A Golden Hodgepodge

Hats off to Joyce!  I do believe that if this is the 500th edition of the HP that means Joyce has come up with 3000 questions for us.  Good grief, that's a w-h-o-l-e lotta questions.  Thanks Joyce, for always showing up.  You are the bomb!

1. Last time you drove/flew 500 miles (ish)? What's a place you'd like to visit that lies approximately 500 miles from your current location? 

Well, just last week we traveled to Oklahoma to see our daughter and her family.  It's about an 8 1/2 hour drive and we so wish that it was only about 3 hours.  8 1/2 is just about further than we care to drive in one day anymore.  We generally break up the trip going but coming home, we suck it up, and drive on in.  Something about getting home that spurs us on. ~chuckle~

Humm......not sure about a place that is 500 miles from us that we'd like to visit. I'm betting there are several, but just don't have time to check that out right now.

2. Tell us about a time recently it felt like you were 'racing against the clock'. 

Well, once again, I'm sure I have, but I cannot think of a time recently.  I cannot stand to be rushed and do all in my power to prevent it.  I have never been one to let "grass grow under my feet" and I think that helps considerably with 'racing against the clock."

3. Have you ever attended any really large sporting events? What was your impression of the experience?  

I have not attended any large sporting events in a while and likely won't.  Our daughter graduated from Louisiana State University and during her time there we went to several football games at Tiger Stadium.  The last one we attended was over 20 years ago and that has not bothered me one bit.  I am not a fan of huge crowds and would much rather be in the comfort of our home enjoying the event.  I know, that's not most folks preference, but it is mine. ~smile~

The Superbowl, The Kentucky Derby, The World Series, FIFA World Cup, The Indianapolis 500, The Daytona 500, The Olympics, The Masters, Wimbledon, The Boston Marathon, March Madness, Tour de France, Monaco's Grand Prix, The Open (golf), The Ryder Cup, The Stanley Cup Finals..of the events listed which would you most like to attend in person? Or maybe one that's not listed? 

Now, after saying that, I do believe I could get into attending the Kentucky Derby. I've always said that I was going to host a Kentucky Derby party one year.  But, that hasn't happened yet. I love all the ladies hats and it seems like such a fun event.

But, if you want to know my favorite sporting event, it is watching this little "go getter" play softball.  Andi Kate is "in the zone" when she is out in that field and is quite the ball player.  The above picture was taken when she was coming into homebase after hitting a home run last week.  This CiCi can get quite excited at these games.

4. Are you an iced tea drinker? If so, do you drink it year round, or only in the spring and summer months? Do you make your own or buy it bottled? Sweet or unsweet? Flavored? Lemon or no lemon? How about a Long Island Iced Tea? 

I do drink iced tea with my dinner but I do not drink it any other time.  I make ours with decaf bags and a tad of sugar.  Unlike most Southerners, we do not like syrupy sweet tea. And, we do not care for lemon.  I have no idea about a Long Island Iced Tea.

What I do enjoy and make one pretty much every morning is a nutritional tea (minus the liftoff).  I mix strawberry, cherry, pineapple and grape flavors with raspberry tea mix and enjoy. It's my drink of choice after my morning coffee.

5. April 20th is Volunteer Recognition Day...do you volunteer in some way? Tell us about it. If not, tell us about a volunteer you appreciate. 

I do not volunteer in any organization at this time.  I have a deep appreciation for those that do and perhaps one day I will be a part of volunteering.  Right now, I feel like the time I would likely use for volunteering goes to the overseeing of my sweet Daddy's care.  That's not an excuse, it's the simple truth.  And, a lot of you likely know this responsibility.  It can be so demanding at times and at others, we rock along fairy smoothly.  I have been overseeing the care of a family member since 1987 so it is as natural as breathing for me.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Folks, I can't even!  This is our daughter replacing a sensor in their suburban.  No joke! She watched a YouTube video and decided it would be much simpler than trying to get the vehicle in the shop, plus save a bunch of money.  So, Friday while the two of us were at the house by ourselves, she decided to tackle it.  And, while she did encounter a couple of hiccups, she was successful in her endeavor.  She was so proud of herself and I was pretty impressed.  She wears so many hats, balances so much and does it all quite well.

Thanks again Joyce for 500 editions of HP!  Here's to many more!

April Prime Purchases

And, 2023 is marching right along.  Here we are in the 4th month! 

Here's to April's Prime Purchases!

OUTDOOR  PILLOWS

I always put seasonal pillows on the benches on our front porch.  I think they give such a welcoming look and I thought these "screamed" spring.  I love all the colors and they are sunbrella fabric and so well made.  I bought 4, two for each bench.

AMAZON

THE  GREAT  AMERICAN  COOKIE  COOKBOOK

You folks know that I am an AVID cookie baker.  So, when I saw this recipe book for nothing but cookies, I had to order it.  I saw it on another website but I was sure Amazon would have it and they did.  There's any kind of cookie you can imagine in it.  I have several marked to get started on shortly.  It is almost 2 inches thick so that tells you it has a whole lot of cookie recipes.

AMAZON

GADGET  HOLDER  FOR  SLICING

I saw this neat gadget on another blog and had to have it.  It holds grapes, tiny tomatoes and the such for slicing.  You place the grapes, tomatoes or whatever in the bottom, place the top piece over them and then run a knife blade through them and EUREKA, it's done.  Sure beats slicing each one individually.  Gotta love a gadget such as this!

AMAZON

CAPRI  LEGGINGS

Gals, these are the BEST capri leggings!  I have 4 pair.  I put them on after my shower every morning with a tee shirt and keep them on until I'm ready to get dressed for the day.  They are plenty nice, especially this black leopard pair, to wear out and about.  They are very thick, have the phone pocket (which I love) and come in "bazoodles" of colors.

AMAZON

WOMEN'S  JOGGERS

Now, if you are looking for some nice joggers, look no further!  They are a wonderful polyester/spandex blend that not only looks great but is so comfortable.  I wear mine all the time with cute tops that dress them up a bit.  I wish so much I had found these before my Israel trip because they would have been my uniform while I was there.  They come in several colors as well.

AMAZON

LONG  DRINKING  STRAWS

I know plastic straws are not good for the landfills, but............ I love straws and these longer ones fit my tea and water tumblers perfectly.  I do not like the hard" molded plastic straws that generally come with the tumblers.  And, these come in such "happy" colors. ~chuckle~

AMAZON

PHONE  ARMBAND  SLEEVE

This is the dandiest item! I wear my Ipods pretty much all the time I'm at home and I need to have my phone on my person in case I get to far from where it is located.  I don't always have on clothes that have a pocket to slip my phone in so this sleeve works great.  It's also great if I'm outside and need a place to keep my phone.  And, it comes a lot of prints and patterns.

AMAZON

VOLATILE  WEDGE  SANDAL

I've been a big fan of Volatile shoes for several years.  I have a narrow foot and their shoes seem to always run a bit on the narrow side, so I can wear them.  These are a cute wedge sandal and while I don't wear them for long periods of time, they are perfect for short outings.  And, they are real cute and come in several colors.

AMAZON

SATIN  SHEETS

I was recently in a conversation about satin sheets.  I've always "heard" that they are the "bees knees" but I've never had any. I have used satin pillowcases for years.  Well, after this recent conversation I decided I would check them out on Amazon and see the cost as I had also "heard" that they are VERY expensive.  Well, Amazon had plenty to pick from and the price on these was more than reasonable, I mean under $40.  They are just beautiful, have a 4 1/2 star rating and had excellent reviews.  I washed them immediately and they came out beautifully.  We use flannel sheets on our bed in the winter and it's about time to put those up until next winter.  So, this week when I change the sheets, the satin sheets will go on.  I have a feeling we are going to love them.  I also "hear" they are real cool, so I'm excited to give them a try.  They come in several beautiful colors too.  If you've been wanting to give satin sheets a try, without spending a small fortune,  these might be a good start.

AMAZON

KRAFT  HANDLED  GIFT  BOX

I'm always looking for cute packaging either for gifts or for my cookies.  I mean presentation is everything!  These are so cute, on the small side but will definitely work for my uses for them.  They could even be decorated if you are "artsy."  Mine will likely remain plain except for one of my cute cookie labels as I am in no way "artsy."  I'm pretty sure I will think of a lot of uses for these.

AMAZON

And, there you have it, another month of Prime Purchases.

The Wednesday Hodgepodge

As hard as I seem to try, I can't seem to get back in the habit of participating in the weekly HP regularly.  But, I'm so glad to be back with the Hodgepodgers today. 

1. Did you celebrate St. Patrick's Day in some way? If so tell us how. Are you a fan of corned beef? Cabbage? The color green? 

Taken in May 2019

My youngest brotherwas born on St. Patricks Day so it has always been a most special day since his birth. I was 12 when he was born and I will never forget the excitement I felt when my parents told me that Mom was pregnant.  I have always felt more like his Mother than his sister.  He is a super guy and while we've never lived near each other, the times that I have needed him with the care of our Daddy, he aways shows up and many times has been the voice of reason during tough times with Daddy.  God certainly smiled down on me the day he was born.

I do not care for corned beef but I LOVE cabbage! 

The color green, I'm a fan of sage green but no other shade of green.

2. March 22nd is National Goof Off Day...will you celebrate? Your favorite way to goof off? Last time you had a whole day to spend 'goofing off'? 

Well, I never knew there was a National Goof Off Day, how interesting.  I don't know that we actually "goofed off" but my "sister friend" and I spent this past Friday at a local Spring Market and had the BEST time.  I can't remember the last time we did something of this nature and it was so much fun.  We saw folks we had not seen in ages, visited with interesting vendors and perhaps we even were a bit silly at times.  I'm pretty sure that folks would have never thought of us as "two older women." ~big laugh~ 

Today I will be attending Bible Study so don't think I'll be goofing off.

3. Something on your to-do list that has been there more than a month? Will this be the month you finally cross it off? 

Hummmm..........I pretty much live each day crossing things off my list.  I generally have some type of list every day.  And, if I am in control of getting it done by myself then it is done.  If it requires the help/assistance of someone else, well, I am at their mercy and sometimes that can be frustrating for me.  I feel a real sense of accomplishment crossing things off my "to do" list. 

4. In your opinion, what emotion is the most beneficial? Which one is the least useful? 

I'm not totally sure that crying is considered an emotion but rather a by product of an emotion.  But, crying has proven to be so very beneficial to me over my lifetime.  I can have a good cry, pull my boot straps up and be ready to go forth.  The crying could be the result of sadness, extreme happiness or utter frustration.  You can ask anyone that knows me well and they can tell you that I am not a pretty crier, I make it worth my time. ~chuckle~  I have many girlfriends that are such dainty criers and I do envy them. ~smile~

This question caused me to read several articles on emotions and I had no idea there were so many human emotions.  I've never given human emotions much thought but have found them to be so interesting. As to which one is the most useless, I'm just not sure.

5. What was your favorite thing to do as a kid? Elaborate. 

Eating watermelon with my Grandpa when I was about 4 years old

My paternal grandparents in a nursing facility in about 1986

I enjoyed several things as a child but one of my favorites was spending time with my paternal Grandparents, especially my Grandmother.  My Grandmother was a mess! She loved to play games and nothing really mattered when grandkids were at her house except to have a good time.  Grandpa loved us just as much as Grandma but was a quieter, gentler soul.  He left the entertaining up to Grandma.  

I ended up over seeing their care the last years of their lives as they moved into a nursing facility here.  My Daddy was their only child at that time and he and Mom lived in Virginia and they simply did not want to live there.  They lived in Arkansas and Louisiana was much closer so they moved here.  Little did I know that would be the beginning of years and years of overseeing care for family members.  

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I clicked over to Pinterest for the first time in a very long time the other day.  I started looking at Easter flower arrangements.  Oh, my goodness, I truly do not have many flower arranging bones in my body but, if I did, I would so create this masterpiece in the above picture.  I might be able to create this on a MUCH smaller scale and I might just try to.  It gives me all the feels and just screams "welcome spring!"

Speaking of spring............here in NE Louisiana Spring has NOT arrived. In fact, it has been so cold and windy that I've been fairly miserable.  We had a few days that teased us of Spring and I was so excited and then this cold front moved in.  I'm crossing my fingers that this is our last cold snap.  Spring is my very favorite season for sure!

March Prime Purchases

And, here we are, the first Monday of March, the 3rd month of 2023 has arrived.  Goodness, guess I'm really having a good time because "they" say, time flies when you are having fun.  And, here's this month's Prime Purchases.

POWERED  SUGAR  SHAKER

I LOVE cookie baking and ever so often I have a recipe that calls for dusting the cookies, after they are baked and cooled, with confectioners sugar.  Well, this little gadget makes that so easy and does it so evenly.  A great addition to my gadget drawer.

AMAZON

CHINA  STORAGE  CASES

I wanted these to store my China in since I just have it in a cabinet.  These are such a nice way to store it and they hold a complete service for 12.  And, it takes up less space in these.  I can't remember the last time I used mine and may never again, but it is nicely stored should I want to use it.

AMAZON

TRAVEL  PILL/VITAMIN  CONTAINER

Okay, this is the neatest pill container I've ever seen, also the most expensive.  I got it to put my vitamins in when we travel.  It's plenty large and that's nice since some of my vitamins are rather large. There's no chance of the top coming open like all the other ones I've ever seen.  All the more reason it is great for travel.

AMAZON

BLING  WATCH  SCREEN  PROTECTOR

Do you want a little bling for your smart watch?  Well, look no further, these are VERY inexpensive but look really sharp.  I've gotten so many compliments on mine.  It just pops on and off very easily.

AMAZON

COOKIE  PRESS  SET

Something else for my cookie baking  These are such a great size and add such a nice touch to an otherwise plain cookie.  I use them on a plain sugar cookie, a peanut butter cookie and any other cookie that has a smooth consistency.  They are the largest presses I've ever seen.

AMAZON

TURTLENECK  BATWING  RIBBED  SWEATER

This is such a cute, cute lightweight sweater and comes in several colors.  It is perfect for the weather we are having right now.  

AMAZON

SLEEVELESS  TUNIC  TOPS

This is the nicest sleeveless tunic.  I love these under shorter jackets and longer jackets.  I have this in 4 colors.  The fabric is so very soft.

AMAZON

SOFTT  BOOTIES

These are soooo cute and soooo comfortable! And, they have the perfect height heel as far as I'm concerned.  

AMAZON

And, that's it for this edition.  Perhaps you saw something you've already added to your cart. Have a great new week and hopefully you are enjoying some beautiful weather too.

The Wednesday Hodgepodge

Miracles of miracles!  It has been wayyyy tooooo loooong since I participated in the Wednesday HP.  But, I'm so glad to be back with it today and perhaps this will be the start to more participation on my part.

1. What do you find is the most boring part of your life at the moment? 

Oh, my, this is a hard one as I truly do not know of a thing that is boring in my life at the moment.  I try to keep myself from getting bored and I suppose it has worked thus far. ~grin~ 

2. February 22nd is George Washington's birthday. You'll find his face on the US $1 bill. What's the last thing you bought for roughly $1.00? (.94 €/ .83 £)

I make it a point to go by our local Dollar Tree every 2-3 weeks.  The key word in the question is "roughly."  After Covid the Dollar Tree raised it prices to $1.25, so I'm saying that is roughly a dollar.  I find more treasures in this store, bubble mailing envelopes, fabulous Hallmark greeting cards, freezer containers and the list goes on and on.  I have never left without a bag in my hand of items that cost "roughly" $1.00.

3. Is it ever okay to tell a 'little white lie'? Explain.

For me, the only place for a "little white lie" is perhaps if it involves a surprise for someone.  Otherwise, that little white lie can grow into a big black lie faster than "quick can get ready" and that is NOT good.  Truth always wins but, sadly,  I'm afraid that doesn't mean much in today's society.  Some just call it "stretching the truth" but it is technically called a LIE. 

4. What's the last thing you 'chopped'? Cherry pie, chocolate covered cherries, a bowl of cherries, cherry vanilla ice cream, maraschino cherries, a cherry lifesaver...your favorite cherry flavored something? 

We had gourmet chili dogs the other evening and I chopped up some purple onion for mine.

I am not a huge fan of cherries but there is a pie that I occasionally make that is called Pink Fluff and it is made with cherry pie filling and it is great summer dessert and I love it.  That would be about it for me and cherries. I know, weird!

5. Describe yourself with three words using your first, middle, and last initials. 

L - laugher

D - dedicated

C - compassionate

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I am going to make this as brief as I can but all of you need to know about this wonderful honey.  About a year and a half ago my nail tech (she's Vietnamese and I've know she and her husband for 25 years) asked me if I knew of a wound care clinic that her husband might go to locally.  He had injured his ankle over 20 years ago and from time to time the skin will break through and become infected.  This particular time the infection had gotten very bad and they were very concerned and looking for professional help.  I did a little calling around and referred them to a wound clinic in Monroe as our local one had closed it's doors temporarily.  When he went the nurses treated his wound with the exact Manuka honey pictured above, wrapped it and every 2 days they retreated it and within 2 weeks his ankle was completely well.  I made a mental note and she sent me the link for it in case I should ever have a need.  Well, my Daddy developed a sore on his little finger back in September . I put some antibiotic ointment and a bandaid on it to no avail. I took him to the Dr. in November and he got a big antibiotic shot, two very strong antibiotics and antibiotic ointment. Can I just say, enough antibiotics to choke a horse! Fast forward to a month later and Dr. prescribed another antibiotic, still did not heal.  The wound would get better but it would quickly get bad again.  I was at my wits end at the beginning of this month and I knew that wound therapy was the next step and I knew Daddy did not want to do that but I knew that something had to be done and QUICKLY!  Duh! one day it just dawned on me, Manuka Honey!!!! I got a small jar and might I add it is VERY expensive.  I began treating it 10 days ago, covering the wound (about the size of a dime) with a good amount of the honey, placing a piece of Saran wrap over it (otherwise the guaze would stick to the wound) and wrapping it in guaze and then a semi-waterproof surgical tape. I changed it everyday and on the 3rd day I knew that we were on to something.  At the end of a week it was well on it way to healing and I started just dapping a bit of the honey on the wound and just covering it with a bandaid. I put the bandaid loosely over the wound so it can get air and dry out.  I  do believe by this weeks end that it will no longer need any treatment.  Now, there are all kinds of Manuka honey but just know that it is NOT all created equal.  The one pictured above is the one the wound care center used because of its specific properties.  If you need further proof, Google it and you can read for days about all the amazing healing properties of it.  Okay, that's my story and perhaps it will be beneficial for you down the road. You can thank me later. ~smile~

Happy mid-week!

February - Prime Purchases

And, it's already February folks! And, it's Prime Purchase time.  Remember, it's now the first Monday of the month instead of the first Tuesday.  I hope you will enjoy this months review.

OGORI  CORDLESS  MOP

If you have been hanging out around here very long then you are well aware that I am a SUCKER for great cleaning products, gadgets and tools.  Well, let me tell you, this cordless mop is the "bees knees!" It is NOT a steam mop, just a regular spinning wet mop.  It is so easy to use and cleans unbelievably.  You can mix cleansers with the water before you pour it in the top if you so desire.  I use 1/3 cleanser and 2/3 water.  The edges of the soft pads get under the toe-kicks and the edges of the baseboards.  It runs about 45 minutes on 1 charge which is plenty of time for mopping the floors that are mopped weekly.  It has a LED light that shines on the floor in front of the mop.  I have so enjoyed having it and wish I had had something like this when we had small children. 

AMAZON

WOOL  DRYER  BALLS

I have heard so much about Dryer Balls that I decided I would give them a whirl.  I haven't fully decided if I think they are worth using or not.  I've been using them about 2 weeks and not sure that I notice quicker drying time or not.  But, they are simple enough to use so I plan to continue throwing 3-4 of them in with each load.  They sure can't hurt anything. 

AMAZON

LED  CORDLESS  LAMP

I.do.love.this.little.jewel!  I have a really big/huge round mirror on a stand that I got to replace my lighted makeup mirror.  I needed a bigger mirror and I couldn't find one that was lighted to my satisfaction.  So, I found this light and it works perfectly with the mirror.  It's cordless and I just bend it where it shines right into the mirror.  It has a really bright setting and that's the one I use.  I charge it every 5-7 days  with the USB port/plug that came with it.  It could be used in a lot  of other places as well.  The base is so small and takes up such a little space.  You just might need one of these!

AMAZON

BOOT/SHOE  SCRAPER

Hubby has used one of these for years and years.  They wear out after a few years and he gets a new one.  This is his newest one.  If you have a husband and kids, this might be a nice addition outside your backdoor.  Just sayin' 

AMAZON

BUTTON  UP  SWEATSHIRT  HOODIE

Ladies, this is a cute, cute top! While it is a tunic, it is not big and flowy, which I do NOT like.  The sleeves, and the snaps add such a nice touch to what would otherwise be a plain sweatshirt.  I ordered a small and it fits nicely with plenty of length.  It comes in several colors.

AMAZON

NYLON  MULTIPOCKET  HANDBAG/TOTE

I love a nylon handbag because all the weight is in what you put in it.  And, believe you me, I carry a whole lotta stuff in my purse so I do not want a heavy handbag.  Grant it, there are so many beautiful leather handbags but most of them weigh 3-5 pounds before you even put anything in them.  I found this and, while it is not the quality of a Baggallini nylon purse,  it is still very nice and about one third the cost.  It's the perfect size for me, lots of pockets and a divider.  And, it comes in some great colors. 

AMAZON

SHORTSLEEVE  HEART  SWEATER

Okay, gals, this is the cutest sweater!  I love Valentines and have had a good time wearing this.  It's very casual, so just throw it on with some jeans and then wait for the compliments.  I would have preferred it to be at least three quarter sleeve, but you can just throw on a denim jacket with it on a cooler day.

AMAZON

TO  GO  COFFEE  CUPS

I like to always have a supply of to go, disposable coffee cups.  I prefer them if I'm going to take a cup with me.  These are very substantial and have a sleeve to keep your hand from getting to hot and a nice lid.  And, they are very attractive!

AMAZON

TENS  AND EMS  MUSCLE  STIMULATOR

I have had a Tens unit for years but it has wires and is a whole lot of trouble to use.  I mean, I guess I didn't think it was that much trouble until I got this new wireless one.  Goodness! it's controlled by an app on my phone and there are so many settings.  I don't use it all that often but if I have a lower back ache, this will take care of it in about 30 minutes.  

AMAZON

6" HEART  SHAPED  MIRRORS

I really am trying hard to limit the "stuff" I am buying, no joke!  But, these were so cute and so inexpensive that I yielded to the temptation.  Plus, I had my Pokeno group last week and I used these to decorate the table where we played and placed Valentine decor on top of each one.

AMAZON

Well, that's it for February and what an array of items.  I keep thinking that one day I will get back to regular blogging but it just hasn't happened.  I do enjoy sharing my Prime Purchases and I'm thinking I need to do a "favorites" post one day soon as well.  In the meantime I hope you saw something on today's post to add to your cart.  Have a great February and go have yourself an amazing week!