27 February, 2025

It's hodgepodge time...........

 


February 26th is National Tell A Fairy Tale Day...have you read a fairy tale lately? What's your favourite fairy tale? Do you believe in 'happily ever after'? 

No, I haven’t read any lately, although I have heard a few like when any politician says they will do this or that.

Complete one of the following sentences with a thought relating to your life currently-

  • Once upon a time___________
  • A long time ago________________
  • In a place far far away__________

A long time ago, in my parent’s lounge-room, I met the love of my life, my soul mate, Tim the date was 9 June 1983.

Which of the following 'fairy tale foods' is your favourite? Which have you made/eaten most recently? 

porridge/oatmeal (Goldilocks and The Three Bears), an apple (Snow White), a gingerbread cookie (The Gingerbread Man), pumpkin soup/pie/bread (Cinderella), peas (The Princess and the Pea), beans (Jack and The Beanstalk) or a cup of tea (Alice in Wonderland)

Porridge, I have it often during the winter months

What's your idea of fun? 

Having a family lunch with my siblings is fun or one with my daughters.

Next week's Hodgepodge lands in March. Is that right? I guess so.  Give us one noun, one verb, and one adjective that tell us something about your February. To make you think a little harder, you cannot use the words cold or snowy. 

Ok I can’t use the words cold or snowy, how about hot and sticky, or maybe muggy or humid. These words describe my February as does, happiness and birthdays.

Insert your own random thought here. 

Many of us have known each other a longish time and I feel connected to many. Visiting blogs often make me feel happy, and they bring memories to the surface, they make me laugh and that feels good. I may get angry over what I read, not with the blogger but with the situation they have described. Visiting blogs helps me learn about different things and learning is good, even if schools often teach useless information and not how to manage cooking meals, balancing a budget and shopping to save money.

 

 

22 February, 2025

Getting to know me

 


Here are this week’s getting to know me questions and my answers.

What fictional family would you most like to join?

What’s the best cake you’ve ever eaten?

What’s something you’re looking forward to?

Here are my answers:

I have sat and thought about this question for a while and I can’t think of a damn family I would like to be part of, yeah, I can think of many fictional families just none I want to be part of.

I have had many yummy cakes over the years, I am not a big fan of mud cake, I do like chocolate cake but not too dark or heavy.

On Monday I  am going to have a full body massage, so that’s what I am looking forward to.

20 February, 2025

A Flowery Hodgepodge

 


Many of our earliest presidents created words or expressions widely used today. Teddy Roosevelt is credited with mollycoddle, pack rat, frazzle, and loose cannon...which of those words/phrases currently relates to your life in some way? 

Reading those words, it’s frazzle without a doubt

Have you visited many (or any) of the US Presidents homes, monuments, libraries or related sites? If so what's been your favourite? Are there any you particularly want to see? Here's a link to presidential sites listed by state which is kind of fun to read-Presidential Places by State. And since several bloggers who participate in the HP each week live outside the US, here's a link to Presidential Places Outside the US. Have you seen any of those? 

Being an Aussie living in Australia I have not visit anu Presidential Places and never will.

February 20th is National Cherry Pie Day...will you celebrate? Given your choice of cherry pie, cherry cobbler, cheesecake with a cherry topping, or black forest cake which would you choose? 

Well, I have never heard of National Cherry Pie Day but then I am in Australia, and it is not a think here, that said I do like cheesecake with a cherry topping

Last time you worked a puzzle of some kind? Something that had you puzzled recently? 

I do a jigsaw on my tablet each day as well as a few other word puzzles.

Of the early blooming flowers (January-early March depending on your zone) which one's your favourite? 

snowdrops, lenten roses, pansies, violets, snapdragons, reticulated iris, crocus, winter jasmine

Do you have any of these in your own yard/garden? 

Out of that list I would pick violets and nope none growing in my garden.

Insert your own random thought here. 

Flowers bring so much joy into the lives of so many people but why is that well it is because seeing or receiving flowers triggers the flow of a chemical to the brain called serotonin. Serotonin (sometimes called the ``happy'' hormone) communicates messages from the brain throughout our bodies and plays a vital role in many body functions including mood and physical well-being.

 

15 February, 2025

Some Q & A



Saw these questions on Susan’s blog she can be found here: https://susansayings.blogspot.com/

1. What is your occupation right now? Mother and Grandmother

 

2. What colour are your socks right now? Not wearing any

 

3. What are you listening to right now? Birds outside

 

4. Who was the last person you spoke to on the phone? hubby

 

5. How old are you today? 62

 

6. What is your favourite sport to watch on TV? None

 

7. What is your favourite drink? Pepsi  Max

 

8. Have you ever dyed your hair? Yes, but not any more

 

9. What is your favourite food? Baked or roast potatoes

 

10. What is the last movie you watched? at the movies? I haven’t seen a movie in a long time

 

11. Favorite day of the year? Christmas

 

12. How do you vent anger? Raise my voice a bit, then go to my room and pray or listen to music.

 

13. What was your favourite toy as a child? A soft blue doll.

 

14. What are your living arrangements? Just me and hubby

 

15. What was the last thing that you cried about? Something I was watched on tv.

 

16. Who is the friend you have had the longest? Cathy from 3rd class

 

17. What did you do last night? Sleep

 

18. What are you most afraid of? Losing Tim

 

19. In how many areas of your country have you lived? Just here in Newie NSW

 

20. What is your favourite flower? Pink Carnations

 


13 February, 2025

A Super Hodgepodge



Did you watch the Super Bowl? Did your team win? What's your favourite game day snack for whatever sport is happening? 

Since I am in a different country, I didn’t watch it, also I have zero interest in sport.

My favourite snack is chocolate.

 What's your 'superpower'?

Do I have a superpower? I don’t think so. 

 Will you do anything special on Valentine's Day? If so do share. Any thoughts on/about this particular holiday? Share a favourite verse or quote relating to love.

Valentine’s Day is just another day for me and Tim.

“Love is not enough. It must be the foundation, of a good relationship but it isn’t the be all and end all” this is something I remember my mum saying.

 Are you a fan of the rom-com genre? If so what's one of your favourites? If you're not a movie go-er then what about a book you love that features a great love story? How about a favourite love song? 

I find a lot of rom-com’s boring and don’t have an interest in romantic books, there are many great love songs.

Let's get creative...write an acrostic using the word L-O-V-E.

I am drawing a blank 

Insert your own random thought here. 

When it comes to love you cannot be told who to love, as love is different for everyone, and it is possible to fall out of love as easy as it is to fall in love.  One sided love is real and may not be the best, but it still happens and telling someone they are being foolish will not change how someone feels. I am blessed to be able to say that I am still in loved with Tim after nearly 42yrs together.

06 February, 2025

Hodgepodge because it's Thursday

 


What area of your life feels like you're stuck in a Groundhog's Day loop, doing the same thing over and over? Does it bother you or is that just how life is in this particular season? 

Pretty much every area of my life, but I am fine with that.

Something that makes your heart skip a beat? 

Heights with out a doubt, if I was to walk onto a balcony or near a railing it will skip a beat, then it will start to race, followed by me feeling lightheaded.

Do you wear your heart on your sleeve or are you more of a closed book? Elaborate.

Oh, it’s on my sleeve that’s for sure, and my life is without a doubt an open book

According to Prevention Magazine, these are 25 of the best foods for heart health-

wild salmon, sardines, liver, walnuts, almonds, chia seeds, oatmeal, blueberries, coffee, red wine, green tea, soy milk, dark chocolate, raisins, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, whole grains, apples, oranges, grapefruit, avocado, avocado oil, olive oil 

Which five do you include in your diet most often? Are there any foods on the list you simply cannot abide? 

Well, my diet is terrible, and I eat none of these regularly and when it comes to foods I cannot stand, it would be seafood, coffee, green tea, soy milk, brussels sprouts, cauliflower and avocado.

What was the last piece of furniture you bought? Is there a piece of furniture you need/want to purchase this year? 

That would be my new computer chair, as to what we need that would be a new entertainment unit large enough to hold the new TV.

Insert your own random thought here.

So often we do not see all the good around us, as all the bad and negative things seem to be so in our face, so look past those things to see the positive and the good, it is there if only people would look for it.

 

05 February, 2025

A Sister Like You

 This is from one of my calendars, the one given to me by Sue.

The older we get, the closer we feel (and we were lucky to be close from the get go) 

The older we get, the more we count on each other in the clinches, t he good times, and the hard times, and especially in the times nobody else understands. 

You make me laugh when there is nothing to laugh about and when there is. 

You lighten my heart and remember the good times. You forget our foolish falling-outs, dismissing them as human frailties and of no consequence.

I don't really know how anybody makes it through life without you as a sister. I'm so grateful to be able to say with absolute honesty, you are the very best sister in the whole wide world and I'm the luckiest person. 

Cathy Cash Spellman
 




01 February, 2025

Getting to know me

 


What’s your favourite thing to do on a rainy day?

Nothing just stay home and do as little as possible

What’s your favourite thing about your current stage of life?

The fact that I am happy with who I am and have formed a good friendship with my sister Sue

What’s a piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?

Trust your instincts and don’t second guess yourself