WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE #590

Thank you Joyce.

To join in click HERE

1. Many of our earliest presidents created words or expressions widely used today. Teddy Roosevelt is credited with mollycoddle, pack rat, frazzle, and loose cannon...which of those words/phrases currently relates to your life in some way? 

I really don't have an answer for this one because I have changed, however I certainly have been a pack rat in the past and that is why I need to declutter the house. 

2. Have you visited many (or any) of the US Presidents homes, monuments, libraries or related sites? If so what's been your favorite? Are there any you particularly want to see? Here's a link to presidential sites listed by state which is kind of fun to read-Presidential Places by State. And since several bloggers who participate in the HP each week live outside the US, here's a link to Presidential Places Outside the US. Have you seen any of those? 

As far as I can remember I have only visited one. That would be the Nixon Library which is not far from where we live. 

3. February 20th is National Cherry Pie Day...will you celebrate? Given your choice of cherry pie, cherry cobbler, cheesecake with a cherry topping, or black forest cake which would you choose? 

No I will not be celebrating. I do however like cherries by themselves. I will take my cheesecake plain which I did on Valentine's day. 

4. Last time you worked a puzzle of some kind? Something that had you puzzled recently? 

I haven't worked on a puzzle in a long time but I used to do them. James has been doing some lately. I do like doing Circle A Word. Seriously, everything has me puzzled lately with all of my appointments. I will post about them soon. 

5. Of the early blooming flowers (January-early March depending on your zone) which one's your favorite? 

snowdrops, lenten roses, pansies, violets, snapdragons, reticulated iris, crocus, winter jasmine

Do you have any of these in your own yard/garden? No. I will say snapdragons. 

I like the Poppies in California. We have some along the roadside sometimes, but the best place is the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve.  We went there several years ago. They don't do this every year. It depends on the weather and rain. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

So this thing that James is sitting on is called an EzyRoller. Apparently one of the boys on their street has one and James of course wanted one. He told Gabby to ask Grandma. I am know to buy him things from Amazon and ship them to his house. Like small airplanes when he was into them. Maybe costing about $25. 

So this thing was $120 dollars. I told Adam and Gabby that I would split it with them. They did the right thing and told James that I would pay for half of it. As it turns out, he paid the other half which I think is a good lesson for him to learn. He loves it! 

With the rain, we have had some snow capped mountains.

IT'S A SNOW DAY AT WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE

Our Wednesday Hodgepodge host Joyce wanted a much needed snow day so we will resume our regularly scheduled program next week. 

How will you spend your Snow Day? I will be spending mine making snow angels in an 88 degrees pool of melted snow with some fake owls and a swan who keep the ducks away :) This evening I will be going out to dinner with my dad and a couple who he has known since his high school days. They are celebrating their 68th wedding anniversary. 

Speaking of anniversaries Mark and I will be celebrating ours on Monday the 24th. I have a post coming up on Sunday with some pictures from our weddings. Today I want to share something with you that happened at the pool this past Sunday. 

As time goes by we often take things for granted. Also as time goes on we can sometimes let little things get on our nerves, especially when it comes to our husbands and aging. Right....anyone agree with me? 

When I was at the pool two woman came there to relax. They got in the water and were sitting across the pool from me on a bench area where you can have spa jets on if you want. I had no intentions of listening to their conversation but it couldn't be avoided. I could hear what they were saying. I heard them say that it was a God thing how they met at a store while dropping off some film. I also know that there was "someone" who wanted me to hear their conversation.

They started to share stories about their deceased husbands. These woman were both around my age and that was a wake up call for me. I sat there listening to them reminisce about the things they miss and I was thinking just how lucky I was to have Mark. How unbelievable dumb it is to harp on him for the things that get under my skin when I should be doing nothing more than loving each moment he is in my life. 

I will try my hardest to remember these two woman when my blood begins to boil!

ITS BEEN SNOWING FOR DAYS (not really)

I wanted to share with all of you that it's official, Skye cannot have anymore plush toys! It feels like it has snowed in our house everyday since Christmas. She has a blast doing it so I'm letting her do it for now but that's it. I didn't take any pictures. (I was too angry and sad because they were really cute!)

So I have been thinking about a new years resolution which is strange for me. I have never been one to do a resolution. Sure I always want to eat well and lose weight, that's a given after the holidays. Do I ever follow through? (seldom)

What I have been thinking about is that if I was able to push myself to get things done to blog about this year, why can't I continue to push myself to get my house less cluttered. I was so motivated to show off my Christmas decoration. Seriously if I post a mess and clean it up I will have something to post about. Accountability right? You don't see the clutter but I know where it is. I have too much stuff. Actually I got rid of at least half my things when we moved 3 years ago. (it wasn't enough) So I thought that maybe if I take a picture of it and post it then I have to do it! So maybe I will do this. I really want to have organization in my life.

Something else I have been working on for several months now is a list of ways to clean my house. Like a 365 days to a constantly clean house. See I can't do allot each day because of my asthma, I get pooped fast. But if I could just accomplish something each day or at least several days a week for maybe an hour or two I could keep a consistently clean house. I've worked on the plan but haven't put it into action. My daughter, wanting some extra money, has helped me keep our house clean. She doesn't really want to do it anymore. I have begged her to do my floors every two weeks because those are really hard for me. See I could hire a maid but I have trust issues. (I know it is wrong of me to feel this way) It's kind of sad when you were able to keep a perfect house and then health issues get in the way. It's hard to give in and let go of your pride.

Well I better get to bed, the kids and I are heading to a casino tomorrow.........