Happy Winter and it is the Hodgepodge

 

 

The past two winters we have not had snow. Winter 2025/2026 is starting out with snow, snow and more snow. We hope to get out and ski soon. The above photos are taken a few years ago, when we had snow, snow and more snow.

Now on to the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

 1. What's one thing on your to-do list that you want to get done, need to get done, or that must get done before the year ends? 

 

My husband does metal design work, he is designing and creating a new coat rack for us. I hope we have it up by this Saturday, because we are having company and we need a place for winter coats, hats and more.  

 

2.  December 17th is National Maple Syrup Day...are you a fan? Do you like maple flavor in other food items such as candy, cookies, donuts, oatmeal, hot toddies, coffee?  

 

We tap our maple trees and cook-down the sap for syrup.  We love maple syrup. Yes, I use it in my baking, in oatmeal, drinks and more. We like to drizzle it on roasted carrots.

 

3. Time magazine names a person of the year every year.  The tradition started back in 1927 with a 'man of the year' but has since changed to recognize not only an individual, but also to consider the impact of a group, movement, or idea that most influenced the year. The selection is not always someone or something good (think Hitler in 1938 and Stalin twice). 

This year they've named The AI Architects as their 'person of the year'. What say you? Is this a good choice, an obvious choice, a logical choice? Who do you think should have been named person of the year? 

 

AI is all the talk this year, I do think it is a good choice. I hope that we can have healthy conversations regrading where and how AI is working in our lives. 

The one thing I worry about, is what is real? I will look at a photo in hopes it is real and not AI generated. Or a song, or a speech or text written. I hope we as humans use common sense in the use of AI.

My friend Alice had a health scare. She had surgery and has had to work hard to get back to feeling good again. She has been very brave and continues to be brave as she navigates what to do next on her health journey.

She is the person of the year for me... a true fighter who has gone through a lot this year.

 

4. What's a city, state, or country you've visited that you never care to visit again? Tell us why.  

 

Sadly, the last time we were downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota things did not go that well. We did not feel comfortable and we where happy to get out of the city.

Our son's did venture downtown this summer for a Twin's baseball game, they did think it was better than our last visit.

 

5. Next Sunday (December 21st) marks the first day of winter (or the opposite if you're living down under). What's one thing you love about this new season?   

 We will get out and go skiing and snowshoeing. 

And the days start to get longer.  

  

 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

 Comfort and Joy

Enjoy the countdown to Christmas.

 ♥

Carla 

 

Joy List Monday

 

Joy List Monday

♥ a weekly ritual  ♥

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

♥ a cozy home ... we had a major cold snap here this weekend ... waking up to -15 degrees .. so thankful we have heat and a warm house to call home

 ♥ watching the birds visiting the bird feeder

 ♥ snow, snow, snow, beautiful white snow twinkling in the sunlight

 ♥ a cup of hot chocolate waiting for me as I come in from a cold walk

 ♥ birthday greetings .. my birthday was 12/12 

 

♥ 

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

 

Snow, snow, snow and it is the Hodgepodge

 

It is going to be a white Christmas. 

Snow, snow, snow, we are getting more snow. 

Now before I go shovel, it is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 

1. Do you struggle with the commercialization of the holiday season? What helps you keep your focus when the season’s busyness and commercialism start to take over?  

 

I do not struggle with commercialization of the holiday season. We have a Christmas account, and that is what we can spend. We are careful to not go over budget. I would not be honest if I said, sometimes that can be difficult.

We do a daily Advent reading, that really helps keep everything in focus.

 

  2. What's one small thing you want to savor before the year ends? 

 

I want to read a few of our Christmas books that we would read aloud to the boys when they were little. I asked my husband if he would mind if we read a couple of our favorites aloud to each other, he said "that would be fun." 

3. December 9th is National Christmas Card Day. Do you still send Christmas cards? If so does yours include a photo or is it a more traditional card, or maybe homemade? How do you feel about the tradition of exchanging cards at the holidays? If Hanukkah is the holiday you celebrate in December do you send cards to mark the occasion?  

Yes, we still send out Christmas cards. We create a Christmas photo card and I write a newsletter sharing a bit of the year with everyone.

I love receiving Christmas cards and letters. I hope the price of stamps does not make the tradition fade away.

 

4. What's your least favorite holiday related task? What's your favorite?  

It is taking all the decorations down and taking down the Christmas tree.  We wait until after New Year to take it all down, it is just so pretty and I love all the twinkle. 

I love to decorate the Christmas tree. 

 

5. Let's do a little holiday this or that? 

shopping or wrapping  .. wrapping
baking or decorating .. decorating
eggnog or wassail .. eggnog
real tree or artificial .. real tree
turkey or ham .. turkey
white lights or colored lights .. colored lights
ugly sweaters or matching pjs .. matching pj's
peppermint or cinnamon .. peppermint
presents Christmas Eve or presents Christmas Day .. Christmas Day 

 

 

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

 

Darkness Falls

Stars Appear

Evening Angels 

Gather Here

 

Line up for Autographs

 

 

Line up for autographs, no pushing, no worries each will get his or her turn. 

Our Ernie is famous. His photo is featured in the December/January issue of Our Wisconsin Magazine, the photo and caption below made it in the magazine. 

 

 

♥

Carla 

November Rewind

 

November Rewind 

 

 ♥ November sunsets

 

 

♥ the last of the garden harvest, kale and other greens

 

 

 

♥ ice forming on the lakes

 

 

♥ pumpkin scones

 

 

 

♥ sunsets on the river

 

and then the end of November is here and we had our first snow of the season

the last of the seed-heads have their winter caps on 

and we are starting to decorate for Christmas 

 

Happy December and it is the Hodgepodge

 

Our Christmas cactus is starting to deck the halls, we have a lot of buds on our cactus this season, that always makes me smile.

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. What does it mean to have the 'holiday spirit'? On a scale of 1-10 how is yours this year? (10=off the charts, 1=still looking for it)

I think having the 'holiday spirit' is different for everyone. For me, I get excited for the first day of Advent. This will be year six that my husband and I do a daily Advent reading together. It brings the season all together for me, I am already at a 10!  

 

2. What's your favorite character from a (December) holiday-themed movie, book, or TV special? Tell us why.  

 I do enjoy the movie Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. I laugh every year at Cousin Eddie and many family jokes have come from that movie. 

 

 3. Do you like gingerbread? Are gingerbread houses part of your holiday tradition? 

 I do like gingerbread. 

We have created gingerbread houses in the past, but it is not on our calendar for this season. 

 

4. Much of our vocabulary is determined by where we live or where we grew up. What say you-

sprinkles or jimmies? lightning bugs or fireflies? soda or pop? sneakers, trainers, or tennis shoes? sub, hoagie, grinder, or hero? freeway, highway, or motorway? frosting or icing? sauce or gravy?

 What say me... from Northern Wisconsin...

sprinkles

lightning bugs

soda

tennis shoes

sub

highway

frosting

gravy

 

 5. Share a favorite holiday memory from your childhood. 

 

My sister and I went over to my grandparents to help my grandma decorate for Christmas. Our grandparents lived just over a mile from our family farm. During the winter we could cross country ski our farm fields to get to their house. 

A note to my dear readers, my grandpa had a glass eye. 

My sister and I were busy helping my grandma decorate for Christmas. We took a break for lunch. We were enjoying chicken soup and crackers. My grandpa had a "splash" in his soup. His glass eye had popped out and landed in his soup!

We laughed and laughed and laughed. 

And of course the saying "there is an eye in my soup became our joke."

 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.   

 

Family traditions are the glue of the generations. 

Making Chex Mix is just one of the Christmas traditions we have here at this house.  

My boys have already asked, Mom will you have this and this at Christmas.

 ♥

 

Thanksgiving Memories

 

 

Hello Friends, 

Thanksgiving was a delicious meal with all the love of family around. It also came with Wisconsin weather, making Thanksgiving travel a story all its own. 

We are blessed that we all were able to make Thanksgiving and once again enjoy family time.

 

 

Taking delight in the little things during our Thanksgiving weekend.

 ♥ a lovely table setting created with love

♥ using tablecloths from past years stitched with love

  

 

♥ enjoying recipes passed down though the years

 ♥ my mom's stuffing

 ♥ homemade cranberry sauce

♥ and pumpkin pie with my mom's homemade crust