Happy Grandparents' Day and it is the Hodgepodge

 

My grandpa Sam and grandma Vida.

 

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. Next Sunday is Grandparent's Day. Share a favorite memory, photo, recipe, or something you learned from a grandparent. 

 Our first born son is named Samuel Charles.

 Samuel for my grandpa Samuel and Charles for my father. 

Our Sam has that same curly hair as my grandpa Sam.

 

2. What's a quote from a book (besides The Bible) that has stayed with you? 

“But no one except Lucy knew that as it circled the mast it had whispered to her, "Courage, dear heart," and the voice, she felt sure, was Aslan's, and with the voice a delicious smell breathed in her face.”  

C.S. Lewis ~ The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

 3. What's your number one food pet peeve? 

 

I need a separate dish for my cold salads and beans. If I am having a burger or a sausage and the sides are baked beans and cold salads. I am going to need a dish for the beans. They have to be on their own.

I will need a plate for the cold salads. 

I just do not like to have my hot food with my cold food.  

 

4. What's one thing about you that is still the same as it was when you were young? 

 I have to have short nails. I use to chew my nails when I was young, thank goodness I broke that habit very early in life. I broke the habit, but  I need to have short nails. I cut and file my nails every-other day.

 5. September is National Preparedness Month...does your family have an emergency plan? Do you have some sort of preparedness kit you keep on hand? If so, tell us one thing that's kept there. 

Our kids do not live in the same community as us. We would do our best to get together if something major happened. My husband and I have a couple neighbors we would go to for help. 

We have a kit in our car, blankets, wet wipes, kleenex, toilet paper, flashlights and first aid kits.

As far as in the house, we have flashlights, candles and bottled water.

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I have been waiting all summer for the morning glories to bloom. 

Hang on summer, enjoy the last three weeks of summer my friends. 

Time Management and it is The Hodgepodge

 

Be sure to bring some bug spray!

 

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's an adult problem nobody prepared you for? 

Time management.. where do the days go? 

Actually my grandpa warned me about it, he would say "the older you get the faster the day goes" he just forgot to prepare me for it.

 2. How tuned in are you to all the recent food related health news? Have you gotten rid of your scratched cookware? Did you pay attention to food additives before they made the news? What's one healthy eating/cooking/food shopping habit you need to adopt? 

I am somewhat tuned in. We do not have any scratched cookware that I am aware of? We have used cast iron for years and years.

Yes, we did pay attention to the food additives before they made the news... but now I know way more.

Seed oils are an area that I need to look at more during my shopping.

 3. What's getting worse and worse as you get older? How about better and better? 

My eye sight is getting worse and worse. I wear progressive glasses, it is a complicated relationship that we have.

Better, I have gotten better at saying, No, to things I do not enjoy doing. And that has taken a long, long time to get better at. 

4. Are you more of an indoor person or an outdoor person? Elaborate. 

I am an outdoor person.

You can find me..

in the garden

paddling on the water

hiking in the woods

snowshoeing

 skiing 

or 

sitting on the porch with a good book.

 

  5. If you had an expert personal assistant today, what would you have them do? 

I have a stack of clothes to be ironed. I do not like to iron... so personal assistant where are you?? 

 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

We need the tonic of wildness..

We can never have enough of nature.

Henry David Thoreau

 

 

Volume 600 for the Hodgepodge

 

 

 

Hello Friends, our chicks are here. Meet the 8 M's ... 

Mary Lou

Mary Grace

Mary Bell

Mary Jean

Mary Kate

Mary Beth

Mary Ann

Mary Jane

and the babysitter Ernie.

No I cannot really tell them apart. My husband and I just enjoy naming our chickens. As they grow they do start to get personalities, and we will start to know who is who. They also will have different combs, and we will start to tell who is who from the combs. 

It all is good fun.

 

 And now on to the Hodgepodge. 

Joyce asks the questions.

High FIVES to you Joyce for creating these Hodgepodge questions for us!! 

Volume 600!!

Click here to join the fun. 

 

1. My very first edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge was published on November 10, 2010 (linked here if you're curious). Tell us something about your life from that era. 

I was a busy mom, enjoying my days with Samuel and Atticus. I was a teacher's aide at the school my boys attended in 2010.

 2. What's a song you love that relates to time in some way? 

 One Piece at a Time

Song by Johnny Cash ‧ 1976

 

Well, It's a '49, '50, '51, '52, '53, '54, '55, '56, '57, '58' 59' automobile

It's a '60, '61, '62, '63, '64, '65, '66, '67, '68, '69, '70 automobile

 

My grandpa loved Johnny Cash, we loved to sing this song together.  Now I sing it with my two son's when we are together when it plays on the radio.

 

 3. May is nearly upon us. When did you last need to yell 'MAY DAY-MAY DAY!!'? 

Just this morning, when our dog got into a nest of bunnies.

Only problem was I was home alone, so the May Day - May Day was to just little old me.

4. How do you feel about food trucks? Is this a dining experience you enjoy?  Do you have a favorite What's something you've ordered from a food truck?  

We have enjoyed several good meals from food trucks. We usually are at an event that has several food trucks to visit and pick what you might like to eat. One that we enjoy makes a fantastic kettle popcorn. 

 5. We're bidding farewell to April...what are three adjectives you might use to describe the month you're leaving behind.

Wet 

Dirty

Green

It has been a wet April, bringing in a lot of mud on our shoes, but in the end our little part of the world is turning spring green. 

 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

"The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek."

Joseph Campbell

 

Well, It's a '49, '50, '51, '52, '53, '54, '55, '56, '57, '58' 59' automobile
It's a '60, '61, '62, '63, '64, '65, '66, '67, '68, '69, '70 automobile

Well, It's a '49, '50, '51, '52, '53, '54, '55, '56, '57, '58' 59' automobile
It's a '60, '61, '62, '63, '64, '65, '66, '67, '68, '69, '70 automobile

Autumn is Here and it is the Hodgepodge

 

Hello Friends, Autumn has arrived here in Northwest Wisconsin, with our first frosty nights, cold mornings and warm afternoons. The warm sunlight dancing in the trees as the leaves are just turning color.

 

It is time for the Hodgepodge.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

Click here to join the fun! 

 

 1. Thursday is National Walk To A Park Day. I know these celebratory days are mostly made up, but some are fun to think about. Do you live close enough to a park to walk to one on Thursday? I do, but we will not walk that direction on Thursday. Will you? The most famous park in the world is Central Park located in NYC. Have you ever been to Central Park? No What did you think? If you haven't been is this a place you'd like to see? At this time I do not have an interest in visiting NYC. We visited back in 2007, but did not visit Central Park during that visit to NYC.

 2. Something you've done recently that turned out to be a 'walk in the park'? 

We made up a batch of our own sauerkraut. It ended up being a 'walk in the park'.

3. Can you parallel park? I  have done it, but close your eyes watching me do so. Do you have to do this often where you live?  Thank goodness, no! 

4. The colors of fall...red, brown, russet, golden bronze, golden yellow, purplish red, light tan, crimson, orange red, and scarlet. Are these colors you like to wear? I do.  Is this your season in terms of color? No. What about your home? Would we see these tones in your home decorating?  Yes, we have several shades of brown, tan and russet in our home. We have pops of red here and there as well. 

Some say our pets match our rug. 

 

 5. What part of history do you find most interesting? Elaborate. 

 I find  WWII  interesting. My Grandpa served during WWII. He shared several stories with me from the war. It was good to learn from him. He shared often about the German POW's. 

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I also enjoy reading WWII historical fiction. Lilac Girls was a favorite of mine.

 

Happy October Hodgepodge

 

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. Thursday (Oct 13) is National Train Your Brain Day. What do you do to keep your brain in tip top shape? Is it helping?

My husband and I enjoy doing crossword puzzles together. I do think it helps, I usually learn a new word or two when we do them.

My dear friend Marv's advice in growing older was "always be learning something new". He was in his 90's when he purchased a new camera. I have taken his advice to heart. 

 

 2. You can sit with anyone in the world and 'pick their brain'...whom do you choose? Tell us why? 

I would pick my Grandpa Sam. My grandpa and I had a special friendship. With our son deployed and the world a roller coaster, I would love some advice from him.

  3. What's something happening in the world (or your corner of it) right now that you have trouble 'wrapping your brain around'? 

 We are so proud!

And yet.. I pinch myself that our Sam is making history with the Wisconsin Army National Guard 157th  with the deployment to the Horn of Africa.

 We are so blessed by all the friends and family who are praying and sending well wishes for the 157th Brigade. Thank You!!

 4. On a scale of 1-10 where do you fall in the pumpkin fanclub? (1=blech, 10=make it all pumpkin all the time) Tell us something delicious you've tasted recently that had some pumpkin in it somewhere. 

6 for me.. I do enjoy a pumpkin bar with cream cheese frosting.

 5. Share a favorite song, book, or movie with an autumn title, setting, or vibe. 

It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

 

 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

October is the month when the smallest breeze 

Gives us a shower of autumn leaves.

Bonfires and pumpkins, leaves sailing down.

October is red and golden and brown.

Anonymous 

Looking Back at the Hodgepodge!

 

Happy November my 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. How did you name your blog and do you now wish you had thought about it maybe another five minutes before hitting publish? Would you change your blog title if it were not a huge pain in the derriere?

 My blog name, The River, was inspired by my love for rivers. I grew up next to a river. It was and still is a very special place for me. A river is ever changing.. yet the same.

No, I would not change my blog name.

 2. What bill do you least like to pay? 

During the garden season we love a nice regular rain, to water our garden and keep our rain barrels full. We collect rain water to water our garden. We have two big rain barrels. This past season we had a drought. We did have to use our village water to water our garden. Oh goodness, I did not like that bill.

 3. What is your favorite word? Okay okay, calm down. How about one of your favorite words? 

Attitude

 4. Is the glass half full or half empty? Elaborate. 

I try to stay positive. The glass is half full.

The remarkable thing is, we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.

 5. Were you here for that very first Hodgepodge post? If so, were your answers then similar to what they are today? Tell us what was happening in your life in November of 2010? 

I was not here for the first Hodgepodge.

I was a  busy mom to a ten and eight year old boy. I was busy helping as a teacher's aid at Growing Lights Christian Academy.

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Tribute to the Troops

A very special Christmas Tree that our Wisconsin Governor has in the Governor's Mansion.

Each year we participate. 

Samuel  ~ our son, active Wisconsin National Guard 

Samuel  ~ my grandpa, WW2

Marv ~ our dear friend, Korean War

 With Veteran's Day tomorrow, I take this time to say" THANK YOU!"

 

On the Road Friday ~ to the Wisconsin Executive Residence ~

Last week Thursday my husband, I and our son Atticus headed South to Madison. Our destination was the Executive Residence.

Governor Tony Evers and First Lady Kathy Evers announced that they will continue the  tradition of remembering Wisconsin's deployed service members and veterans with a "Tribute to our Troops." holiday tree in the Executive Residence.

The governor and first lady invite family members of Wisconsin's service members - past and present, in Wisconsin and abroad - to send a holiday ornament dedicated to their loved one. The ornaments will be displayed on one of the large evergreen trees on display at the Executive Residence during its holiday tours.

We created the following ornaments.

My Grandpa Sam .. WWII Veteran

 Our son Sam.. currently Wisconsin National Guard

 

The invitation is open to families of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guard members. Ornaments can be plain, fancy or personalized to honor our fallen service members, those who are deployed overseas this holiday season, and all who wear the uniforms of our nation's armed forces.

" I am pleased to be able to offer families an opportunity, especially during the holiday season, to recognize the brave folks who serve in our armed forces." Governor Evers said. " I think it is as important for family members as it is for the service members being honored in this way."

Governor Evers

 

 We met the First Lady Kathy Evers. She was interested in our family story and where in Wisconsin we lived. She had to chuckle at how far North we live from Madison.

We got to hang our ornaments on the Tribute to our Troops tree.

 It was a special day for us. 

Thank you for coming along with me today, On the Road Friday, to Madison, Wisconsin to see a very special tree at the Executive Residence.

 ♥

Carla

 

 

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

 In December Kim at Exquisitely Unremarkable shared about her white ceramic Christmas tree.

She mentioned the green ceramic Christmas trees in her post. I shared with her about my special ceramic Christmas tree.

My little green ceramic Christmas tree is also a music box.

 My grandpa and grandma gave me this tree, when I was young. I kept it in a safe place during my years of growing up. As I moved into being an adult, it moved with me.

 My tree has special bulbs on it, birds, butterflies, flowers and the regular bulbs.

 I have lost a few of the bulbs over the years.

 Backward, turn backward, O Time in your flight; Make me a child again just for tonight.

Elizabeth Akers Allen

My tree came with Santa too.

Over the years each Christmas brings excitement of putting up our real Christmas tree. Decorating it with all our family ornaments. It is a special time to get the house all decorated.

When the boys help me put up my ceramic Christmas tree, I will share a story or two about the special relationship I had with my grandpa. My grandpa Sam and I were very close. Our first born son is named in his honor.

Then when the house is all quite at night, I will wind up the music box. I will remember special times with my family growing up. Christmas as a child, the excitement of having family come to stay with us. My cousin Kris coming to stay with my grandma and grandpa with her dog Toby.

Christmas evening dinner. All the adults are drinking Old Fashion's while us kids steal the cherries.

Opening presents! My grandma would have the presents hiding in the porch, they would be so cold when she brought them out. 

Laughing with family. Sharing stories of my parents and grandparents Christmas. Christmas hugs and the excitement that we will get to do this again next year.

Oh Ceramic Christmas Tree

Thank you for the memories

 

♫♪

The Heart of the Matter

 The Heart of the Matter

It all began on Tuesday, April, 11th. 

When I received that phone call. 

My sister telling me our dad had a heart attack.

He is awaiting surgery.

How fast can you come?

My dad was in a hospital over two hours away from me. When you wish you could fly like an eagle. You have to drive, and I had to drive in road construction. 

You get to the hospital.

And you see for the first time, your dad, broken.

 

My dad, who is strong. The one who chased the bats out of my room. 

My dad, the one who took me out for ice cream after I received a bad hair cut in 8th grade. 

My dad, who taught me how to drive.

My dad, who walked me down the aisle.

All of a sudden, I have to be strong for him.

Our roles are switched.

 

And my mom, who is also trying to keep it all together. Who drove my dad to the first hospital, not knowing he was having a heart attack, she drove in a snow storm.

My mom, watching my dad go off in an ambulance.

My mom, who needs to drive back to the farm, in a Spring snow storm.

My mom who needs to make decisions about the farm. 

My dad had open heart surgery on Wednesday, April 12th.

My dad who is the strong one, who helps everyone else, and does not ask for help from others.

He now is broken.

He continued to say to me, "The doctors, the nurses, they all are so nice. This is not the world we see on the news. The news that is all full of hate. The news that puts America v.s. America or the World. 

This is LOVE. This is what we are really all about."

 My dad who after surgery can not make it to the bathroom. 

My dad who cries out in pain. Who moans out as the body makes adjustments.

My dad who says "I am sorry" to the staff in ICU.

I remind my dad, it is alright. They understand if you cry out in pain, they are here to help you. 

This is LOVE.

Wonderful people loving and caring for my dad.

Up and down we went through the weekend.

 

 

I am happy to report, Tuesday, April 18th my dad was on his way to spend a few days at my sisters.

My sister is only 30 miles from the hospital.

 My dad's first thing he did when he was discharged from the hospital.

Was say out loud "I can put on underwear."

He put on underwear, his T-shirt and his baseball cap.

His first night out of the hospital went well.

We are praying for recovery to continue to go smooth. 

The doctors say, that if all goes well, July 4th will be the "You DID IT"!

My dad is already planning his party.

Thank You for the love, the support and prayers.

 

As  many of you remember, I have a tradition to make my boys an Easter Cake.

I arrived home late Friday night and we planned to head back to the hospital Easter Sunday.

On Saturday I did some catching up and made my Easter Bunny Butt Cupcakes.

I did take a few to the hospital. 

My dad got a chuckle.

Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_love.html

Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mother_teresa.html

Let us always meet each other with a smile, 

for the smile is the beginning of love.

Mother Teresa

  

Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_love.html

 

Pass the Celery Please ... it is the Hodgepodge!

The Wishbone from the Thanksgiving turkey!

We save the wishbone and in a week or two the boys will snap the wishbone. Who ever has the longest end of the wishbone, makes a wish!

Welcome to the Hodgepodge!

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

  Click here to join in the fun!

 1. Give us three rhyming words that say something about your Thanksgiving holiday (or your most recent holiday gathering if you didn't celebrate Thanksgiving). 

 Driving in the fog

Cutting down our log

Eating like a hog

Translation 

 We had to drive in dense fog for the first half hour of our trip.

We always cut down our Christmas tree at my parents farm.

My mom made a wonderful feast!

2. When did you last say, 'the more the merrier'? Did you mean it?
 

For a party we are planning December 18th.

Yep, I mean it. 

 3. What's one piece of advice you'd give someone who is your same age?

Slow down .... we just seem so busy. Our kids are busy, we are busy, slow down and enjoy.

 4. You're ordering a veggie plate, what four veggies are on it?

Celery, carrots, radish and green onions. 

 5. Shop til you drop! Did you? Have you ever? Will you between now and Christmas?

My sister and I would shop till we dropped when we were in high school and college. 

We had so much fun. 

I ordered most of my Christmas gifts online this year.

I will need to head to the market for my Christmas treats and party food! 

 6. What's your favorite chair in your house, and why is it a favorite?

My grandpa and I were best of buddies. When I would visit him, I would sit in a big wicker rocker, sip root beer and we would solve all the words problems.

When my husband and I got married, my grandparents passed on that wicker rocker to us.

It is still my favorite chair! During the winter months, I have it in front of our South patio door. I can sit and soak up the sun!

  7. Share an early memory of faith, religion, or spirituality.

My dad sharing his stories about the nuns at his Catholic school.

I am not sure if he used the stories for bedtime, but my sister and I were fascinated with the nuns.

We would talk about them after, imagine life of nuns and create our own stories.

 8. Insert your own random thought here. 

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows; it empties today of its strength."

Corrie Ten Boom

  

Snow Cave

Chill February brings the day, 

when hearts and flowers we give away.

Tasha Tudor

This past week my boys spent some time with Grandma and Grandpa. They built an amazing Snow Cave! My mom used the skid steer to pile a big, big pile of snow up for them. The boys dug and dug and dug. They said they worked on it for about eight hours.

My dad put a light in the cave for the evening hours. It light up like a space ship. I did not get a photo of it at night, my mom did. She did share it with me. It was so cool. 

And now for the tour of the snow cave!

 I am peeking in to the entrance.

 Inside the cave. The boys thought of everything. Several windows, shelving and two side rooms.

This cave was a perfect place to play house war. 

The boys explained the game to me they created and this was the base. 

 It was very warm inside the cave. My dad brought in a few chairs for the boys.

 And he brought in a light for the evening hours. The boys said it was so cool!

 A few more windows.

 Landscaping the entrance.

 A window made of ice.

The Snow Cave  from the outside.

Do you have any memories of making snow caves or forts?