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.

 

  

January Rewind & Episodes 4 - 5

January Rewind 

I am going to share a few highlights from January and Episodes 4 - 5 from our 52ish weeks.

Birthday Pie

My husband celebrated a birthday in January. I made him a pecan pie, without using corn syrup.  This recipe is a little more time consuming than using corn syrup, but it is so good. The secret ingredient is bourbon. 

 

 January has been brisk, but we have been brave and got out and about a few times for walks along the river.

 

I have been receiving cribbage lessons from my husband. So far I have not won a game. Hmmm.. should I start to wonder about my instructor? 

Ha! 

Texas Grapefruit in season at the market. I like to sprinkle powder sugar on my grapefruit.

 

Episode # 4 of 52ish weeks

We hiked along the Red Cedar river. It was snowing lightly during our hike. 

As we walked all of a sudden this mouse came out from under a tree, he came right up to us. We had Ernie with us too, so I was in shock how this fella actually posed for a photo. Our dog Ernie was in shock as well, he did not even bark.  

What are you people doing out in this weather?

 

Episode #5

We had different plans for our day datn' but the weather did not want to cooperate.

 Plan B it was with movie night.

My husband makes the best popcorn. 

 

Episode# 3 North Country Cheese Store

 

Hello Friends, it is time for 52 Weeks ~ Episode #3.

We went for a drive to visit one of our favorite cheese stores, North Country Cheese.

 

We stocked up on cheese. And we picked up some flavored cheese curds too, tomato basil cheese curds.

♥

Is This Love and it is the Hodgepodge

 

My favorite Valentine made with love from my mom.

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. The Winter Olympics kick off on Friday, February 6th...on a scale of 1-10 how excited are you? (1= eh and 10=watching every event all day every day). What's your favorite Winter Olympic sporting event?  

3 ~ I will catch some highlights. In years past I have enjoyed watching figuring skating.

 

2. In other sporting news, the Superbowl (American football's championship game) will be played on Sunday, February 8th. So tell us...what's your superpower?

I have been blessed with a green thumb. 

I love to garden. 

I grow flowers and vegetables.  

 

 3. Are you a romantic? 

I care deeply about those that I love. I do reach out and try to be sure those who are close to me know that I care for them. 

I also like old traditions ... handwritten letters, opening the door, sharing your jacket when you are cold ... or in my case usually his baseball hat.

My sweet husband will give me his baseball hat on windy days if I forget mine when we are on an adventure. My hair will be flying all over and will ask for his hat. 

X O

 4. Blue cheese-yay or nay? How about feta? If you said yes to one or both, what's a dish you like that calls for one of these? 

 We do not eat blue cheese.

We do like feta.

I have a muffin recipe that has spinach, sweet potato and feta all mixed in, it is delicious.

  

 5. What's more important-doing what you love or loving what you do? 

I love it when I can be doing what I love to do.

When my boys were growing up we all had chores we do not love to do. So to help with the attitude I turned to Mary Poppins ... to try and make those not so lovable chores into at least liking what we had to do. I still do this with myself. 

♪♫♪♫

In every job that must be done
There is an element of fun
You find the fun and snap!
The job's a game

… And every task you undertake
Becomes a piece of cake
A lark! A spree! It's very clear to see that

… A Spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
The medicine go down-wown
The medicine go down
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
In a most delightful way

… A robin feathering his nest
Has very little time to rest
While gathering his bits of twine and twig
Though quite intent in his pursuit
He has a merry tune to toot
He knows a song will move the job along - for

… A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
The medicine go down-wown
The medicine go down
Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down
In a most delightful way

 

 

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

While we are on the subject of romantic, what are a few of your favorite romantic movies?

I am going to share two oldies.

 

Sabrina 1954

The Apartment 1960 

Joy List Monday

 

A bird nest we found during one of our winter walks.

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

 ♥ receiving a letter from a friend who I had not heard from in awhile... sometimes letters are best 

♥ pecan pie made with love for my husband's birthday

♥ cozy flannel sheets to snuggle in on cold, cold winter nights

♥ phone calls with family who live far away

♥  pink sunsets

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

♥ 

Carla