Wednesday Hodgepodge

1.  What was your favorite part about growing up in your hometown? 

It was a small town and we had a good school.  I went K-12 with a good group of kids, there were 57 in my graduating class.  

2. Do you prefer 'material' gifts or 'experience' gifts? If you answered experience, tell us about one you've received and truly enjoyed. 

I like both but as I have gotten older I want "things" less.  I like it when someone gets me something because they know what I like and they were thinking of me, not out of obligation for a holiday or birthday.  

Part of the gift in the past for our son and his girlfriend (now wife) are to do something together.  One year we went to a light show and last year we went to an Aaron Watson Christmas concert.  

3. Is brown a color featured prominently in your home decor? Your wardrobe? What's a favorite brown thing you own? Of the brown foods listed here which one is your favorite and/or most often consumed... brown sugar, brown rice, pretzels, coffee, dates, cloves, German chocolate cake, whole wheat bread?

Our wall paint is brown.  It was brown when we moved in and still brown.  Our couches are brown.  The carpet that is left is brown.  
I have a brown pair of dressy pants and a brown fuzzy jacket.

I had some brown sugar on my sweet potato for lunch so had that most recently.  I like pretzels and German Chocolate cake. 

Since we make our own flour I've gotten used to bread that isn't white or look like the bread I bought at the store.  (See #5)

4. Which 'Charlie Brown' character do you relate to most? If you're not sure, you can take a fun quick quiz by clicking here-Which Charlie Brown Character Are You?  or the one found here-Charlie Brown Quiz. I got the same answer on both. 

I took the quizzes and got two different answers.

You're Marcie, an introvert.--You're unassuming, sweet, and intelligent. A bookworm, you're super insightful, and you're usually the voice of reason within your friend group. Sure, you love your solitude, but you're not afraid to step up to the plate when it comes to helping your friends and family.

Sally--You’re super sweet and optimistic, and you're always down for an adventure. You usually act before thinking, though.

5. What's a favorite item you've purchased this year? 

I don't use it much (my husband does), but I'd say our WonderMill to mill our own flour and make our own bread.  The benefits have been great for us all.  

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

It's our DIL's birthday today.  She's a blessing to our family.  I had pictures in my memories today on FB from 2019 when they'd started dating.  They looked so young!  Time flies.  

I'm glad my son chose her for his wife.  She's a sweet big sis to our other son too!

Have a day of blessings! Bethany

Book: Where's Gobi? Seek and Find

About the book:

Can you find Gobi? Travel the world with this little dog who has big adventures. Kids will have hours of fun with this seek-and-find activity book as they search for Gobi and her family, discover over 250 objects, and learn about some of the world’s most interesting places.

After joining Dion, an ultramarathoner, on a race through China, Gobi joined Dion’s family and global adventures. Can you find Gobi in Buckingham Palace in England, the Eiffel Tower in France, the cathedral in Mexico City, and Hollywood in the United States?

This educational and engaging book is designed for children 4 and up and features

• locations and stories from Gobi’s real-life global adventures;
• facts about each landmark and country;
• hidden objects, including Gobi’s cat sister, Lara; national flags; local food; national symbols; famous people; buildings; and animals;
• busy and fun illustrations that will keep kids’ attention at home or on the go; and
• a world map highlighting Gobi’s adventures.

Fans of Gobi’s amazing story as told in Gobi: A Little Dog with a Big Heart and Finding Gobi Young Reader's Edition: The True Story of One Little Dog's Big Journey, as well as any child who loves dogs, adventure, and puzzles, will have a blast with this global seek-and-find journey. Encourage curiosity, learn about the world, and strengthen observation and concentration skills with Where’s Gobi? Seek and Find.

My thoughts:

I've seen quite a few "seek and find" type books through the years.  There are a lot of them out there!

What I like about this one is that the child can learn about different places as they search the pictures.   The text tells a little about the places where Gobi is. There are also little bubbles of text with highlights about each place. There is a world map at the beginning with the stops of the adventure marked.  

The illustrations are cute and fun to look at.  

I recommend this book for the child in your life.  It would be a fun addition to their Christmas stocking or travel bag when your family is going on an adventure.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany

Thankful Thursday

This has felt like a little bit of a busy, quick week.  Monday was Veterans Day so my husband was off.  

This week I am thankful for..

~ time with my husband on his day off.

~ my oldest helping with the brisket cooking for a church lunch.

~ seeing my DIL interact and sign with new members at church.  It was neat to witness this!  

~ walking with my little guy.  He was trying to race me and always won!

~ excitement I feel over finding fabrics that go together and working to create something new with them.

~ finding a new dr and that appointment going well.

~ starting on getting donations for the 3rd Annual Benefit dinner for the non profit my son started.  The dinner is coming up in January.  I got Cutco in the mail this week that was donated by our Cutco guy and picked up gift certiciates to a local restaurant and gardening store. It's exciting to see the generous giving!  If you would like to donate let me know. I can send you info on the non profit.

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for..

~ my husband's hearing....we all thought we were hearing things in the truck.  Finally we figured out it was a cricket in his collar!  He always has ringing in his ears.  We were glad to figure out what it was! 

~ seeing our oldest at the station to trick or treat on Halloween.

~ when my DIL asks if I have picture books she can use.  

~ when my little guy told me on the way to school.....Look at the design on my plate when you get home.  
He'd written on it with his yogurt I Love You Mom.

I told him it made my day.

~ that we went to the deer lease and had a good time together.  Titus got to hunt with Caleb and shot his first pig.  

~ being able to vote this week.

~ finding some checks I'd misplaced.  They were from a PTO fundraiser.  I'd separated them from the rest.  I first thought I'd left them in the camper when we went to the deer lease.  But I found them thankfully!  

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What is one good thing you often take for granted? 

running water in my home
We've had a "boil notice" a couple times lately.

2. What's the boldest piece of clothing in your wardrobe? 

I can't think of anything I'd consider bold! I don't wear much variation in my wardrobe.  

3. Do you think common interests or common values are the key to people getting along? Elaborate. 

I think you get to know people through common interests but it is common values that help you get along.  If you have similar values, you will probably have some of the same goals to work towards in life and towards others.  

4. November 6 is National Nacho Day...do you like nachos? How do you like yours? Do you make them at home or only order out? 

Yes I like nachos.  We have them at home in the oven when we have some taco meat left from another meal. If I'm in a restaraunt I like mine with some refried beans, ground beef or chicken fajita meat, diced tomatoes, a little onion and cilantro, queso over the top, and a little dab of sour cream.  

5. Have you spent any time in Washington D.C.?  If so what did you think? If not, is that a place you'd like to visit? What do you think about politics as a career choice? 

Yes we went a few years ago and I'd like to go back.  Arlington National Cemetery was my favorite.  There was so much walking.  I would have liked to see more of the museums.  It is hard to see it all.  

I am not interested in politics as a career choice.  After I was elected to the school board my Dad said maybe I'd be governor someday.  haha! 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We got to go to the deer lease for the weekend.  It was relaxing and great memories were made.  Titus shot his first wild hog.  It was a big one.  He enjoyed the time with his brother (and Dad and Pawpaw).  We all had a good time.  

Have a day of blessings! Bethany

Thankful Thursday

Here's my thankful list for this week.  I always start a Daily thankful challenge on November 1 so I'll begin that tomorrow.  

~ my husband's support and love and how we make a good team.

~ meaningful conversations and hugs from my oldest boy.  

~ my sweet DIL doing the shark trunk at Trunk or Treat with Titus.  

~ my little boy dressing up during Red Ribbon Week and also the fun he had at the church trunk or treat.  

~ being able to get a massage scheduled and use a gift card I've had for a long while.  

~ our Tuesday ladies class and the new faces that have joined.

~ trying a quilt block challenge and being pleased with the results so far!

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What are your current priorities in this season of life? Elaborate as much or as little as you like. 

Definitely taking care of my family and home.  I've been focused on cleaning out/decluttering since school started.  I see what my limits are and that it's okay to say no.  I debated going to a new Bible study on Wednesdays.  I already go to one on Tuesdays.  The more I thought and prayed about it, I knew I didn't need an extra committment in my week, and I've seen multiple times that was the right choice for this season.  Sometimes I have to say no to something even though it's a good thing to have space and room for other things.  

2. What's one thing you wish you had more of? 

I can't think of an answer.

3. Do you celebrate Halloween? If so, what are your Halloween traditions? Any special plans for Halloween this year? 

I don't know that we "celebrate" Halloween, I like fall more.  I don't do Halloween decorations but do pumpkins and leaves.  We have trunk or treat at our church and help with that.  I've taken Titus to trick or treat at the fire station to see his brother in the past.  Usually we get a "Jack o lantern" pizza from Papa Murphy's and carve our pumpkin if we haven't.  Titus asked for Daddy to make the pizza dough this year with his freshly milled flour.  I'm not sure the timing of that with my husband's work schedule this week so we'll see!  We may get one from Papa Murphy's again.

Here is the trunk Titus and Sydney made.  He made the little teeth and added red paint for blood.  They had a blue table cloth in front on the ground with a plank and shark fins sticking up out of the blue "water."  He was so excited to do this with her!  She's such a wonderful sister in law to him!

4. Last thing you ate that contained chocolate? Last thing you made that called for chocolate? 

Candy out of Titus' Trunk or Treat bucket!  

I make a chocolate chip bundt cake that has chocolate chips and chocolate pudding.  This is the recipe (or similar).

5. Do you prefer laid back weekends or do you like to have a lot of plans? Thinking back to this past weekend... which was it? 

I like laid back weekends.  

Last weekend was laid back for us....we were home and I did some quilting.  We were dog sitting as well.  Sunday was Trunk or Treat so that wasn't laid back but Saturday was!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Here is Titus' shoebox he made for the homecoming week shoebox float parade.  I saw a video of the kids with their floats going through the halls of the school.  They were cute to see! 

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany