Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

 

Wait … it’s Wednesday already?  Where did Monday and Tuesday go?  But it’s ok … because if it’s Wednesday, then it’s time for the Hodgepodge!

 

1. What creeps you out?

Heights … oh, yes, definitely heights.  Creepy crawlies (like spiders, mice, and snakes) creep me out, too. 

2. What's your least favorite candy?

It’s a toss-up between Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and malted milk balls.  I am not a fan of peanut butter (I believe that I may be the only person in the US who’s not).  And I’m not a fan of the scraping of the center of the malted milk balls on my teeth … I could add that to #1. 

3. Are you a fan of scary movies?  What's the scariest movie you've ever seen?

I guess it depends on how you define scary movies.  What passes for a scary movie nowadays contains way too much blood and gore … so I’m definitely NOT a fan.  I do like a good suspenseful movie, like Gaslight.  The scariest movie I’ve ever seen would be The Birds … I have to admit that any time I see a large flock of birds, I freak out a little … maybe I could add them to #1, too.

 

4. What part of life confuses you the most?

The more I ponder this, the more I think that life is just plain confusing … and try as hard as we humans can, it’s next to impossible to make sense of it all … thankfully our God is in control and is able to lead us through the confusion and chaos.

5. Pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, poppy...what's your favorite seed?

I can’t say that any of them are favorites, although since I have to choose, I guess I’ll go with sesame seed … I love good breads, and since many have sesame seed on them, I’ll go with sesame seed.

6. Imagine your life ten years from today...what's changed?

My grands will no longer be “littles” … T#1 will be almost 21 and T#4 will be entering her teen years!   

 

Of course, I’ll be 10 years older, too … and I can only imagine what that will mean … I’m already learning (the hard way) that I’m not as young as I used to be. 

 

7.  What do you a) love the most and b) like the least about the Hodgepodge?

I love the randomness of the Hodgepodge.  My life (and hence my blog) is full of randomness … so the Hodgepodge gives me a springboard for random topics that I might otherwise discuss here.  I really can’t think of anything that I don’t like about it. 

 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I got all the rows of my I-Spy Quilt sewn together yesterday.  I was all set to start working on the borders when my iron kicked the bucket.  I can’t sew on borders if I can’t press the seams nice and flat.  Since it was getting close to dinner time, I chose to call it a day.  I did some research and found a highly-rated iron at a very nice price – available at Wal-mart.  So I’m ready to get to work on my borders today … hopefully I’ll be ready to get it basted together tomorrow so I can start the hand quilting!

Weekend Wrap-up

This weekend just flew by … hard to believe that it’s Monday already.

Friday was a fairly quiet day here so I got a good bit of sewing done.  I had almost completed 10 of the 11 rows and decided to lay out my my rows on my design wall floor.

If you enlarge the picture (by clicking on it), you’ll notice that I didn’t have any of the sashing/cornerstones on the first (left) block of each row.  I remedied that on Saturday morning, and I finished the 11th row.  I had hoped to have the 11 rows sewn together by the end of the weekend, but I didn’t get nearly as much sewing done as I had hoped … but it’s all good as I had some T time … and T time always trumps sewing time.     Saturday afternoon, we picked up T#3 for a sleepover.  We treated him to dinner at Cracker Barrel, followed by watching Madagascar 3.

After church Sunday, T#3 went to his other grandma’s and T#4 came over to spend the day at Nana’s.  We watched her favorite Dora movie before naptime.  Later that afternoon, T#2 joined us for a girls’ night/sleepover.  We had dinner at IHOP (kids eat free after 4:00 – who knew?), followed by 101 Dalmatians.  Turns out that breakfast for dinner and animated movies featuring animals were the theme for our T time this weekend.    Needless to say, by the time I crawled into bed Sunday evening, I was exhausted.  But it was a good kind of exhausted … one I wouldn’t trade for anything! 

Friday Fragments

 

 

Winter has arrived fall has returned.  Our temperatures went from 81 at 4:30 to 48 at 8:30 yesterday.  <brrrrr>  It was 39 when I got up this morning.  We got .7” of rain overnight … just what our newly-planted trees need.

 

 

Got my flu shot yesterday – finally.  I’d been meaning to get it for the last 6 weeks, but it seemed that the only time I’d think about it was when my doctor’s office was closed.  <sigh>  Hope I didn’t procrastinate too long.

 

 

Speaking of my doctor’s office, I’ll be back next week … for my annual well-woman exam.  Which means that it’ll be time to schedule my mammogram and my bone-density scan.  Thankfully I had a colonoscopy a couple of years ago, so I won’t need to have another for several more years.  And I’ll be going back a couple of weeks after that for the second Hep A vaccination for our cruise in January. 

 

 

And speaking of our cruise, I guess it’s time to start finalizing our plans/excursions … we’ve got most everything else set in place.

 

 

I’m working on my I-spy quilt … I’ve got 2 rows of blocks already sewn together.  With nothing on my schedule for today (at least not yet – ha!), I plan to sew together several more rows (there are 11 total in this quilt). 

 

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Another Hump Day arrives … and that means it’s time for the Hodgepodge!

1.  So, do you like beer?
No, too bitter for my taste.  I'm not much of a fan of alcoholic drinks.  I can’t seem to acquire a taste for wine … the only drinks I like are fruity/sugary ones where you can’t even taste the alcohol, so it seems rather pointless.  So I order dessert instead. 

2.  What's your least favorite repetitive task?
Cleaning the bathrooms. 

3.  When was the last time you rode a bus?  Where was it headed?
The last time I rode a bus was probably 11-12 years ago.  The State University Civil Service system here in Illinois would host a conference in Champaign every fall, and I attended 11-12 years ago.  A bus was chartered to transport the attendees from my campus to Champaign and back. 

4.  What song from your childhood or from your own children's childhood could make a parent's nerves stand on end?
My sister and I used to sing the Siamese cat song from Lady and the Tramp … it would drive our mom batty ... not the song as much as our singing it over and over and over.  

5.  The US Presidential election cycle is drawing to a close (can I get an AMEN??), and the third and final debate was held last night...what was the last thing you 'debated about'?
AMEN!!!!   I’m drawing a blank as to what I last debated.

6.  Can a person make too much money?  How much is too much?
I wrote, deleted, rewrote, edited, deleted and rewrote my response several times … and I’m still  not sure that I can adequately express my thoughts.  I’ll just say that I think our attitude about money is far more important than how much money we make.  

7.  Pop-soda-coke-something else...what's it called where you live?
Pop is another name for dad.  Coke is a brand name soft drink.  In my neck of the woods, soda is the generic term for carbonated soft drinks.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
I’m making progress on the I-Spy quilt … I have half the blocks completed and am piecing together the remaining half.  I hope to start sewing the blocks together by the weekend. 

It’s been unseasonably warm here … in the upper 70’s the last 3 days … and into the 80’s today and tomorrow.  In fact, when I went to bed last night, it was still 70 degrees outside!  A front is supposed to come through on Friday … bringing in highs in the lower 50’s and lows in the lower 30’s. 

The Weekend Wrap-Up

Wow, was it a busy weekend here at Chez Nana!  Maybe I’ll get a chance to get some R+R this coming week … hope so!

Friday morning DH and I went tree shopping.  We picked out three trees to replace the ones in the backyard that didn’t survive our hot, dry winter.  One blooms in the spring, and all three should have spectacular fall color.  It was misting every so lightly while we were choosing our trees, but the job is done.  They will be out here in about a week to plant them (DH has to dig up our dead trees; they were young enough that it shouldn’t be too difficult to dig them up … I hope).

After we picked out our trees, we went to a fabric store that’s about 30 minutes from our house.  I want to make the I-Spy quilt a little bigger, so I’m going to add another border … and use some of the same fabric to add cornerstones to the sashing.    I spent the afternoon trimming up my blocks (I’d sewn a strip of sashing to each block of fabric). 

We finished up our Friday celebrating T#4’s 3rd birthday … and watching our Cardinals fall to the Giants in Game 5.



My Saturday started early … not really any earlier than normal, but normally I’m not dressed and ready to head out the door so early.     T#1 and T#2 swam in the Halloween Invitational at their YMCA … and T#2 had to be at the Y by 6:45.  So I stayed at DD’s to watch the other T#1, T#3 and T#4. 

I was able to do a little sewing Saturday afternoon before we went up to the Y to watch T#1 in his events that evening.  If you click on the picture, it’ll open larger.  We were lucky to find a seat (the pool isn’t in a very large room, so there isn’t much room for seating … and with 19 teams participating, there was a lot of competition for seats).  My bottom was sore by the end of the evening as we sat there for 3 1/2 hours to watch him swim in 3 events.



After church Sunday morning, we took the 3 younger Ts to lunch at DQ.  DD had a vendor table at a local craft fair, and DSIL took T#1 back to the Y for more swimming events.  It was such a nice day today … a high of 78, so the 3 littles and I spent time before and after naptime out in the yard. 


My weekend ended on a sour note with my Cardinals losing Game 6 to the Giants Sunday evening … it’s going to come down to a “do-or-die” Game 7 tomorrow night.  

Friday Fragments

 

 

Another week is drawing to a close, and that means that it’s time for Friday Fragments.

 

My Cardinals won another game last night … and are now just 1 win from reaching the World Series.

 

 

I finished the binding on my wall quilt.

 

I sewed the binding on with my new sewing machine … I just LOVE it!  I also started my next quilt … a generously-sized lap quilt.  I’m using a couple of charm packs (5” squares) of kids’ prints, set with sashing and cornerstones. 

 

 

It’s a rainy day today.  We had planned to go pick out our replacement trees (for the couple in the back yard that didn’t survive our summer), and while DH is still planning on going to the nursery, I am thinking that perhaps we should postpone it.  Instead I think I’ll do a little fabric shopping … for the cornerstones for the I-Spy quilt.  I’ve got the motivation for DH to agree to go along … the promise of lunch at either Chick Fil A or at Firehouse Subs. 

 

 

Tonight we have T#4’s birthday party (she turned 3 on Monday). 

 

 

We’ve got a busy weekend coming up.  T#1 and T#2 have a 2-day swim meet … and we’ll be watching the littles. 

 

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

We’re halfway through this week already … and that means that it’s time for some Hodgepodge. 

 

1. Noah Webster was born this week back in 1758....besides the online version, do you own a dictionary?  Do you ever use the hardback copy or is your hunt for a definition strictly online these days?

I no longer own a dictionary.  When we downsized to our current home, we had to put our bookcases in the basement.  It became much easier/more convenient to just check online than to trudge down to the basement and look up the word.  

 

2.  Should public schools ban Halloween celebrations?  What about other holiday celebrations currently under fire? 

I think it’s just a shame that so many holidays and celebrations are banned (or  renamed) because they might be offensive to some.  It’s impossible to sanitize life enough that no one will be offended. 

 

3.  What's your favorite 'dog' movie? 

The first dog movie that came to my mind was Old Yeller.  Several other dog movies then came to my mind, and I realized that they all had sad endings … why is it that movies featuring dogs almost always have the dog die at the end?

4.  When were you last somewhere you'd describe as 'too quiet'?

Some might consider my morning, as I’m sitting here typing this, too quiet.  I’m here all alone (DH has breakfast with friends on Wednesday mornings), and it’s perfectly quiet.  But I am quite comfortable with quiet, so I wouldn’t describe it as too quiet.

5.  Are you a neat cook or a messy cook?  In other words do you clean as you go or make a big mess and then deal with it later?

I cannot stand a messy kitchen … so I clean as I go.   

6.  Did you hear about Felix Baumgartner, the skydiver who broke the sound barrier via parachute?  Was your first thought  COOL! or was your first thought CRAZY!  Are you adventurous?

Cah-razy!  My first and all subsequent thoughts were that was just plain crazy.  I’m not very adventurous, and I’m not ashamed of that fact. 

7.  What's not a word but should be?

I’m drawing a blank here. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Nothing on my agenda today (possibly the only day this week where I’ll have a free day), so I’m hoping to finish up my wall quilt today.  Then I’ll ask DH to help me move my sewing table out to the living room (it’s times like these that I’m glad my sewing table is a standard 5’ metal folding table) so I can start piecing my next quilt (with my new sewing machine!!) and still watch the ball game. 

 

Speaking of ball game, my Cardinals didn’t fare too well Monday night, but there are still 5 games left in this series … and they only have to win 3 more.  Game 3 of the series is later this afternoon.  Unfortunately there’s a front that’s supposed to move through this afternoon … while we could certainly stand some rain, I’m hoping that the front gets stalled and doesn’t come through until around 9:00PM. 

 

The Weekend Wrap-up

 

 

I know I say it every Monday, but wow – another weekend has come and gone.  How time flies!

 

My weekend got off to an absolutely fantastic start!  My Cardinals pulled off a thrilling come-from-behind victory to advance to the next round of the playoffs.  I didn’t get much sleep that night – the game ended well past my usual bedtime and when it was over, I was too excited to go to sleep right away.  But it was worth it to not give up and to see such an exciting game.

 

 

Saturday was a pretty quiet day … we had nothing planned, and it was a good thing because as I mentioned, we didn’t get a whole lot of sleep Friday night.  I did some more quilting on my wall quilt and got totally caught up on NCIS (Season 9 on DVD and the first 3 episodes of Season 10). 

 

 

Sunday was a busier day.  On our way to church, I noticed that the fall colors are just about at their peak … amazing how quickly the leaves turned.  I drove the same route to DD’s last Wednesday, and the only tree with enough color to include in my Fall Photo Link Party was one in DD’s yard.  Yesterday I saw tree after tree decked in vivid reds, oranges and yellows. I wish I would have had time to capture a picture or two to share. 

 

After church and after my weekly “conference call” with my dad and my sisters.  I was able to do a little quilting before it was time to head to the grocery store to pick up some goodies for appetizer night at DD’s … where we watched the Cardinals hold on to win Game 1 of the NLCS vs the Giants.  This series brings back precious memories for DH and me … our relationship turned quite serious during the 1987 NLCS series vs the Giants. 

 

DD and I killed two birds with one stone during the game … we did some research for a house to rent for our upcoming trip to Disney World next May. 

 

 

Today is going to be another quiet day here at Chez Nana.  We have small group tonight and should be back home in time for most of the ball game.  It’ll likely be another late night, but if the Cardinals win, it will be all good!

Weekend Daybook

 

FOR TODAY Saturday October 13

Outside my window...
It’s very cloudy and even sprinkled a little earlier this morning.  We’ve got rain in the forecast for tomorrow, and I am looking forward to it.

 

I am thinking...
About my mom.  Today would have been her 88th birthday.  The Cardinals advancing in the postseason has become rather bittersweet for me.  I remember 6 years ago, all 3 of us girls spent a long weekend with my mom and dad, watching the Cardinals advance to the World Series.  It was her last fall, the last time we were all together.  Those memories will always come to mind whenever the Cardinals make the postseason.

 

I am thankful...
For rain, for memories, for DD and family returning home safely, for my DH .

 

In the kitchen...
I’ve got some tidying up to do.

 

I am wearing...
Sweatshirt, sweatpants, and a zip-up sweatshirt.  Yes, I’m always cold.

 

I am creating...
A half-square triangle wall quilt – yes, I’m still working on it.  I’m almost halfway done with the final border … maybe I’ll get that finished up this weekend.

 

I am going...
To have to run up to the Verizon store … I cannot get my voicemail set up on my new iPhone … I keep getting a message that voicemail is unavailable, try again later.

 

I am wondering...
If I dreamt the dramatic come-from-behind victory that my Cardinals pulled off last night.

 

I am hoping...
That the rain in the forecast materializes.  We planted grass seed 2-3 weeks ago, and the little baby grass seedlings could stand some rain.

 

I am looking forward to...
Watching more Cardinals baseball this fall.

 

Around the house...
Things are back to normal again now that Holly has gone back home.  We enjoyed having her here, but having a puppy has reminded me that if we get another dog, it will definitely not be a puppy!  Hopefully she’ll be a little further along in her housebreaking by the time she spends another week with us at the end of this month. 

 

Plans for the weekend...
Quilting, making some soup (anyone got any recipes they’d like to share?), watching the Cardinals face the Giants. 

Friday Fragments

 

 

It’s Friday … another week is coming to a close, way too quickly.  But that means that the weekend is just about here, so I can’t complain. 

 

Yesterday I finally got to work on a project that I’ve put off far too long.  My dad found an old children’s lawn chair that a neighbor was throwing away.  While the chair was scratched and faded, it was otherwise in excellent condition … nothing that a little paint couldn’t fix.  And it was just the right size for T#4. 

Here it is before … it’s so faded that it almost looked pink. 

 

Here it is after I painted the upper surfaces … I still need to paint the under sides, which I’ll do this afternoon. 

 

 

We’ve had a praying mantis living at our house for the last week or so.  Yes, he’s upside down on the window screen.

 

 

It’s been wonderful having our grandpuppy here this last week.  I always thought that I was a big dog kind of gal, but I’ve discovered that there are advantages to a smaller dog … nice to be able to have a dog curl up in my lap and to just pick her up if she doesn’t want to do whatever it is that I’m asking her to do.  Having Holly here has also reinforced my decision to not get a puppy if we get another dog. 

 

 

DH made a nice pot of chili for dinner last night … looking forward to leftovers today.

 

 

Speaking of looking forward, I’m looking forward to tonight’s game … it’s down to the 5th and deciding game of the series … the team that wins goes on to the NLCS, the team that loses is done for the season.  I’m hoping that my Cardinals will be the team that will be playing on. 

 

 

I’m really looking forward to the weekend … it should be a quiet, relaxing one.