Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What's something recent that had you 'tickled pink'? 
It made my day last week when a local podcast came on and our oldest was on it talking about the non-profit he started.  It was a nice surprise on a day I was feeling sad after the tragedy in our little town.  

2. A bed of roses, everything's coming up roses, every rose has it's thorn, stop and smell the roses, rose-colored glasses, a rose among thorns...which rosy expression might currently be applied to your life in some way? 
Stop and smell the roses.....When life is busy and full and noisy, it is important to make time to stop and breathe...notice the world around you....the beauty of nature....the sound of birds....so many things to notice if we stop and slow down.

3. What makes you feel loved and appreciated? 
From my husband I feel loved and appreciated by his words and when he does something for me that I've mentioned.  Like at Christmas when he surprised me with an ironing board cart for my quilting.  I'd shown it to him and forgotten about it.  

4. A box of chocolates or a bouquet of fresh flowers-what's your pleasure? Any special plans for Valentine's Day? 
Flowers....tulips
I love chocolate but not really a mixed variety.  
Friday will be a special day for us.  It's the anniversary of the day my husband gave me a card he'd made and asked me to be his Valentine after we'd eaten lunch at The Bean (the cafeteria) at ACU.  We will meet for lunch again this year there.  

5. Share a favorite quote, scripture, or song lyric relating to love. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

We went to the funeral on Saturday for the two teen siblings that died when they were hit by a train.  It is a heartbreaking tragedy for our little town.  The support the community has shown to the family and school has been so beautiful and uplifting.  

Have a day of blessings! Bethany

Thankful Thursday

It has been another very difficult week here. We all have heavy hearts.  On Sunday two sibling teens were killed in a tragic accident when they were struck by a train.  Pray for the family and many friends.

This week I am thankful for...

~ having my husband warm my van/clear the windows when it's needed on cold days.

~ talking to our oldest after the wreck.  

~ recipes our DIL shares with me.  

~ our youngest being able to go outside to play in the yard with warmer weather than last week! And it's staying light a little longer.

~ the many ways the community and school has come together to love and support this family.

~ the help we had with prepping food for the Wednesday meal at church.  

~ making a LOVE quilt wall hanging.  It isn't done yet.  I am so pleased with how it turned out.  

Have a day of blessings!

 Bethany

Color of the Month Challenge 2026

I made a quilt block for a "color of the month challenge." This is on a quilting blog I read over at Freemotion by the River.  

The color for January is teal. She shared the pattern for this block as well.  

 I don't know if I will participate each month.  This one was a fun block to make and I knew which fabric I wanted to use for it.  

I haven't squared it up yet, but I was pleased with how it turned out. 

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany

Thankful Thursday

Almost to the end of January.  It's been a cold snowy/icy week for us.

This week I am thankful for:

~ that my husband could work from home and had a good set up in the library during the ice days.  

~ seeing our oldest have a snowball fight with his little brother (and Dad).

~ talking with our DIL when she got out of class before the ice came.  

~ fun in the snow with our youngest. And the snowman he made. Also working on a puzzle together and painting.

~ our first really cold time in our new house and being warm and cozy and having what we need.  

~ attending the service for one of our friends.  It was a beautiful service and very fitting for her.  The video tribute was so special to see pictures from throughout her life.  We were all blessed to know her and have her in our lives.  

~ that I can pick up one of the ladies in our church to take her to ladies' class/church.  I took her to the funeral this week.  I told her she always has some wisdom to share, just with the things she says and stories she tells.

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. I live in the south so we're pretty much only talking about the weather right now. Give us a weather report from where you live. Does the kind of weather you're having today affect your mood in some way? 

We've been home since last Friday night.  We've had ice and snow.  Thankfully we have not lost power.  School has been out through today.  The roads have cleared on the highways I've heard but the city streets were not clear so no school today.  The sun is shining and I'm seeing a lot melt.  

Seeing the snow covered yard is peaceful to me.  

2.  Avocados, kale, cauliflower and cottage cheese have all had their time to shine. 2026 brings us the year of the cabbage. Is this a vegetable you like? If so, what are some of your favorite dishes that call for cabbage?  

I will eat it but it's not something I buy to cook myself.  

3. Was a Cabbage Patch Doll a part of your childhood? Or maybe your children's childhood? What's a toy trend from your childhood you remember wanting for your own? 

I remember I won a pair of twin Cabbage Patch dolls...a girl and a boy.  

I had a lot of Barbie things and enjoyed playing with those and setting them up.  I can't think of a toy trend I wanted in childhood.  I'm sure there was something.  

4. Something you've spent a lot of time doing lately? 

Wearing pajamas and being inside!  

5. Somehow it's the last week of January...sum up your month in just three sentences. 

A new year meant new plans and goals for 2026.

We have felt heavy hearted because of the death of a church friend.  

We had lots of time indoors together because of the weather.  

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I like being at home so I haven't minded being here so many days in a row.  I'm thankful we didn't lose power.  We've had more than enough food and have been warm and cozy.  

Have a day of blessings!

 Bethany

Thankful Thursday

This week I am thankful for...

~ the 3 day weekend with my husband last weekend.  

~ when our oldest honks as he drives by us on the road.

~ videos of the dog from our DIL.  

~ a sweet thing our youngest told me this week.  I had no idea.....he told me that when he made his bag of snacks to take to the county show (earlier this month), he put in a box of raisins for me in case I felt bad.  I don't need raisins often but sometimes if I feel off I do.  I thought that was so sweet he thought of me while making his snacks.

~ our church family and how we support each other.

~ getting some more beef for the freezer.  I didn't want to run out of ground beef, we still have roasts and steaks from our half cow we got previously.

~ making a cosmetic bag out of a placemat.  Fun little project.  

Have a day of blessings!

 Bethany

Thankful Thursday

I looked at the calendar this week and thought we are already half-way through the month of the new year.  We've had some colder mornings, but it still doesn't feel all the way like winter.  

This week I am thankful for..

~ all the many ways I saw my husband help out all day Saturday.

~ our oldest working so hard on things for the dinner for the non-profit he started in 2022.  The dinner was a wonderful success.

~ seeing our DIL helping him too with things for the dinner.

~ that our youngest got to go to the "auction" for this goats and get some money.  Also all his work ALL day Saturday till 11:00 p.m. to help at the dinner.

~ seeing family that came for the dinner.

~ rest after the busyness of getting things ready for the silent auction. It's nice to not have quite as busy of a week!

~ the pretty flowers I was surprised with Saturday night at the dinner.  I've enjoyed them this week.  

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany