It's Beginning to Look Like the Hodgepodge

 

Joyce asks the questions, and we provide the answers. See how others answered at From This Side of the Pond.

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? 

I have nothing that absolutely needs to be done by the end of the year. I do want to paint the room I'm using as an office, but there's no timeline.

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 do like maple in everything.

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? 

Well, that's not a "person", is it? That's all that needs to be said. Pope Leo would have been an excellent choice, but maybe I'm partial!

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

Belfast, Northern Ireland. Even though they've made a lot of strides, I could feel the conflict when I was there. Some people really like it; I'm not much of a fan. If Northern Ireland were to reunite with the Republic of Ireland, I might consider going back. Derry/Londonderry is another place in Northern Ireland. I just got a bad vibe from it. My SIL and I (along with the 2 solo females in our group) opted not to go out the night we were there; we ate dinner in the hotel.  You can read about the visit to Derry here, and to Belfast here.

Did you know that Belfast has a wall separating the 2 sides? They voted to keep the wall since it made them (I'm not sure if it's both sides or just 1) feel safer.

The Peace Bridge in Derry/Londonderry

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 still love the excitement of a snow day, even though I'm no longer working. Sitting on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, and watching old movies. What is it about old movies and winter?

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I was going to do a whole post on last weekend, but I always think: "Who really cares what I did over the weekend (because usually it's a whole lot of nuttin'!). I spent Saturday baking Eggnog Bread as a gift for the nuns/monks from a nearby monastery, and Apple Pound Cake for dessert that evening. I was invited to a friend's for dinner with the nuns/monks and a couple of other friends. I love being around all of these people. There were a lot of laughs and some great conversation.

The Benedictines and Benedictine Daughters of the Divine Will

Apple Cake and Eggnog Bread (pre-glazed)

I also made some cinnamon rolls (from scratch-but I use the bread machine) for the kids on Sunday. We had a baking/candy-making day. MS and his GF, and YS and DIL came over. It was fantastic! I showed the girls (and YS) what to do and then just stood back and let them handle it. What used to take me 2 days to accomplish was done in 1. 

1 pan of cinnamon rolls ready to go in the fridge overnight

It was a very good day, indeed!

The finished product, except for the Mamie Eisenhower Fudge

It couldn't have been a more perfect day!