The Wednesday Hodgepodge

This is Joyce's 438th Hodgepodge and if I have multiplied correctly, that means she has come up with 2628 questions for us to answer since she started the HP (and I can't remember the year she started it).  Hats off to Joyce!

1. Do you (or did you used to) watch talk shows? Which are or were your favorite? 

I have wracked my brain trying to remember if I have ever watched a talk show and unless, The Faulkner Focus and Outnumbered count as talk shows, then I have not and still do not watch talk shows.  Daytime TV is not really my gig.  I generally prefer some kind of good music playing over the noise of a TV.

2. Would you describe yourself as resilient? If so what do you think makes you that way? If you answered no explain why? 

I would describe myself as resilient.  Until I married, I moved many times. I attended 7 different schools from 1st thru 12th grade.  That always meant adjustments, making new friends and the whole deal.  I always handled it well and never missed a beat. I call that being resilient.

As an adult I have faced some difficult situations.........We found out our son was a Juvenile Diabetic when he was 7 years old.  I knew I had no choice but to make the very best of it and to teach him to do the same.  We are sooooo thankful for all the strides that have been made in the treatment of diabetes these past 38 years.

And, of course, I consider myself a "certified" overseer of care for the elderly.  I have been overseeing the care of a family member for the past 30 years, both of my paternal Grandparents, my mother in law and now my Daddy.  Resilience, as far as I'm concerned, is a MUST to survive overseeing the care of someone.

3. What parts of life have surprised you the most? Explain. 

Hummm......lots of life has surprised me. ~chuckle~ I guess I'll pick one and go with it. Aging has surprised me.  I have a very hard time believing that I am now 69 years old, will be 70 next summer.  I well remember being in my 30's and thinking anyone my age was "elderly."  It seems that I got here in the "blink of an eye."  I am so thankful for my good health, and rarely an ache or pain.  I do NOT take that for granted and realize it could change in a few minutes or days.  I look at my days so differently as I have certainly lived the majority of my life. It's more important than ever that I make every day count and be a difference maker.  The surprise has been how quickly these 69 years have passed.  Wheeeeeee!!!!!!

4. Why do you live where you live? 

Two simple words - my husband.  He started an insurance agency 47 years ago and came back to his hometown to do so.  He was starting a scratch agency with State Farm and it only made sense to do that where he had grown up his entire life and was well known.  The rest is history, it's been a fantastic ride with some of the dearest folks on the earth.

5. A memory from this week that made you smile? 

We were in Oklahoma last week with Bridget and family and Clancy had just had his 13th birthday.  I've spent so much time thinking about these past 13 years and how quickly they have flown by.  Above, he is about 5 days old and I'm a brand new CiCi without a clue of how much love my heart could hold for him and the other Grans to come. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I am doing the Bible study, Elijah by Priscilla Shirer with a group of women at our church. I've been in church ALL of my 69 years and my Daddy is a retired minister.  But, I have gleaned sooooo much from this study and my eyes have been opened to so many truths that I desperately needed reminding of for sure.  Oh, that I will one day have the FAITH and FIRE of Elijah!  If you or a group you are a part of are looking for a Bible study then I highly recommend this one.  I'm a big fan of Priscilla's and she definitely hit a "homerun" with this study. 

I'm going to keep telling myself this over and over................

Prime Purchases

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And, here it is October and time for more Prime Purchases.  I use the word "prime" loosely because, in recent months, the shipping of most Amazon items has not been very fast.  I had really gotten spoiled to prime delivery and now it's often a week before items are delivered.  I'm wondering how long it might take if I were not a prime member.  There might be no difference in any member and I probably need to check on that before it comes time for me to pay my annual "prime" membership fee.  

But, enough of that and on to my recent purchases.  And, while you are reading, remember Christmas is less than 3 months away.  I have started a little Christmas shopping myself.

BAGGALLINI  TOTE

I have been a huge fan of Baggallini bags for several years.  This particular one is called a "tote" but I use it as a purse.  I like to carry a whole lot of stuff with me and I want plenty of room to get it all in a bag and have room left over.  The wonderful thing about these bags is that they are made of tough nylon and are sooooo lightweight. And, they have awesome outside and inside pockets.  They have a place for any and everything you can imagine.  I definitely like leather purses but I do not like their weight.  Baggallini will always win out over leather.  I have this particular bag in 4 different colors.  It has the optional shoulder strap but I prefer the shorter arm straps.

AMAZON

CHEESE  BOARD  AND  SPREADER

These are the nicest cheese boards and a nice size.  I plan to use a few of these to put some of my fudge on and give as Christmas gifts this year.  I love to put my fudge on something that the recepient can use once the fudge is gone.  These would make a lovely gift by themselves.  And, we all know that cheese boards are very popular anyway.  The monogram adds a nice extra touch.

AMAZON

NORDIC  WARE  HARVEST BOUNTY LOAF  PAN

I enjoy baking Pumpkin Bread and Harvest Bread in the fall of the year.  And, to have a pretty decorative loaf pan to bake it in makes it all the better.  The secret to using the decorative baking pans is to make sure you spray them, every nook and cranny, with Baker's Secret, to keep the bread or cake from sticking.  Most of my bread recipes make two loaves and I only ordered one of these because they aren't cheap and I will only use them a brief portion of the year.  So, I make one loaf in this one and one loaf in a regular loaf pan.  

AMAZON

MICROWAVE  SPLATTER  COVER

Okay folks, if you DO NOT have this item, you need it!!!!  We were at some friends house a few weeks ago and I went to use their microwave to warm up my cup of coffee.  When I opened her microwave I saw this "gadget" hanging from the top of the inside of her microwave.  My curiosity got the best of me.  I had to ask what it was.  I actually thought it was a part of their microwave ~no joke~.  But, it's actually a splatter cover that magnitizes to the top of a microwave.  Talk about convenient!  I had ordered it before we backed out of their driveway.  I'm thinking that both of our children will likely get one of these for Christmas.  It's only $11.99!

AMAZON

WOOD  CARVING  TOOLS  KIT

I wasn't going to include this but decided that someone might need to know about it.  Our oldest Grandson has taken a real interest in wood working and expressed interested in learning to carve.  He had a birthday just a few days ago and we gave him this carving set with a pair of cut resistant gloves.

AMAZON

GOD'S  PURPOSE  FOR  YOUR  LIFE

If you are looking for a new devotional book, you might like this one.  Charles Stanley has always been a favorite of mine and this devotional book gives great encouragement to the start of my day. 

AMAZON

TOE  NAIL  CLIPPERS

I do not cut my own toenails but my Hubby does and he thinks these are quite dandy  They allow you to cut your toenails with your hand to the side of your foot instead of at the top of your foot. (did you follow that?)  Anyway, they are very good quality, heavy duty and work great.  Again, these might be a great Christmas gift for someone you know. 

AMAZON

ELECTRIC  EGG  BOILER

I do believe I have featured this in a previous Prime post but it deserves being mentioned again.  I just ordered my 3rd one of these.  Hubby eats 2 boiled eggs almost every morning and this little gadget boils them to perfection and all I have to do is pierce the top of the egg, place it in the cooker and forget about it.  Easy peasy and their boiled to perfection.  I do not like to have to think about boiling eggs on the stove top.

AMAZON

BLUELIGHT  BLOCKING  READING  GLASSES

I have heard of blue light blocking glasses for a long time but I have never owned any until just the last couple of weeks.  Now, I will never be without them.  I got the readers because they work better for my needs and they make seeing the computer, Ipad, or smart phone screen sooooo much better.  They come 5 to a package and you can pick the strength of the reader and the color package you desire. Very affordable.

AMAZON

PRELIT  BATTERY  OPERATED  CHRISTMAS  WREATH

I ordered two of these to use on our porch windows during the holidays. These are the 30" and I LOVE, LOVE that they have battery operated lights on a timer.  They stay on 6 hours, and come on at the same time every day.  I'm having my florist gal do some pretty red bows on them and they will be ready to use when the time comes. They are very lush and have plenty of lights.

AMAZON

THYMES  ROOM  FRAGRANCE

This is my very favorite room fragrance of ALL times. It comes in 4-5 scents but my favorites are the Goldleaf and Lavender.  AND, one spray is all that is needed, especially if used in a bathroom. It is highly concentrated and more than one spray is overwhelming.  Sort of like, too much a good thing isn't good.  Just sayin'...........  One container of this room spray, used properly, will last 2-3 years.

AMAZON

INSULATED  FOOD  CARRIER

This is the sort of item that you really do not use all that much, but just about everyone needs one.  This is likely the 3rd one I have purchased in my life and likely could be the last.  I mean, they last forever and if you need a new one then I do highly recommend this one.  It is for a 9x13 casserole dish and you just might could get a 10x15 in there with a little work.  And, they would make a great gift if you know someone who doesn't have one.

AMAZON

ROUND  BLOW  OUT  BRUSH

I have never really used a round brush when blow drying my hair but I am in the process of learning how to use one.  This one is a medium size and I'm slowly getting the hang of it.  I watched some YouTube videos that were most helpful in showing me how to use it.  This one has nylon bristles that, for me, are much easier to use than those with regular boar bristles that seem to always get tangled in my hair.  Anyway, if you are in the market for a round blow out brush then you might really like this one.

AMAZON

TOE  TOPPERS

Ladies, if you have never owned any of these little jewels before then you might want to get you some.  I found these 4-5 years ago and just now have needed to replenish my stock.  If I have on closed toe shoes then I want my toes covered but I don't like to wear socks of any kind.  These are often referred to as "toe huggers."  They are non-slip so you don't have to worry about them coming off.  And, they would make a great stocking stuffer. ~just saying~  They come in all kinds of colors too.

AMAZON

And, there you have it for another month.  Hope you found something you can't live without.

I thought this was cute................

A Fallish Hodgepodge

It's another Wednesday and another Hodgepodge and it's all about fall today.  Just the word "fall" gets me excited.  It's a hard choice for me between fall and spring being my favorite times of the year.  I'm sitting on "ready" for fall this year for sure.

1. It's fall y'all! Officially that is and in the northern hemisphere only, so if you're visiting from down under happy spring! Does it feel like fall where you live? Does it look like fall aka are the leaves beginning to change? What is your favorite fall color? Scent? Flavor? 

It hasn't felt much like fall at all but if the forecast is correct, tomorrow should bring some fall temps with fall "feels."  A few leaves have began to fall but thankfully there will be NO leaves in our yard.  We have a treeless yard except for the cedar trees by the bank of the pond.  We had enough leaves at our old house to last us the rest of our lives. The leaves have started slightly turning their colors but nothing significant.  My favorite scent would be cinnamon and my favorite flavor pumpkin.  

2. What's something you're not? 

UNORGANIZED!!!!  I came by my bent towards organization from both my Dad and Mom.  They were both highly organized and structured and I truly have never known any other way.  I thrive in an organized environment and struggle with unorganization.  I am pretty much in control of the organization within our home and I have always run our household by these two mottos: "everything has a place and everything in it's place" and "don't put it down, put it up."  It's really simple as far as I'm concerned.

Now, organization goes further than just within the walls of our own homes.  Businesses, meetings, organizations, facilities and the such all need organization.  But, I'll leave it at that.............

3. Share a favorite quote related to fall and tell us why it's a favorite. 

I love this quote because I truly do feel so invigorated and a bit like a "fresh start" when fall unveils itself.  I'm waiting with baited breath right now.

4. Besides Thanksgiving, what's your favorite fall meal? 

Oh, I do love fall food and for us that means, soups, stews, chili's, and gumbo with a side of cornbread.  We eat more than our fair share of this type food beginning in fall and continuing through winter.  I enjoy this type of cooking far more than any other cooking.  What's not to like about a "one pot meal?"

5. Share a favorite photo you took last fall? 

We always go to our daughter's in Oklahoma every October while she and the boys are on Fall Break.  This was taken last year while we were there.  Now, these 3 are sooo much bigger and Clancy will be 13 years old next week. What????  We look forward to seeing them very soon.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

If you have been hanging around here very long then you know that I LOVE to bake cookies.  And, I just baked what may be the most delicious cookie ever.  It's the Almond Joy Cookie. I am giving you the recipe just in case you want to try your hand with them.

Almond Joy Cookies

Inspired by the favorite almond, coconut, and chocolate candy bar, these loaded Almond Joy Cookies are sure to steal the show on any holiday cookie platter or cookie swap they show up at.  

Active:

15 mins

Total:

4 hrs 15 mins

Yield:

Makes 3 dozen (serving size: 2 cookies)

Ingredients

Ingredient Checklist

• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup (8 oz.) unsalted butter, softened
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 ¼ cups (about 9 5/8 oz.) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 ½ cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
• 1 cup lightly toasted sliced almonds

Directions

Instructions Checklist

• Step 1

  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Beat brown sugar, granulated sugar, and butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, and beat just until blended. Add vanilla, and beat until blended.

• Step 2

  Stir together flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder in a large bowl. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, and beat on low speed until fully incorporated, about 1 minute. Stir in chocolate chips, coconut, and almonds until evenly distributed. Cover and refrigerate dough 30 minutes or up to 1 hour. 

• Step 3

  Preheat oven to 350°F. Using a 1 1/4-inch cookie scoop or a tablespoon, drop cookie dough 2 inches apart onto prepared baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven until lightly golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool on baking sheet on a wire rack 5 minutes; transfer cookies to wire rack, and cool completely, about 30 minutes.

I made these Monday and Hubby and a couple of our neighbors said they were the BEST cookie they had ever eaten.  So, next time you need cookies, give them a try!

 NOTE: I was able to find toasted almonds, they were not sliced, but rather whole.  But, I chopped them and they worked great.

The Wednesday Hodgepodge

It's Wednesday and that means Joyce provides the questions and we provide the answers. I'm not sure how she manages she come up with such great questions week in and week out. 

1. Something you've done recently that required you giving 110% ?

I had to scratch my head a bit on this one but would have to say when I scrubbed our front and back porches about 2 weeks ago.  It was hotter than hot but I was   DETERMINED I was going to do it.  I generally do it about 3 times a year.  I actually take a bucket of water, an old mop and after removing everything off of them, go to work.  I feel so good when I'm finished, so it's well worth my time and effort.  And, thank goodness, neither the front or back porch are all that big, so I can usually do it fairly quickly.  It's always worth the 110% I give to get it done.

2. What task-sport-chore-hobby-activity have you participated in or completed, that if judged, would land you a perfect 10? 

One of my most enjoyable hobbies is cookie baking.  If I had a dollar for every cookie I have baked over the years, I'd definitely be a millionaire.  I've just about perfected the size, the doneness and most definitely the packaging.  I've never entered any in a contest and likely never will but I feel pretty sure that most of my recipients would rate them a 10.  I'm really not bragging, just stating a fact. ~big chuckle~ I can't think of another thing where I might be rated a 10. 

3. What are ten of your favorite things right now? 

1 - The cooler weather we're having

2 - The anticipation of some trips in the next couple of months

3 - My precious family - ALWAYS

4 - My God who is soooo faithful

5 - Thoughts of soups, stews and gumbo

6 - The fellowship of dear friends

7 - Our good health, I do not take that for granted

8 - A couple of clubs I'm in are starting back up this month

9 - Elijah Bible study by Priscilla Shirer starts at our church next week

10 - Continuing to feel a purpose each and every day

4. Nine times out of ten I am up by 5:30 and asleep by 10:30 and generally have specific routines for each day.

5. Where were you when the world stopped turning, twenty years ago this week?

 

I was in Virginia with my Dad and Mom visiting relatives on my Mom's side.  We were at my Mom's sister's house sitting around the breakfast table having the best time eating breakfast and visiting.  My phone rang and it was Bridget.  She asked me if we had the TV on and I said no.  She then told me what had happened.  That ended our breakfast and we all gathered around the TV and pretty much stayed there the rest of the coming days.  I was fortunate that my flight home was only delayed by 2 days.  My parents were going elsewhere.  It was an unforgettable time for sure.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I have been doing a little "fluffing" on our back porch.  We have large windows in our living area that look out to the porch so it's almost like another room.  I found the cute bird container (top left) and thought it would be the perfect addition to our firepit table.  Then I found the metal decorative pieces (top right) at Tuesday Morning. I put the asparagus ferns in the bottom of them and am real pleased with how they look.  And, I replaced all my Kimberly Queen ferns with asparagus ferns (bottom left) and am much more pleased with their look.  And, I love the bird and pelican (bottom right) that sit by the door.  I enjoy admiring the porch from the inside as much as from the outside.  It's a cozy and calm place, especially in the mornings.

Enjoy your Wednesday!

Prime Purchases

Oh, my goodness, it's already September folks!  I can't believe it is almost time to start thinking about Christmas.  It seems we just celebrated Christmas a couple of months ago.  Well, maybe I can help you with some of your Christmas shopping as you browse this Prime Purchase post.

BATH  TOWELS

I wanted/needed some new linens for our Master Bath.  I did not want to chase all over the place trying to find some so, of course, I went straight to Amazon.  AND, I found exactly what I wanted.  They come in sets, 2 bath towels, 2 wash cloths and 2 hand towels.  They are ultra soft and I will say that it took about 4-5 washings before they dried like I want a towel to dry.  But, after a few washings, they are perfect.  I replaced Ralph Lauren towels with these and, in my humble opinion, these are soooo much better and cost less than half as much.  They come in 6 colors, so if you need/want some new towels, give these a try.

AMAZON

PAPER  COCKTAIL  NAPKINS

I'm pretty sure you can get any color, pattern or graphic you could possibly want in a paper cocktail napkin off of Amazon.  Of course, I love birds so these were one of my choices.

AMAZON

REVLON  COLORSTAY  LIPSTICK

I have tried 4-5 of the long lasting lipsticks and Colorstay by Revlon is my favorite.  You will need a clear gloss to go over it once it dries and I posted that last month.  Colorstay comes in great colors (this is color 025) and is very affordable.

AMAZON

KITCHEN  TEA  TOWEL

These are the cutest tea towels and make such a great little "happie" for someone.  There are lots of designs to choose from but I thought this one was just too cute and so true. 

AMAZON

HEAVY  DUTY  OVEN  LINERS

I have been using these oven liners for years and years.  I just replaced the ones I had in my oven and it's so nice to just take it out and throw it away.  The old ones were not in awful shape but, they've been in my ovens for 5 years and it was time for some new ones.  They do such a great job of protecting the bottom of your oven from spills, drips and crumbs.  If you do not have these in your oven(s), you should.~chuckle~

AMAZON

NEOPRENE  SLEEVES

If you have been around here long, then you know that I love nutritional shakes and have them for lunch 3-4 times a week.  They come in a 24 oz. plastic cup and these fit over them perfectly and make them easier to hold and keep them cold, cold.

AMAZON

LUCKY  BRAND  SILVER  LINK  BRACELET

This bracelet popped up while I was looking at something else and I couldn't resist it.  It is so pretty and I love the wide width.  Lucky Brand makes some good looking and nicely made fashion jewelry.

AMAZON

LIPPED  TV  TRAYS

  

My sweet Daddy has a TV tray on one side of his recliner.  Well, he is constantly knocking stuff off of it or things slip off while he's searching for something else.  With only 20% eyesight he needs all the assistance I can come up with.  So, a couple of weeks ago I decided I would check and see if there was a TV tray with a lip.  Eureka!  look no further, these popped right up!  They are exactly what he needed and they have worked perfectly.  The lip is about 1/2 inch and things do not easily fall off nor can he push anything off while he's reaching for something else.  If you or someone you know need a lipped TV try, look no further.

AMAZON

MEAT  CHOPPER

This is a dandy kitchen utensil.  After I brown hamburger meat I use this is chop it up.  It's also great to use to break up canned chicken and tuna.   A genius idea for sure!

AMAZON

NATURALIZER  SLIP  ON  SNEAKER

It can be difficult to find bronze dress or casual shoes, so when I saw these, I snagged them.  They are a great casual, comfortable shoe.  I love the wedge!  NOTE: it runs a tad small so you may want to order 1/2 size up.

AMAZON

OUTDOOR  CANDLE  LANTERN

I love flickering light and especially outdoors at night.  This weatherproof lantern is so attractive and is battery operated with a timer.  I hung this one from a shepherd's hook outside our living area windows.  It is so pretty and I plan to get a couple more to place around.  The candle comes inside the lantern and is securely mounted. The lantern is made of some type of very nice plastic that holds up to the weather.  This one only comes in a bronze finish and that is what I wanted.  

AMAZON

EXPANDABLE  WATER  HOSE 

I do not know who the brilliant person was that came up with these jewels but, expandable hoses are "all that and a bag of chips."  We have owned several since they came out but none have been as hardy and well made as this one.  These are so easily managed and I keep this one in a big clay flower pot on the back porch.  It stays hooked up and ready for use.  No lugging those heavy hoses and fighting to roll them back up for me.  

AMAZON

And, there you have it, my "finds" for August.  Now, go have yourself a "terrific Tuesday!"