An End of January Hodgepodge...

Thanks to Joyce for this week’s Hodgepodge!  Join us HERE!

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 339

From Joyce:  Here we are in the last Hodgepodge of the month. Say what??? 'Tis true...we're rolling into February this week. Answer the questions on your own blog then run back HERE tomorrow to share answers with the universe.

1. Speaking of endings....at your wit's end, at loose ends, a dead end, burn the candle at both ends, all's well that end's well, or no end in sight...which 'end' phrase might best be applied to your life lately? Explain.  Burning at both ends and at wit’s end, just because we have been so busy lately (all good!) and at my wit’s end because I have to go back to the Museum for another year-end project that needs my help. I really don’t mind helping, and they are paying me for my time, but I really wonder what they would do if I moved across the country and couldn’t go in to help.  Seems like they would figure it out. I’m really done with the work. I don’t want to do it anymore. I’m retired. Sigh.  BUT… I love the people and I love the Museum so I'm there.

2. What was a must-have accessory when you were growing up?  You mean the hip-hugger bell bottom jeans, peasant tops, and moccasins?  Did you own one?  Yes, I did.  If so tell us what you remember about it.  I was thin and young and so into the 60s.

3. Something that made you smile yesterday? A visit from our friends, Al and Theresa, and also making plans for a trip to Mazzaro’s with all six of our neighbors…Monday, Feb. 5^th!

4. January 30th is National Croissant Day. Do you like croissants? Yes, I do!  Sweet or savory?  Either.  We're having chicken salad for lunch...would you rather have yours served on a croissant, a wrap, a bagel, bread, or a roll of some sort?  A croissant makes a lovely chicken salad sandwich. Thank you!

5. Sum up your January in fifteen words or less.  Full of blessings and crazy busy!

6.  Insert your own random thought here. Next week (February 8^th) is the one-year anniversary of the closing on our new home here in Mas Verde. It’s hard to believe it has been a year in some ways, but in others, we feel like we have always lived here.  Joe and I talk about it frequently, how blessed we have been to live here. It has been so much better than we ever imagined. We had wonderful neighbors on the other side of town and have hit the jackpot of neighbors here on S. Charlotte Street too. So blessed.

Thanks for your visit today!  Happy Hodgepodge!  Peace & hugs!!

Tickled Tuesday...

I found some signs that made me giggle. 

Happy Tuesday!  We are taking Helen to her therapy appointment today and then out to lunch. It is always fun to spend some time with just her.  I think we will go to Olive Garden.  We all like their soup and salad lunch special. Yum.

I also need to prepare the guest room for Karen and Lee and make a quick run to the grocery.  Our weather has turned chilly again.  At least it isn't freezing!

Thanks for your visit!  Peace & hugs.

My Weekend Recap on Monday...

Backing up to Thursday, there isn't much to report other than my regular four-month check-up with my doctor.  She is happy with me losing a little more weight and my bloodwork looked great.  She actually took me off one of my meds! Hooray!

Friday we did some grocery shopping and I started preparing for our dinner party, scheduled for Saturday evening.  Joe has been busy learning his new accounting software that he is sharing with our son (son is sharing with him, actually).  The software he has used for years is too expensive for just the few clients he is finishing for 2017. It must be going okay because he hasn't been grumbling!

Saturday morning I hit the ground running.  I made meatballs and cut up some Italian sausage to bake in the oven.  It has been a long time since I handmade meatballs. The ones we buy frozen at Sam's Club are good and are what I usually use, but we wanted this meal to be a little more authentic.  I started the sauce while the meat cooked.

When the meat was done, I put them all in the sauce, on low, to simmer a few hours.  I then started the ricotta cheese pie for our dessert. It has been years since I made a ricotta cheese pie (one of Joe's favorites). The filling takes 12 eggs (makes two pies) and the sweet crust takes another four eggs. They baked for an hour and turned out nice thank goodness.  I didn't have an alternative planned.  Closer to time for the guests to arrive I put the lettuce salad together, prepared an anti-pasta to munch on before dinner and got the garlic bread ready for the oven. The stuffed shells (purchased at Publix and just as good as my homemade ones with a lot less trouble) went into the oven and I had time to relax a bit before our neighbors arrived at 5:30.

For someone who photographs everything, I didn't take one photo of the table, food or people.

Sharon and Bob live on our west side; Jill and Murray live on our east side; Anne and Paul live across the street from us.  We have all become good friends.  Jill and Murray are Canadians and are only here for three months. We like them a lot.  The evening went very well!  The food was good and seconds were had by all which is always great to see.  I also served pizzelles with the pie for dessert and Jill raved about them.  She wants to get a pizzelle iron now and asked to come over to watch me make them next time I do them, which was yesterday.

We talked about Mazarro's Italian Market while conversing at the table and we are now planning a caravan for the eight of us to go over one day soon!  That will be fun!

When I went out yesterday to get the Sunday newspaper, there was a thank you note from Jill clipped to our railing and I found a painted rock laying on the driveway beside the newspaper. I'm not sure who gave us the cute rock, but it sure made me smile when I saw it!  Someone knows me!

Sunday we were supposed to go to St. Pete with our friends, Al and Theresa, but we postponed the trip because of the rain in the forecast.  That left me with a laundry day and I made the pizzelles.  Jill came over with her cup of tea and watched the process for a few minutes (and ate one while it was still warm). She already found a pizzelle iron online and is excited to get it now.  It was nice to just kick-back a bit on Sunday.

The week ahead will be busy and we are getting visitors on Wednesday afternoon for an overnight visit with my other BFF, Karen, and her hubby Lee.  We sure are looking forward to seeing them again and for them to see our new home!  This is Karen and Lee on a previous visit at our old house, out by our pool.

I have taken a few photos of our cats over the last week or so. I'm always happy to show your our fur-babies!

 Lilly, our gray tubby cat (yes, I said tubby-she weighs a pound more than Vinny!)

 Vinny, our sweet boy.

Lucy, crashed on Joe's lap.

Happy Monday and I wish you a good week ahead! Thanks for your visit!  Peace & hugs.

Have a blessed day!

Saturday 9 with Elvis....

Thanks to Sam Winters for this week's Saturday 9 questions.  Copy the questions to your blog, answer and link-up with Sam HERE.

Heartbreak Hotel

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

Saturday 9: Heartbreak Hotel (1956) 

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) Elvis checked in to the hotel at the end of Lonely Street. Where was the last hotel or motel you stayed at?  We stayed in a hotel last weekend, in Brunswick, GA.

2) He sings that Heartbreak Hotel is always crowded. The fear of crowds is so prevalent that it has four names (enochlophobia, ochlophobia, demophobia and agoraphobia). Are you comfortable in a crowd?  I don't have a phobia about it, but if given the choice I will always opt out of huge crowds.  I am not patient with people who are inconsiderate of others (like stopping to talk and blocking everyone behind them trying to get by).  It makes me inconsiderate too because I am likely to tell them to MOVE.  Best that I just stay away from crowds.

3) The desk clerk at Heartbreak Hotel is dressed in black. Do you often wear all black?  I do wear black often, but never ALL black.  I am likely to have a pop of red or turquoise with black.

4) The song was written by Mae Boren Axton, who said it was inspired by the story of an anonymous young man's suicide in a hotel. She said she read in the Miami Herald that the John Doe left behind a note that said, "I walk a lonely street." What's the last note you handwrote? (Hopefully, it was more upbeat.)  I wrote a letter to a dear friend I haven't seen in a few years.  I learned she was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and had also lost her parents since we last talked.  It actually felt good to put pen to paper for a change.

5) When Elvis was 11, his parents bought him a guitar. He had asked for a rifle, but his mama convinced him a guitar was a better idea. Tell us about a time one of your parents was right about something. LOL... my parents were always right.  We get that perspective when we get older, don't you think?  There are so many times, since we lost them both to cancer, that I wish I could tell them how I feel now.  I'm counting on seeing them again one day when it will all be known and right.  I was blessed with wonderful parents and miss them every day.
  
6) Not long before "Heartbreak Hotel" was recorded, Elvis' father recommended he give up the guitar and become a truck driver. Tell us about a time one of your parents were wrong about something.  Dad has been gone since 1989 and mom since 1995.  I don't remember that they were ever wrong. See #5 above.  If they did anything "wrong" it might have been not telling us their opinion while letting us make our own decisions about things that later turned out not so great. I wonder sometimes if they knew we made the wrong decision but hoped for the best... and just let us learn from our mistakes.

7) There are many stories about Elvis' manager, Col. Tom Parker. One anecdote, about his career before Elvis, has the Colonel painting sparrows yellow so he could sell them as canaries. Have you ever been ripped off?  I'm sure I've been ripped off a few times over the years but I can't think of anything specific.  Why worry about something that is done and over and can't be changed?  We learn our lessons and move on.

8) Speaking of birds, Elvis once owned a peacock. It damaged his cars, so he gave it to the Memphis Zoo. In earlier days, it might have been dinner, for peacock was considered a medieval delicacy. What's the last poultry you prepared?  We eat a lot of chicken and had chicken two days ago. There are leftovers that will be lunch today.

9)  Random question: You and a friend have dinner at a restaurant. Your friend left her wallet at home, so you pick up the entire tab of $62, including tip. A few weeks later, you two meet for lunch and when the bill comes, she puts down half. Do you remind her that she still owes you $31 from the last time you dined together?  I don't think I would have to.  My friends would not forget, however, I might have told her to forget it and allow it to be my treat so she doesn't owe me anything.

Thanks for your visit today!  Happy Saturday!  We have our three neighbors coming for dinner tonight (eight of us).  Looking forward to a good time!

Peace & hugs.

The Lord's Prayer on Friday...

I got this from my BFF Elaine, by email, and told her I would be using it in a post.  I've never seen it done like this before and I wanted to share it with my friends here in blog land. I don't have new photos to share, so will miss Friday Foto Friends today.

THE LORD'S PRAYER - Rather cleverly done. This is in two parts, The prayer ( in blue type)  and  GOD (in red type )-in response. It is very, very good.    *********  "Our Father Who Art In Heaven. Yes? Don't interrupt me. I'm praying. But -- you called ME! Called you? No, I didn't call you.. I'm praying. Our Father who art in Heaven. There -- you did it again! Did what? Called ME. You said, "Our Father who art in Heaven" Well, here I am.. What's on your mind? But I didn't mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day. I always say the Lord's Prayer. It makes me feel good, Kind of like fulfilling a duty. Well, all right. Go on. Okay, Hallowed be thy name . Hold it right there. What do you mean by that? By what? By "Hallowed be thy name"? It means, it means .. . Good grief,  I don't know what it means. How in the world should I know? It's just a part of the prayer. By the way, what does it mean? It means honored, holy, wonderful. Hey, that makes sense..  I never thought about what 'hallowed' meant before. Thanks. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as it is in Heaven. Do you really mean that? Sure, why not? What are you doing about it? Doing?  Why, nothing, I guess. I just think it would be kind of neat if you got Control, of everything down here like you have up There. We're kinda in a mess down here you know. Yes, I know; But, have I got control of you? Well, I go to church.. That isn't what I asked you. What about your bad temper? You've really got a problem there, you know. And then there's the way you spend Your money -- all on yourself. And what about the kind of books you read ? Now hold on just a minute! Stop picking on me! I'm just as good as some of the rest Of those People at church! Excuse ME.. I thought you were praying For my will to be done.. If that is to happen, It will have to start with the ones Who are praying for it. Like you -- for example ..... Oh, all right. I guess I do have some hang-ups. Now that you mention it, I could probably name some others. So could I. I haven't thought about it very much until now, But I really would like to cut out some of those things. I would like to, you know, be really free. Good. Now we're getting somewhere. We'll work together -- You and ME. I'm proud of You. Look, Lord, if you don't mind, I need to finish up here. This is taking a lot longer than it usually does. Give us this day, our daily bread. You need to cut out the bread.. You're overweight as it is. Hey, wait a minute! What is this? Here I was doing my religious duty, And all of a sudden you break in And remind me of all my hang-ups. Praying is a dangerous thing. You just might get what you ask for. Remember, you called ME -- and here I am. It's too late to stop now. Keep praying.  ( pause .. . ) Well, go on. I'm scared to. Scared?  Of what? I know what you'll say. Try ME. Forgive us our sins, As we forgive those who sin against us. What about Ann? See? I knew it! I knew you would bring her up! Why, Lord, she's told lies about me, spread stories. She never paid back the money she owes me.. I've sworn to get even with her! But -- your prayer -- What about your prayer? I didn't -- mean it.. Well, at least you're honest. But, it's quite a load carrying around all that bitterness and resentment isn't it? Yes, but I'll feel better as soon as I get even with her. Boy, have I got some plans for her. She'll wish she had never been born. No, you won't feel any better. You'll feel worse. Revenge isn't sweet. You know how unhappy you are -- Well, I can change that. You can? How? Forgive Ann. Then, I'll forgive you; And the hate and the sin, will be Ann's problem -- not yours. You will have settled the problem as far as you are concerned. Oh, you know, you're right. You always are. And more than I want revenge, I want to be right with You .. . (sigh). All right, all right . . I forgive her. There now! Wonderful! How do you feel? Hmmmm. Well, not bad. Not bad at all! In fact, I feel pretty great! You know, I don't think I'll go to bed uptight tonight. I haven't been getting much rest, you know. Yeah, I know. But, you're not through with your prayer, are you? Go on. Oh, all right. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Good! Good! I'll do that. Just don't put yourself in a place where you can be tempted. What do you mean by that? You know what I mean. Yeah. I know.. Okay. Go ahead. Finish your prayer. For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen. Do you know what would bring me glory? What would really make me happy? No, but I'd like to know. I want to please you now... I've really made a mess of things. I want to truly behave like Christ I can see now how great that would be. So, tell me .. . . How do I make you happy? YOU  just did". I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!  Thanks for your visit!  Thanks, Elaine!!  Peace & hugs.

Thankful Thursday Link-up...

It's Thursday and I am linking up with Rebecca Jo at Knit By God's Hand for her Thankful Thursday link-up.  You can visit Rebecca Jo HERE!!

I am thankful for the wisdom of Charles Schultz and his Peanuts gang!!  Enjoy!!

May your day be filled with blessings of love, peace, and joy!

Thanks for your visit!!  Peace & Hugs!

I Am Positive About the Hodgepodge!

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 338

Joyce has given us this week’s Hodgepodge of questions.  We answer on our blogs and then link back to On This Side of the Pond to join the other Hodgepodgers for this fun link-up!! Thank you, Joyce!!

1. January 24th is National Compliment Day. Is it easy or not so easy for you to accept a compliment? It is not easy for me.  Share a recent compliment you've given or received. I had to go to the Museum again this week for more payroll and end-of-year things.  One of my former co-workers told me I looked great.  That is always nice to hear. 😊

2. Ten little things you are loving right now. Maybe not so little?

• Retirement
• Our home in Mas Verde
• That we have friends coming to visit this month and next
• We have a summer beach vacation scheduled with family
• Our cats bring us so much joy
• Did I mention retirement?
• We have dinner plans with neighbors on Saturday
• We have a road trip planned with friends on Sunday
• I am meeting a blogging friend next month!!
• The weather!!

3. Would people describe you as a positive person? Yes, I think so. Do you see yourself that way?  Yes, I do and work at it.  I read here a list/description of eight things positive people do differently-

Positive people find something to look forward to every day, they celebrate the small stuff, they're kind, they stay busy, accept responsibility for their actions, forgive themselves, know when to move on, and resist comparisons

Which action on the list would you say you do regularly? All of them, but especially staying busy.  Which action could you add to your life to give you a more positive outlook?  I do work at knowing when to move on.  If you're a positive person, what's something you do regularly that's not on the list?  Praise God.

4. Homemade chicken soup, beef stew, or a bowl of chili...what's your pleasure on a cold winter's day? I wouldn’t turn down any of those, but I really love chili on a cold day.

5. The best part of my day is.... after supper and winding down the day when we slow down and relax before bed.

6.  Insert your own random thought here. On Tuesday nights, we can get supper at the Clubhouse here in Mas Verde. They have Bingo at 7:00 on Tuesday nights, but from 5:00 to 8:00 you can get a hamburger, hotdog, potato salad, chips (a la carte), beverages and all the fixings for next to nothing. We have been enjoying an inexpensive supper and talking with other residents most weeks, last night included. Have I mentioned how much we love it here?  Can you believe (I can’t) that it has been a year next month since we moved in?  Wow!!

Thanks again to Joyce for this week’s Hodgepodge!  Thank you for your visit!  Peace & hugs!

Tickled Tuesday...

I am "tickled" that our President signed an extension to keep our government "open" through February 8th.  That we even have to go through this is ridiculous.  I have gone from having a little compassion for the "Dreamers" to having none. I'm tired of my hard-earned taxes going to support non-citizens (illegals) who should not be here. I'm also tired of non-citizens (illegals) getting rights that should only be for true citizens of the USA. Let's don't even begin to discuss California.

Enough said.

Our kitties were happy to have us back at home.  Lucy loves Joe...

As soon as he sat down to watch football, she was on his lap.

And now for a silly (slightly off-color) joke on Tickled Tuesday...

With that, I'll stop!  Happy Tuesday and thanks for your visit.  Peace & hugs.

Weekend Recap on Monday...

We are back from Georgia a day early (actually two) but it's all good.  The government shut down put a damper on our visit and changed everyone's plans, but we still got to meet the grand-horses, attended a really wonderful retirement party for our son and had a great day visiting with our dear family and old friends.  Lots of pictures follow...

Thursday was our travel day and because we don't use the interstates, we had a very smooth trip. It takes us about 30 minutes longer to go across-country, but Rt.301 is four lanes and 65 mph most of the way.  We only hit I-95 for the last few miles to Brunswick (and well above Jacksonville and that traffic!).

Joe and Darlene have a house full of folks these days.  Darlene's mom (88 years young) lives with them now and has her own private room and bathroom.  Darlene's son, Steve, is also living there now.  His job allows him to work from home, so he moved down to be closer to his grandma, mom and his sister (Rita) who lives near Miami.  They do have an upstairs bonus room with a bed up there, but no bathroom. It would work fine if my knees could handle steps, and with Darlene's bad hip (surgery scheduled for February 20) she can't do steps either right now, so them giving us their room isn't an option either.  Joey and Dar graciously put us up in a nearby hotel (three miles from their house).  We have a free breakfast (if we get up in time) and then spend the day with them until we are ready for bed. It works fine and we aren't underfoot - and no one has to share a bathroom either!

Friday morning we all drove over to meet the grand-horses!  They are stabled in a really beautiful place with a lot of other horses. The facility really is pretty amazing.  We were impressed.

 Kitty (closest above) and BeBe seem to recognize the car because Kitty almost immediately started walking toward the fence when we parked.  BeBe quickly followed when she raised her head and saw Kitty and us.

 This is Kitty. 

 This is Joey giving BeBe treats.

 Darlene with Kitty.

 This is Gracie, who wanted some attention and treats too.

(We don't know who her owners are.)

Joe with BeBe.  

I don't have one picture of me with the horses! How did that happen!?

 Stables. The horses are free to come and go, but get fed in their stalls.

 Joe and Dar walking toward the "clubhouse" (restroom) but this shows where the horses are groomed.

 One of the girls who works there was working with one of the horses.

(Click the photo to enlarge it)

And they have an indoor arena, too.

We also met the owner.  She seemed very nice.

Friday evening was the retirement party for our son, Joey.  He has 29 years as a public servant (so far). We are so proud of him (always), and all of the accolades, certificates and glowing words from co-workers made us almost 'bust our buttons'!  He even had me crying when he thanked his parents and also mentioned my coming into their family when I did. It was a glorious evening for us.  The party was organized by his unit (immediate co-workers and bosses).  The food was great, they gave Joey and Darlene some beautiful gifts and it was sure fun talking with his co-workers and getting to know some of the people he has talked about over the years.

 First of all, two of Joey's best friends from his college years came down (from the Philly area) for the party!  These four men are all Villanova graduates. 

Joe, Joey, Tom, and Pete.

Joe went to Villanova with Tom's dad and it was by chance that it was discovered and Joey and Tom became friends.  Tom is our grandson Tristan's Godfather.  

Joe and I know Tom and his lovely wife and their four kids (who are all grown up now).

It has been years and years since we saw Pete, so was lots of fun for us to catch up with them!

 Joe, me, Joey, Tom, Pete, and Darlene's mom, Cecelia.

 The great cake at the retirement party.

 Not all the food is visible and desserts were on another table. Wow!

 Darlene got a certificate for putting up with Joey's crazy schedule.

 It was a great honor for him to receive his retired credentials mounted so beautifully.

(Sorry - I altered the credentials because they are real.)

 Joe talking with grandson Steve.

Proud parents!!

We had to fill out paperwork ahead of time and get security clearance to be there. We had official badges to wear while on the property.

Saturday, Pete had to leave early (we said goodbye to him the night before), but Tom was staying longer and had never been to Jekyll Island before so we all piled into the car and went to Jekyll. We spent a good bit of time there, with Joey as our tour guide.

 Joey, Darlene, me, and Joe.

 I took a 'selfie' of Darlene, Joe, and me.

 The dunes to protect the island from the Atlantic.

 Darlene saw me taking the picture but Joe was looking at animal tracks in the sand.

It was chilly but the beach was beautiful just the same. Chilly and a bit hazy.

 Sunshine through the tall trees.

 Joe and I let "the kids" go explore this area while we sat in the car. LOL

We decided we were all hungry and ready for lunch so we went from the Island back into Brunswick to our favorite Thai restaurant there, Basil.  We shared some sushi and all enjoyed our entrees.

Darlene, Joey, and Tom.

Back home, we were all glued to the TV for the news about shutting down the government.  Joey is retired from his former agency, but has been hired by another agency and was to report to Washington, DC, on Monday for some training.  He and Tom were going to drive up to DC together, and Tom would catch a train to go on up to his home near Philadelphia.  He also had a plane ticket for Sunday that he didn't cancel until they really knew what would happen.  If the government shut down, Joey didn't need to be in DC on Monday.  With all the craziness, Joe and I decided we would just come home on Sunday instead of Monday.  We just felt like we should get out of the way since they had enough to do without us there.  (Joe was also anxious to get home to see his Eagles in the playoff game.)

As it turned out, Tom used his plane ticket and Joey had to take him to Savannah to catch his flight there.  Savannah is only 80 miles from Brunswick.  Joey is now waiting to see when he will report to his new agency. 

So that was our very special long weekend.  Sorry this got so long, but I wanted to get it all posted to start the week. Thanks for getting this far and for your visit.  I have a lot of catching up to do on your posts!!  Peace & hugs.