Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Wednesday Hodgepodge





1. Time magazine has selected The Ebola Fighters as their person of the year for 2014. Do you agree, and if so who would you say is a close second? If you disagree with their choice, who do you think should have been chosen?
I prefer when Time chooses someone who’s affected the news in a positive way, and I’d have to say that the Ebola Fighters have done just that.
 
2. This question comes to you courtesy of Susan who blogs over at Stew Mama Says. She knows we have a wedding happening any minute now, and she asks, 'What's your favorite-something old? something new? something borrowed? something blue? in your home?  Be sure you hop over and say hi to Susan today! 
My favorite something old is this Christmas ornament from my childhood.
 
My favorite something new would be these brand new ornaments made by my grands.
 
And as far as something borrowed in my home … a library book is the only thing I can think of.
 
And my favorite something blue would be my blue and white log cabin quilt.
 
3. Fudge-yay or nay? Your favorite flavor? Do you make it yourself? With nuts or without?
Nay.  I find fudge just too, too sweet.  If I were going to make or eat some, it would be with nuts (and lots of them) … there are certain things that MUST have nuts IMHO, and fudge would be one of them. 
 
4. December 17th is Wright Brothers Day, commemorating the first successful flights made by Orville and Wilbur Wright in 1903 in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.  How old were you when you made your first flight? Do you like to fly? Have you ever been to Kitty Hawk, or other parts of the North Carolina Outer Banks? 
I would have been 18 when I took my first flight … my family flew to Corpus Christi and drove down to North Padre Island.  My youngest sister would have been 10, and her response to our pointing out the terns will live forever in our family:  “Those aren’t birds … those are sticks with rags on them.”
 
Neither DH nor I like to fly - AT ALL.   Our travel plans are always contingent upon whether we can drive to our destination.  Thankfully our favorite destination is within driving distance … it takes us a day and a half now, but that’s ok … we’re retired so we have the time.  We’re planning an Alaskan cruise for our 30th anniversary, and we may have to bite the bullet and fly to Seattle.  DH has already said that if the decision were his, he’d drive it (what can I say ... he likes to drive).  But IMHO, 34+ hours (one way) in the car would be a bit much, and of course there’s that pesky problem of the cost to drive to/from Seattle – based on the current average operating cost per mile of 61 cents, it would cost us almost $2,700 to drive to Seattle and back.  While our actual operating cost might be lower (our car gets 46-48 mpg on the highway), our cost of driving would still be significantly higher than the cost of flying.   Winking smile 
 
We visited Kitty Hawk and the rest of the Outer Banks in 2012.   Something from our trip that has always stuck with me is learning that the first flights actually took place in Kill Devil Hills, not Kitty Hawk like I learned in school.  At the time, Kitty Hawk was the nearest Post Office, so reports of the flights originated from the Kitty Hawk Post Office, and many mistakenly credited Kitty Hawk as the site of the flights.

 
5. Do the people in your family tend to follow a particular career path, and if so what's the path?
No, we’ve all chosen different career paths, although my youngest sister and I both majored in accounting … I chose to be an accountant while she chose to be an accounting professor.   And I’ve always reminded her that “Those who can, do; those who can't, teach.”  Winking smile 

6. What is one thing you absolutely, positively must accomplish today?
Thankfully nothing.   

7. This Christmas I hope___________________________________.
we get a white Christmas.   

8. Insert your own random thought here.
As of last night, I had quilted 12 of the 63 blocks in DH’s log cabin quilt (yay! the colors photographed more accurately than the last time I shared a picture). IMG_1045It’s slow going … but it’s been just so crazy busy lately that I’m glad to have gotten this much done.  Winking smile

I also finished up our Christmas cards Monday evening … and got them to the Post Office yesterday morning.  Every year I say that I’m just going to stop sending Christmas cards … and every year I buy another box or two.  But I think that this really may be our last year.  Between the cost of the cards and postage (of course, the cards I like are always the ones that require additional postage!), I think it’s time to be done with sending Christmas cards. 

And I wrapped all our gifts yesterday … well, all but one.  I have one gift to wrap yet … DD included a gift to be from my dad in an order she placed so that gift is at her house.  I’ll be watching the Ts this morning while DD has an annual eye exam, so I’ll pick up the gift and get it wrapped this evening.  I’m going to try to tuck the stocking stuffers in the Ts’ stockings this morning while I’m there.

We have snow in the forecast for this weekend, starting tomorrow.  Thursday is our anniversary, and we plan to go over to Historic St. Charles.  We were there a few years back when it snowed … it looked like we were in the middle of a Currier and Ives scene.  I’m hoping for a repeat this year! 

I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy! Have a great day!
Kathy

23 comments:

  1. well I'm just going to jump in and answer one question - I had my first flight at 20 and didn't do another one until I was in my 40's since then I have flown now and then but not often - I really don't care for it. Seeing as you and hubby do not like like flying I would say drive to Seattle - there are a lot of interesting things to see along the way. You are retired so you can take your time and stop and see things along the way - especially once you get to the mountain states there is such pretty scenery -- just take your time and only drive about 8 hours a day and plan an your stops where there is something to see.

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  2. Wow - My first flight was at 17 over to Europe! You have done a great job getting things done including quilting! I still have to mail out my Christmas cards... home with two sick ones today. Will have to steam clean the couch at some point too - he missed the bucket this morning. Hope you have a fun day with the T's.

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  3. It sounds like your life is super busy at this time of the year. I love both of your log cabin layouts. I agree that Christmas cards are a love/hate relationship. I love to receive them and dread writing them.

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  4. I know what you mean about Christmas cards. Every year, I say, "This will be the last ones." Then, the next year comes and I do it all over again!
    You're quilt is lovely. I don't know how you manage to have time for quilting, this time of the year. You must be more organized than I am :)
    I hope you and your family get that 'white Christmas' and that it's a merry one!
    (Kathy) of Reflections by Kathy

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  5. Snow!! I wish it would cool down enough to feel like Christmas.
    It gets cool, warms up, then cool again. So hopefully.
    But, apparently no white Christmas this year.

    Interesting about Kitty Hawk.
    While we lived in N.C. our oldest son went to the Outer Banks with a school group.
    I think they were gone for a week and got to see lots!

    Merry Christmas!!

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  6. I don't like fudge either, Kathy. Too sweet to me, as well. I rarely meet anyone who feels the same. Yes, nuts do balance the sweetness just a bit, but I'd rather just eat the nuts. : )

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  7. Your blue quilt is beautiful! As is the one for your DH. Those colors are my favorite! That would be quite the trip by car to Seattle, but I do enjoy seeing the country and stopping at interesting spots when we have the time. Merry Christmas to you!

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  8. I think a lot of us have had that thought on Christmas cards. I know that we don't get nearly the amount of cards we did years ago. But for some reason I just keep going. We HATE flying too (or I do!) but I think I might just as you said, "bite the bullet" on this one. It's still WAY cheaper to drive to Melody's (1000 miles away) then it is to drive though or I don't know what I'd do. Fudge is one of my favorites (though I almost never have it any more!) but I can't imagine it without nuts. The quilt is looking wonderful! Enjoy your day my friend!

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  9. That quilt is my favorite blue thing too. What a beauty!.I much admire the people who've been on the front lines of ebola. Not so much a fan of Time Magazine.
    I have a little old ornament I'm pretty fond of too. I'll see if I can work it into a blog. :D

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  10. I loved your answers and what a nice anniversary. I hope you get your snow.
    I like your ornament.
    I thought the same thing about Christmas cards too.
    I hope you have a lovely rest of the week.

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  11. Love seeing the progress on your DH's quilt...gorgeous!

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  12. I think we're on the same weather pattern & I'm hearing snow is a good chance for Christmas Eve :)

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  13. A little snow with Christmas looming near would be wonderful! Just not a blizzard! I'm with you, I think I'm done with Christmas cards, too. This is the first year I haven't sent them out...just too much going on around here to find the motivation.

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  14. I wish it can snow here but being in the bay area i know it doesn't. I am hoping for a sunny say on Christmas though. It's been raining all month! Have a Merry Christmas!

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  15. Happy Anniversary tomorrow! Hope you get your snow! I'll be making a list tonight and tomorrow. Then checking it twice. I really don't have a lot left to do - just a lot of things to finish up. I hope there is a little time to do some stitching.... ~Jeanne

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  16. A lot of engineers in our family! As for flying, can't stand to be confined in such a small area with people hacking and coughing. My husband hates it also as he used to do it every week for business. I am really jealous that you are heading to St Charles, my old stomping grounds. I used to love eating out at the outdoor cafe's and taste wine. The chestnuts roasting and the herd of deer are always a favorite for the kids! If you need some spices they have a great spice shop! Oh how I miss that place.

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  17. Many teachers in our family. So enjoyed reading this. Such a great post

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  18. I am so with you on driving to Seattle, just "too much sugar for a dime" as my Grandmother would say. I cannot imagine a 38 hr. drive. Ugh! No flight could possibly be as bad as that. :o))

    Love the blue quilt, just beautiful!

    I don't think I knew you were an accountant.

    Christmas blessings!!

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  19. I didn't send cards by mail this year. I sent e-cards from Jacquie Lawson instead. Have a healthy merry Christmas.

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  20. Sending Christmas cards is one of the few things I really like about Christmas! I am not good at buying gifts but love doing cards!

    I flew the first time at 17 to a town 3 1/2 hours away! I was terrified and still don't like flying. I flew to Alaska at 18....now that one was an adventure!

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  21. Every morning I say to my daughter, 'Let's wrap presents tonite', and then tonite arrives and we're too pooped. Tonite! Maybe : ) Merry Christmas to you and your family!

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  22. Happy Anniversary! Have fun in St. Charles!!

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  23. Kathy, I have six of those ornaments from Mark's grandmother. I love them, they are my favorites! I have two Santa's, two Snowman, an elf and a reindeer. I was so thrilled to see yours. Hope you get your white Christmas.....

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I am SO glad you stopped by! No proving that you're a robot here ... I want to hear what you have to say! ;-)