Wednesday Hodgepodge questions by Joyce at From This Side Of The Pond. 

1. The Hodgepodge lands on the last day of March...in ten words or lest bid the month adieu. 

March was a good month for me.

2. March 31st is National Tater Day...your favorite way to have a potato? Given a choice would you opt for sweet, white, or red? How often are potatoes on your menu in one form or another? Ever been to Idaho? If not, is that a state you'd like to visit someday? We enjoy all 3. Hubby just made a chicken soup and used gold potatoes I just bought. We normally use red potatoes. Once in awhile we enjoy a baked potato. We also love baked sweet potato with butter and cinnamon.  We also cooked diced potatoes and add then to hamburger meat and seasoning for our taco meat. Never been to Idaho. I have a friend who is moving there. Maybe I can visit her.

3. Last time someone or something 'rained on your parade'? Explain. We have had a lot of windy days. Hubby has to take down the umbrellas and I can't go in the spa.

4. Put all your eggs in one basket, get cracking, nest egg, bad egg, good egg, egg on, have egg on your face, or walk on eggshells...choose a phrase from the list that applies to something in your life currently and tell us how or why. Get cracking! lots of things to do. Spring organizing, gardening and crafting.

5. If I visited your home would I find a lot of baskets there? Something you like to keep in a basket?  Yes I do have a few baskets. There is one in the family room that holds lap blankets. I have a few in the bathrooms. There are a couple in the guestroom to hold toys. I just set up a basket I got in Hawaii. Then there are the Easter baskets I will be making for the grands!

6. Insert your own random thought here. We are looking forward to a Happy Easter this year. We both got our vaccines so we plan to go to church and then to my son's house for an Easter celebrations. Remembering that Jesus is the reason for the season.

Saturday 9: Fooled by a Feeling (1979)

 

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

Chosen because next week is April Fool's Day. 

1) Some believe that the practice of playing tricks on one another on April 1 dates back to the 14th century because it's mentioned in Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. Geoffrey Chaucer is considered one of England's greatest poets. From memory, quote a bit of poetry for us. (It doesn't have to be English, or great.) When I was around 8-9 our Sunday school class performed in the Christmas Eve performance. Each person had a portion to learn. The teacher lit the first  person's candle and then they said their part. Then the that person lit the next persons candle and they would recite their part. At the end we sang a song. Her is my part of the poem.

Christians lit the light, 

that all the world would see, 

the gift of love 

from God above, 

God's son who set us free.

2) When Crazy Sam was a little girl, her mother would prank her on April Fool's Day by slipping a rubber worm or plastic spider in her lunch box. Did you/do you carry a lunchbox, either as a student or an adult? Yes I did. I think I was around nine or ten in this picture. I am in the middle. 

I think the thermos lasted about 1 day.

3) In 1998, Burger King got into the April Fool's Day fun by promoting a special "Left Handed Whopper," supposedly perfectly  designed for a leftie to hold. Describe your perfect burger. Sesame seed bun, lettuce, tomato, pickles and sauce. Once in awhile I like grilled onions.

4) In this week's song, Barbara Mandrell sings that she followed her heart into her lover's arms. Are you more often led by your heart or head? Just depends on the situation. 

5) She knows now she was wrong for believing her man loved her. When did you recently admit you were wrong? Today.

6) Barbara Mandrell recalls being able to read music before she could read words. Can you read sheet music? Yes I can because I played piano for years. But I could not point the notes out and tell you what they are.

7) Barbara had her own TV variety show in the 1980s and, in the 90s, acted on the daytime drama, Sunset Beach. The soap opera's producer, Aaron Spelling, was a huge fan of Barbara's and was thrilled to finally meet and work with her. Tell us about someone you really enjoyed working with, and why.

I have not worked since November 2010. I enjoyed working with most people in my department. I shared an office with a girl named Irene. I would play my Christian music sometimes and she would play her oldies some times. We could talk about all sorts of things while working unless we were on the phones. I would share what was happening at my church and Women's ministry. Before we moved into our new church, we got to write the names of people we were praying on the cement floor. It was just before they placed the carpet. I told Irene I put her name down and she said thanks for thinking of her. She left my department in 2009.  We would chat on occasion through text message. In 2012 I started getting Bible verses from her so I asked her is she was a Christian and she said yes. She said a mutual friend invited her to church. When she went, she realized it was the same church I told her about. I wasn't going to church much then because I was taking care of my sick dad. But one day I was there and Irene came over to say hi with her friend and told her "this is the girl that wrote my name on the floor in the church. Then she hugged me. She said I led her on that path. I told her God did!

I like bible journaling with my friends and my friends Linda and Coreen come to my mind first.

8) In 1979, when this song was released, a top-of-the-line Sony Walkman sold for $150 (approx. $500 in today's dollars). Did you have a portable cassette player back in the day? I still remember using a desktop recorder to record songs from the radio. It also helped me learn terms for my physiology class. I would read the terms while recording. Then I could play it back while reading. Later I got a smaller Walkman to listen to music.

9) Random question: What's the first thing you thought of when you woke up this morning. Wow, it is late! 

This week went by so fast! The grands came over on Saturday and spent the night. We were able to do some Bible journaling and they painted wooden rainbows. The girls also had fun dressing up the dogs. The dogs hate to wear clothes but they liked the attention they were getting!

Monday hubby and I had to rest. During the week we watched a series on The Queen of Soul - Aretha Franklin. It was very interesting. I was also busy working on my Lent project-bible journaling. Also doing a project for my craft group. 

In April I will be going on a virtual cruise to Hawaii with Crafty Destinations(Set Sail and Stamp). They had one last April called Quarantine Cruise and it was fun. They provide you with all the digital materials that you print out and cut. Each day we had a morning wakeup call and them 2 teaching lessons. Everything is crafting. Last time we stopped in Mexico. At the end of the 5 days we all had a cute memory book of our adventures. If you are interested in it, I can post a few sample pictures.  The link is  Crafty Destinations When you sign up, you are given the link to the private Facebook group where we see the live presentations. It doesn't start until April 14 and material will be mailed out by the 9th. If you have stamps-rubber or acrylic, get them ready. But you don't have to have them.  You will get plenty of graphics to print out and use. In my other group, they suggested we find pictures in Pinterest. I might go to the public library and see if they have used magazines that have pictures. I will also be using some of my pictures from my last Hawaii trip.

ORDINARY PEOPLE (2005)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, John Legend sings that both he and his girl have "room to grow." What about you? In what areas would you like to improve? My health, I need to exercise more and cut out sugar. I do not need to lose weight. I need to build muscle because I have lost a lot of muscle. I would like to be a volunteer too. Our church is doing various things to get involved with the community.

2) He sings that when he hangs up in anger, she calls him back. Are you quicker to anger, or quicker to forgive? I don't get mad to often and I don't stay mad very long.

3) "Ordinary People" was John Legend's first big hit. He originally wrote it for The Black Eyed Peas, but -- happily for him -- recorded it himself. Have you ever purchased a gift for someone else but then decided to keep it yourself? Yes, usually because I misplaced it and bought something else!

 

4) Ordinary People is also the title of an acclaimed novel by Judith Guest and an Oscar-winning film. Are you familiar with either the movie or the book? Yes I saw the movie, it was sad.

5) John is married to Chrissy Teigen, who gained fame as a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model. When is the last time you dove in? Were you in a pool, lake, river or sea? In a pool at the Newport Coast Marriott with my grandkids.

6) John unexpectedly proposed to Chrissy on vacation, but he was afraid airport security would ruin the surprise when they went through his carry on very thoroughly. He worried she would see the ring box and he'd have to drop down to one knee right there at the airport! Tell us about one of your flights: your first, your most recent or your most memorable. My first flight was to Las Vegas and I was sitting in a seat the faced away from the front of the plane. So the takeoff felt weird. I remember saying "This is better than Star Tours!" The people around me smiled and I am sure they new I was a first time flyer. My best flight was my first flight to Hawaii with my cousin and sister. It was so much fun! Then our last flight in 2018 when our family went to Hawaii with the grands.

7) John is currently a coach on The Voice. The other coaches are Nick Jonas, Kelly Clarkson and Blake Shelton. Of those four singers, which is your favorite? I would say John. I saw him in a tribute concert to Carole King and he played one of her songs and sang it to her.

8) In 2005, when this song was popular, Johnny Carson died. After he retired from The Tonight Show in 1993, he traveled extensively and discovered he especially enjoyed photographic safaris in Africa. If time and money were no object, where would you go on vacation? Israel, Spain and Italy.

 

9) Random question -- In your typical day, what's the longest you usually go without saying a word to another person: all day, a few hours, an hour, or five minutes? Maybe 3 hours. My husband and I are both retired. He likes to watch his programs on tv and I am usually bible journaling or crafting in another room or if the weather is nice, I will go out. But normally it is not more than an hour.

On Friday hubby and I took our dog Minnie to Big Bear Mountains. It is about 90 minutes away and we started seeing snow around 5000 feet. It was sunny and 54. 

1. This week's Hodgepodge lands on St. Patrick's Day. Will you wear green? Eat corned beef and cabbage? Drink green beer? Have you ever been to Ireland? Is it on your travel 'bucket list'? I will wear green and I even have a face mask with Mickey and Minnie and Shamrocks to wear. We are having lamb, cabbage, potatoes, broccoli and cauliflower for dinner. I don't like beer. Never have been to Ireland and no plans to go there. I will probably go to Sprouts and get some Irish Soda bread.

2. Something you think is 'worth its weight in gold'? My grandkids!

3. Something that makes you 'green around the gills'? Canned spinach.

4. What puts a 'spring in your step' these days? Being outside, especially at a park with lots of trees.

5. Write a limerick using one of the following as your theme....March, St. Patrick's Day, Covid, 2020 and/or 2021, the color green, or life lately. Yes, you can do it. 

There once was a day of green

That became an Irish dream

A short little man with a  green top hat

Slid down a rainbow flat on his back.

Into a a jingle of coins that made him beam

6. Insert your own random thought here.  I really was surprised to see that according to Ancestry.com, my DNA has 4% Irish. As a child, it was a day to wear green and not get pinched. The Craft group I am in does a virtual visit of different places and this month it is Ireland. It is interesting to learn new things.  In 2017, my husband and I ate at an Irish place called Ri Ra at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. I had the Irish stew and my husband had corn beef and cabbage. 

Saturday 9: Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral (1944)

 

Selected because this Wednesday is St. Patrick's Day. Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

   

1) Bing Crosby sings that he learned this song from his mother. Can you recall a song from your early childhood? Yes many, mostly from Sunday School.

Jesus loves me!

This I know,

For the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to Him belong;

They are weak but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

Yes, Jesus loves me!

The Bible tells me so.

 

2) Bing was NBC's first choice to play TV's Columbo. He turned down the role because, by that time, he was in his 60s and just didn't feel like working a full week anymore. Peter Falk eventually got the part and played Det. Columbo for 10 seasons. Do you enjoy detective stories, whether on TV, in movies or in books?  I watch Blue Bloods, SVU and NCIS.

3) Bing could trace his family back to County Cork. While it's said that on St. Patrick's Day everyone is ,can you honestly claim Irish heritage? I checked Ancestry.com and it says I have 4% in my DNA. My mom, grandma and great grandma had green eyes. My grandmother had two brothers with redidsh hair and blue eyes. I am also 34% Spanish, 39% Indigenous America, 5% Italian and 4% Portugal. 2% French and a few other 2% or less. 

 

4) Other than St. Patrick, what is Ireland famous for? Potatoes, Irish Stew, Soda Bread, Corn beef and cabbage, the Irish Pub, Kerrygold butter, Leprechauns and castles. According to the Internet, Halloween originated there on the Emerald Isle.

5) "The wearing o' the green" is one way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Will you wear something green in honor of the day? I got something for my hair.

6) Have you ever had green beer? I don't like beer.

7) Have you ever ordered a Shamrock Shake from McDonald's? Once.

8) A four-leaf clover is considered good luck. Do you have a lucky charm? No

9) Speaking of Lucky Charms, they are magically delicious.  What brand of cereal is in your kitchen right now? I don't eat cereals, but I do have Steel Cut Oats.

A pink rainbow in my city today.

I am thankful  to God for every morning that I wake up too So happy I am retired!

I am thankful for the rain we have had because we sure need it. 

Thankful for a warm house because the weather has been in the 50's which is cold for us.

I am thankful for being able to decorate my house seasonally, adds a touch of country coziness.

I am thankful for the Lent study I am working on. I love being in the Word in a creative way.

I am thankful for all the amazing graphic artist that bring creativity and color to so many things.

I am thankful for the date my husband and I had last week.

I am thankful we got to be with all our grandkids this week.

I am thankful for the furbabies!

Thankful for all the friends I have made on here!

Lets talk about Travel...

1. How far have you gone from home and where did you go? I just answered this a few post ago. From Los Angeles to Oahu, Hawaii 2564 miles. San Diego to New York, 2433 miles. From there we got on a ship and traveled up the New England coast to Halifax Nova Scotia-900 miles.  1971 From Los Angeles to Mexico by car. 1900 miles.  I was 15 years old for 6 weeks. I went with a friend I met in Jr. High. The whole family was going for a wedding. It was a great learning experience for me. I am thankful to my parents who allowed me to go. It was another 235 miles to Acapulco. They took me so I could see the famous cliff divers. Then there was the drive back! But I will never forget that trip.

In 1967 we went to Colorado by train for Christmas to visit my sister. I remember there was lots of snow and it snowed when we were there. We went again in the summer of 1968 by car. We got to go to the Air Force Academy and the Denver Mint. When we left we stopped at Four Corners, Mesa Verse,  and Meteor Crater.  We have been to the Grand Canyon, Bryce, Utah and Zion. We have been to Las Vegas several times. In 2006, we flew to Seattle with a stop in Utah. 654 miles. Utah to Seattle  688 miles. We boarded the cruise ship in Seattle and headed to Alaska. Sorry this is a busy post and memories are coming up as I write this.

2. Do you think the hassle of travel is worth the trouble? Yes it is.

3. Are there places you would like to visit or have plans for visiting? We are suppose to go back to Hawaii in the fall. We share a time share with my son. Last time my daughter and her kids went with us. This time she is going to New York for Christmas with her family. We also have 5 days in So Lake Tahoe to use. We were suppose to go last fall, but Covid! We were there in October 2019. It is 442 miles to get there and takes about 8 hours if you drive straight through. We made several stops for it took 12 hours that included meals and shopping. We were there 3 nights and 4 days. When we left there we headed to Yosemite which was 149 miles to the park entrance. We spent the night there and then we headed to Pismo beach, 244 miles. Then back home, 224 miles. I would like to take one more cruise. My dad was 77 when he went on a 3 week cruise through the Panama Canal. Maybe for our 50th anniversary in 3 years.

4. What trip was the best you've ever had? That is a hard one. 2008 New York/Cruise with my parents and 2018 Hawaii with my grandkids!  I went with hubby and siblings and my dad to Oahu and Maui in 2012. Hubby and I went to Hawaii for our 35th in 2009. I went to Hawaii with my sister and cousin in 2000. Did I say I love Hawaii? If you go Here, you can find links to all these trips. 

Waiting to see Phantom of the Opera at the Majestic Theater.

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