Emeralds, Ruby, Sapphire and it is The Hodgepodge

 

 

My husband and I enjoy visiting historic church buildings. Some are no longer churches but the beauty of all the workmanship in the building is still visible.

 

It is Wednesday and it is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions. 

We answer the questions.

 

1. The Hodgepodge lands on Ash Wednesday, which is the first day of Lent. Do you mark this season in some way? Will you be giving something up or adding something to your life in this Lenten season?  

 

Yes, we do mark this season, we will be starting a study .. Pray 40:The Return.

We add something to our life during the Lenten season. 

"Empty me, fill me, use me." 

 

 

 

 2. Pancakes...are you a fan? Syrup or no syrup? Plain, blueberries, chocolate chips, bananas, or some other add in? Are pancakes on your menu this week? 

 I am a fan of pancakes.

 Oh yes to real Wisconsin maple syrup, that we make from our two maple trees.

 

Maple Syrup days are just in a few weeks. It will be time to tap the trees and get ready for Wisconsin's first crop.

 

I love blueberry pancakes.

No, pancakes are not on the menu for this week.

 

3. Tell us about a time recently when you felt 'spread too thin'.  

It usually happens when the calendar starts to get too full. I have tried to be more disciplined about not allowing this to happen, because it never turns out well for anyone.

 

 4. What's your favorite jewel or gemstone? In terms of your wardrobe would we find more gem tones, pastels, black and white, or primary colors? 

Emeralds are my favorite, my wedding ring is an emerald with two diamonds.

My wardrobe is a lot of blue, blue and more blue. I love the color blue.

 

5. What responsibility do you think is hardest about being in charge?  

 

I am going to go with financial. I am going to use my husband as the example here. He is the treasurer for our local sportsman's club. There is a lot to it. Taxes, gaming license (they have raffles) liquor license, insurance, bills and more bills. 

When the club has its pancake breakfast in the summer, more responsibility for the treasure with all the raffle ticket money, prizes and more.

 

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

 The Lent challenge our family is taking is going through the novel The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. 

I am looking forward to this Lenten season. 

 

  

 

Joy List Monday

 

 

Joy List Monday

♥ a weekly ritual ♥

a reminder to stop and pay attention to the little beauties and graces that make life magical and to set aside time for gratitude each day

 ♥ winter thaw ~ we had beautiful temperatures this past week

 ♥ time out on the trails with Ernie ~ after weeks of extreme cold weather it feels great to get back outside

 ♥ sunshine and more sunshine

 ♥ creating a new snack ~ rice cake with peanut butter, sliced banana, sprinkle some cinnamon and sugar on top

 

 Episode #6 of 52sih

Our winter weather has been cold, cold, cold, making getting out for a good hike difficult. We enjoyed the start of a winter thaw with an evening hike. 

 

 

Rockman's Woods Ski & Snowshoe Trail

We are blessed to have this lighted trail close to us. It makes for fun evening walks on warm winter nights. 

 

 

A kiss as the sun starts to say goodnight.

 

 

 Wishing you a beautiful week full of little things that make you smile.

 ♥

Carla 

Happy Valentine's Day Hodgepodge

 

A beautiful rose I spied during a garden tour we took last summer.

 

 

Happy Valentine's Day 

It is time for the Hodgepodge!

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 

 1. What's something recent that had you 'tickled pink'? 

 Our son's are planning to join us in our Lent study. We are doing an online study, so this works out to do with our son's. They do not live close by, and we can all do it at our own time, but we will be able to leave a note on what we thought or learned from that day's study.

 

 2. A bed of roses, everything's coming up roses, every rose has it's thorn, stop and smell the roses, rose-colored glasses, a rose among thorns...which rosy expression might currently be applied to your life in some way? 

Stop and smell the roses ... my husband and I had a VERY busy 2025. In 2025 I wanted to try to do something 'fun'  ~ ' a date'  once a month. But we had some big changes happen in May and we did not make our goal of doing something each month. 

So my big idea for 2026... lets try to do a date once a week. I am calling it 52ish dates.

So far we are off to a good start. 

 

 3. What makes you feel loved and appreciated? 

Taking time to do something together. I would rather spend time with my loved ones than receive physical gifts.

  4. A box of chocolates or a bouquet of fresh flowers-what's your pleasure? Any special plans for Valentine's Day? 

Flowers from my garden.

 

 Flowers, flowers, flowers! 

Valentine's Day plans, we are going to go for a drive to Lake Superior, hitting the beach.

 Ha Ha! 

We will walk the beach along Wisconsin Point in our winter jackets, but I find Lake Superior amazing all year long. We plan to go for dinner. 

 5. Share a favorite quote, scripture, or song lyric relating to love. 

The love in your heart wasn't put there to stay, love isn't love, till it's given away.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

I love to find hearts in nature.

I am sharing some of the hearts I have found over the years.

Let me know if you have a favorite. 

 ♥

 ♥ potato harvested from the garden.