Thanks Joyce for another week of great questions. It's always such fun to visit others and see their answers and the different ways we all interrupt your questions. Here goes to another week of Hodgepodge!
1. Share your traditions surrounding the Christmas stocking.
Well, our children would be the first to tell you that they get more excited over their stockings than their gifts. Except that they do not have stockings (well, they have stockings, as you can see from the photo above, but we do not fill them), they have buckets. Several years ago I ran across the cutest Christmas buckets, about a gallon in size, and they are so, so much easier to fill than a stocking. They are the very last thing that is opened and might I add, they are filled with some really neat and fabulous items. ~smile~ I think about them all year long and when I see items that "grab me," I grab them and save them for the buckets.
2. How many hours of sleep do you average at night? Is it enough?
I average about 7 - 71/2 hours of sleep and it is plenty. I am generally asleep by 10:30 PM and I'm "up and at it" at 5:30 AM. I love the early morning and am my most productive in the early day. As the day winds down, so do I.
3. If you had to give up one thing for the remainder of this year what would it be?
Well, I'm not sure if this should be something that we really enjoy or if that even matters. But, I usually drink a Diet Dr. Pepper every day at lunch with my half sandwich and I do really enjoy it. It's the only one I have all day, so if I had to, I would give it up for the next 26 days. (I can't wait to see everyone else' answers to this)
4. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (or Wills and Kate as I like to call them) have announced they're expecting a baby. Do you follow news of the Royals?
I do not follow William and Kate. I think they are a lovely looking couple, but I doubt seriously they have a clue about "real life" and I am sure they would like to have a more normal life. One that doesn't include every "Tom, Dick and Harry" up in their business. But, it goes with the territory and hopefully they know that.~smile~
5. For me, the sound of childhood is__________________.
The sound of excited giggles, such as when it's almost time to open Christmas presents and they have waited just as long as they possibly can.
6. Fruit cake-yay or boo? What's your favorite dessert made with fruit?
It's a "boo" for most fruitcake. I love how they look but I do not want anything in a fruitcake except red candied cherries and pecans. Forget the green cherries, the rasiens and/or dates and other strange stuff! Some years I make Icebox Fruitcake and I only put the red cherries and pecans in it and it is "to die for."
(in my humble opinion)
My favorite cake with fruit would, hands down be, Mandarin Orange Cake. Oh, me! makes my mouth water just thinking about it. So, so good, especially on a hot summer's day.
7. What is one thing you want to accomplish before 2012 comes to an end?
I would like to once and for all realize that some things in life that are just what they are and they are not going to change and the best thing that I can do is ask the good Lord to help me accept them. Sounds simple enough doesn't it? Well, I find myself wanting some things to change so badly that I just completely forget that. Maybe I can realize this once and for all by Dec. 31, 2012. ~hope - hope~ (I bet I am the only Hodgepodger that didn't answer that with some type of project they wanted to finish before the end of the year) ho!ho!ho!
8. Insert your own random thought here.
I had no idea that there were a bazillion recipes for Chex Snack Mix. If you go to their website here, you will see what I am talking about. I found one called Cajun Kick Snack Mix and that sounded like something that would be very Louisiana and very good! I made a double batch yesterday afternoon and it took all of 10 minutes. The microwave has made this task all too easy and what a great "holiday happy" to package in a cute container and give away. It's for sure, you can't eat just one handful!
Good morning! I enjoyed this as always. I would like to see your "buckets" haha...great idea. That's my sleep pattern too btw. Enjoy the rest of your day!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see your buckets! What a neat idea ... the buckets would hold lots of loot! I used to grab items for Christmas stockings during the year, too -- and then forget where I hid them.
ReplyDeleteI love your answer to #7.
Post a picture of your buckets. They sound interesting. Have a good day!!
ReplyDeleteThat looks super yummy -- I loooove Chex mix! :)
ReplyDeleteI want to see those buckets, too! My mom used to do something at Christmas called the Mystery box which might be similar except that we all shared. Your stockings and mantle decor are sure lovely.
ReplyDeleteWish you had a picture of your buckets for us to see...love that idea so much! That's what I don't like about filling stockings...there never seems to be enough room!
ReplyDeleteLea, what a great idea of the buckets! I never thought of that and would solve looking again for stocking hangers that won't fall.
ReplyDeleteThose were my sleep habits, but lately are out of whack. Please pray that that will even back out again.
As far as William and Kate, I don't follow them. But I do think William has learned from what his mother went through and is wiser for it. I'm happy for them.
I'm with you on number 6...no thank you on the fruitcake. My husband had a relative that made icebox fruit cake cookies (w/o those nasty green candied cherries) and they were good. My mom use to make a banana walnut cake was so delicious! I've never had a Mandarin Orange cake, but it sounds good--smile. I'll try that chex mix, too.
Also, on number 7, same here--same here!
Christmas blessings to you too.
The buckets sound like a wonderful idea. Too bad we don't do stockings any more.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful display of stockings!!! I said laughter and giggles are great too. Yes, Chex cereals are so much fun to use in recipes. Always a must for Christmas in my book.
ReplyDeleteBuckets-a neat idea.
ReplyDeleteThis time of year I always make the chex mix with pretzels, red and green peanut m/m's , the cereal and then melted white chocolate poured over all til it hardens. Oh my!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of buckets instead of stockings. You can certainly get more in them, as well as those odd-shaped items. If I could give up sugar until the end of the year, that would be a good thing. But I don't want to so I won't! I am not much for fruit cake either. You have a lovely rest of your week!
ReplyDeleteMy Granny has made a similar mix for years. Only she uses Crispex as she finds it holds up better than Chex. We all look forward to her party mix every year. This year my mom is making it as she can't stand for more than a few minutes at a time.
ReplyDeleteyou are so cute - of course your kids would have buckets! you are such a sweet giving mama.
ReplyDelete5:30 am? i don't know how you do it. i am NOT a morning person. but with kiddos, i have learned that i don't have a choice. : )