful family.

Traveling Backward & Forward on the Hodgepodge

1.  What's one thing you're excited about in the coming month?

Since this Hodgepodge seems to be centered on travel, my answer to this question fits right in.

We will be flying out on July 1 for Northern Indiana to celebrate our great grandson #2's first birthday.  It's hard to believe both of our baby boys are a year old already.

2.  What was your life like when you were ten years old?

I am currently compiling a series of posts about our family and the growing up years.  I hope it will answer questions future generations won't think to ask.  If you'd like to follow along, this is a link to the first post with a link to the 2nd.

The Lazenby's Story - Introduction

We lived in rural South-Central Louisiana in the earliest English Settlement west of the Mississippi River.  I was a tomboy who liked to roam the woods, climb trees, ride my bike, hunt with my daddy, play games and be with my younger sister and friends; also enjoyed playing dress up, writing and painting.  Life was all good.

3.  What's something from your childhood you still enjoy today?

Being creative and the occasional chocolate fudge bar.

4.  What state (that you haven't been to) do you most want to visit?  Tell us why?

We have not traveled to the upper western states but have plans to spend the month of September exploring Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, then return through New Mexico back to Texas.  We will use the Lewis & Clark Trail as an starting point.  After suffering through the excessive heat here - expected to be over 103 degrees with heat index over 115 today - we are hoping for some more pleasant weather that time of year.

5.  Do you like to drive?  Tell us how you learned to drive.

Yes, I love to drive and am the primary driver in our family.  We laughingly say that when I drive, only one of us has to drive at a time.  My dad taught me to drive and started with a standard transmission.  He was an excellent teacher and stressed preventive driving as much as the basic mechanics of operating a vehicle.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

LSU beats Florida in Game 3 of Men's College World Series to win national championship

Way to GEAUX LSU Tigers!  What a game you played, but we are most proud of the men of integrity all of you seem to be.

A Look Back and Forward Hodgepodge

Welcome to this week's edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge.

1.  Tell me something you remember (or if you're not there yet, something you look forward to) about being 35.

I was 35 in 1979; had two children aged 10 and 8 and there was never a dull moment.  The picture above was taken while on vacation to Glorieta, NM and an overnight camping stop in Palo Dura Canyon, Canyon, Texas.  We rode horses, saw the play "Texas", hiked and had a wonderful 2-week long trip. 1979 was a fun time in our lives with both kids busy with things they enjoyed doing, a lot of family and church activities, and before both kids got into their teens.

2.  Last time you 'burned the candle at both ends'?

That would have been pre-retirement when my job demanded long hours, endless reports and deadlines.  These days, I can regulate how my days are spent and projects are organized and planned in advance.  At 78, I understand that the whole candle is burning out but not from both ends.

3.  Are you someone with the 'gift of gab'?  Elaborate (which shouldn't be a problem if you answered yes teehee).

No, I do not have the 'gift of gab', and in fact, prefer to not gab at all.  I am friendly and will visit and share thoughts and opinions with friends, but this is not my natural bent.

4.  Do you request a special meal on your birthday, and if so tell us what that meal is?  Do want the same kind of cake year after year or will any flavor work?  Do you want cake at all?  Growing up were birthdays a big deal in your house?  Are they a big deal now?

I'm sure as children we celebrated birthdays, although I don't remember having big birthday parties.  These days birthdays are not a big deal and I do not have a special meal, cake or even any recognition.  We did however, celebrate Hubby's 80th and our 55th anniversary with family.  Who knows, maybe we'll have a cake next year for my 80th.

5.  'Age is just a number.'..agree or disagree?  Tell us why.

To some degree I do think that age is just a number, because I do not feel or think I look as old as I thought 78 year old women did a few years ago.  In my opinion, at that time, this number meant old and definitely not relevant to the current events at the time.  Looking back now however, I realize that those were the women I most admired and respected and they surely made a great contribution to my life.  Yes, age can only be a number as long as one remains active, healthy and involved.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

We had great news last week when Reis proposed to our Savannah, Granddaughter #3.

The ring is exactly what she wanted - sapphire and diamonds. 

And the whole Day Family is celebrating.