2012 Week 2 Hodge Podge Post

First, gratuitous Baby Shot: 

Nap Time with Poppy Mark

Here are the new questions that Joyce came up with this week! Play along by posting your own answers, linking up with her website, then visiting other bloggers to see how they answered.

1. Lake Superior University has once again published a list of words/phrases they think should be banished from the Queen’s English in 2012 -amazing, baby bump, shared sacrifice, occupy, blowback, man cave, the new normal, pet parent, win the future, trickeration, ginormous, and thank you in advance. Which of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Go here to read more about how the words are chosen.

          I don't care for "the new normal", aren't we making a new one every day??  Maybe that's not such a good thing...

2. Are you easily embarrassed?

          In public, yes, in private, not so much.

3. What is your go-to snack?

           Sweets - cookies, cake, and pie!  I am a No Calorie Left Behind type of dessert person.  I cannot fathom that the chefs on Top Chef can't or don't like to make dessert!  Almost everyone I know, including guys learned to make desserts before they learned to cook anything else.

4. Have you ever been to Washington D.C.? If not do you have any desire to go? What site/attraction would you most want to see in that city? If you have been, what’s your favorite site/attraction?

           I have been a few times.  This is a very timely question, as my neice is getting ready to go in a couple of months.  I told her the tour and changing of the guards at Arlington National Cemetary is really moving.  I also think that every Human Being should be required to go to the Holocaust Museum.  It is vital that we realize there is true evil, how we didn't recognize it, and how to fight it.  I also really enjoyed the Ford Theater when I went with my DD.  It is really spooky and very historic - the museum is very well done.  We also enjoyed a great display of Norman Rockwell at the Smithsonian Art Museum.  The coolest part is most of these are free or very low cost things to do.

5. Sit ups-planks-lunges-squats…which do you hate the least?

          Probably squats, but I am always sore the next day.  I can't do sit-ups since my shoulder surgery and Planks are ridiculous - I have no core...lol.

6. What’s a small act of kindness you were shown that you’ve never forgotten?

          My entire group from work came to my Daddy's funeral when he past away.  The funeral was a bit of a drive from work about 45 min. but they all came - over 20.  I can't tell you how much that meant to me and most of them had never met my Daddy.  I was really devastated by his relatively quick death and it really made an impression on me.

I had always heard how people hate funerals and how they won't go but that day I learned an importatn life lesson.  The funeral is for the grieving and by going you are helping them grieve.  And that is a Very Important Thing.

7. Have you ever been a blood donor?

          Yes, I am "O" Positive, the Universal Donor so I try to give.

8. My Random Thought

Lace Top Stripe Socks

I started these when I wanted just a simple no-strenuous brain activity required knitting.  I really enjoy the Deborah Norville Serenity Sock Yarn in the "Chili" colorway.  It is 50% merino, 25% nylon, and 25% bamboo.  It is a warm sock like I have discovered using other bamboo sock yarns but the higher nylon content makes it not too slippery or splitty and clings to the foot, etc. well. 

I made these for me using the 2 Circular method with 1.5 Addi Turbos and 58 st for the foot (I have a narrow foot) and 60 for the heel and leg.  I used a simple Fleegle heel (I think I have this memorized now! yeah!) and topped it with a simple 6 row lace pattern that I reversed from the Socks A La Carte book.  I used Jeny's Surprising Stretchy Bind-off. 

I liked this colorway better on the skein than made up but I get a lot of compliments on the colorway so maybe it's just me.  Overall, a fun knit and a good fitting sock.

2012 1st Hodgepodge Post

It’s a new year, and what better way to begin anew than with a fresh set of Hodgepodge questions?! Thanks, Joyce, for hosting!

1. What are three words you would use to describe your 2011?

Exciting!   I got a new grandson and he's practically perfect in every way!

Celebratory!   My DS graduated from Oklahoma State University with a bachelor's in Business Management

Travelocity!   My DH and I went on our 1st cruise ever with one of his cousins and wife and had a fantastic time.

2. Do you like shrimp? What’s your favorite way to have it prepared?

     I LOVE fried shrimp but really I like shrimp nearly everyway except with fettuccini alfredo.

3. Is your house de-Christmased? If so when did you tackle that job? If not, when will the decorations come down?

     Normally, I like to get it put away by New Year's Day or the day after but we have been sick     and I will probably get it done this week.

4. Do you like to watch scary movies?

     No! In the words of a friend, I do not consider being scared out of my wits as entertainment. My  DSIL used to trick me into seeing them. I do like a good suspense movie though.

5. Ice skating~sledding~skiing~snowboarding~of the four listed which wintertime activity do you most enjoy?

           I really like to Snow-blade. It's like skiing but with much shorter skis. I have only done it a few times but love the sensation of speed and wind. The last time I went over Christmas last year, I got a defective snowblade on one foot - not a good thing. Fortunately, they had some really nice looking snow rescue guys...

6. Did you have a childhood hideout? Describe it.

     I hated going outside, unless we were going swimming but my mom used to force me to go outside (she did it for my own good...). I used to make a fort in our shed or near it and pretty much cart everything from my room out there...lol.

7. What’s a place or space that motivates you?

     I really like my sewing room when I get it all organized and sometimes even organizing it is a lot of fun.

8. My Random Thought

     Today, my DH turns 50. We have a new family member who is 5.5 months. We have 2 great kids and a great SIL. We are so very lucky. Here is a pic of our new pride and joy on his 5-mo birthday. Mr. Bright Eyes.