Hello Again, Hodgepodge. Just Called to Let You Know...

I think about you every night....

Not. 

But on Tuesdays nights we have our little special time together, don't we, Hodgepodge?







1.  "...I think I need to dive right in to some Christmas related questions, don't you? Which do you prefer-pretty gift wrap with a bow or a pretty gift bag with/without a bow? What percentage of your holiday gifts are currently (as in right this very minute) wrapped in some form or fashion?

I love to open pretty packages tied up with ribbons and bows. It's like getting an extra gift. I also enjoy wrapping gifts with pretty or fun paper and finding creative little toppers. Not that I keep up this pace as December wears on and my umph wears out; I am a better starter than finisher.     I have a tradition to wrap a few last surprises on Christmas Eve when everyone's in bed.  ( Sounds so much better than "I have this habit of procrastinating," doesn't it?)  That's when I become the "bag lady."

I've only wrapped two gifts this years so far, and that was in early November--my shoeboxes for my Samaritan's Purse, one with a teen girl in mind, the other for a 10-year-old boy in mind. That is really the kickstart to my Christmas, and something I love to do.

*I ended up, after taking this photo,  having to do some mending and blending to fix the edges of the paper that kept not cooperating. I loved finding that pre-wrapped blue snowflake tin for the pens I included because we all now by now that I have this penchant for pens and pretty containers.

2. What is one item on your Christmas list this year?

Intangibles too personal for the worldwide web.  But as for something that money  can buy, I'll go with watercolor pencils .

3. What makes a home?

Every which way I've tried to write my answer sounds cliche,' so I'm going to swap that question out for another.  You know, sort of Scrabble tiles except not?

This question comes from a little second grader in chapel today.  Normally the head chaplain tells some corny jokes the kids love, but he was sick today, so his assistant chaplain asked for kids to come up and tell jokes. Keep in mind this is a Christian school, okay?  Little girl comes up to the front and says, "What did the pepper say to the salt?...'I'm hotter than you.'" 

All the upper school kids laughed and all the teachers blushed and stifled giggles. The Pre-K aide whispered to me on the way out, "Um, ya think we need to screen our comedians next time?"

4. Motown founder Berry Gordy celebrates his birthday on Hodgepodge Day-November 28th. Are you a fan of the Motown sound? If so, who's your favorite Motown artist and/or song? Here's a list in case you're stuck.

Yes, I love the Motown sound. In college, my roommate Mary got me hooked.
My favorite Motown artist is Lionel Richie. Oh, my heart be still.  When he sang "Hello" on the radio, I know he was singin' to me. I know it.  In fact, I think this question just inspired  me to say "hello again, hello" to Lionel tonight.

Excuse me while I slip away and swoon...

 




5. Red or green-which one is more prevalent in your closet?

On my side, they're about even...red, cranberry, pink. On honey's side of the closet, more green. 


6. True or false-bacon makes it better? If you answered true, what's your favorite dish made with bacon?

True, true, and more true.  One of my favorite dishes is one I tweaked. It has shrimp and bacon, along with spinach and pasta. I call the dish "Don't Invite the Rabbi, Just the Pasta."
I used to have it on my blog, but one night when I was in a very bad mood, I went deleting a whole bunch of posts and was about to delete the whole blog.  Then I realized I really didn't want to be that drastic. But it was too late for the recipe.  I regret that decision.



7. Share a favorite holiday memory.

I remember when I was in third grade I really, really, really wanted a little multi-colored paisley overnight bag fom  Gimbels ("the five and dime") in the tiny little Kansas town located a few miles from our TEENY TINY town.

I spotted it there  with my mom and dad in the very first aisle. Coveting the prize Container for the WanderLuster, I begged and begged for it. They said, "We'll see. It's a lot of money."  They managed to get my eyes off the bag and on to other desirables, but eventually I went back to gawk at the pretty piece of luggage. Lo and behold , it was gone! Somebody bought it just that fast??!!! 

Heartbroken, I burst into a thousand tears, drama princess that I was.  Of course it doesn't take more than an elfin leap to figure out  that you-know-who opened you-know-what on Christmas morning. I finally had a suitcase of my own to pack for spending the night with my besties Brenda and Barbie.  I have grown up and moved away from Kansas, but still love to pack my suitcase and go to Barb's house in Kansas! Maybe I'll put "ticket to Wichita" on my Christmas list. Hmm..... "Hello!"

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Hey, Hodgepodgers? Want to join my Christmas Tour of Homes?  Read the post I wrote before this. Get ready to show us how you've made your house a home at the holidays. Are you in?