Wednesday Hodgepodge

Wednesday, December 7, 2011


Wednesday Hodgepodge


1. Will you be hosting any house guests between now and the end of December? Does that thought make you happy or crazy? Do you do anything special to make your house guests feel welcome? How long should a guest stay?

No house guests per se, however I am the loverly hostess of a holiday BUNCO party.  Which commences on Friday, this.  I am thinking it will be loads of fun.  Lots of fun women attending.  Thanks to niece Kris for directions!
Walter Elias Disney was born this week back in (Dec 5) 1905...what's your all time favorite Disney movie?

So many to choose.  But, I do love The Little Mermaid.  Love the music and humor, and well I've always loved the ocean.

3. What's the last thing you purchased that you realized was a mistake after the fact?

hmmmm.  That's a hard one.  Maybe the Mustang, maybe not.  Kind of not very practical, but it was a good deal.

4. What percentage of your Christmas shopping is done online?
Not, much, maybe 10%.  Only shopped 2 places online.
5. Amaryllis...snowdrop...poinsettia...your favorite winter blossom?

White & red poinsettia.


6. What is one thing on your personal wish list this year? I think we all want peace on earth so let's make this an actual item.

New slippers.



7. If you could only use one word today what would it be?
Nap.  ha ha   I need a nap.  My days have been very busy.  Taking care of a cripple, an 8 month old, the household chores, and trying to do a little work.

A Doozy of the Last Day of November

First rain, then ice, then finally last night about 6 p.m. the snow started pouring down from the sky.  We ended up with about 6 inches total.  Good thing though, it stopped some time in the middle of the night so I guess they were able to plow the roads.  No snow days.  And the crew was able to go to work.  I of course remain cozy and tucked in.  Didn't even take the outgoing mail, out to the mailbox.  And lucky me, we got a package that wouldn't fit in the mailbox, so the nice mailman brought me the mail.  I should have given him the outgoing, duh.  I think I will stay IN for most of the WINTER!

Thanksgiving Ever After

What I've been doing since Thanksgiving ~
Shopping
Made the traditional day after "creamed turkey"
Wrapping gifts
Eating out
Shopping
Watching sappy Christmas movies
Being thankful for the beautiful weather (& enjoying)
took the 'stang' out
Putting the fall decorations away
Putting up the tree

Odds ~ N ~ Ends

We went to the SC dinner theatre last night.  They presented a musical called NunSense.  It was cute and funny.  It sure was weird being on the other end of things and just watching.  I would never have been able to wear that nun habit on stage.

Read my last post on 4Months2DoIt today.  I'll just be updating from time to time on this blog.

Today's high temp of 57 degrees was at 5:oo a.m. this morning.  Weird!

I'm so glad I'm not cooking the turkey this year.  Just mashed potatoes, fresh cranberry relish, rolls and pickles.

Trying to organize a BUNCO game.  Never played it, but I know people that do.

Cold Weather Has Set In

(I hope not for good.)  The wind is making it feel so icy.  I went out to work today.  Several layers.  Took my gloves off for a few and boy it didn't take long.  At least the sun was out!!  That makes it so much better.  We made a quick veg/beef soup yesterday for lunch out of a leftover piece of frozen beef from the freezer.  That was so nice & warming.  Found the Canada Dry "hOlIdAy SoDa" at WallyWorld in Grand Blanc.  Yumm, haven't had any of that for a few years.  Going to have a BUNCO party.  Just bought the set at Kohl's.  Don't know how to play but should be a fun time.  Maybe Kristen can give me some pointers in her "spare" time.  LOL

I've got to get busy on the car and condo rentals for FLA.  Christmas shopping, etc..

Poor lil Peyters is teething really bad.  He's a cranky butt.  His first tooth is popping through.  Drooling, sneezing, coughing, lil fever, not sleeping.  Yuck.

From 11-11-11

I am a few days late with this post.  Better late then never.  We headed up north by about 10 am.  First stop was the outlet mall at Birch Run.  Big mistake.  Forgot it was "deer widow" weekend.  We quickly left.  I thought maybe the outlets at West Branch would be better.  I was right.  Did some shopping.  One item for me, one Christmas gift.  One item for me, one Christmas gift....  It was a beautiful sunny day.  Arrived in Boyne around 4 and checked in to the hotel.  Water Street Inn.  It's new - right on the water.  Very nice!!  A good find.  I have mom's skills.  Walked around downtown in all the familiar shops.  Dinner at Red Mesa. (of course)  Then, back to the hotel to read by the gas fireplace.
Got up early, Breakfast at "One Water Street."  Then a very nice visit with my dad.  He was having a good day ~ sure was great to spend some time with him.  Headed to Petoskey for the afternoon.  Had a great time shopping there.  Lunch at a new place (for us) Mitchell Street Pub.  It was pretty good.  I had white chili.  Late afternoon hot beverages at Roast & Toast.  Then to the park for some pictures.  (my batteries died in the camera :(    Back to Boyne for some relaxing by the FP, then dinner at Boyne Mountain.  We chose that because we read that there would be an entertainer.  Read that in the local "Graphic."  Get it every time we're there.  The guy sang and played the guitar.  We really enjoyed that.   The food was tasty too.  A bonus.  A very enjoyable weekend.

The Day After Day Light Savings Blues

I think I invented a new disease.  It's called:  "The Day After Day Light Savings Time Blues."  I could swear I feel like this every year.  Blah.  That's a word that describes how I feel.  My sleep is all messed up.  I woke up (wide awake) at 3:00 a.m.  So I got up and did some work.  Went back to bed at 5 am. then slept restlessly until I got up again at 8 am.   Plus, the sun is gone, very cloudy and just kind of icky.  The leaves are almost gone.... So sad.  I'm thinking I'm just going to take a hot bath and a nap and see if I can shake these ole blues. 

A Get Er Done Kind of Day

I'm so glad the weather cooperated.  We had planned to put all the yard toys, decorations, planters and all "summer stuff" away.  It was a beautiful afternoon.  RJ was here so we took him outside to "help."  Syd the kid came over so that helped with RJ.  For the most part we got everything stored in the shed.  :(  I always hate putting it away.  I looked into the woods and was surprised to see that almost all the leaves have fallen.  I also hate that.  It was a nice warm sunny day however.  I decided to take some pictures of RJ, since he will be one next week. 

Speaking of RJ turning one, we hare having his first b'day party here.  There are 17 people coming.  So, we decided to have the party downstairs.  Sarah quickly painted some of the walls that needed painting.  We rearranged the carpeting and furniture, tacked the hanging wires up into ceiling boards.  AND I got to go shopping at Kohl's and pick out some new decor for the walls.  It looks pretty good.  All that really needs to be completed is to put in a ceiling and floor and door moldings.  Maybe some time this winter....

Getting Ready For Daylight Savings

The end of Daylight Saving Time -- this year scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 6 -- makes people groan and complain, as the sun begins to set earlier and late afternoons grow dark, but researchers say that the return to natural rhythms can be healthy.


Though individuals may see their biological clocks reset, and will get an "extra hour" of sleep or rest over the weekend, researchers say that the stress caused by time changes can be bad for the body.  Those vulnerable to sleep deprivation should be extra careful.     (ABC NEWS)

All I know is, I don't like jumping time back and forth.  It messes up my sleep patterns for days/weeks.  I do like that it is lighter in the morning.  I don't like that it gets darker earlier in the evening.  I guess it only benefits the early risers.

Not Wednesday Hodgepodge

I just couldn't get into the Wed. H.P. for this week.  Maybe because I am surrounded by skunk smell.  Bailey got into a skunk last night. PEE- Eww.  Sarah washed him twice.  He still stinks.  Our groomer said to use, peroxide, baking soda & Dawn dish detergent.  So he will get that treatment tonight.  Just me and Peyters hanging out today.  Not sure how we got to Wed. already.  Well, Monday was taken up mostly with my stress test, then Halloween stuff.  Yesterday I got a flat tire in the Mustang, so that kind of killed my afternoon.  Last night I went to genealogy meeting.  So here we are at Wednesday.  Here are some pics from Halloween.

Just Plain Hodgepodge

 Hodgepodge





*What gives you goosebumps?

Music sometimes.  Cold weather!


* Halloween-are you a lover or a hater? Okay, that sounds harsh…Halloween-yay or nay?

Not so big on it, really.  I have a few decorations around that will come down immediately.  I like to hand out candy.  Don't go to halloween parties, I think they're dumb.  Mostly, I have memories from when I was a kid.  Making the "homemade" costumes and running from door to door with friends ~ aka the Laukkas.

* Can you respect someone you do not trust, and can you trust someone you do not respect?
No I don't see how you could really.  They are pretty hooked together.  I definately can NOT respect someone I do not trust.
 *Apples or oranges? Yes, you have to choose.

Oh man thats a tuffy. (ha)  I guess I would pick apple over orange because they're easier to eat.  But, I do love a juicy orange.  Just had to put that in.

* What is something you wish was in your town? (shop, restaurant, attraction, etc)
Olga's Kitchen.



*What non-food item is in your refrigerator or freezer?

A bottle of vanilla spray cologne.


* Are you at all superstitious?

Nope.

A Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Sunday we decided to take the fam to the pumpkin patch.  We started with breakfast at OCB.  Then proceeded to Spicer's Apple Orchard in Fenton.  What a beautiful day.  Everyone else thought so too.  The guys had fun, they really seemed to enjoy it.  They played in the "corn" box.  Saw the animals.  Went on a train ride and then a tractor hay ride out to the pumpkin patch.  RJ would only go to the pumpkins that had green on them.  He would walk up to them and then sit up on top of them.  So cute.  We did not buy any cider, doughnuts, or apples because the lines were toooo long.  Ran into one of the teachers from LCA, she has two little ones now.  Good too see her.  I only have one pic. so far, but I will upload more when I get them.  ~ I forgot the camera.  :(

In Search OF

the perfect cup to keep coffee hot.  I have tried:

metal travel cup
plastic
plastic insulated
ceramic mug
glass mug

None of the above seem to really be able to keep the coffee hot longer than say, 15 minutes.  Then you have to warm it back up in the microwave.  I've been wanting to try the new double ceramic cups.  So, yesterday I splurged and bought one at Kohl's.  If that doesn't work I will have to try something else.  I know there are several different kinds of the double ceramic.  Perhaps the $20 cup from L.L. Beans.

A Very Mini-mini 1/2 Day Vaca

I was supposed to go out to some jobs on Friday, but we decided to scratch that and take a mini vaca.  First stop was the Parshalville Cider Mill in Parshallville, near Fenton.  It is a historic site in MI.  I got hot cider and a doughnut.  Next stop was the Spicer Orchard.  A sign posted said that they used to have orchards at Haggerty Rd. in Northville.  I'm thinking maybe this is where we went to get apples and cider as kids.?  Anyway, they had wine tasting, so I tasted a few real sweet fruit wines.  Didn't buy any. :(  But I did buy some kettle korn.  Yumm!  Then we went on to Brighton and ate at a nice little Bistro.  Almost got killed going around in circles's on those darn round-a-bouts!  Then I remembered a quaint little shop in Dixboro, so we decided to venture out and see if it was still there.  Indeed, we were rewarded for the venture.  It it still there, a little general store that was all decked out in Halloween decorations.  We decided we would like to go back for their Christmas decorations!!  Back to Brighton to the Barnes & Noble for some hot beverages and a couple hours of reading and relaxing.  Finished up the day with dinner at Olga's Kitchen.  Yum-O!

Ancestry Dot Com

I had some "free time" ? last night so I decided to get back into my genealogy research.  I realized I had some cool records that I had found on my "genealogy trip" that I went on last spring to the Ft. Wayne Library.  I had found  some kind of registration cards, census records, US depart. of Labor Manifest, all for my paternal grandfather, Robert J. Russell. So last night I dug around and found his Naturalization record, then I found out the ship he sailed from Ireland and have an actual copy of the Passenger List.  I found out that he sailed on the ship Columbia from Londonderry Ireland which left on 25, September, 1920.  The ship arrived on 5 October, 1920 in New York, New York.  So I thought wow, that must have  been Ellis Island.  So I looked up the record for Ellis Island and found out that is where the ship landed.  Pretty exciting stuff.

Fall, Fall, Falling

I love Fall, but it seems to quickly it's been here and gone.  I havn't even been able to have a minute to take some new pictures.  These are pictures from last year.  sigh.  Now the wind is kicking up and we are expecting rain.  Next look, the leaves will be all gone.  sigh.  We are going to send a box of leaves to our little friend in Fla. who doesn't get to see the leaves change colors.  I think she'll get a big kick out of that.    Brace yourselves one and all for the onslaught of colder weather.  Hmmm, please wb and give me a few of the nicer aspects of cooler weather.  PLEASE!

Books That I Would One Day Like to Write!

I have some great ideas for some books I would like to write.  Here they are in no particular order:

• The role of siblings, Sibling interaction, or sibling rilvary etc.. even among adults
• My experiences at Living Science
• Kids and the funny things they say
• I raised a baby wallaby( or maybe that would just be a chapter in the LS book above)
• Recipe book, probably for diabetics or just healthy eating, but tastes good

Way Back When-sday Hodgepodge

Way Back When-sday Hodgepodge

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

Probably spaghetti, white chicken chili (which everyone loves) or maybe soup.


2. Are you a creature of habit? Explain.

I would say mostly.  Other people would say definately.  It's more a matter of:  I like everything done my way.  I  like things to fit inside my own little box.


 3. What food product (no longer readily available) do you remember and miss from days gone by?
I can't really think of anything specific.  Like give me an example here.

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

I'd have to say my sanity.  I can't seem to find it anywhere.  I'm not really sure what happened to it.  Life happened to it.  LOL  I hate to lose things.  Oh yeah and my temper.  It's gone.  I lost it.

5. Zoo~circus~ carnival…your favorite?



The ZOO for sure.  Don't really care for the circus or carnivals.  Love the zoo.  Can't wait to take the boys!


6. What song makes you feel instantly happy?

Many many songs.  I love music!!   Too many to list.  sorry.


7. To what extent are you an argumentative person?

Ha, what word means "more than extremely?"  I was born to argue I think.

Some Things I Love About Fall

• Colorful landscapes and trees.
• Carmel Apples
• Cider and doughnuts from the Cider Mill
• Sunny - warm days
• Clear crisp nights
• Taking a Fall trip
• Great sleeping weather with the window cracked open
• Pumpkin spice latte
• Taking a walk on a beautiful clear day
• Warm spicy cider w/ a cinnamon stick
• The smell of burning leaves

• kicking through a pile of leaves

October

October's Bright Blue Weather


by Helen Hunt Jackson



O sun and skies and clouds of June

And flowers of June together,

Ye cannot rival for one hour

October's bright blue weather;



When loud the bumblebee makes haste,

Belated, thriftless vagrant,

And goldenrod is dying fast,

And lanes with grapes are fragrant;



When gentians roll their fringes tight,

To save them for the morning,

And chestnuts fall from satin burs

Without a sound of warning;



When on the ground red apples lie

In piles like jewels shining,

And redder still on old stone walls

Are leaves of woodbine twining;



When all the lovely wayside things

Their white-winged seeds are sowing,

And in the fields, still green and fair,

Late aftermaths are growing;



When springs run low, and on the brooks

In idle, golden freighting,

Bright leaves sink noiseless in the hush

Of woods, for winter waiting;



When comrades seek sweet country haunt

By twos and twos together,

And count like misers hour by hour

October's bright blue weather.



O sun and skies and flowers of June,

Count all your boasts together,

Love loveth best of all the year

October's bright blue weather.