Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Hodgepodging a New Year


Sunrise, December 30, 2016
View from the front porch

Join Joyce and the Gang
for

 She writes the questions;
we write the answers.
Plug them into your own blog post
and join in!


1. Share one favorite moment/memory from your Christmas holiday.

My very favorite moment from Christmas and New Year's is when everyone has finally arrived and the family is all together. My next favorite moment is watching the last person drive down the driveway as they leave. I don't really mean that, well, maybe kinda.  It's the curse of the introvert. :-)


Three - Two - One - GO!!
Grandkids sledding down our hill
Neighbor Bill's farm (the subject of many IG pics)
in the background


He made it to the bottom without falling off!

 
2. What was the best thing you ate over the holidays? Was it homemade or store bought? If it was homemade did you make it?

Probably the best thing I ate was one of those Andes Mints cake balls I talked about in my last post. Definitely homemade and definitely won't make them again for a long time. They were delicious, but I don't dare keep stuff like that in the house. Mr. C. doesn't have a sweet tooth, so you-know-who feels the responsibility to eat it. You know, to get it out of the house.

Itty Bitty Pastries
made with butter, cream cheese, flour, powdered sugar
and jam. Two inch squares, pinched together at the corners
so they can all come apart in the oven and be a real mess.
But they tasted good.
3. What was one of the most beautiful things you saw over the holidays?

The most beautiful thing for me always is seeing the grandchildren playing together. The least beautiful thing was Irvine Park Christmas Village with 60,000 lights and displays when you arrive before dark. Definitely diminishes some of its charm.  So we went and hung out at Leinie's Lodge in Chippewa Falls until it got dark and then tried again. MUCH better. Next year we will arrive at 6:30 PM rather than 5:00 PM. And we will walk through, rather than drive through.

On the way to Chippewa Falls
Car rides affect me the same way.

Killing time until it got DARK 
Leinie's Lodge: The place to loiter if you want to stand next to a beautiful fireplace while you're waiting for it to get dark outside, or if you want to purchase one of a zillion items that have the name 'Leinenkugel's' engraved or printed on it. Why?

4. What does fresh start mean to you?

Mostly, a fresh start reminds me of God's mercies, new every morning, which is a wonderful, reassuring thought. God holds no grudges. Lamentations 3:22-23:


The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
    his mercies never come to an end; 
 they are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.


 I have no idea what our son is doing to our grandson in this photo, 
but you've seen monkeys grooming one another, right? LOL
 

5. On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being very positive and 1 being not so great) how would you rate 2016 in terms of personal achievement and well being? Explain.

A seven. I was hoping to be snowshoeing this winter. Maybe after my checkup in late February.

The bulldozer. Still in our field.
The snow has an icy crust.

6. 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. Go here to read more about how the words were chosen or, if you're like me, to find out what in the world the word or phrase even means or the context in which it's used. There were quite a few on this year's list I'd never heard before.

Here's the 2017 list of banished words-

You, Sir-focus-Bete Noire-Town Hall Meeting-Post Truth-guesstimate-831-historic-manicured-echo chamber-on fleek-bigly-ghost-Dadbod-listicle-get your dander up-selfie drone-frankenfruit-disruption

Which word on the list would you most like to see banished in 2017? What word or phrase would you add to the list?

'You' is a banished word?? And many of the others I'd never heard. I guess they haven't made their way to deepest, darkest, coldest northern Wisconsin. Usually I could name a few words or phrases that annoy me, mostly because people overuse them. This year I can't think of any. 

 Stop me if I've already shown you this photo.


7. Large or small, light or deep, share with us one goal you have for the new year.

Kayaking. Sometime after the ice melts.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

 Tuppence, lounging on the sofa during 'Poirot.'
A photo, lest you think I've abandoned all affection for her.
It's hard to tell where cat ends and blanket begins, 
but it's mostly sweet old cat.


Thank you, Joyce, for always putting together this Hodgepodge of questions for us.

***


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Judy

37 comments:

Susie said...

Hi Judy, Hooray for the little one sledding to the bottom. I love the sun on your granddaughter's hair. Your son look a lot like your Mr. They have nice hair. I wish you good reports this Friday. Blessings to all, xoxo, Susie

Debby Ray said...

As always, I so enjoy hearing how you answer Joyce's Hodgepodge questions. I hope to jump back on the hodgepodge bandwagon next week. The photos of the snow crust glistening in the sun is so beautiful. We may be getting some of the white stuff this weekend...on can only hope :) I hope that your 2017 is off to a great start!

Linda said...

I enjoyed your Hodgepodge answers, Judy...and giggling over your son and grandsons "grooming" habits. wink.

Have a beautiful day friend.

eileeninmd said...

Hello Judy, I always enjoy reading your answers. I love the shots of your grands, the sledding shot looks like fun. I had to laugh over the monkeys grooming. I wish you and yours all the best in 2017, happy New Year.

Capri K said...

Love your kitty pictures!
That is a wonderful verse, made into a wonderful song.
Happy New Year!

Preppy Empty Nester said...

Always love your beautiful pics. The last one is my favorite. Looks like you had a wonderful holiday. Enjoy your week.

Arlene G said...

Looks like the perfect white Christmas Judy!! I hope you can drive on snow.lol....if you read my blog post today you will find that we are all atwitter than it might snow on Friday.

maddie/cadesmimi said...

I'm with you, I love having all of the family together, but I love the quietness of the house as the last car drives away, too :)
Your pictures are beautiful. You always capture the most awesome images!
Kathy (Reflections)

MadSnapper said...

Love the kitty pics, love the sledding pic and really love the Lennies pic of that gorgeous fireplace. all your photos have one theme, loving family....

Debbie said...

I do know exactly what you mean about the arrival and departure of family, lol. I am GIDDY when they are all arriving and everything lies in front of us....but yes, pleased when it's over and they are all driving off as well, lol, and it's back to quiet and our ordinary routine. For me I don't think I am introverted, just getting old I guess. Still prefer the arriving though, lol. You always have the most beautiful pictures....have a good week!

Stacy said...

I so get you on the introvert thing. I love my kids and grandkids. I look forward to having them all together and spending time with them....but I am also maybe not glad, but relieved, when they go home.

Empty Nester said...

Love you answer to #4. And I need to remember that every day. All those photos of your grands = LOVE! What a wonderful time you had! I'd love to sled down that hill! I know what you mean about businesses putting their name on everything. Is that what they call branding? Ha! People close to me bring me ornaments from their travels and the ones from my BFF always have the name of the resort on them. She says there is not a single ornament without the resort name on it. I was not the least bit happy this year when everyone left. I miss my dad when he goes and the daughter and boyfriend who live far away- Claudia and Ben- are the easiest people in the world to get along with. So I really miss them when they go and leave me with the drama queens. LOL Baby M and her parents are easy too so, I guess it evens out. :) Give Tuppence and the two littles a rub for me. Happy New Year! OH! We MIGHT get some flurries or sleet this weekend! It will be just like REAL WINTER! Fingers crossed!

Empty Nester said...

Ok, that was suppose to read: Loved your answer to #4. I've got to start reading these things before I post them. LOL

Carla from The River said...

Hi Judy,
We will walk Irvine next year as well. It just is not the same driving. We have walked all our other years going to Irvine, this year we visited on December 28th, after the awful ice storm. I was really worried about falling on the ice, since I already took a tumble on my walk with Molly.

If you are able next year head up to Duluth to Bentleyville. Amazing!!!
Happy New Year!!

Carla

21 Wits said...

I sure hope you're not as COLD as we are in Minnesota right now! Yikes! I always enjoy your family and nature photos and of course kitty cats too, they're so wonderful and show like little stories of your life! Quite fun. I also am going to give that recipe with strawberry jam!

Pamela Gordon said...

An enjoyable post Judy. I hope you have an enjoyable day!

Chatty Crone said...

Loved your post and pics. I had to reread your number one. LOL - you and I feel the exact same way. Happy New Year!

sweetbriardreams said...

Loved the insight into your holidays. Great shots as always!! Have a very Happy New Year!! xx

The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen said...

Glad to hear your holidays were full of much joy, Judy. Yes, we introverts do value the time spent with friends and family and the time when they leave! I am still laughing over the grooming photo! Hopefully your son doesn't read your blog! Have a great day. xo ♥

Judy S. said...

In our part of the world it's been getting dark before 5:00! At the moment the skies are crystal clear and bright blue which is why it's been so chilly (for us, that is). Happy New Year, Judy; hope you get to go cross country skiing soon.

Aritha V. said...

I love all you photos. Your holidays were so full of Nice Things!

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

I'm the same; love it when family arrives and love it when they leave. A lot of loving can go on during the visits, right? lol
The photo of your son and grandson had me wondering what they were doing too, the monkey business sounds about right.
I'll be very disappointed if adorable kitties are not part of your posts, if I can't have them I can at least enjoy someone else's.
Snowshoeing is something I'd like to try, maybe this winter!

Mrs.T said...

Lovely photos and that fireplace at the Lodge is simply gorgeous.

Your son and grandson ... well, one of my daughters dearly loved having her head scratched. Maybe that's what's happening there.

Rose said...

An interesting read...one of these days I will get it together enough to participate. Enjoyed the pics...

Anonymous said...

I LOVE YOUR PHOTOS! I follow you on Instagram too so your photos really drew me in initially! That first shot you posted here is perfection! Oh and those itty bitty pastries? YES PLEASE! Happy 2017 my friend!

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Those little pastries look yummy. All the pictures are wonderful, looks like it was a great Christmas.

Anonymous said...

Ha ha...I totally understand your happy to see them come and relieved to see them go thoughts. I like your start fresh verses. Happy New Year!

Theresa said...

The picture of your son and grandson makes me think...was he checking for deer ticks? That is what we have to do here after being in wooded areas. The pastries look so good but right now am determined to stay on my whole30 and then go to eating Paleo otherwise I'd be making those! How fun to have a hill to sled down in your yard. We are still waiting for snow to come here. Happy New Year!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I like your answer to the fresh start. It makes me think of Anne of Green gables saying...a fresh start with no mistakes...well no mistakes yet! Happy new year! Hugs, Diane PS I told my hubby to stay out of our business....he had a good laugh and so did I!

Terri D said...

You have to know I love the kitty photos. Tuppence looks so comfy!! Great photos to illustrate your answers to this week's HP! I enjoyed you post!

Vee said...

Tuppence looks completely cozy and relaxed, which must mean that the kittens dare not disturb her. Are the kittens doing any grooming? =D
If someone had been grooming me recently, she might have been picking plaster from my hair after part of the ceiling fell on me. Oh the hazards of ice dams. Stay cozy out there and enjoy winter's stillness.

Michelle said...

"Get your dander up", is a local and longstanding slang word here in my part of the upper south. Doubt it will ever disappear.

Jean | DelightfulRepast.com said...

Judy, that photo of son and grandson had me thinking "monkeys grooming," so when I scrolled down and saw that in your caption, I really did laugh out loud! Love the kitten and Tuppence photos - always! I can think of several words I'd like to see banished from the face of the earth, but I won't write them out. One that I *can* write is "curated." You know, we no longer rearrange our furniture or change out our accessories in a room, we "curate." That one's a real stomach-turner for me.

Sweetpea91710 said...

ALWAYS love your photos! What happened to the third kitten?

Joyce said...

People who sleep in miss the loveliest part of the day! Beautiful sunrise! Hope you're on that kayak this summer...happy new year!

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

oh the monkeys grooming...LMAO !!!! :)

Red Rose Alley said...

What a cute picture of your grandkids sledding down the hill, Judy. These pastries look delicious. I wish I had one to go with my tea right now. It is SNOWING in your area! It's a treat to see, as we don't get the snow here where I live.

I hope the new year is a bright one for you and much goodness comes your way. Happy New Year, Judy!

~Sheri

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