Tree Swing Reading

Wednesday Hodge Podge

1. Have you ever been 'asked' to report for jury duty? Were you chosen to serve? If not, were you happy or disappointed?

I was asked to serve one time, but I had just had my first baby and was nursing her, so I got out of it.

2. On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being very) how mechanically inclined are you? Give an example to back up your answer.

I'm a lot more mechanically inclined than my husband. I can put furniture together and fix things some times. My dad, on the other hand, can fix anything with the right tools and some duct tape. I'm probably a 6.

 

3. Beets-cabbage-cauliflower-butternut squash...of the four, which is your favorite fall vegetable?

This is the face I make when I smell beets. Hate them! I like cabbage when it's like a salad. I confess I've never tried squash. So I guess cauliflower is my pick. I'm not a good veggie eater.

 

4. What do you recommend to overcome self-pity?

I'm with the HodgePodge author here, Do something for someone else. Lending a hand or an ear or a meal to someone in need always takes me outside of myself and that's a good thing.

 

5. Do you enjoy classical music?

I like it sometimes. My daughters play some on the piano now and I love that!

6. October is National Book Month...what's on your reading list this month?

Too many books to name! See my Fall Into Reading List link on the side.

 

7. What is your idea of 'cute' ?

my puppy!

 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I've only got five minutes til my daughter gets home from school. Where do the days go?

Wednesday Hodge Podge

1. What's your favorite meal to serve on a chilly autumn evening?

 

Maybe this is cliche since we are from Wisconsin, but we love cheese soup!  I especially like it in a bread bowl! Yum! Warms me up inside and out!

2. Are you a creature of habit? Explain.

Yes. I like my routines. This is why school vacation days always throw everything off for me. Not that I don't like having my kids home, it's just not my normal routine. I'm not good with change. 

 

3. What food product (no longer available) do you remember and miss from days gone by?

 

I can't think of anything right now. hmmm.

4. What's something you've lost that you've never been able to find? Any theories as to what happened?

 

I lost my first wedding ring. Makes me feel horrible! I had to have it cut off when an injury made my finger swell up and I kept it in my purse in a small zippered pocket. When I went to find it, it wasn't there. I have no idea what happened to it. Oh, the guilt!

 

5. Zoo~circus~carnival...your favorite?

 

I like the zoo! Especially Madison's wonderful free zoo! Great kid-dates. Not so fun on field-trip days though.

 

6. What song makes you feel instantly happy?

I have always liked The Nylons and my husband I have claimed "Happy Together" by them as "our song" so it makes me happy!

 



7. To what extent are you an argumentative person?

Well, I guess that would depend on who you ask. Unfortunately I can be pretty argumentative with my husband. More guilt. I don't like being wrong when it comes to him. With other people though, I tend to be pretty passive and let things go for the most part.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Just want to say that I am LOVING the beautiful fall weather we are having! So nice out and so many fabulous colors! If only I could keep the snow from coming.

Wednesday Hodge Podge

1. It is officially fall here in North America...I realize not everyone who participates in the Hodgepodge lives in North America, but if you do what's your favorite memory of Summer 2011? If you're not in North America, what's your favorite memory of the season just ending on your side of the world?

Summer 2011 was a fast-paced whirlwind! My favorite memory is of my girls getting baptized! In addition to that, I adored our trip up to Door County where we stayed as a family in a cottage on the beach.

2. Your favorite nut? You know I mean the edible kind, right?

I don't care so much for nuts in things, but I do love to eat them plain on their own...at least most kinds.  I really am into pistachios these days.

 

3. What activity puts your sense of balance to the test?

Mostly my own anxiety! When I am especially anxious, I get all dizzy for some reason.

 

4. How would you describe your sense of humor?

It kind of comes and goes lately, though I seem to be finding it again! I have ongoing health troubles, so sometime I lost my sense of humor when I'm not feeling well. My family and my dog tickle my funny bone. I also love Tim Hawkins and Anita Renfroe for a good laugh! 

 

5. September 28th is National Ask a Stupid Question Day...what's your stupid question?

 I think my huband would say it's "Are you sure?" because I often double check his sincerity when he tells  me how he's feeling. Ever since he was ill with the rare Lofgren's syndrome 2 years ago, I get pretty touchy about his physical well-being.

 

6. Roller skates~hula hoop~jump rope...which activity would you most enjoy? Yes, you have to choose.

I used to be great at roller skating, but it has been a long time! But of those choices, I'd have to pick skating.

7. What's your most sentimental possession?

A painting done by my grandmother, cards and notes from my kids and husband, my journals, photo albums...

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I am having fun doing some new bloggy things.  I am excited for something I'm working on for October!

Wednesday's Hodge Podge

1. Do you like chili? Red or white? Beans or no beans? Spice or no spice? Toppings?

I do not eat chili. I have never been able to handle eating those squishy, mushy beads!  I hate the texture.

2. Red-orange-gold...your favorite fall color?

I love fall! I'm kind of big on all these colors right now since I just repainted the rooms in our house in mostly fall colors: the kitchen is a yellow-orange, the family room is a terra cotta/red, and the hallway is gold.  I used to not like orange, but now that orange is my daughter's favorite color, it has definately grown on me and become one of my favorite colors!

3. Who did you idolize when you were growing up?

I idolized my h.s. English teacher. I was always trying to please her and get her attention. H.S. was a rough time for me b/c my mom had cancer, and she was the one who I turned to to help me survive it all.

 

4. When was the last time you did something 'arts and craftsy'? Share please.

I adore doing crafts!  I'm in the middle of some big organizing projects, so I haven't done much lately, but I always get into quilting and sewing in the late fall and winter. My last sewing project was some dance journals for my girls. For dance they have to write in journals to keep track of stretches to do and moves to practice. I thought they should have ones that had dance fabric, so I made these covered journals for them:

 

5. What's a place that makes you really nervous?

 

Going to the doctor. I always have a lot of anxiety going there!

 

6. Horseback riding...yay or nay (neigh?)

I have never really ridden a horse. I used to love playing with them (the Breyer ones) when I was younger, and now my daughter loves playing with my old ones.

7. What's your favorite cliche?

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree! I must say this every day in reference to my oldest who acts like her dad and to my husband who acts like his mom!

 

8. Random Thought:

I'm having fun creating a meal  plan for our family! I'm trying to get more organized with family meals. But I need to stop finding new recipes and get back to decluttering our house and my other projects!

 

Wednesday Hodge Podge

1. How many times in your life have you moved house?

I was two when I moved the first time, but then lived in the same place the whole rest of my life til college. I am not counting moves between dorms while in college. After college I moved to Wisconsin and we've been in 2 apartments and 2 houses since then. So like 6 times total...

 

2. What subject would you study if you had a year to devote to it?

Website Design

3. What in this world breaks your heart?

Abused children.

4. What is one item that symbolizes the times in which we live? Why?

Cell phones for sure...especially the "smart" phones.

5. Share a favorite bumper sticker or t-shirt slogan.

Don't do bumper stickers...especially political ones! I'd probably get hit around here. I do have a t-shirt I love that says "So many books, so little time."

  

6. How do you like your spaghetti?

I like my meat mixed right into the sauce with a great big piece of garlic bread!

 

7. What is one piece of advice you would give a recent or soon to be recent graduate?

I like what was written here already: God has a plan for your life. Keep Him close.

 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

We are having the craziest storms here today! Big hail and hard rain. My youngest is deathly afraid of storms, so she is having a rough day.

Wednesday Hodge Podge

1. Have you ever been served breakfast in bed? Did you enjoy that? If someone were serving you breakfast in bed this coming weekend what would you hope to see on the tray?

I haven't. I'm not much for hanging around in bed in the morning. I'm too much of a morning person I guess!  I do love it when my family makes me breakfast though. I'd love to have eggs and hasbrowns with coffee.

 

2. What is one piece of advice you would give a new mother?

 

Don't compare yourself to other moms. We all have different strengths. Love your children like crazy and tell them that all the time!

3. When was the last time you wanted to scream? Explain.

 

My daughter came home with tales of a bully at school last night. I wanted to scream at the bully!

 

4. Can you hula hoop?

 

No. Except on Wii fit! :)

 

5. What is something people do in traffic that really bothers you?

 

Driving way under the speed limit is one, but also riding right on my tail lights too. I will drive slower just to annoy them.

 

6. What do you do when people don't admit they're wrong?

 

Usually vent to someone and try to pick up a different project and move on.

7. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word 'fun'?

 

My kids! 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

It's good to be blogging again.

Wednesday HodgePodge

1. Will you watch the Super Bowl? If so, who will you cheer for? If you are not from the USA what is the 'big deal' sporting event in your own country?

Of course! The Super Bowl is huge for us because we are in WISCONSIN!  Go PACKERS! We are super (get it, super?) excited about our team being in the Super Bowl!

 

2. Is ignorance bliss?

Sometimes. I worry a lot. So sometimes it's easier not to know.  I usually avoid watching the news just for that reason.  And it's why I don't like Speculative fiction. Life is hard enough, without thinking about bad things that could happen someday.

 

3. Which of the seven dwarfs are you? (and just in case your Disney is a little bit rusty, here they are-Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, and Sneezy).

Sleepy today! For the past 10 days I've had at least one sick kid keeping me up at night with coughing and other sick-kid type things.

 

4. When you are riding in the car with another couple how do you organize seating? (Men up front? Women up front? Couples sit together?) And thanks to Lori at Mountain Woman at Heart for the question. Everyone go say hi to Lori.

Usually we sit men in front, women in back. So we can talk of course!

 

5. What is beauty?

I love people who are beautiful inside! Then they look beautiful outside too.

 

6. If someone asks you to bring an appetizer or a dessert to a party in their home, which would you choose?

I'm a dessert kind of girl!

 

7. What is your crowd pleasing go-to appetizer?

Warm artichoke dip, spinach dip, and a nacho dip I make. Yum!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I am so tired! I can't think of anything! My family room looks like a hospital with bedding, medicine, wadded up kleenx, and a pile of movies. It's hard keeping them entertained when they're sick so long.

Wednesday's Hodge Podge on Thursday

I'm a day late with my Hodge Podge b/c my daughter is still sick and I was cooking for a crowd of 20 for a meeting at church yesterday.

1. Do you like your name? Were you named after someone? If you have children how did you settle on their names?

I'm not a huge fan of my name. No particular reason, I just never really liked it.

I picked my oldest daughter's name after my grandmother and my mom. My youngest daughter's name was picked b/c it's Dutch like my heritage, and we just liked it.

 

2. How do you define success?

Yikes! I'm not sure how to answer this one. It depends on the goal.  How's that for an evasive answer!

3. Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy?

I like Wheel of Fortune a lot more. Trivia questions are not my thing. My husband is really good at solving the puzzles, but we don't watch it much.

 

4. If you could own any single object that you don't now have, what would that object be?

An Ipad!

 

5. What is something that inspires you?

People who quietly serve...unselfish hearts make me want to do better.

6. Meatloaf-yay or nay? If its a yay how do you make yours?

Everytime I try to make it, it turns out crumbly.  My mom and my mother-in-law both make great meatloafs though.

 

7. Which is more admirable-the ability to organize and be methodical or the ability to adapt and make do?

I'm pretty methodical, but I wish I was more adaptable. It would be better not to feak out when plans change. But I can see the value of organization too.   

8. Insert your own random thought here-

I'm feeling worried b/c my blood pressure's been up lately. I need to figure out how to get it down.

Wednesday Hodge Podge: Snow Day Theme

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 and they receive over 1000 nominations. Here are the fourteen words/phrases they'd like to see banished in 2011-viral, epic, fail, wow factor, a-ha moment, back story, BFF, man up, refudiate, Mama Grizzlies, The American People, facebook/google when used as verbs, I'm just sayin', and Live life to the fullest.

What word or phrase would you like to see banished from our everyday vocabulary in 2011? You can choose one from the 'official list' or you can get creative and come up with your own.

I'm with Joyce on her answer: I'd like the word 'like' banished from like our everyday speech. Unless you are like truly stating your admiration of some person place or like thing then please stop saying like every like third word.

 

2. Do you consider opportunity something that comes to you or something you create for yourself?

I think it can be both...a lot of times I feel like I have to go out and hunt down opportunities and throw myself out there. Once in a while that comes back to haunt me though because then I'll be too busy for the truly special opportunity that I didn't see coming and didn't have the patience to wait for.

 

3. Since we're all eating healthy this month, ahem, what's included in your favorite salad? Is there dressing?

I love salad from Panera Bread. Especially the one with chicken, apples, and nuts.  I also love a good taco salad with the bowl-thingies that you can eat too. Yum!

4. The fourth Monday in January is said to be

Blue Monday

...aka the most depressing day of the year. The date was calculated using many factors including weather, debt level, time since Christmas, time since we've failed at our new year resolutions, low motivation and feeling a need to take action. Do you get the blues this time of year and if so what is something you do to lift your spirits?

January is always hard for me. I had a tendency to be anxious and depressed anyway and January really can hit me hard because of guilt over goals I missed from the last year or even failure to live up to my own expectations for the new year. Also, I love Christmas and am sad when it's over.  I try to get regular exercise to combat it and also take on some kind of big craft/quilt project to keep motivated.

 

5. Do you wear a watch? Any other everyday jewelry essentials?

I make jewelry, so I should wear it more as adverisement, but when I'm just working at home all the time, it seems pointless.

6. What is something useful you learned in high school?

I learned the importance of having good friends who loved you no matter what.

 

7. Do you use an accountant when completing and filing your income tax returns or do you attempt to muddle through all by yourself?

My husband--the math whiz--does our taxes. I just have to provide the support documents on donations, online purchases (so we can pay taxes on those--is my husband the only person who pays taxes on those?), and money we put away for the girls' college funds. It takes him a long time and he spreads papers all over the dining room table so we can't eat there for 2 weeks, but I know he's totally thorough about it.

8. Insert your own random thought here-

I sent an email yesterday to a friend to apologize for something and now I can't stop compulsively checking my email to see if she wrote back. If wasn't anything serious, but I hate it when I get worked up over getting a response to emails and/or facebook posts.

 

Also, my husband is having a follow-up with his doctor about the Lofgren's disease to see if his lymph nodes have gotten less enlarged. The appointment is Friday and I am suddenly preoccupied worrying about that too.

This week's random Hodge Podge

It's Wednesday and the first 2011 edition of Wednesday Hodgepodge!

1. What three words would you use to describe 2010?

Busy, challenging, growing

2. If fear were not an issue what is something you'd like to try?

I'd like to do more with my graphic design interest and create new products for my craft business (time is an issue too)

3. What do you add to your coffee or tea?

Coffee - I like a good amount of flavored cream! YUM!; tea - honey

4. What historical sporting event would you like to witness?

I'm not a huge sports person...probably Mary Lou Retton in the Olympics or a figure skating event. Maybe the hocky game that was "The Miracle."

5. What is one piece of advice you would like to give your sixteen year old self?

It's how you look at the events of life, not the events of life themselves.

6. Are you a planner or do you prefer to fly by the seat of your pants?

Planner. I always need a plan.

7. What is one thing you are looking forward to in 2011?

Not sure...maybe when my puppy is less work?

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I'm fighting a cold. Not too many thoughts going on except now I want some tea with honey for my throat, but coffee with cream might perk me up.