Wednesday Hodge Podge

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1. April is Lawn and Garden Month. On a scale of 1-10 what's the current state of your lawn and/or garden. (10=a showpiece, 1=send in the professionals). Tell us about any lawn or garden plans you have for this month.
Well,  we have just returned from a two week  visit with our  kids in New England..  where the weather  was  dreary,  cold and  wet...  mostly  of the frozen variety ,  so  my thoughts of gardening haven't  fully    materialized...yet...  We expected to come home to  foot high  grass  as our lawn hasn't been mown yet this season,  but  it actually  wasn't too bad even though our temps here   ranged mostly in the 70's.  The red buds are abloom  and the  tulips are  budding...  most of  the  jonquils bloomed  prior to our departure,  but  a few of the  more  recently planted varieties are  freshly blooming...  it was lovely to come home and see Spring!!!

2. "Many things grow in the garden that were never sown there."~Thomas Fuller  What does this quote mean to you?
Well, I mainly think of the  abundant crab grass we get in early spring... thankfully it  fades out  after a few weeks...

3. What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think about God?
Awesome question....  Since  I am deep into the throes of  Redeemer  Bible Study of course,  Redeemer  comes to mind....   but I have to add  a  all knowing, all powerful,  ever present  Creator and lover of my soul.  And He is pure LOVE!

4. If we were chatting in person, how would I know if you were nervous? I'd probably be fidgeting with my hands or clearing my throat more than usual.

5. Do you like the color yellow? Would I find any in your home or wardrobe? Daffodils, tulips, roses, sunflowers, day lily, black eyed susan...which yellow bloom on this list is your favorite?
Not much yellow in our home  today..  except  occassional splashes of its   bright and cheerful hue....

and our guest room is   a pale yellow...  however,  I think I must have yellowed myself out early on in our first home...I had  a yellow kitchen,    bright yellow linen drapes in the living room, and  yellow was the  accent  color  there. I  used to have   many yellow  day lilies in our yard,  but alas the deer have feasted on them... Thankfully they  leave my daffodils along..and I do love forsythia.    I would  love  a yellow rose  bush  but  I am not  great with roses...I have a couple of roses...  a peace and  a  florabunda red  but  neither of them flourish!!!

6. Flip flops or bare feet?Bare feet around the house....  I  really  detest  flip flops.. Used to like them  but the thong between the toes is a huge turn off for me now.  I do wear  slippers  when away from home.

7. Tell us about any Easter plans, celebrations, or traditions you'll carry out this month.  Hubs and I usually  practice many hours for musical  Easter programs of the season.. but this year since we've missed many practices,  I don't think I will  participate.  We did  put in  ever  hour  previously to  our trip,  but  this year my allergies  are  horrid and  I just don't think I  will  be  any good..  with  this scratchy throat  and watery eyes.. Unfortunately,  due to other  health issues I no longer  can  take allergy shots and OTC  remedies are  useless..     But  on with the question....we celebrated  a bit of  Easter  with our family last week..  I  gave the  girls spring baskets  because I just love   seeing  little  girls delight over  bunnies and  spring time  pursuits...  One think I love to do  is  celebrate   Passover with a Seder meal,  just the two of us celebrating  all that God has done for us..

and then we will be enjoy  going to the church  offerings

 ...actually  Hubs will  sing in  all the  events...  I enjoy  also  the  Good Friday service...  it really  sets the tone for the  season  with its  emphasis on the passion of Christ... Then, of course, the exultant  celebration of resurrection Sunday is  a highlight of the year!!

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
Now that our trip is behind us it is plan, plan, plan for me...  I have  an all important Sunday School excursion to plan... 

 a trip to  a  local  theater to see  Agatha Christie's play, Mousetrap....  getting the date,  number  of participants and  the tickets  purchased , transportation , and dinner afterwards all planned...  and I have one more dinner party to make up  from  our postponed Christmas affairs...  I have purposely waited til spring  so
 1. everyone  might  be well this time... and 2  to enjoy the majesty of spring.

The Simple Woman Day Book

The Simple Woman's Day Book 

For Today..March 27,2017

Outside my window...

I have not written on my blog for two weeks....  we have been enjoying our visit with our children and Grands...in New England,....  so it is rather chill,  wet, and snowy here...  In many places there are still several inches of snow!

I am thinking...
How marvelous it is to be here and to be able to help as we can to watch the girls, age 1 and 3,  and give some aid to our daughter.  Like now,  she is able to take the older sweetum to a play date, while we stay home during morning nap time.

I am thankful...
for lady  bugs and special tea parties with homemade hats.

I am wearing...
since it is  so cool here  I'm still wearing my flannels and my navy sweater.

I am creating...

simply working on  this blog.... in between  many  fanciful interruptions of the blessed kind!!!

I am wondering..
if I will ever get to go to  my favorite  shop...Home Goods... I only get to  shop there when we  visit  here...I know there is something there with my name on it.

I am reading:: 

Redeemed,  a Bible Study by Angela Thomas Pharr.

Desire to fully live the life of the redeemed 

Welcome change as God slowly transforms you into His image 

Increase your passion for God’s Word 

Apply redemption to your life in practical ways 

Learn alongside other women and support each other through prayer and small group community 

Learn to lean upon Jesus for your real help and hope 

I am listening....

a bit of a fussy   toddler who  doesn't  want to  settle in for a rainy day's nap time!!!

I am learning...

Sit still and wait on the Spirit  to move in in some areas of  decision....   and perhaps  his best  solution for me is to just say "No"!

I am hoping...
to get to go see beauty and Beast with  our daughter... we so loved the cartoon version when she was   a youngster....   

In my garden... 
at home the grass is greening and  growing  and I'm sure Hubs will be  mowing as soon as we  get back!!!

In my kitchen...

we will be   having  grand child's fav... pigs in a blanket, salad and  a bit of  gelato for dessert.... well, we did eat very well over the weekend!!!

A favorite quote/scripture for today..

One of my favorite things...
enjoying looking at garden plans..
these raised gardens  are found at Houzz!

traditional outdoor pots and planters

I would love to have a raised  veggie garden....

contemporary outdoor pots and planters

Board Room
Here is my bulletin board on raised gardening:

for example.....

seedsnow.com

Build The Benefits of Raised Beds

Postscript
Hold no grudge,,, just

The Simple Woman Day Book

The Simple Woman's Day Book 

For Today..February 13, 2017

Outside my window...

There is  an expectancy for snow  this evening.. the  temps...  cold,  and skies  overcast...  blizzard conditions  north of us!!

I am thinking...
about  what  a Bible teacher used to  tell us "As it is in heaven,  so it is on earth...   this regards  the  spiritual battle going on in the heavenlies...  and  it is felt and  the  world responds in kind,  because  the enemies of God are  activated.  We see it in the  media,  the government, even the church,  and it filters  down into  families and relationships...  God tells us in the last days  it will be this way,   and one has to wonder,  arent we surely in the last days..

I am thankful...

for saving grace,  because as  written above,  I can get caught up in myriad  situations,  some out of my control and some I  should  stay far away  from, but don't..I and  my best friends are  leaders in a community  prayer  initiative, and  invariably  when we are in a  planning stage  for  events  the  air is fraught with tension,  as  I truly believe  the demonic  powers  are  trying to  thwart us...  weakness,  illness, pain,   irritability,    stress,  and all around  tenseness  can  pile on each of us and  we  need  intensive  prayer coverage  during these times..but God is faithful  and   we are much better when we  can just let go and let God have His way...  wearing  the armor of God is so important... especially the shield  that  will deflect the  missiles that  minions  hurl at us...

I am wearing...

my  plum velvet  sweat shirt and  navy  slacks..Hubs is dropping me off at my favorite  consignment shop this morning  to browse and  maybe  pick up  something...  I never know what it may be,,, just something  that   speaks to me. Of course, then  my daughter makes me  throw out  at least  2 items   to make up for each new one I bring into the house.  It is a good idea!  So I did find  a few treasures..

When I  met this  fair lady,   it  struck a cord with me...  I  love introducing my  grand daughters  to  fairy tales and  fairies...    I believe it is so important  to  help children  believe  in  the unseen world,  as   youngsters,   for  good    and  fun purposes  and then  I  think they  are more willing to believe the unseen world  of  God in His heaven  and  what His Son has done for us..  Anyway,  I got this  for  their  room that is designed specifically for them  even though they  visit so rarely. Next, I have  plans to  really lighten it up in the living room...  The tapestry over the fireplace must go... But  for future  use I must keep the brackets from which it hangs so I bought this gorgeous  garland to hang from those...  We'll see how it pans out.

I  have been watching  for a  green plate to  add to my  March  plate  ensemble...  and there tucked away behind  a stack of plates was  this   Burress Hall  Plate  commemorating   our daughter's college, Virginia Tech.  It   attracted me first of all because of the  lovely green... 

So those  two plates along with my  Irish   trivet    complete my March  wall  display!! 

Last of all,  I    found  this   lovely blue transfer ware serving bowl that  goes  along with my  collection of "blues "  I needed  a servng bowl  so I  am delighted!!

I am creating...

nothing creative here... unless you  consider the prayer points  I am working on!

I am wondering..

and hoping really  that this snow that is   coming  form across country  will   lay about for  days or  melt away   in a hurry.. especially  up north.  We have plans for a  road trip  soon and  was hoping for  that  lovely early spring  we've been experiencing!Also,  our daughter and  her family are flying into  Logan International  Airport on Wednesday evening....Please pray  for that one when you read this!  They  are  experiencing blizzards there tomorrow.

I am reading:: 

Redeemed,  a Bible Study by Angela Thomas Pharr.

Desire to fully live the life of the redeemed 

Welcome change as God slowly transforms you into His image 

Increase your passion for God’s Word 

Apply redemption to your life in practical ways 

Learn alongside other women and support each other through prayer and small group community 

Learn to lean upon Jesus for your real help and hope 

I am listening....

to  the  quiet of the house,  but the ringing in my own ears.... allergy/sinus issues!

I am learning...

Well, lately, I need to be  applying the lovely tenets  that I  had been trying to learn  recently, trust God,  wait,  stay out of trouble...

I am hoping... 

to get  my  crown...  I  broke the entire   dental work out of a tooth that  many years ago  was cracked and   the dentist had   basically  used  composite to  save the tooth,   It requires a crown,  the temporary  crown  fell out  twice in the last 2 weeks and I have  basically just  lived with the  rubber stub  the dentist  built up on it for the  permanent crown to attach to for almost a week.  The crown was supposed to be here last Thursday and I still havent  heard back from the dentist..  perhaps  this issue  has added  to a bit of my  discomfiture...praise God  so far it is only a bit quickish...  but  I am anxious to get it settled.

In my garden... 
the grass is growing and   things are greening!!!!And I saw  my   delicate  bloodwort  blooming.

This is usually the first bloom of the  new year, but the season has been so strange  the trees have bloomed out, the forsythia, as well as, the jonquils...  and now that  we have   a forecast  of snow,   this sweet flower  makes its appearance..  I  first  saw bloodwort  while hiking through  the woods behind my  parent's home in the country  and simple fell in love  with its beauty..  So daddy  dug me up some to bring home with me  and we planted  it  at both our house   first back in  the late 70's  then again in "88  when we moved here.  Even though I just have a small bit, it never fails to herald spring!!!

In my kitchen...

Tonight  we are having  fish dinner.....  frozen white fish fillets,  lightly battered and fried, Hubs special  homemade  slaw, and  roasted  potatoes with onions.
The rest of the week  it appears we will  probably eating out  at various functions

A favorite quote/scripture for today..

One of my favorite things...

I love  hosting teas..  and   Hubs  ordered off my wishlist from Amazon  a  gently used  tea  book.. it arrived this afternoon...

Here is a great review of the book:

A perfect source for tips, decorating ideas, theme suggestions, and recipes... Tea with Friends is a year s worth of interesting party ideas from a Scottish Hogmanay high tea in January to a winter solstice tea in December... I was inspired to throw a tea party. --Sarah Arnold, Better Homes and Gardens Special Interest Publications

I found this sweet teapot  last month at  the consignment shop  just in time for  party planning time.   

Board Room

Help yourself to some lovely  Irish Tea ideas!!
and here!

A Moment of my life...

Well, Hubs did get the tapestry down

I  do enjoy it so much,   made in France, I've never seen another like it..But it is heavy  and  Im ready for a change... So he   attached my garland to the brackets and  a bit of switcheroo  and now   it  does have a  new look  not  the final look  but  it  is exciting  to  ponder  what new  change  may transpire!!

Time to  do some other major thinking about what can be done to lighten up   this room

Right off the bat...  I need to  get rid of some furniture!  hahahaha

"Honey, tomorrow  we  are  rearranging the living room!""

Postscript
"Cut!  That's a wrap!"

Perfect Hodge Podge

1. What is one area of your life where you're a perfectionist? Is that a good thing?

I  have to agree with Joyce,  when I host an event  I  really  desire for  it  to  go without a hitch...it can be a bad thing, though,... for example at  our daughter's  wedding I  saw a couple from our church  whom we hadn't invited.  It was a  sort of destination wedding at  the  bridal couples'  university,  but only about 50 miles from home.  We had invited their son who was also a University student  but when his parents showed up    I  was  horrified that they would get to the reception and find no table setting for  them,  so I rushed to the reception hall to  talk to the    coordinator to  get it all set up and do whatever it took to make it look  like it was  preplanned...  meanwhile, the  family, including  parents and  grandparent photos, were being taken at the chapel..  I guess I just figured that the photographer would realize that  the  couple he had met with  several times who were  paying the  thousand dollars had not been photographed.. neither    my husband nor my parents were in any  photo..   It still  rather sticks in my craw,   but what  else could I have done...

2. What's something you find perfectly ridiculous? 

Again, I agree with the outrageous  attempt by  the outgoing  leadership party to  derail  our new president and his  administration..  rather maddening actually...   and  the    fake news that  keeps  coming out of main stream media . 

3. What's a skill you've developed by way of that old fashioned saying, 'practice makes perfect?

Well, of course, music...  I  grew up  taking  piano lessons all through  school and college...  I was actually pretty good... then...  but over time have gotten  very rusty and now with my  failing  clarity of vision I  even have a hard time  reading the music  to sing in the choir,   But my love of music  is  huge to me.. I  have music playing all the time...  I love solo piano music..

4. What's your idea of a perfect breakfast?

Well, breakfast is my favorite meal of the day...   I  adore  our  traditional Christmas breakfast...  sausage/ veggie quiche,  orange cranberry scones,  brandied fruit,  but  when I go to  a certain   restaurant here  in town  I  invariably  order #3.. Eggs to order ( over medium), crisp bacon and  1/2 order of sausage gravy biscuit.  They do  know how to make  gravy just like granny's! 

5. What's a trip, holiday, vacation, or day outing you've taken that you'd rate a perfect 10? Tell us why.

It would have to be  our trip to Ireland in 2015..  we went with about  25  of our closest church friends and it was a bus tour  starting  in Dublin and  travelling around  entire  island.The only thing missing is I would have loved to share the trip with my  daughter's family  as  we  are Irish and  to  share  these memories would be heavenly.

When we arrived in Dublin I already knew I wanted to find this tea room  right  down the road from Trinity College.. and we got there straightaway..

Awesome luncheon there!!

 then our long afternoon of    touring the college,   the  magnificent library,  and  Book of Kells.

and shopping..  I bought  my Aran sweaters and lugged them around around for 2 weeks..  (Stupid)

 Loved the    traditional folk music, and  fell in love with Guinness and  Irish Coffee..  Oh, my!

 A traditional Irish breakfast...  yummy bacon....

 St. Patrick's

 and on   south to  the  quaint towns of Kilkenney and Waterford

There is some evidence in our family record that our Higgins  family originated from Waterford.

My only regret  of taking a bus tour is  all my  photos were taken  on the 'go'!  But the  fields dotted with sheep  thrilled me...

 The  tour around the ring of Kerry  was mesmerizing..  we could clearly see Dingle peninsula across the way.. The day was so clear we could actually see  the Island of Skellig Michel.. see the faint  triangle    south of the  tip of Dingle.

 Here is a photo  of Skellig Michel  which is one of the most mysterious islands  on earth...   source for this one is  internet..

the  Wild Atlantic Way  from  the highest peak of the "Ring"  was breath-taking!

 Sorry for the  reflections  but  I was entranced by the  town of Adair...

 and later that  evening we stayed in Limerick  home to King John's Castle on  the  River Limerick!

 That night  we dined in true  medieval splendor

                               

      

 and  spent two nights in actual medieval castles  ; this one  is Lough Eske in  Killarney

Travelling further north we entered Northern Ireland..  what  a joy to actually be there  and walk the streets    of Derry ,(Londonderry).  So much  history,  anarchy,  and  peace  in one   small area

 Here  there were only protestant churches....such as  this  Church of England

 A tour of the  Guildhall. was   amazing.

The stained glass told  Northern Ireland's history

We  saw  Queen Victoria before  PBS made her  famous!

Our drive  north east toward the Giant's Causeway  was    thrilling...  

 It was our only misty day,  but the northern coastline  was with us most of the way...

 And then we were  at the Causeway!

 A most    contemplative  place to be. most northern spot one earth I've ever been....about the same latitude as Copenhagen, and not  far south of Anchorage...  I so would have loved to be there at night  to see the Northern Lights....  Still on my bucket list!!!

 While in NI.  we stayed in the Europa  Hotel in Belfast.. the most bombed out hotel in the world 

and to end our  lovely 2 weeks,  we stayed  at  Cabra Castle..    near Dublin!

 Loved our  room....

All in all it was  my dream trip to   one of  my ancestral  lands!!!

6. What quote or saying perfectly sums up your life right now? If you can't do perfect, how about one that comes close?

'Take time to smell the roses'...  I  am  really in a mood to  just  take in everything  that is   lovely,  memorable, and   made by the Creator...  

7. How would you spend $300 today?

Well,  I spent a third of that today  on Easter baskets for the girls... We'd spend the other  2/3  on     my spending spree at Kohl's since   we have a 30% coupon burning a hold in our pocket! We both  could  spruce up our spring wardrobe a bit  as we are planning a  trip in the coming  weeks...

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Have to go now  to eat.  Hubs  finished up our  dinner..  by  heating up the bbq chicken strips for our salad.. then we're off to choir..  to practice  for Easter.