Ringing in the New Year with the Wednesday Medley

It's just like the Wednesday Hodgepodge, but with a new name and a new "hostess with the mostess"! Much thanks to Terri for continuing our Wednesday Q&A...I'm looking forward to being reacquainted with old friends and meeting new ones.

Today is  NATIONAL SCIENCE FICTION DAY

National Science Fiction Day is celebrated annually on January 2nd by millions of science fiction fans across the United States.  The date of January 2 was chosen for National Science Fiction Day as it corresponds with the birth date of famed science fiction writer Isaac Asimov.   National Science Fiction Day is recognized by the Hallmark Channel and the Scholastic Corporation. 

HOW TO OBSERVE

Watch some classic science fiction t.v. shows or movies.  Start reading a science fiction novel. Use #ScienceFictionDay to post on social media.

1.  Will you observe National Science Fiction Day as recommended above?  Do you even like science fiction?

I'm not a fan of science fiction so I won't be observing it. I'm going to tuck this piece of information away for next year & do a week's worth of lessons on Isaac Asimov, though!

2.  Have you chosen a "word" for 2019?  Many people do. THIS QUIZ might help you find your word!!

For the past few years, I have used the Saint's Name Generator to choose a saint. 2019 Saint: 

 There was also a link for a Word of the Year so I did it...just out of curiosity:

3.  Did you stay up to see the new year in?  Are you happy or sad to see 2018 go?

I was in bed around 9:30 and yet the new year still came in without me being awake!
Eh, I'm pretty indifferent about seeing 2018 go. Thank goodness it was a pretty uneventful year. We brought in 2018 in windy, cold Panama City, Fl. and sent it out at home.

4.  I really enjoy the Tournament of Roses parade on New Year's Day but rarely get to sit and enjoy the entire parade because I am cooking.  Did you watch the parade?  Did you cook/eat the traditional foods (pork, black-eyed peas, kraut, greens...) to begin the new year?

No parade watching for me. The networks don't do parades like they used to...too much talking, not enough band coverage. 
We are going to have pork and a recipe for Hoppin' John that I found. No collard greens for this girl (she says with a shudder) and my black-eyed peas have to be in a recipe...not a stand-alone dish. 

5.  I have to ask... Resolutions.  Did you make any or set some new goals for 2019?  Or do you even think about it?

I don't even think about it. 

6.  Tell us something random about your week.

OS surprised us by coming home on Christmas Eve and he brought a guest...it was either the flu or some nasty virus. We didn't see him much on Christmas Day, but it was really nice to have all 3 boys at home. I wanted a picture but it took a while for CH to get his phone set up and OS thought he was going to get sick, so I said to just skip it. I did get this one though:

Our traditional picture following the opening of the Christmas Crackers & donning of the crowns.

I was awarded with "the most annoying toy to come out of the Crackers":

We left the day after Christmas for our annual New Year's trip. This year's destination was Manatee Springs State Park, Fl. and it was a bust. We ended up coming home on the 29th. Look for a post in the next couple of days all about it.

Thanks again, Terri, for hosting! Want to get in on the Wednesday Medley? Check her blog Your Friend from Florida on Tuesdays to get the questions, then don't forget to link up on Wednesdays!

A Sweet Wednesday Medley

It's just like the Wednesday Hodgepodge, but with a new name and a new "hostess with the mostess"! Much thanks to Terri for continuing our Wednesday Q&A...I'm looking forward to being reacquainted with old friends and meeting new ones.

1.  Wednesday, December 19, 2018, is National Hard Candy Day! So the first question today is to ask if you enjoy hard candy, especially the kind we usually see during this festive time of year?  What is your favorite?  Which hard candy brings up the best memories for you if any?

I absolutely LOVE hard candy! I just bought some yesterday and am considering going back & stocking up ‘cause it doesn’t stay around forever, ya know! 

I went into a classroom to get a student, and the teacher gave me this:

How's that for timing?

My mom used to make hard candy...cinnamon was my favorite. Seeing the homemade shards of hard candy brings back memories, but a Jolly Rancher really brings back great memories of going to Texas on vacation. My great Uncle Pete was a “candy man”. He had a van full of candy that he delivered (I think). At the end of our vacation, he let Mom go into the van and get candy for us. Watermelon Jolly Ranchers are just the best ever!

2.  Holiday shopping!  Are you finished? If you could spend an entire day in just one store, which one would it be and why?

I’ve done no shopping this year, at least not out in the store. I bought my SIL’s and my MIL’s gifts through SERRV, which is a fair-trade online store.

I have no idea if I’m finished or not. I have no desire to get out in the craziness of shopping areas; it’s bad enough being out in the crazy traffic!

If I could spend an entire day in one store...hmmmmm...Office Depot?

3.  What holiday dessert describes you and why?

Pumpkin Roll: Traditional and just a little nutty.

4.  What is your least favorite holiday side dish?

Cooked vegetables. Unless it has lots of cheese in it, I'll pass.

5.  Now be real!! There is one on almost every tree. What is the ugliest tree ornament you have ever seen?

I gotta tell you: Target had some pretty ugly ones this year! They just looked so cheap and not pretty at all.

6.  Tell us something random about your week!!

We had our family gathering last Sunday: 6 out of 10 of us were there. It’s always a good time seeing everybody; just wish everyone had been there & we had more time to visit. 

Thanks again, Terri, for hosting! Want to get in on the Wednesday Medley? Check her blog Your Friend from Florida on Tuesdays to get the questions, then don't forget to link up on Wednesdays!

Ding-a-Ling-a-Ling Medley

It's just like the Wednesday Hodgepodge, but with a new name and a new "hostess with the mostess"! Much thanks to Terri for continuing our Wednesday Q&A...I'm looking forward to being reacquainted with old friends and meeting new ones.

1.  National Ding-a-Ling Day is observed across the United States each year on December 12.  Ding-a-Lings on this day call the people they haven’t heard from in a while.  It may be an old classmate, co-worker or neighbor from years ago.  Or perhaps a call will go out to the child who used to mow the grass during the summer.  How about that couple who carpooled for soccer. There are all sorts of people in our lives who manage to slip out of our lives who would love to hear the ding-a-ling of a call from you or me.  So tell us who you want to call today!

This is going to sound awful, but absolutely no one. I recently got back in touch with a couple of friends from my college days through FB (we were in the band together), but I can't think of anyone I'd want to pick up the phone and call.

2.  Each year on the 12th day of December, people across the United States recognize National Poinsettia Day.  I am including this "National Day" too because my neighbor's poinsettia from last year is blooming beside their house!!  Have you ever tried to plant a poinsettia outside?

First off: That poinsettia is beautiful! I've never tried to plant one, but early in our marriage, we rented a house out in the country that had a pond beside it. We could sit on the deck and fish (if we wanted to...we never did). Christmas was over & the poinsettia looked dead, so I tossed it into the pond. About a week later we had a beautiful red flower in the middle of the pond!

3.  Do you believe in Bigfoot?  What size shoe do you wear and do you have trouble shoe shopping?

I don't believe in Bigfoot but I definitely have one! I wear a 10 or 11 but my perfect size is a 10 1/2. Do you know how hard it is to find shoes that size?

4.  What is one thing you refuse to share?

Dessert.

5.  Are you finding that this Christmas is stressful? More or less than last year?  

Nope. Not at all. I'm not baking or making candy this year. I'm just relaxing and taking it 

as it comes. My last blog post was on how I'm getting over my Grinch-Styled Pity Party. I refuse to be stressed by Christmas any more!

6.  Tell us something random about your week so far!

We had our kitchen painted last weekend...finally! NOW I feel like I have a new kitchen! When we bought the house 14 years ago, the kitchen was incredibly dark. To counteract the darkness, we painted it yellow. Then I painted it again a more vibrant yellow. On  a couple of sisters' suggestion (they had the same one without knowing it!), here it is before & after:

BEFORE

 AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

When the sage started going on the wall I freaked just a bit because it looked so dark, but she assured me it would look fine after she covered up the yellow and after it dried. We are really pleased with the result!

Thanks again, Terri, for hosting! Want to get in on the Wednesday Medley? Check her blog Your Friend from Florida on Tuesdays to get the questions, then don't forget to link up on Wednesdays!