Wednesday, January 27, 2016

A Hodgepodge Kind of Post


1. Share a winter memory from your childhood.

The backyard of the house in which I grew up, where my dad still lives, backs up to a church parking lot. We got a lot of snow in Canton, OH, and the plowing of the parking lot meant a playground of gigantic snow piles. My siblings, our neighbors, and I dug tunnels and "rooms" throughout them, creating a warm fort inside the snow. We climbed the mountains, hopped across the tops, and slid down the sides into heaps at the bottom. So many hours of my childhood winters were spent on the mountain range surrounding the parking lot.

2. What was on your blog this time last year? 

On this day one year ago, I also did a link-up post. I participated in the Tuesday Ten and wrote about ten things I would rather not live without.

3. Ellen Goodman is quoted as saying, "We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives...not looking for flaws, but for potential."

Do you see more flaws or potential in your life at the start of a new year? Have you done anything specific this month to address either one? Does the new year truly begin for you on January 1, or is there some other month of the year that feels like a fresh start and new beginning?

I don't use a specific date to say, I need to change some things! Whenever I see something I need to work on, I work on it. 

But the image of drawing up a to-do list as I walk through the rooms is actually what I do. The list is in my brain, but it's there. This old house still needs a whole lot of work to be done, and winter is a great time to start tackling the list. Only 3 kids are in sports this time of year, and no one wants to be out in the cold, so stripping wallpaper, painting, and other indoor projects happen. 

4. Who's an athlete you admire or respect and why?

While I don't know any famous athletes personally, so I can't really know their character, it seems that Peyton Manning, the Bronco's quarterback (who used to be the Colt's quarterback), is one stand-up guy. He has had some major health issues (which is why the Colt's cut him, much to our chagrin), but he fought back and has led a team to the Super Bowl yet again. He seems to be a wonderful family man, and he does a lot for sick children and their families.

5. Do you like cream in your coffee? Whipped cream on your pumpkin pie? Cream cheese on your bagel? Sour cream on a baked potato? Cream of wheat for breakfast? Have you ever had a scone with clotted cream? Of all the creamy foods mentioned, which one sounds most appealing to you right this minute?

Hands down, I would choose the scones with clotted cream. I have had that deliciousness exactly one time in my life, and I have craved it ever since. Lizzi made some for me when I stopped in to visit her while I was in England

6. Where were you last kept waiting for 'hours on end'? Or for what felt like hours on end? How well did you cope?

I was at home, waiting for our Christmas tree to be delivered. It was supposed to be within 3 hours of when we bought it, but didn't end up getting here until almost 24 hours after we bought it. I wouldn't have minded terribly if they would have called and told me of the delay, but they didn't. I called them. Two different times. With each call, I got a new time of delivery, and none of them were right. Plans were canceled and errands postponed more than once, and by the end I was just plain ticked. I didn't yell at them, but I won't be buying trees there ever again.

7. Believe it or not, when next week's Hodgepodge rolls around it will be February. Huh?? Bid adieu here to January in seven words or less.

My face hasn't frozen off. Thanks.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Our youngest is on a roll these days, keeping us on our exhausted toes. I shared on the Facebook page the following incident:

Bryan sent the little boys upstairs to start getting ready for bed. A few minutes later...
6 year old: "IT'S OVERFLOWING! HELP! HURRY!"
Bryan, running at full speed out of the kitchen: I'M COMING!
6 year old: HURRY! IT'S OVERFLOWING!!!!
Bryan, halfway up the stairs, realizing the 6 year old wasn't in the bathroom: In your bedroom??
6 year old, grinning: Yes. It's my laundry basket. It's overflowing.
Bryan silently turned on his heel and headed back downstairs

Yesterday, I got an email from a fellow kindergarten parent. It read, in part, 

"I volunteered in class today, and thoroughly enjoyed your son. First of all, he introduced himself as Steve - hilarious!"

Steve. That's not his name, yet it's what he's calling himself. I hear it is the default name on the character in Minecraft. He likes the name. He's writing it on his school papers and everything. I don't mind. It's way better than what he was calling himself last week.

Last week he was Boooooooooooom.

Have a lovely day!

31 comments:

  1. Wonderful to have you joining us for Hodgepodge...I'm your newest follower! What cute kids you have...sounds like raising boys is quite an adventure! I've lived in the south my entire life, so I can't imagine the amount of snow you've seen up north. I'm convinced that I'd never survive.

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    1. Thank you, April!
      Raising five boys most certainly is an adventure. An adventure that includes lots of broken things. :)
      I'm thinking you would survive, but why take that chance? Enjoy that awesome, temperate southern weather for me.

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  2. Now that is a Hodgepodge, but I certainly enjoyed reading. Like you, I grew up where there was tons of snow. In Pa, we would build forts and tunnels and play all day long. And I miss snowmobiles in WV. Also, I try to work on personal things that need attention ASAP. But I tend to be a procrastinator when it comes to my house. There is 80's wallpaper in the bathrooms upstairs and I figure the kids don't care so now it's vintage. LOL

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    1. That's one thing we never had...a snowmobile looks like loads of fun.
      Ha! All things 80s are coming back! :)
      We are professional procrastinators. The wallpaper we are currently stripping has had big chunks torn off for years, thanks to bored, annoyed little hands stuck in the corner for time outs.

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  3. OK, I needed that chuckle. The last two stories were priceless. Overflowing!

    And BOOOOOM! I want to call myself BOOOOM! today, but not sure it would go over well. So I'll just keep it to myself here and in my head.

    BOOOOOOOOM out.

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    1. Hahaha!! PJ, you crack me up. It's a cute name for a 6 year old to call himself...not so much a grown man at work. But I'd love to see a video of you giving it a try! :)

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  4. So nice to see you here in the Hodgepodge! We've lived north and south and are currently enjoying SC winter...snowy icy messy last weekend and hitting the 60's this coming weekend. I'll take it : ) We lived in England for six years and I have not let go of my love for afternoon tea and now and then, a scone with clotted cream. It's not easy to find here in the states. Thanks for playing along...looks like you lead an interesting life. I've added you to my bloglovin' feed. Enjoy your day!

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    1. Thank you, Joyce! We lived south for one winter of our entire lives. It was a marvelous winter. :)
      Why hasn't clotted cream come to the US? It is delicious!

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  5. I love your take on the new year. I have way more potential than flaws. I choose to look at the positive and not dwell on the flaws. I work on myself all year long too. No resolutions for this gal.

    I love the overflowing part. I can so relate to thinking one thing only to find out it's nothing at all.

    Have a fabulous day and tell Steve I said hello. ☺

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    1. Flaws are just hidden potential, I'm thinking. :)

      Happens all the time to all of us, doesn't it? If we stop to listen and observe, we all find things different than we thought.

      Ha! I will. :)

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  6. Your youngest sounds like a hoot! haha I loved those stories. Your childhood memories sound like a fun time!

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    1. That's one word for him. :)
      We did have a fun childhood, roaming free all day long.

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  7. love all your answers great series.

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    1. Thank you!
      It is a fun linkup. You should join in next week!

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  8. liked your winter menmory, and your random thought

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  9. And to think, it all started with "Cuckoo". :-)

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  10. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit here. I can only imagine what it was like digging tunnels and houses in the snow. Never did such a thing living here in California. How fun. Your son sounds like a riot. What a joy he must be to you!

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    1. Living in the snow belt was great fun as a kid. As an adult, I'd be thrilled with California weather. :)

      He is a joy, for sure. An exhausting joy, but a joy nonetheless. :)

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  11. I am from Michigan and can relate to your winter memory!
    I guess I will have to try the scone with clotted cream!
    Thanks for stopping by and welcome to The Hodgepodge!

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    1. I bet you can! There's no messing around with a Michigan winter!
      You do! A scone with clotted cream and a wee bit of jam is the best!
      Thank you!

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  12. Wow...this is quite the linkup. As much as I thoroughly enjoyed this...I'm not sure I could participate. My poor old brain had a hard time keeping up. :(

    From what I have seen...I agree about Peyton Manning. I got too confused about the cream one and "Steve" is tooooo cute. :D

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  13. Oh, clotted cream...my mouth is watering!!! Why hasn't that come to the US - we NEED it!!! I haven't had it since I was in England with friends 2 years ago. Your childhood winter memories match mine except for locale - Reno, Nevada had great winters with snow forts and snowball fights in my neighborhood. Now when we get good snow here on the farm in eastern Washington, out come the cross-country skis and snowmobiles. "Steve" is a pistol and will give you (and his teachers) a run for your money!! What joy children bring us!!!

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    1. Huh. I had no idea Reno, Nevada had snow like that! I don't remember anyone having snowmobiles or cross-country skiing when I was growing up. Could just be because I lived in the "city".
      He most certainly will! Keeping us young, I say. :)

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  14. I found a recipe for clotted cream...takes a while but is not difficult!!! http://www.cupcakeproject.com/2009/09/clotted-cream-recipe-making-clotted.html

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    1. I NEVER THOUGHT TO MAKE SOME MYSELF!!! Thank you!! That does look easy enough. Just have to wait for a day when I'm not going anywhere all day.

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  15. I also love clotted cream. Why hasn't it caught on here?! Here's a slow cooker version: https://www.theculinarylife.com/2011/make-clotted-cream/

    I love your humor and crazy life! (I'm sure you need your humor to survive your crazy life!)

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    1. Seriously. That is a good question. The US is missing out.
      A slow cooker version?! I'm going to have to give it a try!

      Thank you! And yes, a sense of humor is a prerequisite for living the way we do. :)

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Thank you for taking the time to tell me what you're thinking!