Pondering With a Purpose

Thursday again! Time to do a little "pondering" with Brenda from Ponderings of an Author.

Her rules are really easy:

1. Grab the Pondering with a Purpose Badge (in her sidebar)

2. Look at the week's prompt

3. Post something on your blog that relates to the prompt - it can be a story, a poem, a picture -- anything you want it to be.

4. Go back here and add the URL from your post to the linky list on Brenda's.

5. Go check out the other bloggers who have added their links to the list.

6. AND most of all.... Have fun!

This Week's prompt: Involvement

Brenda has heard the following quote:   "Your children are off on their own with their own lives now, you need to be less involved with them every day." Her question this week is whether or not we agree with that statement.

I wholeheartedly disagree. I will never be "less involved" with my children. They are my main achievement in life - what I have given to make this world a better place. Now, I don't poke my nose in their business every day and I don't try to run their lives. I don't even talk to them every day. But that does not mean that I am not involved. I will always be involved. They know they can call me at any time for advice and I can call them when I just need to hear their voices.

On the other hand, I never had that kind of relationship with my own mother. I do speak to her, usually she calls about once a week. But I don't tell her anything. It is always a very generic conversation - to her disdain. But I know that whatever I were to tell her, she would have to say that I was doing something wrong - no matter what the subject was.  I think that's why my relationship with my children has always been so important to me and why I have strived to make that relationship a good one.

Hodgepodge

Welcome back to the Wednesday Hodgepodge! Be sure to add your link to the bottom of Joyce's post and then go visit the neighbors. After all, that's part of the fun! 

This week's questions: 


1. What is ONE thing or area in your home or life you hope to report is completely organized when 2013 draws to a close?  Do you  have a plan to make it happen? My kitchen and yes, I always have a plan.

2. What's the worst uniform you've ever had to wear for a job? A nurses aide uniform back in the day before scrubs were allowed.

3. What was your last kitchen 'mishap'?  This question comes to you courtesy of Betty who blogs over at A Glimpse Into Midlife...everyone go say hi to Betty! A chicken dish the I over spiced - and I mean WAY over spiced.

4. How do you protect yourself from other people's negativity? I try to avoid negative people.

5. Who in your family do you most resemble (physically)? If you have children, who do people say they favor? Do you agree? I look like a cross between my parents. With my children, daughter looks like me, son looks like his father.

6. January 8th is National Bubble Bath Day...will you be celebrating? No - I haven't taken a bubble bath in ages.

7.  Some of the 'world's best winter festivals' are - Mardi Gras (New Orleans), Quebec Winter Festival (Canada), Sundance Film Festival (Park City, Utah),  Rio Carnivale (Brazil), Sapporo Snow Festival (Japan), Venice Carnival (Italy) and the Harbin Ice Festival (Northern China).  Of those listed (and if cost were not a factor) which would you most like to attend and why? I've always wanted to see Mardi Gras - just to see all the mayhem.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.I'm teaching a friend to crochet on my lunch hours so I don't have much time today - I need to finish an example before I go to work.

Chats on the Farmhouse Porch

It's time to head over to Patrice's porch for the weekly chat. Wendel has deserted us today in order to do some plotting - he's trying to get Patrice to get him his own iPod - complete with earbuds. Come on Patrice - he's worth it.

Questions 

1. What's your favorite thing to have in hot cocoa/ hot chocolate? Whipped cream is good.
2. Did you have a white Christmas? Have you had snow since then? Yes and yes - a little too much of the stuff here.
3. Have you been looking over seed catalogs? If this doesn't apply, what kind of catalogs do you like to leaf through? Of course! I'm ready to plant.
4. Gas stove or electric? Gas - I do a lot of canning and it's so much easier to regulate a pressure canner with a gas stove.
5. What's new or interesting? Not much new here.

Coffee Chats

Time for the Coffee Chat! If you'd like to join, head over to Leslie's at Time out for Mom.

The topic is: 2013 Matters

In the coming year I want to do lots of things. I'll be starting on my Masters program this coming summer. I'm taking a semister off due to the coming birth of my second grandson.

I want to get lots of little projects done around the house the first being finishing my kitchen. I'll be buying drywall this Friday for that. Then I have lots of little outside projects like painting both porch floors and replacing two window casings.

I have been thinking of crocheting new Christmas stockings for everyone - only making each person's from a different pattern. I have actually found all the patterns I want to use, although I'll be changing many of them to suit myself.

When nice weather gets here it will be time for my garden! I've already started planning what to plant in what areas.

I have already implemented my "England Trip Plan" although it may not actually happen till 2014.

So I have lots to keep me busy during the year! 

Monday Quiz About Me

Heather over at Acting Balanced  posts 5 questions on Sunday evening along with a linky for you to link up your post answers! 

Here are the Questions:

1. What do you think the biggest downside to being rich and famous would be? Not having any privacy.

2. What is the most interesting news article you read or heard about last week? sci-fi coming true

3. Who kissed you for the first time? Lance - on the ferris wheel

4. How much do you typically tip at a decent sit down restaurant? 20%

My 5th Question - What are your thoughts on the government limiting the size and types of food you can purchase? I know we have a problem with obesity in this country but I feel that what I eat should be my choice. I rarely do fast food myself, but still - it's the thought of it that annoys me.