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

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. This week's Hodgepodge lands on Ash Wednesday which signals the beginning of Lent. Do you mark this season in some way? If so tell us more. Did you grow up 'celebrating' Lent? Is attending church part of your weekly routine? Are churches open for in-person worship where you live? 

I have never celebrated Lent. We did not celebrate Lent growing up.

Yes we have always attended church services.  As a kid we always went Sunday morning and evening.  Our church we have attended the past 3 years or so has Sunday morning class and service, small groups on Sunday evening, and classes on Wednesday  night.  That has all changed the past year.  Our church as been open but still with CDC guidelines....separate exits, masks, pews roped off, an overflow room.  They started having class again back in the fall and then that stopped once numbers in our area rose again.  They did start up again Feb. 7 but last week didn't because of weather.  They also offer an online option which has been a blessing.

2. When is the last time you sat beside a 'real' fire? Do you have a fireplace in your home? Wood or gas logs? Favorite thing cooked over a fire? 

We have a fire when we go to the deer lease.  Titus likes to help make it.

We have a  wood fireplace in our home.  I've been by it a lot the past week with our extreme cold here.  We are very thankful to have it as we have cut back on our electricity usage as our state is having blackouts.  

We like s'mores!  When we go to the river on Memorial Day, my mother in law does a roast in a Dutch oven in the coals that is delicious.  

3. Something that's currently got you fired up? 
Well it definitely has me annoyed the way people complain.  Lately is has been about the decisions made for our school this week.  (See question 6)  People were really griping about it that the school had remote learning Tuesday.  I was pleased that the school was prepared for this situation, the students had their Chrome Books, and we were told last week this was probably going to be the case (based on the weather forecast).  It seems no matter what you do people will find something to gripe and complain about....and often it seems to  always be the same people.  

4. February also happens to be National Cabbage Day. Who knew? Do you like cabbage? Is cabbage on your menu Wednesday? Of the following cabbage dishes which is your favorite-coleslaw (mayo or vinegar?), sauerkraut, cabbage rolls, cabbage soup, kielbasa and cabbage, grilled cabbage, bubble and squeak, kimchi, or haluski? 

I do not eat cabbage very often now, but I would eat it.  I remember my Mom used to cook it with our supper.  I don't like the smell of sauerkraut.  I will eat a bite of coleslaw if my husband has it with his meal from Cane's. 

5. Do you hang on to pennies? What do you do with them? Last thing you purchased for $1.00? Last thing you purchased for $5.00? 
I put pennies in a piggy bank.  I have a Tootsie Roll bank on the dryer for coins found in the laundry.  I have another Tootsie Roll bank in a cabinet in the kitchen where I put extra change.  The pennies go in there.  Dimes I specifically save out in a 2 liter bottle.  I've been doing that for a couple years, testing to see how long it takes to fill it with only dimes.  

I purchase many things for $1.00 at the Dollar Tree.  I like their packs of cards and also get the small bottles of Tide there for the blessing box at our church for the community.

 It sure on my last $5 purchase....it may have been some fabric (or close to that price). 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

I am in Texas and it is C O L D.    It has not been this cold for this many days ever that I remember.  We have record snowfall.  These pictures are from Monday I guess, now it is snowing more (typing this on Tuesday evening).  

There have been rolling blackouts and outages all over the state.  I have heard that every county in the state has had snow.  Today's temp is 21.  It has been about 3 degrees.  

School was out Monday due to President's Day and Tuesday went to remote learning.  The area started losing power and water so now school is just cancelled for at least the next two days.  

We are safe and warm.  We have cut back on water usage as well as electricity.  Ours has not gone out yet (thankfully).  

It is supposed to warm up to the 40s on Friday.  It's just been crazy!

Have a day of blessings! 

 Bethany

Thankful Thursday

Brrrrr! We have had quite the variation in our weather this week.  It was so nice and spring like with temperatures in the 70s or maybe low 80s earlier this week.  After I got out of Bible study on Tuesday it was so warm.  Then we went to the library.  When we came out I told Titus we need to hurry and get to the van because it looks like it is about to rain.  We got in the van and started to go to lunch before it started POURING.  It was a very hard, long rain.  We met my husband for lunch and he helped us get inside.  He carried Titus under his umbrella, and I used another umbrella.  We were both thankful for umbrellas!  The rain let up for a bit and we started home and the streets were flooded badly.  At one place I had to turn around and go a different route.  It was also much colder by this time as well. 

Wednesday morning we had freezing rain.  School was delayed two hours and then ended up cancelled for the day.  It was cancelled again today.  Now I can hear the ice melting off of our roof. 

The boys have had fun playing in it and we have had a good time mostly relaxing at home.  I got some things done too.

This week I am thankful for...
~ my husband being home for part of the time during the ice days. He made it to town for his dentist appointment but then his work office was closed so he came home.  He helped with some chores, cleared off the sidewalk, made supper, etc. 

~ my big boy being at home for two days this week.  I am also thankful he was okay after he broke out in a terrible case of hives Sunday night.  I ended up taking him to the doctor on Monday to see if it was a reaction to his antibiotic.  He had to switch to a different med (which I am also thankful that he was able to swallow those pills).  The doctor thought it was a reaction.

~ hearing my little boy pray for us, for his brother, for things he is thankful for. It is so sweet to hear.

~ visiting with one of my cousins.  We had not seen each other in 5 years.  He went over to my Mom's with two of his daughters.  It was nice to visit.  I am thankful for the things God has done in his life as well and the changed life that he now is.  He gives God all the credit.

~ rest, being home, heaters, fire place, and umbrellas!

~ time to work on my Shutterfly book and getting a ticket for a free book. 

Have a day of blessings! 

   Bethany

Thankful Thursday

It's the end of February almost!  We woke up to a "white blanket" this morning as Caleb said to his Dad on the phone.  It has snowed some more during the day as well.

This week I am thankful for...

~ seeing how my husband has handled a surprise situation that came up last Friday at work. I'm so proud of him and his skills, and when others recognize his abilities too it is nice.

~ enjoying having my boy home this week for 2 days of "ice days."  He enjoyed playing and relaxing without school stuff to do.

~ enjoying feeling the baby moving around.  Some of those kicks are pretty hard! We wonder which part we are feeling when we feel or see my stomach move!  32 weeks :)

~ finding a few bargains at the consignment sale today for my boy and baby and being able to drive to it. The roads were not bad so I went ahead and went.

~ getting some sleep on the couch this week while my husband as gone.  I wasn't sure how I'd sleep on the reclining couch but I slept well.

~ beauty of the weather and how it changes. I'm thankful it is not the same every single day.

Have a day of blessings!
 

As long as it is called today: Random (January)

Welcome to a time of sharing "As long as it is called Today." I hope you will join us each week on Friday as we encourage each other in our daily lives as Christians, spouses, parents, and home keepers. First be sure to check out every one's answer to last week's question by clicking the link below. If you weren't here last week and would like to answer, please do so now and come back to answer today's question.

Home keepers (January)

January has five Friday's so the topic this week is random.

Today's question: Share any memory you have about winter.

My answer: In school it seemed we didn't have many bad weather days. One day in high school I remember an icy morning. I cannot remember why I drove myself to school that day. I don't remember how the roads were. I DO remember the parking lot. I was doing circles in that little gray car of mine. I guess I had no idea how to drive on the ice. Thankfully the parking lot was empty at the time and I did eventually get into a parking spot! This is a funny winter memory I have.

Thanks for stopping by. Please leave your answer in the comments. I think it will be fun to read winter memories. I'm a girl that rarely sees snow so I like hearing others tell stories about it!