It is a Pecan Pie Hodgepodge

 

Happy Birthday to my guy!

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 have a word for the year (WOTY)? If so, and you'd like to share, please share. How do you decide on a word? If you don't have a word are you still on the hunt for one for 2024? 

2024 will be my third year picking a WOTY. My husband encouraged me to do it. My first word was Sunsine.. last year I chose Truth. How do I decide on my WOTY? I think of something I want to work on. I wanted to work on spreading more Sunsine. And last year I wanted to stay close to Truth. 

I do have a 2024 word picked out and plan to write a post on why I decided on it. I will give you a hint, it starts with the letter C.

 2. January 23rd is National Pie Day...will you celebrate? Do you like pie? What's your favorite? 

I do like pie! My favorite pie is Rhubarb. My husband who is celebrating a birthday today will come home to a homemade pecan pie, his all time favorite dessert.

3. Tipping. What are your thoughts, expectations, as to who, when where? Do you appreciate a store/restaurant giving a 'suggested amount'? Have you ever left an extravagant tip?  

 I worked as a waitress and I tried my best to be tipped well, that was where the money was to be made. Yes, we have left a generous tip several times. It was because the person truly cared about serving and serving well.

 4. Share with us one household 'tip' that works for you. 

When I come in with dirty shoes (which can be often during the garden season) I get it cleaned up right away, so the dirt does not get tracked further into the house. 

  5. Influencers on social media are people who've built a reputation for their knowledge and expertise on a particular subject. Do you follow any influencers online? Have you made a purchase or tried something new because of that 'influence'? If there's one you particularly enjoy tell us who they are and why you enjoy them. 

This is an interesting question, because I just read an article about 'influencers .. Ballerina Farm'.  City folk turned homestead.... and somehow people learned that her husbands family owns Jet Blue and began to question the authentic part of the influencing that they have done to build their homestead. They also have 8 or 10 little ones and Mrs. Ballerina Farm is going on to compete at Mrs. World. In all honesty, I do not care about Ballerina Farm just as long as they are contributing to society in a GOOD WAY!!! 

I have also read articles where Social Media infuencers are targeting young confused boys and girls. And those influencers are NOT contributing to society in a GOOD WAY! 

  It all made me shake my head and I am thankful that NO I do not follow influencers. When all is done and said, I make myself take a step back and remember to THINK FOR MYSELF.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

 

 Me and my best friend. 

Happy Birthday Jeremy!!

 

The Bear of Very Little Brain and it is the Hodgepodge

 

We are having a cold snap here in Wisconsin. Oh my, the wind. Negative windchill of -20! I have to check the coop for eggs throughout the day or the eggs will freeze. Everything creaks and groans in the cold. It takes a wee bit longer to get ready to go outside as we put on layers upon layers. On the positive side, we have sunshine.

And now for the Hodgepodge!

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

 1. On January 18th we commemorate A.A. Milne's birthday. Milne is the author of the beloved classic Winnie the Pooh. In many ways Pooh represents innocence and simplicity. His optimism reminds us to appreciate the little things. What are three little things you're appreciating in mid-January? 

♥ a warm house

♥ hot tea

♥ slippers

 2. Piglet teaches us even the smallest of individuals can achieve big things with the proper amount of determination. How do your current responsibilities make you feel? 

This weekend we start to plan our garden. I will pick out the flowers that I will grow for the up coming season for my fresh cut bouquets. It is always fun for us to page though the seed catalogs, read about the upcoming trends in gardening and what we might pick new to grow. It all makes me feel excited for spring.

 3. Tigger is known for his enthusiasm and energy, his boundless joy and love of life. What's something you're interested in learning more about in this new year? 

We recently adopted a rescue dog, we are in the training process. It is different from our first dog, Molly, who we purchased as a puppy. Patience and time is the name of the game. Oh my, the love we receive from this little dog. At times I wish he could talk and tell us his story of surviving on the streets.

 4. Eeyore, while a melancholy character, teaches us the importance of resilience and perseverance. How do you stay motivated and persevere in difficult circumstances?

I try to surround myself with positive people, quotes of those who have persevered in difficult times before me, and books. I seek wisdom from God.

5. What's the last thing you ate that was made with honey?  

I enjoyed a slice of toast with honey.

6. Insert your own random thought here.    

I love Winnie - the - Pooh!! 

We decorated our nursery with Winnie -the- Pooh.

"When face to face with a Heffalump, it is best not to make conversation at all. When it says, "Ho-ho!" just hum to yourself.

"Owl told him a very long story about an aunt who had once laid a seagull's egg by mistake, and the story went on and on.... "

 ♥

 

 

First Day Hike 2024

 

Hello Friends, since we had our full nest, our family would go on a first day.. hike, snowshoe or ski.

With our empty nest, Jeremy and I have continued the tradition. January 1st, 2024 we did a first day hike, as you can see we do not have much snow here in Northwest Wisconsin. And this year we had a little pal join us, Ernie enjoyed his first big hike in the wild woods. 

 

Ernie stepped into the Gnome Pub... he was rather surprised to see hooch still in the bottle.

 

The Gnome Pub was a large tree that had a huge opening at the bottom. Some silly souls decided to add gnomes to the area and a really silly soul brought the hooch. You just never know what you will find in the wild woods.

 

 

We hiked the Ice Age Trail located in the New Auburn area.

 

 

A marsh area, speckled with snow.

 

 

A frozen lake.

 

 

Fungi, I just love finding unique fungi.

 

 And once again, not knowing what you might find in the wild woods. This sign says..

BATHROOM. 

 

 And here it is.

 

Have a great week my friends.

 

 ♥

Carla

Rewind to December

 Hello Friends, we will hit the rewind button on the year and head back to December 2023.

Here. We. Go.

We hosted our annual Christmas cookie decorating party. We purchased a state of Wisconsin cookie cutter and everyone had fun making our state all full of Christmas cheer. 

 

A few more of our creations.

 

We had to decorate a cookie to look like Ernie.

 

Christmas bunnies, owls and ornaments.

 

I celebrated a birthday! 

 

 

My mom gifted me this towel, looks like Ernie is getting into the action with Santa.

 

 

Enjoying my coffee in my new Egg Nog mug. My mom found two of these Egg Nog mugs. She knows how I enjoy vintage items and surprised me with them by leaving them in a bag at our house for me to open later.

 

 

We enjoyed a cup of Egg Nog in our vintage mugs with a dash of nutmeg sprinkled on top.

 

Christmas candy, red, green and white.

 

 

 Homemade treats, my first time making small mincemeat pies.

 

 

 A tree ornament gifted to us from my cousin. It is Ernie.

 

 

My favorite Christmas wrapping paper.

 

 

 

Happy New Year from my family to your family.

 ♥

Carla

Our son Sam is missing from this photo, he ended up having a drill for the Guards during this family event. As we head into 2024, I ask for continued prayer for our military and military families. 

Thank you!

The First Hodgepodge of the Year!

 

Hello Friends, 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. Every January 1st since 1976 Lake Superior University has published a list of words they'd like to see banished from the Queen's English. Words may be banished due to misuse, overuse or just general uselessness (go here to read more about how the words were chosen). Here are the words/phrases they'd like to see banished in 2024-

hack, impact, at the end of the day, rizz, slay, iconic, cringe worthy, obsessed, side hustle, wait for it

Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? I will pick hack, more because I would love to see 'hacking computers,personal information' banished!!  Are any of these a regular part of your speech? No, I do not use any of the above in my regular speech. Is there a word not on the list that you'd like to add? I am so tired of profanity, everywhere I turn. Some say they have gotten use to it, not me. I just do not think you need to use the F... word to pick out cereal. I witnessed just that as a mother said to her young children, "pick out your f...... cereal."

 2. What do you wish you'd done more of last year? Less of? 

I wish we would have gotten out kayaking more often, we just did not get out as often as we did in 2022.

Less of, time spent looking up and reading about current events that are completely out of my control.

 

 3. A place you'd like to visit in this new year? Do you think you will? 

The International Peace Garden... I had this on my list last year and did not make it, so I will give it another try this year.

 4.What are three words to sum up or describe your 2023? 

Blessed!

Home!

Family!

 

 

5. What advice would you like to give yourself as we begin a new year? 

Continue to spread as much sunlight as you can in a dark world.

 

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

Pray to God, continue to row toward shore, and take time for all things.

 

Hello 2024!!

 

Quote by Susan Branch ... and how very true!

 

Happy New Year

Oh golly, does this quote say it.. the next thing you know it will be the Christmas season once again.  I will be sharing a December rewind in the next few days.

 ♥

Carla

Ernie and his snow beard, this little fella enjoyed his first holiday. In fact he got the Christmas Blues when our boys left for home. He loved having them here and all the excitement that comes with having company in the house.