Wed. Hodgepodge 12-31-2014

Happy New Year!!

This is our last Hodgepodge for the year. Thank you, Joyce, over at From This Side of the Pond
2014 will soon be history and 2015 holds all sorts of promises. I wish you all a happy, healthy new year ahead.

1. Share a favorite moment from your Christmas holiday celebration.

My favorite moment from each Christmas holiday celebration is when my children and grandchildren come through my back door. That moment always comes with lots of hugs, kisses and smiles. I love it.

2. What would you say has been the biggest news event during your life so far?

At my age, I have seen and heard so many big news events, but I would have to say the biggest was the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated. No, maybe the biggest was 9/11. I can remember each one as if it was yesterday.

3. The Pantone Color of the Year for 2015 is Marsala. What say you - like or no like? Would I find this color anywhere in your home or wardrobe? Will you add something in this shade to either? 

I like. It's a beautiful color we always called 'wine' colored, hence the wine with the same name. I used to have a blouse that color that I got many compliments, each saying it was a good color on me. I loved it and wore it often. Yes, I would add another one to my wardrobe.

4. Would you rather meet your ancestors or your great grandchildren? Explain why.

I would love to meet my ancestors. I have so many questions for them that only they could answer. But when it comes to my great-grandchildren, I feel blessed that I'm here to meet my first and pray for him each day that he has a happy life. Now, since I plan to be here another 30-40 years, I will no doubt meet them all plus the first of my great-great-grandchildren. I would love to see what kind of adults they become and what they do with their lives.

5. Share one life lesson learned in 2014?

Never take anything for granted. I learned this long ago, but this past year I was reminded that people can be very unpredictable and we should never assume anything. It can lead to hurt feelings.

6. What was your best or favorite purchase made in 2014?

I didn't make any major purchases this year, only groceries and necessities. I guess that could be my favorite because I didn't go hungry.

7. What is one thing you're looking forward to in the new year?

Being more active (for my health) and possibly getting back a social life.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

We have no plans for New Year's eve, except to do what we've been doing the last several years --- stay home where we're safe and warm, and watch the ball drop in Times Square. I'm not even sure I'll stay up that late. I'm often in bed before midnight. Then on New Year's Day we'll probably take down all the Christmas decorations, get the house cleaned and everything back to normal.

Whatever your plans are, may you be safe and warm. Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas 2014

Another Christmas has come and gone with a new year beginning in a few short days. I can't believe it. I feel like I slept through most of it. It's such a blur now. 

Our Christmas was very nice. Even tho' I'm still not up to par, I did manage to bake 2 pies and a cake, cooked 3 kinds of meat, plus my famous baked beans and a few other miscellaneous items for our party. Last evening I fed a total of 16 people, and still with no voice. But I'm getting better.

After we all ate and had the first load of dishes washed and put away, we played "Battle of the Sexes" and sampled each one of the desserts. The game is fun and we enjoy playing it, but when it was my turn to read a card, the room got quiet so they could all hear my squeak. I still laugh about it. 

Our tiny great-grandson Skye was being passed around to almost everyone, poor little guy. But he's such a good baby, he never complained. I didn't hold him, stayed away from him and pretty much everyone, didn't want to breathe in their faces. I don't think I'm contagious, but I wasn't taking any chances. 

Momma Hollie (Lori's daughter) holding Skye with Aunt Teresa talking to him

Grandson Dylan (Lori's youngest) is over 6½ ft. tall

but when I snapped this picture of him, I didn't notice it almost looked as if he was leaning on the top of the refrigerator. 

All in all, it was a fun evening. It's been quite awhile since we had everyone here. Daughter #2 and her husband headed back to Michigan this morning, so they're now home safe and sound. Daughter #1 is hosting her husband's family for dinner this evening. I helped furnish a couple items for her meal. And daughter #3 has spent most of her day alone. The boys are in Columbus with their dad. They called her last night and even tho' it was good to talk to them, she cried hard after hanging up. It's her first Christmas without them. Divorce! It's hard on everyone, but mostly on the kids. They wanted to come home. And Grandma -- I missed them so much, not being here. 

Our weather has been very mild this Christmas. We didn't have a white one, it was a liquid one. But thank goodness the temperature stayed in the 50's so we didn't have to worry about icy roads. 

We've had some bad news and some good news in the last few days. My cousin who has been fighting prostate cancer is doing very well and finally got to come home for the holidays. Then we find out our niece had a mild heart attack the other day. She's doing well and was able to go home. That news was a little late coming because she lives in Switzerland. 

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and may God bless you richly in the coming new year.

12-13-14

I know I've been absent for a very long time, but not because I'd forgotten about my friends here. I think of you daily and I do check in to see if you have posted anything and to see how your life is going. 

This past week I've been down with an upper respiratory thing going on in me. As of right now, I feel fairly good, but I still don't have my voice back. Hubby has had a very quiet week. If I attempt to say anything, I either squeak or whisper. He's been learning some interesting sign language. I hope I get back to normal soon. I have so much to do and only 10 more days to do it all. We don't even have the tree up yet or any baking done, but every time I think of it, I get over-whelmed. I need that genie in the bottle. 

A thought suddenly occurred to me the other day ... I need a new ornament for the tree this year. I have one for each of our 7 grandchildren with their baby picture on each. This year we have a new little bundle of joy to add to the tree.... baby Skye. He is 6 weeks old. 

So far this season, our weather has been very mild here. Last night we had freezing fog and a light drizzle that caused streets to be very slick. There were many reports of cars sliding off the roads. The temperature got down to around 27°. It hasn't been much lower than that this month so far. Now the weather people are predicting we have only a 25% chance of having a white Christmas. 

Until next time..... 

I found a new web page that I'm enjoying. It's called "Only in Ohio" and features some wonderful pictures of my home state, taken by local residents. I have been here, but it was a damp, dreary day. Nothing like this. 

"Only in Ohio"... Marblehead Lighthouse looking over Lake Erie. Photo by Matt Shiffler Photography.

Happy Saturday

I'm sure you've heard the expression "they have an old soul". I don't believe in reincarnation and this phrase is often used by those who do. So, why that came to mind when I first saw this latest picture from my grand-daughter, I have no idea.

Our precious little great-grandson has fascinated me from the first moment I saw him. He was 10 minutes old and his eyes were wide open, staring at everyone's faces. To me, I see something in his eyes that I have trouble describing. Wisdom? Intelligence. An old soul? (the eyes are the window to the soul) I think he's going to be a very special young man, not just because he's our's and Gr-grandma may be a little prejudice, but because of a feeling I get when I look into his eyes. If I did believe in reincarnation, I'd say we've met before.

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is almost here. I went to the store yesterday and got the items I need for my share of the dinner. We're all going to Daughter #1's again this year. She hosts Thanksgiving dinner and I do Christmas eve. It got to be too much for me to do both, since the days in-between seem to have been shortened. I feel like I had just gotten the dinner mess cleaned up when I had to start cooking again.

I found a new favorite TV show last evening. It's Master Chef Junior. Have you seen it? Bob and I like watching some of the many cooking shows and as I was watching this one I was amazed at those children, ages 8-12, and how they knew their way around the kitchen. One little guy used culinary terms like a professional. He said he'd been cooking since he was 2. :)

Until next time...........

Wednesday Hodgepodge 11-19-2014

After being almost invisible for a few weeks, what better way to come back but with a Wednesday Hodgepodge. So, grab your cup of coffee or tea and sit back. I hope I don't put you back to sleep.

1. What's something you take for granted, that when you stop and think about it you feel truly grateful for?

I've been trying to narrow this down to just one, but I'm still having trouble. I must confess that I often take my dear husband and family for granted, when I get to feeling that they'll always be there for me. Wrong! I must try harder to remember on a daily basis to thank God for each one of them. I don't know what I'd do without them. I'm blessed for having them in my life. 

2. The color brown - love it or no? What's your favorite shade of brown? Most loved something in your home or closet in a shade of brown?

Yes, I like the color brown..... the chestnut brown of my daughter's hair, the walnut brown of my grandmother's antique stand in my living room, the brown color of my coffee beans, my favorite chocolate bars and the beautiful warm brown color of my newborn great-grandson's eyes.

3. What's something you're looking forward to today?

Nothing.... unless I count the warmer temperatures we're suppose to have this afternoon. We've been hit by this arctic blast way too early this year. 

4. The word 'feminism' is not new, but it has been generating all kinds of headlines in recent days and months. What do you think/feel when you hear the word? If you're a woman, do you want to be described as a feminist? Why or why not?

I used to think of feminism as a woman who enjoys being a woman and acts like a lady.  I don't want to be described as a feminist because ever since the 60's it has taken on a whole different meaning. Today's feminist is a rebel, a fighter for women's rights, which in itself is fine, but she's not what I consider a woman. She's tough. She's angry. She swears. And I see her going nose-to-nose against all men. 

Now don't get all upset with me.....  this is just my opinion --- and I'm "old school". 

5. What's something you personally can't eat without making a mess?

(A Big Mac) And spaghetti. I've never found which way is the right way of eating spaghetti. Do I twirl it on the fork and get way too much for my mouth so I end up having to bite off the long ones and let them fall back onto the plate. Or do I cut it into small pieces and scoop them up? Or do I pick up some long ones and slurp up the ones hanging on my chin? No matter which way I do it, the sauce is either going to be on my shirt, my chin or splashed up onto my glasses. ;) Messy, but still a favorite.

6. When did you last surprise someone with a little gift or when were you last surprised by someone with a little gift? What was it?

I can't think of anything. We very seldom do gifts... only on birthdays and Christmas. 

7. Share a favorite quote, saying, song lyric or scripture relating to gratitude.

"This is the day which the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it"  Psalms 118:24

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Yesterday was our youngest grandson's 8th birthday. Our daughter had planned on several of us to come over to their house for cake and games. Hubby and I were looking forward to seeing the grandkids, and never gave a thought to the road conditions after the snow storm Saturday night. We just automatically figured the state trucks had them cleared off by then. The highway did have a lot of icy spots and the snow was blowing bad, but we made it there and back safely. We had a great time. I'm glad the weather didn't scare us out of making the trip. 

A Special Day

First I want to say that all is well here and I have no excuse for being MIA the last 10 days. Just that, life happens and other things must come first.

Today is a special day for us. Forty years ago I gave birth to our #3 daughter and the 'baby' of the family! It's hard to imagine the length of time that's gone by. And since she is the youngest, she's always had a special place in our hearts. That's not saying she's more important than her 2 older sisters. She's just "the baby".  

Happy Birthday, Teresa

        

                       

This coming Monday, Nov. 17th is another birthday in our family. It was 8 years ago that our baby Teresa gave birth to her baby Bryan. He is the youngest of our 7 grandchildren and quite a character. He has his mother's sense of humor, never knowing what's coming next.  

Happy Birthday, Bryan

And last but not least is our new little bundle, Skye. He will be 3 weeks old on Monday. He's doing great, and such a joy. The holidays are going to be fun this year, with lots of pictures being snapped. He won't know what's going on, but we will. It's been quite awhile since we've had a baby here for Christmas.

Until next time.......... 

    

A short update....

I saw something on a T-shirt today. It said "I'm so busy I don't know if I found this rope or I lost my horse." I thought it was funny.

I've been having some days like that, then the next one will be so boring I can't stay awake. Today's been a busy one. Nothing special, or news-worthy, just lots of stuff to take care of.

Update on our great-grandson ..........

11-1-2014 Skye went home from the hospital. He gave his approval of his new home.

After his bath and supper, he settled down to watch the football game with Dad.

 All afternoon Sunday, he watched Dad trying to put together his new bassinet. When it was finally finished, Skye tested it out and gave his approval.

He had his first check-up with the Dr. yesterday, and he's doing just fine. He's gaining back the weight he lost and nursing well. Mommy and Daddy are doing good too. Very tired from their new schedule and not as much sleep, but doing good. We're all thanking God for such a blessing. 

Until next time............