Wednesday's Hodgepodge

Visit Joyce and join the fun!

        1. When were you last facing an ocean? Using just ONE word, describe how you felt as you   faced that ocean.  

   

      A couple of years ago, even though the ocean is only about 20 minutes away.  I frequently go to other beaches which are on the LI Sound since they are even closer.  I felt FREE as I faced that ocean!    

 

   photo credit here

  2. What are three sounds you hate to hear?

     Nails scratching a blackboard, ambulance sirens, screeching brakes.  

   

     3. This question comes to you courtesy of some real life friends. Hi real life friends! When you shop for yourself, do you try everything on in the store before buying or do you buy, try on at home, and then return what you don't like or what doesn't fit? 

      I usually try things on in the store and then again at home where I can take my time and it is more relaxing.  I do a lot of online shopping where I can return items in the store.  Sometimes I order two sizes and return the one that doesn’t fit well.  

     4. February 26th is National Pistachio Day...are you a fan of the little green nut? Do you use them in cooking and baking or prefer to eat them right out of the shell?

     They are okay.  I prefer to eat them right out of the shell.  

     5. When did you last have to compromise with someone?  Were you happy to reach the  compromise or slightly irritated it was necessary? 

     I’d have to say a few weeks ago.  It wasn’t a huge compromise and I was happy to hear someone else’s opinion.  

     6.  Have you ever written a letter to an elected official? Did you get a response?

     Yes.  I received a general letter thanking me for taking the time to write and restating the official’s position on the particular issue. 

     7. We 'March' into a new month at the end of this week...what's something on your March calendar guaranteed to make you smile? 

      St. Patrick’s Day and that means Irish Soda Bread.  

     8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I know it is still February, but our town's St. Patrick's Day Parade is this weekend.  I am working on making my Irish Soda Bread recipe egg free.  I made an allergy friendly recipe last night but the texture wasn't quite right.  I'll have to keep working on it ;)

~Theresa

Wednesday's Hodgepodge

                                                         Visit Joyce and join the fun!

1. When were you last 'on a mountaintop'?  You may answer in the literal or figurative sense.

I was on a mountaintop in New Hampshire about six years ago.  We were on vacation in The White Mountains.  My husband and I spent some time there on our honeymoon and couldn’t wait to go back when we had children.  I would love to go back again.  The weather there is my favorite and the air is so crisp and clean smelling. 

2.  Do you establish and maintain a strict budget in your household?  What is one piece of financial advice you would offer someone just starting out on their own?

We do stick to a budget in our home.  I try to plan our menu around what is on sale each week.   I guess that would be my financial advice. 

3.  Cherries-yay or nay?  Cherry pie, cherry cola, black forest cake, or a scoop ofBen and Jerry's Cherries Garcia...pick one.

Yay for cherries.  My favorite way is to eat them fresh and spit out the pits, but if I had to pick one from the list it would be black forest cake.   

4.  Should you ever discuss religion or politics with people you don't know? 

Yes.  You can agree to disagree but I don’t see anything wrong with sharing your beliefs. 

5.  When you take a road trip do you prefer to be the driver or the passenger?  Where were you headed on your last road trip? 

I prefer to be the driver, for at least part of the way.  It is nice to have someone to switch off with.  My husband and I took the kids out east in the fall.  It was only 1 ½- 2 hours away but felt much further. 

6. If we peeked inside your closet, what color would we say is most prevalent?

Black;  actually gray, black , white and coral.  My daughter just looked. 

7. Who's your favorite senior citizen and why are they special?

I can only pick one?  I would have to say my Mom although I don’t usually think of her as a senior citizen.  She is one of my best friends and we speak every day.   So is my Aunt Carol.  And of course my Dad is one of my favorites too. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Wow, this week’s questions were difficult since a couple of them made me pick one.  I didn’t do so well with that ;)

~Theresa

Wednesday's Hodgepodge

Visit Joyce to join the fun!  

1.  This week marks the beginning of Lent...will you be giving something up or adding anything to your life during this season of the year? 

No, I don’t plan on doing anything special for Lent. 

2. The day before Lent is Shrove Tuesday... tradition states you eat pancakes on this day. In some parts of the world Shrove Tuesday is actually known as 'pancake day'. How do you like your pancakes? Or don't you? 

I love pancakes.  I like mine with just a little pure maple syrup.  My new favorite recipe comes from “The Food Allergy Mama’s Baking Book” by Kelly Rudnicki.  I use vanilla rice milk to make them. 

3.  I'm sure there are many, but what's one love song you really love? 

Well, of course I would have to pick one of my wedding songs (we have two).  It is “Everytime I Close My Eyes” by Babyface, featuring Mariah Carey and Kenny G. on the saxophone. 

4.  What are some things you do to let others know you love them? 

I love to cook and bake to show my love for others.  I also like to pick up the phone and just say hello. 

5.  Roses...red, pink, or do you prefer another color? Can you recall the last time someone gave you flowers? Given your choice would you like to open the door and see a dozen red roses, a dozen purple tulips, or a dozen pink peonies?

I prefer soft pink roses.  I don’t often get flowers because I usually would prefer the money spent on something else that doesn’t die in a few days.  That said, flowers do make me happy.  I would choose the purple tulips. 

6.  President's Day will be celebrated in America next Monday. Does US Presidential history and trivia interest you?  Many Presidential homes are open to the public and offer guided tours...Monticello (Jefferson's home), Mount Vernon (Washington's home), Montpelier (James Madison's home), Hyde Park(FD Roosevelt's home) and The White House (home to the sitting President) to name just a few. Of those listed which would you be most interested in touring?  Why?

I would choose Washington’s home at Mount Vernon.  Virginia is beautiful and not too long of a drive away.  Plus I love homes that are white.  

7.  Are you good at keeping secrets? 

Yes, I think so.  I usually can keep my mouth shut to keep a surprise.  I don’t like keeping other secrets though. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Well, I got the snow I hoped for.  We had about 30 inches here and it was beautiful.

~Theresa

Wednesday's Hodgepodge

Visit Joyce and join the fun!

1.     Chinese New Year will be celebrated on February 10th, and 2013 is the year of the snake. When did you last see a snake?  Are you okay around snakes or do they give you the shivers? 

 They give me the beyond shivers!  Yuck!  When I was teaching in public school I took my class to an assembly.  It was a reptile man!  I had to leave and have another teacher watch my class and I didn’t care if the principal knew! 

2.     The color red in Chinese culture usually means good luck.  Do you believe in luck? 

No.  I don’t believe in luck.  I believe there is no such thing as chance circumstances.  Every little detail is only a small piece of the big picture. 

3.     sledding-ice skating-building a snowman...if given a choice, which activity would you choose?  Which of the three have you done most recently?  

I’d choose sledding.  I went a couple of weeks ago.  There wasn’t much snow so we went to a local state park and found a couple of hills covered with a little snow and leaves.  I am hoping for a big snowfall this weekend to go again when the ground is totally covered in snow. 

4.     Ralph Waldo Emerson is credited as saying, "The years teach much which the days never knew."  Where have you seen this quote played out in your own life?  

I guess to me it means the big picture.  It is a long story and one I probably couldn’t describe fully in words but let’s just say my family and my husband’s family crossed paths many years before we met.  We only found out years later. 

5. When was the last time you ate a cupcake?  

I last ate a cupcake in September at my daughter’s birthday party.  I ordered cake but since I can’t have eggs I made some egg free chocolate cupcakes and froze them.  Then I just took one out when I wanted to enjoy dessert with everyone. 

6.    What's something you can't say no to?  

I have a hard time saying no when there is a need.  As long as it is supposed that is possible for me to do I usually can’t say no. 

7.  Are you a doodler?  

Yes.  I learn best by taking notes and doodling.  I still doodle when I am on the phone or at church.  I like to fill in all the bubble letters and then make random circles and shapes. 

     8.  Insert your own random thought here.  

I just realized I didn’t get to do my hodgepodge questions and it is well into the afternoon.  I need to get ready for the chiropractor so that is about as random as it is going to get today. 

~Theresa