What about....(Wednesday Hodgepodge)

Hello! You may have noticed that for the last few weeks I have only managed a Wednesday hodgepodge post and the main reason is....drum roll please...I don't have anything to say! Actually that's not entirely true, but I have been saving you the time reading through rants and dross. 

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 am not sure what the category for nomination as person of the year is, and seeing as the Ebola fighters implies more than one in its title then maybe (if you are as pedantic as I am!) it shouldn't be them. I don't know who as a substitute and it would require research for me to properly answer, hours spent weighing up the why's and why not's, only for me to decide they are all deserving! Its now becoming clear to me why I am not on that panel...hehehe.

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! 

Something old...well, most things not lost in the fire of 2013...or the burglary of 2013...hehehe...I would say...hmmmm...I do have a candle stick that I bought about 20 years ago (that doesnt seem possible!) that I am partial to.

Something new...my rug...its multicoloured and everytime I see it I smile. That's an odd choice I know but no less true.

Something borrowed...I don't have anything borrowed, I have to return things, I hate owing people!

Something blue...I don't have a lot of blue as I tend to go for greens, or orange or creams and whites...can I choose blue pens? I hate to write in black pen.

3. Fudge-yay or nay? Your favorite flavor? Do you make it yourself? With nuts or without?  

I am not a fan of fudge unless its the childrens sweet fudge. However, I do like the blog 'People don't eat enough fudge', does that count?

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 was 12 when I first went an a plane, it was with a friend and her family and it was a short flight to Spain. I do like to fly and have been on a fair few since that first one. The most memorable was when we were due to fly home from the Dominican Republic, there had been a storm the previous night and a tree had fallen and blocked the road that lead to the airport. We had to drive to a small airfield several hours away and then fly to the main airport to catch our flight.

There were about 12 people on the plane and it was very much like a small bus in size, on the flight back it started to rain and then there was thunder and lightning that we flew through, it was amazing and a bit nerve wracking.

5. Do the people in your family tend to follow a particular career path, and if so what's the path?

No, we don't really. I wish we did, it would have made my life easier if I had less choice!

6. What is one thing you absolutely, positively must accomplish today?

I need to sort out the last Christmas gift I have to get, and it has to be today as we are running out of time!

7. This Christmas I hope___________________________________.

I have an epiphany.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I have been listening to the very popular podcast, 'Serial' about a teenager who was charged with murdering his ex-girlfriend 15 years ago. It is totally fascinating and the reason why people are hooked. There is one episode remaining and I am none the wiser. The only thing I keep thinking is that I couldn't say without a doubt that he is guilty of the crime, there is doubt all over the place. It is so messy a case. I am also wondering how we ever solved crimes without phones, CCTV and computers! ha! 

Wednesday Hodgepodge!

Welcome to this weeks Hodgepodge :)

Before I give you my answers you may be pleased to know that my stitching mojo is still here. I actually stopped stitching the last thing and thought I would take out something small. Its still a HAED but much smaller. Its Christmas themed too although I am struggling to see how it will look like the picture! But anyhoo, it is keeping me busy and Musey is keeping me company and stitches are being made. I shall post an pic on Friday and you can see if you can guess what it is. 

I guess I should get on with what you might have come here for! 

  What is one new holiday tradition you'd like to establish, or one you've established recently, say in the last year or two?

We have holiday traditions that the family has always done but no new ones of late and none established by me. I am struggling to now think of something that could be extra, nope I have nothing! I look forward to reading the other hodgepodgers answers, they may inspire me!

It's the second week of December. Have you sipped a cup of eggnog yet this month? Wrapped a gift? Opened a gift? Kissed someone under the mistletoe? Lit a candle? Eaten a Christmas cookie? Seen Santa in person? Watched a Christmas movie or special? Read scripture relating to the birth of Jesus?

No eggnog – I’m not a fan, no gifts wrapped but some have been bought – I really need to get a move on, Opened a gift? Its not Christamas! Lol, I don’t think I have ever kissed anyone under the mistletoe – that’s going on my bucket list!, No candles lit, No Christmas cookies eaten – although I should probably give the family baker a nudge on this one, I’ve not seen a single santa this year!, I have seen a few Christmas movies – they are probably one of my favourite things about Christmas, and no scripture has been read. I’ve not done much it would seem!

Do you think it's better to be an adult or a child at Christmastime? 

Explain.

I think its great to be an adult! For us Christmas lasts a little longer as its not all about the one day, but I act like a kid at Christmas anyway so both are great!

It's often said, 'Good things come to those who wait'...agree or disagree? Why?

I'm not sure I agree, you can spend a lifetime waiting, it sometimes pays to be proactive.

What's the last sweet thing you baked? Did you keep it, take it to a party/event, or give it away?

I don’t bake that often, but the last time I did I made shortbread. It was delicious. I had about two pieces and the rest went to my nieces.

This question comes to us courtesy of Jhona who blogs over at The Red House at the End of the Lane. Everyone hop over and say hi to Jhona this week!  Here is her question... "I heard an actor talk about how he makes a conscious choice to talk to people in elevators.  He chooses to connect, make eye contact, and converse. Do you talk to people/strangers when you're in an elevator or any other place where you might have to wait together? Why or why not?"

Sometimes, depending on my mood.

Are you on the naughty or nice list this year? What put you there?

I guess I am on the nice list because I haven’t done anything naughty! I could have been a lot nicer though but I always think there is room for improvement.

Insert your own random thought here.

I had my own Christmas miracle this year! Not last august but the august before I had a house fire and all my Christmas items were destroyed along with many other things that were irreplaceable. I was very upset as my craft exchange pieces were among those items. Those are irreplaceable. Well, I recently sorted out some craft items and found a box where I keep bits and bobs. Imagine my surprise when I opened it and there lying on the bottom was a craft exchange piece! It was not Christmas themed but it was the very first exchange I ever did and it made me smile and I am still smiling about it now!

350 times...

Hello,

Welcome! This is my 350th post and I have decided to participate in the Wednesday Hodgepodge hosted by 'From This Side of the Pond' on this their 200th edition.

So the questions given and my answers....

1. What is something in your life right now that feels a little 'hodgepodge'?

This made me laugh, can I only pick one thing? Ha! Lets say...hmmm...eeny meeny miney mo...stitching! The project I just started was going so well until I realised I had misread the chart, and because the fabric is just enough, I am now torn with carrying on stitching and seeing what happens or stopping and losing my momentum...

2. What does 'peace on earth, goodwill to men' mean to you?

This is hard to put into words but basically to me it means treating others as you would be treated, to be kind, helpful and courteous and don't look for problems where there are none.

3. Which edible treat you are most looking forward to sampling this December?

Flumps! If I can find some - people keep trying to fob me off with imitations that just don't taste the same, and I was told that they no longer sell them where they used to :(

4. It's that most wonderful time of the year...do you agree, and if so why is it so wonderful?  If not, what would you say is the most wonderful time of the year?

I love christmas, I like the warmth (even if it is provided by thick jumpers and indoor heating), I like the twinkling lights, the decorations, the anticipation, the everything and any reason to celebrate life (as its so short) is good enough for me. I know some people hate the commercialism but I always think that they shouldnt complain so much as no-one is forcing them to participate. I for one think its the gesture and not the gift itself, so if you can't afford one, a homemade gift is just as good or even kind words. But I wear rose tinted glasses a lot of the time!

5. What was the last word you looked up in a dictionary (actual or online) and why?

Whom -I was making sure that I used it correctly.

6. Besides a Christmas tree, what is your favorite thing to decorate this time of year?

The fireplace I suppose, we really only decorate the tree and the fireplace.

7. Share one thing you've learned (about yourself, people, or anything at all) in the Wednesday Hodgepodge, or through blogging in general.

There are a lot of very nice people out there and very talented, people don't comment on music posts and I lack focus!

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I really should brush my hair.

The return of the Tuesday rant!

Every day, I spend my lunch hour reading the newspaper, sometimes articles will annoy me and I return to my desk and email my friend and whinge.

Today, I spent my lunch hour reading the newspaper, and no article annoyed me. Today the whole newspaper annoyed me. Every news item was depressing, full of murders, abuse, suffering and oppression and it left me wanting to scream. I would like newspapers that had articles that although depressing had a final paragraph or two dedicated to what is being done about said news item.

I just want to know whether laws are being changed, programmes are available; support is there for abuse victims, etc. I just need to know that something is being done to prevent whatever it is from happening and what is being done to alleviate the situation. I don’t just want a statement. It physically stresses me out to think of these things happening; I need to know that these victims haven’t suffered in vain.

Anyway, on a happier note….I have started stitching a new project ALL for me J It is a Linda Ravenscroft HAED. I am currently only on page 1 and the stitches are all pale yellow background, so not too exciting, and the next colour I have is a not-so-pale yellow. So I won’t show you a photo just yet…but just know that it is happening, and that once I get a page done I will post photo’s, and this is all I will stitch until its done, so get used to it as its going to take me quite a while! It should end up looking like this: