Hello Spring and it is the Hodgepodge

 

Spring Skies

 

Hello Spring in Wisconsin, we have snow one day and it melts the next. All in good time we will soon see leaves on the trees and green grass. 

Now it is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun. 

 1. Spring has officially sprung (in the northern hemisphere anyway)...did she roll in more like a lion or more like a lamb in your neck of the woods? What needs more of your attention in terms of a good spring clean this year-your house or your garden/yard? 

What needs more of your attention in terms of a good spring clean this year ... the yard. Yesterday we had some big limbs cut from our neighbors tree that over hangs into our yard. We decided to clean up the mess after to help with the cost of the project. Our amazing tree surgeon... climbing and cutting. You will see a photo of him below.

Time to roll up the sleeves and clean up all the limbs, branches and more.

As far as how did spring come in to Wisconsin? I am going to say like a lion. We have had very strong cold winds. We have had gusts up to 40 mph several days this month. 

 

 

 2. What's put a spring in your step lately? 

Sunshine... I just love that spring sunshine.

 

 

 3. When you were a kid, what was the best snack to find in your lunchbox? If you didn't do the lunchbox thing, tell us what was your favorite after school snack. 

I loved finding my mom's no bake chocolate cookies. They still are a favorite treat of mine that my mom makes and she seems to be the only one that can make them so delicious.

  4. In what area of your life are you planting seeds ? 

 

I am starting seeds. I also have had the great privilege to help a young lady start seeds.

My friend A's daughter in law is starting to get interested in gardening.  She has asked if I can help her get started, to teach her some tricks that I have learned along the way in my many years of gardening. I am so excited about it, I love to pass on my love for gardening. I am planting seeds ... of the love for gardening and seed starting.

 

 

5. Why do you live where you do? Would you consider living somewhere else? Why or why not?  

 My husband landed his first job here in Cameron, Wisconsin, we were just married and moved from my hometown to Cameron.  We did not know anyone when we first moved here. It was not an easy transition for me... but I met wonderful people, who became dear friends. And now Cameron feels like home.

My husband and I do talk about moving when he retires. When we have this discussion, we do plan to stay living in Wisconsin. 

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

My first bouquet of 2025. Using the branches with buds from the tree limbs that were cut yesterday, I created this springtime bouquet.  

Happy Spring!!

 

 

March

 

Melt and Freeze 

 

 

March

 

The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.

 ~W.B. Yeats

 

What Did You Learn

 

A gift from my friend J, during the pandemic.

 

Hello Friends, 

March 17th 2020 our state started to shut down because of the COVID pandemic. It is amazing to me that was 5 years ago. So much happened in 2020 and so much continues to happen, it is hard to keep track. 

I do know that I learned a few lessons from the COVID pandemic.

One of the lessons I learned, is how special relationships are. Friends and family rallied to keep each other upbeat during the pandemic. I am thankful for the text messages, the phone calls, letters, packages, prayers and more.

Having someone stop in the middle of their day to send a text message... "Just said a prayer for Sam."  or "How are you on your supply of toilet paper?"

My sister sent fun postcards each week.

I started to text friends and family daily.

We made it a habit of checking in on each other.

 

My lesson learned...  DO NOT LET GO OF NOURISHING FRIENDS and FAMILY .. do not let that go once we get back to "normal".

Our lives get busy. We can forget to take time to text a friend, make that phone call or set up that lunch or coffee date. 

I did not want to do that. So I continued to keep on with nurturing my friends and family with text messages, calls and setting up those special lunch and coffee dates.

Let us not to get busy in life that we forget to spend "real time" with our loved ones.

How about you? 

Did you learn any lessons 5 years ago that you are still doing today?

Or goals made and continued?

As I look back at how our world is just about to turn upside down as we shutdown our state, here is a look back at some of our 2020.

 

We had a 2020 graduate. 

BooHoo... his final year of shooting sports was cancelled. 

We had a small graduation party with family.

 

 

 

 Our National Guard son earned the following for his role with the pandemic.

The Wisconsin National Guard was very busy in 2020 with the pandemic, the Kenosha riots and the election. Our son Sam was deployed for all three events.

 

 

 My husband carved the 2020 pumpkin. 

RIP 2020

 

 

 And a special Christmas gift from our friend D. She made the perfect 2020 memory ornament ... who can forget the toilet paper shortage??

 

 

 

 

Top of the Hodgepodge to Ya

 

 

Top of the Hodgepodge to Ya my friends.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

 Click here to join the fun!

 1. I write the Hodgepodge questions so they'll post on Sunday, which sometimes throws me off in terms of what day it is. St. Patrick's Day will be celebrated on Monday, March 17th. Did you mark the day in some way? Wear green? Make a special meal? Watch or participate in a parade? 

We made a special meal of corned beef, roasted potatoes and carrots. We boiled some cabbage and I made soda bread muffins.

 

 2. Do you think luck plays a part in your life? Explain. 

This has been a question that has come up several times in discussion with my husband. We have a friend who thinks luck plays in the success of a marriage. My husband does not agree. It can get to be a real interesting conversation. 

I will be interested in what other Hodgepodge friends write here for an answer.

 

3. Of the 15 green foods listed, which one is your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Any on the list that are a hard no for you? In general do you like fruits and veggies? As a kid did you eat them willingly or did you hide peas in your napkin hoping your momma wouldn't see? 

Asparagus, avocado, broccoli, celery, cucumber, grape, green bean, kale, kiwi, lettuce, lime, 

pear, peas, pistachios, spinach

Out of the 15 my all time favorite would be the cucumber. I LOVE cucumbers. I grow lots and lots of cucumbers in our garden. I love the snacking varieties. You usually can find me working in the garden and snacking on a cucumber.

Broccoli is a hard NO for me. 

Yes, I enjoy fruit and veggies.

And the one veggie that I did roll up in a napkin or at least try, was beets. YUCK, I do not like beets and my mom made me eat beets.

 

4. What's something that makes you 'turn green'? (with envy or with illness... whichever way you want to run with it)

 

The smell of strong sewage can make me turn green with illness. 

 

5. Did you spend a lot of time outdoors as a child? Doing what? Do you spend a lot of time outdoors now? Doing what?

 Yes, I grew up on a dairy farm, we worked and played outside. My sister and I played outside in all the seasons. 

Yes, I spend a lot of time outdoors. I garden and have a fresh cut flower business. I grow my own flowers for my bouquets. I love to be outside gardening. I also enjoy hiking, kayaking and simply sitting outside visiting with a friend.

 

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

The world is just about to go upside down... FIVE years ago on March 17th our state of Wisconsin started to shut down. 

 

This is a photo of our National Guard son Sam. He is dressed to do COVID testing and give vaccines starting in May of 2020. These suits will become to hot for them to wear so they were able to wear scrubs after a month of working like this.

Sam worked testing and giving vaccines in the heart of Milwaukee with his team. 

 

 

 

 

 

It is a Roman Holiday and it is the Hodgepodge

 

Hello Friends, We still have snow on the ground.. but the promise of spring is in the air.

Time for the Hodgepodge, Joyce asks the questions. We answer the questions.

Here we go.

Click here to join the fun! 

1. March 15th is known as The Ides of March, the date on which Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 B.C....have you ever been to Rome? If so what did you love most about the city? If not, is this a place you'd like to visit? 

I have not been to Rome. Yes, I would like to visit someday.

 2. 'Rome wasn't built in a day.' What project/activity/improvement (of any kind) do you have going on right now to which this saying might be applied? 

We have plans to paint and redecorate our bedroom, but things are moving very slow.

 

3. Let's do a little this or that with some Italian foods...

• Caprese salad or Prosciutto with melon? 
• Bruschetta or Antipasto? 
• lasagne or ravioli?
• bolognese or Carbonara?
• Risotto or gnocchi? 
• tiramisu~gelato~cannoli?
  

Prosciutto with melon

Bruschetta

Ravioli

Carbonara

Gnocchi

Cannoli

 

 We made Creamy Spinach Ravioli Soup for dinner Saturday.

 

 4. Of the colors red, white, and green which would I find most prevalent in your home? Which one do you think is most flattering to you in terms of your wardrobe? Have you ever had your colors done? Is that something you'd be interested in doing? 

 We do not have these colors in our home. We have several shades of blue, brown and grey.

Red is in my wardrobe.

I had my colors done long ago, it was a fun Girl Scout outing my mom planned. I would love to do it again.

 

 5. Life would be boring without____________________?

 

The weather? Hee Hee 

Here in Wisconsin, we talk about the weather hourly, because it can be all four seasons in a day around here.

 

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

 

 

 

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 

 

 

 

 

♥ making a special dinner with my husband Saturday

 ♥ focaccia

 ♥ creamy spinach ravioli soup

 

♥ spring sun

 ♥ walks along the river 

 

♥ blue sky

 ♥ spring bird songs

 

 

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

 ♥

Carla

March On and It is the Hodgepodge

 

 

March On ... looking out at our garden, the snow is just about melted.. but guess what? We are under a Winter Storm Warning for tonight. 

We shall march on to the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 

 1. What do you love most about March? 

I love that we start to have more daylight, stronger sunshine and SPRING!

And it is this young ladies birthday in the month of March. Our son Sam's girlfriend, Cate. We will plan a fun outing to spend time with them.

2. Hey! Did you know March is National Celery Month? Do you like celery? What's something you make (or like to order out) that calls for celery? 

 I do like celery, my son Atticus does too. 

I just made chicken noodle soup and I put in a nice amount of celery in the soup.

 

 3. _______________ is the soundtrack to my life right now. 

 

I am going to pick the movie .. Cars soundtrack. 

Life Is a Highway

Song by Rascal Flatts ‧ 2006

 

The phrase "life is a highway" is a metaphor that suggests life is a journey with many experiences and paths. It can also imply that life moves quickly and we should enjoy the ride.

 

4. Share a favorite motivational quote for overcoming challenges. 

 

Look at how a single candle can both defy and define the darkness.

Anne Frank

 

 5. The Hodgepodge lands on Ash Wednesday this year. Do you participate in Lent in some way? If so tell us more. 

 

 My husband and I will start a study this evening, The Paschal Mystery, reflections for Lent and Easter.

 

 6. Insert your own random thought here.  

 

My friend J made these mittens for me out of a sweater. They have been lifesavers during our cold, cold weather this winter. Negative temps... no problem with my mittens made with love!!  

 

 

 

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

 

 

 ♥ the days are getting longer

 ♥ the start of maple syrup season.. we tapped our trees

 ♥ chicken noodle soup

♥ spending the last day of February with our son Atticus

 ♥ the first robin sighting... the promise of spring

 ♥ fresh sheets on our bed

 ♥ a scoop of vanilla ice cream

 ♥ shadows on our afternoon walk

 

 

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

 

♥ 

Carla

 

 

 

Goodbye February and it is the Hodgepodge

 

 

Hello Friends, we are coming out of the deep freeze. Last week Wednesday our temperatures were in the single digits and below. Oh how good it feels to be in the high 30's and 40's. And now on to the Hodgepodge. 

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions. 

Click here to join the fun! 

 

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

My favorite fairy tale is Beauty and the Beast.

Yes, I do believe in 'happily ever after' ... my parents have been married 50 YEARS + ... it can happen, I know other couples that are married 50 years plus. It takes WORK, but yes, I do believe in happily ever after.

 

2. 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__________

Once a upon a time two little boys lived in this house.

 

3. Which of the following 'fairy tale foods' is your favorite? 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) 

 

I love a good gingerbread cookie with a cup of black tea.

 

 4. What's your idea of fun? 

 

Hanging out with family and friends.

Anytime I get to spend time with my boys.  

 

5. 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.

 

 Noun ... Family 

We traveled to visit my parents a few times in the month of February.  

Verb ... Drive

We went for a two hour drive to visit my parents.

Adjective ... Bumpy

It was a bumpy ride to my parents, pothole season has arrived in Wisconsin.

 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

God make my life a little light

within the world to glow

a little flame that burneth bright

wherever I may go

God make my life a little hymn

of tenderness and praise

of faith that never waxeth dim

in all His wondrous ways. 

 

Matilda Edwards

 

February

 

 

We who live in quiet places have the opportunity to become acquainted with ourselves, to think our own thoughts and live our own lives in a way that is not possible for those keeping up with the crowd.

Laura Ingalls Wilder

 

It is time for the Hodgepodge

 

Hello Friends, the photo above was taken in 2016.

 Let us all say "Hi, George, Tom, Teddy and Abe."

And now for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the question.

Click here to join the fun! 

 1. 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? 

I will choose mollycoddle. My boys are traveling this week. I cannot help but get that mollycoddle feeling.. praying for them to have a safe trip and a great adventure.

 

2. Have you visited many (or any) of the US Presidents homes, monuments, libraries or related sites? If so what's been your favorite? 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? 

 

We visited Mount Rushmore in 2016. It was a great family trip. 

My husband and I do plan to visit several of the sites in Illinois in 2025. 

I have not visited a Presidential Library, it is something I hope to do.

My uncle and aunt do not live far from College Station, Texas. During our next visit to Texas to visit my uncle and aunt we could plan to go to the George Bush Library.

 3. 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? 

No I will not. I am not really a big fan of cherry. If I did pick something out it would be a cherry turnover.

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

My husband and I are currently working on a puzzle.

Oh many times technology has me puzzled. I will say "why is this doing this now, I have not changed anything or pressed anything and here it decides to go bonkers." 

 

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

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

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

From the list we have snowdrops, violets and crocus in our garden.

My favorite spring flower is the daffodil. 

 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

Next week we order our chicks. I cannot wait, it is always so much fun to go to our farm store and pick them up. "Peep, peep, peep." they say on the ride home.

 

 

 

FRAMED

 

FRAMED

Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions

John Grisham

Jim McCloskey

This read will have your mind spinning. It is heartbreaking. 

Tale Of The Tapes 

This story is about Ellen Reasonover... she was FRAMED. She spent sixteen and a half years of false imprisonment. 

Ellen did not give up. 

Most of those who were FRAMED did not give up. What I found fascinating was that many forgave those who FRAMED them. 

The Fire Does Not Lie

The worst story in the book is about Todd Willingham. 

February 17th 2004 Todd Willingham was executed.  

Wrongfully convicted and executed in Texas, this case is very disturbing.

The Absence of Motive

This is about Joe Bryan, this again is an awful story of how Joe was FRAMED. 

Joe refused to lose his Christian faith while in prison.

He survived hell behind bars, he says he survived the hell because of the strength he found in his faith. 

Joe has long since forgiven those responsible for his persecution. He will never FORGET the people, but he has FORGIVEN them. 

I find that amazing!

Have you read FRAMED? 

If so please let me know your thoughts?

 

Let's Make Something Wonderful .. part 2

 

 

My husband receives the credit for these homemade English muffins. This was the first time he tried making them. They turned out fantastic.

 

He receives credit for these homemade egg-rolls too.

 

Chicken Brown Rice Vegetable Soup... I get to take credit for this belly warmer.

♥

Carla

When I was a little girl, I always wanted to be in the kitchen, because it was warm, and that's where my mother was.

Dolly Parton 

 

Let's Make Something Wonderful .. part 1

 

January and February we have been cooking and baking. Let us start with the sweet treats. Above you will see our homemade cinnamon rolls. Oh my, yes, fresh out of the oven, warm and melt in your mouth.

 

Banana bread.. loaves just the right size to share with loved ones. 

 

 

Gingerbread cake.. smelled up the house and tasted good too.

Did that make you hungry?

Wait until part 2!!

 ♥

Carla