Wednesday HodgePodge

Waiting for laundry to be done so playing along with the Wednesday Hodgepodge bunch.  Head here to learn more or to link up. 

1. What's one thing on your to-do list that you want to get done, need to get done, or that must get done before the year ends? 

Want to get done: donate another bag of shoes and outdated clothing to the local missions bin at the local Episcopal church; 

Needs to get done: Paying for another year of AAA.  I just have to do it  so it's in the mail by January 1st. 

Must get done: I must go online and renew the Empire Pass for 2026 and take advantage of the discount! 

2.  December 17th is National Maple Syrup Day...are you a fan? Do you like maple flavor in other food items such as candy, cookies, donuts, oatmeal, hot toddies, coffee? 

I'm an Adirondacks Mountain girl...of course I love maple syrup! It's gotta be the real thing for me. No store bought, watery "fake" maple syrup like the now defunct (thank GOD!) Aunt Jemima brand. I used to put a drizzle of maple syrup in my morning coffee (now I drink it unsweetened but for holidays I still use maple syrup in coffee).  I do like maple flavored cookies and brownies. I don't eat donuts or candy but real maple candy made here in the NYS mountains is amazing. You can also find real maple candy in Vermont. 

3. Time magazine names a person of the year every year.  The tradition started back in 1927 with a 'man of the year' but has since changed to recognize not only an individual, but also to consider the impact of a group, movement, or idea that most influenced the year. The selection is not always someone or something good (think Hitler in 1938 and Stalin twice). 

This year they've named The AI Architects as their 'person of the year'. What say you? Is this a good choice, an obvious choice, a logical choice? Who do you think should have been named person of the year? 

I guess it makes sense...what they chose...I kind of wish they had chosen someone who has done something heroic this year. Although I've no idea who that might be.  I'm just glad it's not the current president nor any of his minions and since Taylor already got this title in 2023, I guess I'm ok with it being the AI Architects. I'm thoroughly disgusted that the current pres was given this "honor" for 2 years in recent history. YUCK! 

I really wish they had chosen Michelle Obama. she's classy, doing alot of work for women and girls and is a good role model as a former First Lady. Kind,  compassionate.  Loved her books! They should choose good role models in my opinion. But  I know they dont very oftnen. 

4. What's a city, state, or country you've visited that you never care to visit again? Tell us why. 

Indiana:  too flat and boring. 

5. Next Sunday (December 21st) marks the first day of winter (or the opposite if you're living down under). What's one thing you love about this new season? 

I love the stillness that winter brings. The beautiful  white snow and deep blue sky on a sunny day. I love that I can take woods walks in the quiet, hushed surroundings and  breathe deeply the crisp mountain air, hint of woodsmoke sometimes and the scent of pine and balsam. I love the candles in my family and living rooms once darkness settles down. I love the slower pace. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!!

Week Before Christmas Menu

 

Winter season is almost here! Just 7 evenings from tonight, we will celebrate the Winter Solstice and our youngest daughter's birthday. Her family celebration will actually be Saturday evening as Sunday evening she is going out with a friend.  I decided, now that most of the holiday parties are winding down on our calendar (we have one more for 12/27),  that we needed to get back to some healthier eating and closer to 6:30 pm vs 7 pm. Mainly, because we tend to go to bed earlier in the winter months...at least Dave does. 

So here's my Menu Plan for the week which I will keep flexible although I can tell you, tonight's and tomorrow's menu will be as written and I might actually do Wednesday's plan for Thursday.  But at least I have an idea of what I'm cooking this week. 

• MONDAY: Thai Peanut Naan Pizzas; Orange Sesame Salad (Meatless)

• TUESDAY:  Italian Sloppy Joes on Garlic Toast; (made with fresh ground bison from the ADK bison farm)  Steamed Broccoli/Cauliflower 

• WEDNESDAY:  Lemon-Herb baked chicken with Cucumber Slaw

• THURSDAY:  Brown Rice/Quinoa Bowls with Roasted Mediterranean Mix veggies (red potatoes, zucchini, red bell pepper, onion, yellow squash) (Meatless)

• FRIDAY:  Italian Bean Soup with Garlic Toast; Chocolate Shortbread Xmas Cookies for dessert

• SATURDAY:  To Celebrate Claire's birthday: she has requested food from one of our fave vegan restaurants and my homemade Vegan Chocolate Crinkle Cookies (I'll make a double batch and freeze one for Xmas Day). I'll be ordering the Garbanzo Bruschetta (it's amazing!!) and Zucchini Fries; not sure about the rest of the family but I'm guessing Claire will order the Bar Vegan Sushi Roll and the Edamame Pot Stickers.  

I'm looking forward to having a quieter week with no evening obligations except for Saturday! The last 2 weeks have been insanely busy. 

What's on your menu for the week?? Have you done any Christmas cookie baking? We have NONE in the house as all the baking I've done the last 2 weeks has been for parties. 

FLIP IT!

 

I've been praying on and off for our youngest daughter Claire. Our winter solstice baby.  Our now 26 almost 27 year old who is so smart, graceful, wise, compassionate, non-judgemental, brutally honest, hard-working. I'm not going to go into details here but I will share some things two different people shared with me regarding my prayers for my young adult children. One was our site pastor, Pastor Mat.  He's awesome. I ran into him in the lobby after the last class a couple weeks ago that I was taking every Monday morning, and we got to talking about his latest sermon he preached when Pastor Rex was away (our senior pastor is Rex and when he's away, the site pastors preach).  Well it was about how just because one goes to church doesn't mean they are a Christian and just because someone does not go to church, doesn't mean that they are not a Christian! (Christian used here meaning Christ follower/saved/born again/child of God/ a disciple of God....whatever phrase you use). Of course most of us know this. There was more to his points of course but he also reminded me that although Proverbs 22:6 is a great principle, it is not a promise. BUT...it IS a principle that we stand by...that when we raise a child in the things of God, this will affect their character. I needed this reminder. 

Intentional guidance in moral and spiritual truths does shape a child's character. That they are more likely to embrace their faith when being taught Biblical principles. 

This was again confirmed to me today by a friend I really look up to spiritually speaking. I really needed to hear some of the things she had to say. 

And one thing was to look at the situation I'm praying about and "flip it".  Instead of saying "oh Lord I'm worried about _________", say "Thank You God for the opportunity I have to be a model and for the chance to speak into her life". 

To look at the blessing vs the trial.  To  pray "Thank You God for what You are doing in her life" vs "oh God I am concerned about ________".  

this brings HOPE!! And it reminded me of the Scripture in the photo above. As I trust my God...my dear Father in heaven with my dear youngest daughter, I can have a heart and mind of peace vs worry. I can have the hope of Christ which brings me that peace.  

If you're dealing with a situation that has you focusing on the negative vs the positive try flipping your prayer. God wants us to seek Him.  He knows how we feel.  Let's trust Him with the outcomes. Let's flip the way we are looking at things and see that God has a plan and a purpose and  although we in our humanness can't see it, we can trust Him.

I'm going to start flipping my thoughts and my prayers. 

2025 Book Review #56:The Mitford Snowmen

 

In Christmas 2010, when my youngest daughter was just about to turn 11 and our oldest daughter was 15, my sister Hope gifted this book to go with the other Christmas Mitford book (Esther's Gift). 

This one is one my daughters really liked. 

I re-visited it I this weekend.  

STORY SUMMARY

Everyone in town is filled with the Christmas spirit. It's snowing, and downtown, there is a snowman building contest going on. Not only is everyone filled with the holiday spirit, but they are also filled with  a competitive spirit. 

Father Tim and Uncle Billy's creation is a good one.  So is Percy's and J.C's. Who will win the first Annual Snowman Jubilee?? 

MY THOUGHTS

This is another endearing Christmas story told by a favorite author with a cast of characters we have come to love. 

The story is simple and heart-warming and is appropriate for any age!

The illustrations are beautifully crafted. I love the page where it shows all the snowmen the townspeople built. 

The themes of friendship, healthy competitiveness and generosity are again displayed in this little treasure of a short story.  

In my opinion, this book is appropriate ages 4 and older. 

On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 10.