Dude, Look! The Hodgepodge Sleigh is Here!

Joyce has done it again.  She has loaded the Hodgepodge sleigh with lots of goodies in the form of questions.   Here are my answers. There are plenty more answers  written by busy blogging elves, so grab some cocoa, sit a spell, and then go "over the river and through the woods" to other blogs with the click of your mouse, will you? Best part is, no hat or scarf required on this ride!

Wait! Wait! That reminds me of a riddle we heard in chapel today (courtesy of a sixth grader).
What did the hat say to the scarf? "You stay here. I'm going on a head."

Ho!Ho!Ho!  Wasn't that funny.  No?  Okay, not really but still, I know you're at least smiling, right?



1. So, when did you last take a walk in the woods? A stroll along the beach? A drive going nowhere in particular in the car? 

          a. can't remember
          b. August 2011
          c.  a couple months ago when I got angry and just wanted to "fly the coop," I got in the car
               and headed for BWI,  but ended up driving around, "cooling off." You know they say there
               is the 'fight or flight" response during an argument? Well, I have both. First I fight, then I
               look for deals on flights. Usually to KS, but I'm not picky, except when I realize I have
               no suitcase with me.  (THAT TIME I DID, THOUGH. I WAS REALLY MAD.)
               Too bad fighting is free and flying is costly. Well, actually, fighting
               is costly, too,  isn't it?  Waa. So I ate some crow and headed home.

2. Are you sending Christmas cards this year? About how many do you send? Photo card or something more traditional? How do you display the cards you receive?

               a. I don't know if I'm sending any this year .

               b. I send fewer than I used to. I always say I'll send just 25, but it ends up more like 40.

               c.  Traditional in the past. I still wrestle with whether photo cards have anything to do with

                    celebrating the birth of Christ, or if it's just a happy thing to do. That said,
                    this year I am leaning toward doing a photo card. Guess I'd better decide PDQ.
                   .Time's a tickin.'  Or I might send a winter songbird drawing I drew, if I get a "bee in  my
                    bonnet and have it copied.

                d. I display cards. on the back of  my front door with tape behind each.

                    When that door gets filled, I start hanging them on the front of the haIfbath door.

                    I've wondered for years about a better way of doing this, but I do like to see them as I

                    pass through the foyer. They are on full display for visitors that way, as well.

3. What's a word you've heard too much of in the past week?

Dude.   A friend of my youngest calls him "dude" Idontknowhowmanytimesaminute. He starts every sentence with "dude."  He carpools with us and is a great kid, but dude! Do you mind knocking off the "dude" for awhile, dude? It's gettin' on my last dude nerve. Dude, I mean that in the most loving way possible, dude.  

4. December 13th is National Cocoa Day-are you a fan? Plain or flavored? Marshmallows or no marshmallows?

Oh, I love cocoa.  I like it plain usually, but sometimes I'm in the mood for peppermint mocha or

vanilla caramel creamer blended in.  Marshmallows all the way, baby, Or some "foof" cream! Or both. As far as I'm concerned , (dude), hot cocoa is not just a beverage; it's an experience.

5. What is something you do to help alleviate the hectic pace of the Christmas season?

This year I've made a conscious choice to take in shows, performances, or services that lift my spirits.

Two Sundays ago, I went to see a local college and junior ballet troupe perform  The Nutcracker.  It was quite entertaining, although I wasn't sure that someone's seams weren't going to rip when he did the splits. (It also made me wonder if the ballet might have been named for that signature move.) The costumes were spectacular, the dancing beautiful, the music uplifting. To sit there as a mom knowing that "it takes a village" to put together something of that quality and magnitude is really amazing--and liberating because I was not one of those busy hands!!!   I thought it all pointed, silently, to God.  He made the human body to do that kind of twirling and jumping and tumbling and flying! Imagine how we will dance in heaven--without reservation, not twisting any ankles or breaking bones or faltering one iota. The "set decoration" will be out of this world, literally! The music perfect in every way.

Um, this past Sunday I got to see my baby sister in the lead role of her church's musical, The Secret of Snowflake County.  My sister brings so much joy and energy to the stage, just like she brings to real life.  In the play, she was the mayor, a busy visionary who wanted THIS year's extravaganza to feature things that "are fresh, new, never-done-before" Christmas. Her daughter (in the play) a little 7-year-old, keeps trying to show her a secret, but Mom/Mayor is too busy with more important things.

Finally, the little girl gets her chance, her friend holds a foil star over her head, the house lights dim, and little Mary, holding baby Jesus near a wagon labeled "MANGER."  Mary sings her song, and as she does, tears just start rolling down my face.  It caught me off guard. The sweetness, the tenderness, the purity in her voice, with the simple message that never gets old to those of us who love Jesus.

6. Besides jewelry, what's a favorite sparkly-glittery item in your home or closet?

Temporarily, my ruby red fingernails and matching toenails.    I got my first-ever gel manicure, and wow, am I impressed. This polish lasts and lasts!! There was a special on it this week, and I was in desperate need of a mani-pedi.

7. Share a favorite line or two from any Christmas carol.

Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth

8.  Random thought...

I need counsel, so please feel free to offer your proverbial two cents.

Today I went to a sewing machine shop and "test drove" three models in  my price range.  One Necchi (pronounced Necky, I think?) and two by Janome (pronounced Juh-NOH-mee).  The Necchi was loud and sounded clunky to me, and since I usually sew at night or when folks are trying to watch TV, I need a quiet one.  Both Janome machines were quiet.

Janome, an old trusted name in sewing machines,  makes high quality machines. Either one, I think, would be reliable.  Both these models are mechanical. (I don't want a computerized one--more to break, more to spend on repairs, and I'd rather spend it on fabric.)   The  one ( a refurbished New Home by Janome model 108) is about 15 years old, basic,  will do more than my current machine, runs smoothly, is solid, and I'd be content with it even though it looks boring.  60 day warranty from the shop, no warranty from the manufacturer.

The other is $120 more, a brand new Janome MyStyle 100, a few more stitches, but still basic. 1 year warranty from the dealer, 25 from Janome; the machine is glistening white and smooth.

The dealer will give me $50 for trading in my old Kenmore that he just diagnosed as a broken screw and timing issue ($85 repair bill if I get it fixed, $20 of which I've already paid for the diagnosis).   I sew a few times a year (curtains, pillows, crafts, and I've made four very small quilts)--when inspiration strikes. I  don't need "bells and whistles" (so I didn't even test one of those suckers).  Which one, which one might Santa bring me if I can talk him into spoiling me? 

By the way, I'm sorry but I've had to turn Word Verification back on because of all the spam I've gotten here in the past month. It's a pain to have to do the WV, I know, but I see no other way around it.  Please leave me comments anyway, will you?