Mystery

How and why there seem to always be a sock or two that remains unmatched when ever we do the laundry has always been a mystery to me.

The mystery continues to get more mystifying to me. I have heard several different explanations ranging from dryer lint obviously being the cremated remains of socks to the suspicion that they actually turn into extra Tupperware lids.

I don't have any Tupperware lids so I'm scratching that possibility off the list. There is a new thing I'm adding to the list of possibilities today.

Apparently socks run away. That may sound too simple, but let me explain.

Spring seems to be here, the snow has melted, revealing - you guessed it - socks!

There are several bedraggled sorry looking socks out in the yard. Why? How? When?

I don't understand. I know that no one in our family was walking through the yard this winter and suddenly decided to remove a sock and bury it in the snow. Neither did any of us decide to open the door and fling a sock outside as hard as we could. So how did it get there?

There seems to only be one answer. In order to escape the soapy depths of the washing machine several socks tried making an escape and succumbed to hypothermia and died in our yard, only to be discovered once all the snow was gone.

They have been retrieved, and now I'm debating whether or not to hang them up in the laundry room to serve as an example to all the other socks what happens when one of them try to make an untimely escape.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. This coming weekend is Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of Holy Week. Do you celebrate Easter in your home? What was your favorite Easter tradition as a child?

We don't do much of anything for Easter in our home. I'm doubtful that we'll be doing anything this year, not even candy.

Easter used to be the most dreaded of holidays when I was a child and growing up. Starting on Good Friday and lasting until sundown on Easter Monday. It was a long drawn out solemn occasion. Friday was a day of fasting. Saturday was filled with preparations for Sunday and Monday which were two more days of not working and sitting around reading things like The Rules of a Godly Life and other spiritual material. It was always such a relief when life could go back to normal.

2. George Weinberg is quoted as saying, 'Hope never abandons you, you abandon it.' Agree or disagree? Share your own thoughts on the word hope.

I agree. Not sure I can put my thoughts on hope into words. I am really thankful for the living hope we have as a born again child of God.

3. Weigh in with a yay or nay on the traditional Easter candies. A solid milk chocolate bunny? Cadbury Creme Eggs? Peeps? Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs? Jellybeans? Coconut Cream Eggs? Of the candies listed, which one would you most like to find in your Easter basket?

Solid milk chocolate bunny: Yay
Cadbury Crème Eggs: Yay
Peeps: Yay
Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs: Nay
Jellybeans: Nay
Coconut Cream Eggs: Nay

The one I'd most like to have is probably the chocolate bunny.

4. When did you last feel 'like a kid in a candy store'?

I can't remember the last time I had that feeling. It's been a long, long time. Probably back when we were Amish and I got to visit one of the big Amish stores in Indiana.

5. What's something you know you do differently than most people? Does that bother you? Does it bother other people?

I stay at home a lot. It doesn't bother me at all that I do. I don't really care if it bothers other people or not.

6. Palm Springs CA, Palm Beach FL, or the PALMetto State...of the three mentioned, which sunny spot would you most like to visit right now? Which have you visited at one time or another?

I'd like to go to Palm Springs CA.

I have visited the Palmetto State several times already.

7. If you could change the length of a day would you lengthen it or shorten it? Tell us why.

If it were up to me a days would be much, much longer. There are never enough hours in a day for me. Life seems to be flying by at an alarming rate of speed, so yes, I would definitely lengthen days if I could.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I'm going to see a doctor tomorrow to schedule a surgery. Not looking forward to it at all.

Post-it Thoughts

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Share a favorite song, book, or movie title containing the word green.

I can't think of any movies that have the word green in their title. My favorite book has to be Anne of Green Gables. The only song that comes to mind is a Celtic song by Sinead O'Connor; Her Mantle so Green. I like Celtic music, but this song isn't one on my must listen to list.

2. Ralph Waldo Emerson is quoted as saying, 'Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.' Would you agree? Are you a believer in luck?

Yes, I agree. I do believe in God's blessings, but I wouldn't call it luck.

3. Spring water, Hot Springs, handspring, spring fling, spring break, spring fever, offspring...which 'spring' word best applies to something in your day, week, or life right now?

Offspring ..... my days are pretty much wrapped up in our children.

4. What's something you do to make yourself look or feel more confident?

I have a certain outfit that I wear that makes me feel more confident than some others I have.

5.  It's National Celery Month...are you a fan? If so, what's a snack or dish you enjoy that calls for celery?

No, no, no, no, no. I love vegetables and basically every kind of produce, but if I never have to eat another piece of celery for the rest of my life I won't mind in the least.
 

6. What's one thing you wish you'd learned sooner?

To not allow other people's opinions affect who I am and what I do.

7. Would you like to own a second home? If so where would you want that home to be?

I would love to own a second home. One of our dreams is owning a home in the desert in Arizona. We spent a week vacationing in the desert one year and fell in love with it.
 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

A sure sign that spring is on the way, other than the disappearing snow and all the mud, is when all the maple sugar camps in the area are busy.

Mennonite Community Cookbook

One of my guilty pleasures is collecting cookbooks, so when someone contacted me recently asking if I would be willing to review a cookbook for them I jumped at the chance to do so.

The Mennonite Community Cookbook is filled with over 1,100 authentic Amish/Mennonite recipes. Many of which I recognize of things we used to eat at Grandma's house. I can't wait to make some of the pudding recipes later this week, in fact I might just try the Cracker Pudding recipe first. It's something my children have yet to be introduced to, and I used to love it.

Old Fashioned Bean Soup, or as we used to call it; Bread Soup which is often served at some Amish church meals is included. Things like Snitz and Knepp, Fried Bread Cakes, Corn Meal Mush, Hasty Pudding, and Apple Fritters are only a few of the many things I can't wait to recreate from my childhood.

If anyone is looking for a collection of simple downhome/Amish recipes I would recommend this book to them.

It's available from www.heraldpress.com or you can call to order 1-800-245-7894

Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

Saying Good-bye

After the funeral services people gathered at the cemetery for my Grandmother's burial. Pictured here are some of the people standing graveside, and the buggy in which she had her final ride.

 

Photo credit: Mark Earnest Burr  Used by permission.

 

Before long a plain headstone will be placed by her grave as the only reminder of who she was and the life she lived. Generations to come, and visitors to the cemetery will walk by, read the inscription, and not know what a great woman she was. She lived a quiet life, one that people soon forget. One that I want to always remember, and want my children and grandchildren to know.

Born in the early the early 1920's my grandmother never had an easy life. She got married young, her life did not get easier because of it. Through it all though she was the picture of everything a woman should be. She was patient, kind, and gentle. She endured things no one should ever have to endure, but she never complained, or had bad things to say about anyone.

She was a widow for over twenty-five years. Having been left penniless she made ends meet by quilting. She was the queen of making do with what she had and finding uses for everything. Her trashcan was more of a decorative item in her house than something that had a use because she didn't throw anything away.

She had joy in her life. Deep joy. The kind that even when you would think she had every right to feel sorry for herself, or be sad, her joy radiated through all that.

So though we say good-bye to her now. I want to pass her legacy of joy on and hope that future generations will experience it too.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. What's the first image that comes to mind when you hear the word 'spring'? Which phrase best describes the season of spring where you live right now (today)-sprung! almost there, or still waiting?

Flowers. I love all the spring flowers that bloom every year.

In our little corner of the world I would say spring is almost here. I am hoping we get at least one more snow storm before spring officially arrives.

2. Bed, couch, stapler, garage door, computer mouse, recliner, flashlight, door knob...which household item containing springs most needs replacing in your home? Speaking of springs...did you ever own a Slinky?

Our stapler needs to be replaced. It quit working several weeks ago, and I can't seem to remember to get a new one when ever we go on our weekly grocery run.

We have more than one slinky. Our house is slinky friendly with 16 steps in our staircase. Buddy really enjoys playing with them.
 

3. March is Women's History Month. Share a favorite quote by a woman.

There are so many great quotes by women. Today though I'll be going with this one:

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before beginning to improve the world. -Anne Frank

4. What's a question that looms large in your mind right now?

Sorry, but it's something I'm not prepared to share with the world. How about I go with a little thing like ... I wonder what the weather will be like this weekend?

5. Are you a sugar freak? By that I mean how much do you love sugar? With all the bad press sugar gets these days, have you made any efforts to reduce the amount of sugar you consume?

I enjoy the occasional dessert, but we don't have it on hand at all times. I'm finding though for the past few years when ever I do eat something sweet I have to find something else to eat after that to get that sweet taste out of my mouth.

6. Would you rather have less work to do or more work you enjoy doing?

I already have all the work I enjoy that I can handle, so I'm going with less work on this one.

7. Ever been to Texas? Of the top ten Texas tourist attractions which would you most like to see-The Alamo, The San Antonio River Walk, The State Capital, Dallas World Aquarium, Padre Island National Seashore, Houston Space Center, Schlitterbahn Waterpark in New Braunfels, Six Flags Fiesta Texas,  Moody Gardens, or Galveston Island?

I have been to Texas. I haven't seen any of those attractions, but would like to see Padre Island National Seashore.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

After being a widow for over 25 years, my grandmother passed away early this morning.

I'm asking myself why we didn't get passports for LV and the children before this. I don't want to travel to Canada alone, and I don't think going passport-less would be the wisest of choices. So it appears we won't be attending the funeral.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. 'In like a lion, out like a lamb'...does the first part of this saying describing March weather ring true  where you live?

March came in like a lion, but quickly turned to a lamb, so it will be interesting to see how the rest of the month will be.

Our waterfall had been frozen solid, but right now it's seventy degrees warmer than it was a week ago. Going from -22º to 50º in such a short time is quite a change, and it's feeling too warm!

With all the melting snow and ice the creek is flooding. It's fun to watch as long as it doesn't get too close to the house.
 

2. March 4th is National Grammar Day. What common grammatical error bothers you the most? 

Confusing there, their, and they're bugs me a lot.
 

3. William Arthur Ward says- 'The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.' Which one are you?

A combination of the three. I tend to adjust the sails, while complaining about the wind, and expecting it to change.
 

4. What's something you need to 'march forth and conquer' this month?

Spring cleaning the house.

5. An ongoing debate around here...do you dust first, then vacuum or vacuum first, then dust? Of the two routine household chores, which do you dislike the least? How's that for wording? 

Vacuum first, then dust. That way any dust kicked up by vacuuming gets to be taken care of. As a rule things don't get that dusty that I would be creating something that needs to be vacuumed after I dust.
 

6. According to thrilllist.com, the ten most photographed sites in the U.S.A. are- Cinderella's Castle in Orlando, Southernmost House in Key West Florida, The Space Needle in Seattle, The Site of the Boston Massacre in Boston, The Bellagio Lake/fountains in Las Vegas, The Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, Coit Tower in San Fransisco, The Art Institute of Chicago, Niagara Falls, and snagging the number one spot-The Guggenheim Museum in New York City. 

How many on this list have you photographed? Which on the list would you most like to visit and photograph?

None of them. We have visited Niagara Falls a number of times, but before we had a camera.

7. Fifty years ago Monday (March 2, 1965) The Sound of Music premiered at the Rivoli Theatre in NYC. Have you seen the film? Do you own a copy? On a scale of 1-10 how much do you love it (or not)? Ten=best movie ever. If you're a fan, what's your favorite scene or song from the movie? 

I have not seen The Sound of Music.
 

8. Insert your own random thought here.

March is always a fun month for us, with birthdays and a few special anniversaries of important events. Trying to make plans on how to celebrate each one properly.

Of Spoons and Spoonerisms

A few members of our family are afflicted with frequent bouts of spoonerism. Causing a lot of mirth and general joviality whenever it occurs.

For some reason the word spoonerism never came up until several days ago, and one of the children immediately asked if the definition was: a weird obsession that causes people to want to use only spoons to eat.

After choking back a laugh I explained the actual definition, but their definition brought back some memories.

Growing up we weren't allowed to use a fork to eat. It was considered prideful and worldly. It was a source of concern when my parents noticed LV always used a fork. Thankfully he had enough good qualities that they chose to overlook it without making too big a deal out of it.