HODGEPODGE WEDNESDAY

I did try to get up another post since last Wednesday's hodgepodge, but it just didn't happen.  I am still pressing on though.  I SOO enjoy the Hodgepodge and you can too by clicking on the picture below and joining all the others.  Thank you Joyce for taking the time for this every week!

1.  On a scale of 1 - 10 how would you rate your sense of direction?  1=can't find my way out of a paper bag, and 10=if I have been somewhere once I can find it blindfolded ten years later.  I guess I would say I am probably a five.  I have a pretty good sense of direction, but I need to have been the one driving.  I don't pay attention if I am not.  But if I have driven there 2 maybe 3 times I can almost always find my way back no matter how long it's been.  When was the last time you looked at/used a map you could hold in your hand?  (phones don't count!).  HMM...that would be pretty much never, lol.  I hate maps and definitely don't read them well.  BACK EAST, DOWN SOUTH, OUT WEST, UP NORTH...Choose one of these directional phrases, and tell us why you chose it.  I guess I will go with down South, lol.  And probably because I have always wanted to visit the South.  Definitely on my bucket list.

2.  Did you do more talking or listening yesterday?  Is that typical?  Describe your day in one word...I did more listening.  And I would say that is very typical.  I think because I am home everyday and I don't actually work I am several people's "commute" call if you know what I mean.  I talk to one of my youngest sisters every morning on her way to work.  I talk to two of my sons on their way to or from work. (though not every day that's for sure!).  I talk to my older sister whenever she gets a chance between her busy, busy life, and the same goes for my daughter. And I listen to my husbands work day stories when he gets home before we turn the TV on. And mainly I just listen to their stories of work, school, and life.  NOT that they don't listen to mine, just that there is more going on with all of them.  I guess I will go ahead and complain that it is bothersome sometimes when I NEED to talk or vent and there is no one to be found, lol.  I can ALWAYS be found (or usually anyway) because I am almost always here.  My day yesterday could be described as both restful but productive.  Sorry I guess that's two words so I will go with productive.

3.  Time, money, water-power-resources, opportunity....which one on the list are you most guilty of wasting?  What might you do to change that?  hmmm this could require some analyzing and/or thought because at one time or another I have been guilty of ALL of these.  But what am I MOST guilty of?  I think I will go with opportunity.  Or maybe that's the one I regret the most.  There has been too many times I have not taken advantage of the opportunity that presented itself to witness and tell someone about the Lord.  I've missed opportunities to encourage, or compliment or make someone else's day better.  I've missed opportunities to start a business (though definitely in my past...not these days.)  But I think you get the idea.  To change that I need to realize that life is short and there are ALWAYS opportunity's to share and encourage and lighten someone's load or circumstances.  I just have to purpose more to do that.

4.  Did your family take regular vacations when you were a kid?  Tell us something you remember about a family road trip from your own childhood.  We did not take regular vacations when I was growing up.  Though we did own a cabin in the local mountains and spent lots of time enjoying that.  I do remember one summer when I was 17 years old my dad rented a big motor home and we took a two week long vacation driving all over California (mainly in various mountains) camping in it.  Honestly there were MANY things I loved about it, but there was a few I hated too, lol.  We were at Mammoth for a while and it was totally glorious.  We swam, fished, and just laid around and soaked up the sun and fresh air.  I loved the campfires at night, and the marshmallows and the conversations.  But I HATED sleeping in that thing, lol.  There were 8 of us!  I came from a family of 6 children and to say we were "in there tight" would be putting it mildly.  I had claustrophobia let me tell you.  I also remember driving up some VERY STEEP, VERY NARROW, mountain roads in that giant thing (yes it seemed big then) feeling like we were hanging off of a cliff...and I GUESS we kind of were.  I was terrified.  But one thing I can say about that vacation....none of us has ever forgotten it.  It was really all in all a good time.

5.  If you could grow anything you wanted, what would you grow?  Why?    Hmm now this is something I have never given much thought to as I can't seem to grow a thing.  NO green thumb let me tell you.  Sooo IF I could, I guess I would grow beautiful BEAUTIFUL orchids.  My mother could and did and oh how I loved them.  I also might grow my own tomatoes as honestly there is just nothing quite as tasty as home grown tomatoes.  I have eaten these from many others gardens, and they are just soo good. 

6.  Insert a random thought...I FINALLY started some of my Christmas sewing today.  I don't remember a year I have not had a GOOD start by now.  For those of you who haven't ever followed me I can tell you that every year I make a pair of Christmas pj's for most of my grandkids.  Some of them have gotten too old to enjoy that anymore, but I will have 9 pairs still to make this year.  And then I make some sort of  Christmas decoration for each of my kids families.  Such as tree skirts, stockings, ornaments, advent calendars, banners etc.  I also make seasonal dish towels, hot pads, ornaments, and the like.  And I give it all to them on Thanksgiving so that they can have it to enjoy during the month of December.  Which means of course it all has to be done in just a few weeks.  I think part of the problem this year is just coming up with something "new".  lol  But I am definitely cutting it close this year as I usually begin in July.  I will show you what I made this morning for my oldest son's family.  She told me (I LOVE it when I get a request...makes things much easier, lol) she could really use a runner for their new kitchen table. 

THERE ARE 4 12 IN SQUARES IN THIS RUNNER WITH THESE CANDY CANES ON THEM.  I USED TWO DIFFERENT BACK GROUND FABRICS, AND CHANGED UP THE STRIPES ON THE CANDY CANES AND BOWS.  I GOT ALL THE PIECES CUT OUT AND GLUED DOWN (used Wonder Under for those interested) WHICH IS A PROCESS I CAN'T SAY AS I ENJOY A LOT.  KIND OF "FIDDLY" FOR ME.  AND I CAN BE KIND OF OCD ABOUT IT ALL TOO AND MEASURED AND RE MEASURED MANY TIMES TO TRY AND GET THEM ALL ON THERE EXACTLY THE SAME WAY.  

HERE'S THE OTHER BLOCK.  DIFFERENT BACKGROUND AND THE BOW AND CANDY CANE FABRICS REVERSED...

HERE'S ALL 4.  BUT NEXT I HAVE TO STITCH ALL THE PIECES DOWN AND HONESTLY AGAIN, NOT MY FAVORITE THING TO DO, LOL.  AGAIN, KIND OF FIDDLY.  BUT THEN I WILL PUT A SASH BETWEEN THE SQUARES AND IT WILL THEN BE READY TO QUILT, AND THEN I JUST HAVE TO BIND IT AND IT WILL BE DONE.  I DO LOVE THE COLORS AND FABRICS IN THIS.  HOPE TO HAVE IT COMPLETELY DONE BY FRIDAY, BUT WE WILL SEE.   (you don't notice my mess there on the floor right?)

Well, guess that's it for now.  Hope you all are having a good week.  Many blessings to you all!  Debbie