HODGEPODGE WEDNESDAY

1.  March 20th is the first day of spring...is she a lion or a lamb in your part of the world?  I guess you would say she is a lamb as we usually have warm, beautiful springs.

2.  What's the most dreaded task on your spring clean to-do list?  Do you have a plan of attack?  Well, to tell the absolute truth I don't really "spring" clean like I used to when I was younger and my house was full of kids.  But I certainly have some things that need doing.  Probably the one I dread the most is the cleaning of the leather on the furniture in our family room.  It is soft, beautiful, and 11 years old now.  My plan of attack?  Waiting till hubby looks like he's in a mood where he might feel like tackling this job.  I am merely a cheer leader to the side.  ; )  I also REALLY need to take down all my window valances and wash and dry them.  Soo don't feel like that.

DON'T THESE LOOK GOOD?

3.  Peas...love 'em or hate 'em?  What's a favorite dish you make using peas?  I LOVE peas just about any way you can think of, but my favorite would be creamed with little pearl onions.  Have not made this recipe in years, but sounds REALLY good right now.

4.  Do you feel under appreciated?  Well, I guess sometimes in some ways.  Certainly not by my husband, and he is probably most important.  And when they were younger by my kids, but not much any more.  Some of the things I do now for my mom I don't feel very appreciated by some of my siblings, but I have decided that it really isn't all that necessary.  It never produces any good results when I let my head or heart go there, so I chose to focus instead on all the positive things there are about it.

5.  Have you been using Google Reader?  If so, what are you switching to now that GR has announced retirement?  If not, how do you read your favorite blogs?  I'd like to skip this question all together as I am going to have to expose my ignorance on this whole subject!  haha  I have no idea if I use it or not...how dumb is that?  I read my favorite blogs by clicking on them from my side bar where they pop up whenever they (my fav's) have written a new one.  I hope I don't fall into a problem later because I did nothing about this retirement..... which may or may not affect me...sigh.

6.  Anne Bradstreet is credited with the following quote ~

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."

Agree or disagree?  Why?  Well, I would have to agree for obvious reasons.  Living in California most of my life I really have never experienced a bitter, cold winter.  The coolest we usually get down to is a nippy 30 degrees or so on some nights.  HOWEVER, at the same time I am always glad when spring comes and the flowers bloom, and the birds sing, and the days last longer.  But I can really relate to the second half of that quote.  We suffered some real adversity in the last few years or so with the recession and financial difficulties.  I appreciate things now that I used to take for granted that's for sure.  I am so grateful that my husbands job enables us again to keep on top of things and put money aside for his retirement.  But I think not taking this quote quite so literally is really more where my head goes with it.  After experiencing any set back or hard spot in life, it really does make you appreciate and welcome the times when life is easy and sweet.  And yet for me personally, knowing that my God stood soo firmly by my side granting me His mercy and peace during those hard times, makes me know now I need not fear them.

7.  When did you last "spring for something"?  What was it?  Oh goodness, I don't spring much.  Let me think....I guess maybe it was for lunch for my mom.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.   I am officially done with the quilt!! (well other than the washing part!)  Oh my goodness...a DEFINITE labor of love, haha.  It took WAY WAY longer than I thought it might, and by the time I was finally done clipping all those seams, well lets just say my wrist is sore and there is a definite red spot on my thumb!  Thank goodness I bought those spring loaded scissors...they REALLY helped.  It is in it's first wash cycle as I type this, so I can't show you the finished product yet, but hopefully soon.  I am soo hoping it "frays" nicely, but truthfully, I have some concerns.  I have wanted to "make a quilt" since I was a young girl of 20 and so I am wondering if this counts?!  It is not really a quilt like most quilts, but still, I am soo pleased I have FINALLY made any kind at all.  I was looking on Etsy the other day at other rag quilts and stumbled across a John Deere one for sale for a single bed (like mine is for).  It had much bigger squares (meaning it was easier and quicker to make!) and she was asking 450 dollars for it!  I thought that it seemed just ridiculous at the time.  Not any more let me tell you.  I wouldn't make another one for 500 dollars!  But!  then again on the other hand I would make another one in a heartbeat for a grandchild any time I am asked.  The baby ones I am going to make now for the two new babies will be like NOTHING compared to this one as they will be soo small in comparison.  I am however considering (just considering ~ might feel differently tomorrow!) buying a kit to make them, where the squares come all pre-cut and PRE-FRINGED!!  Wouldn't that be wonderful?  They cost quite a bit more than just buying your own fabric for sure, but right now I am not sure if I care, haha.  Hope you all have a wonderful week!!

MY WONDERFUL HUBBY GOT THE QUILT OUT OF THE WASHING MACHINE FOR ME AND TOOK IT OUT FRONT TO GIVE IT A GOOD SHAKE BEFORE HE PUT IT IN THE DRYER AS I READ IS A GOOD IDEA.   LOOK AT ALL THE THREADS AND FUZZ THAT CAME OFF!  AND TRUTHFULLY, IT LOOKS A LOT WORSE THAN THIS IN PERSON! NOW I NEED TO GO SWEEP IT UP...SIGH.  THIS WHOLE PROCESS HAS TO BE REPEATED TWO MORE TIMES!  IT WAS HARD TO TELL BUT IT LOOKED TO BE FRAYING NICELY!  : )

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