WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - WEDNESDAY's HODGEPODGE

Waterloo battle cleaning


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1. What's a word that describes your life? A word you wish described your life?
 Good.
 Adventurous

2. Back in my day we ...?

As it is early morning I can't say anything how it was back in my day. I just drink my coffee. 
If you mean the past, so I would say I was less lazy especially concerning housework. 

3. When it comes to takeout are you more likely to opt for Italian, Mexican, or Chinese food? Does a typical week at your house include takeout?

Certainly not Italian I eat that at home nearly everyday. I like Chinese food.  No typical week for a takeout.

4. Think about the people you most respect. What is it about them that earned your respect?

Their optimism and courage. One of my friends is nearly blind, but enjoys life and never complains. She accepts help only when it is really necessary. She goes with us on excursions, to concerts, plays scrabble (and always wins) She behaves as if she was not disabled at all. I really admire her. 

5. What's something your friends might see and say is 'so you'?

Spontaneously ! I would jump into water and learn swimming afterwards ! Can be dangerous sometimes

6. Insert your own random thought here.

It's still so cold and I am thinking if I should decorate my house for Easter with bunnies eggs and and Easter "tree" or nothing.


My Easter decoration in the past

As we are alone on Easter and no visitors are coming I think I leave the Easter bunnies etc where they are .... in the basement.

From this side of the pond

ABC WEDNESDAY - S

Deeply sleeping



Oh ! I am surprised



I don't want to be scratched with your back scratcher !!



Strange there are twice the same Arthur on the screen !



If you think I am scared of a few dinosaurs .....




I smell salmon ! is that possible ??

ABC Wednesday

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY




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HODGEPODGE

1. What takes you out of your comfort zone?
When I have to take one of my cats to the vet ! There is first the battle to get her in the cage, then the concert during the whole trip, when I return to my comfort zone I really need to be comforted ! I am out !

2. Your least favorite spice?
A mexican mixture, we had Chili con carne for supper

3. What's a small change you'd like to make?
I don't now if it's small that depends on the person, but I would like to throw out our bathtub put in and a shower  ! I think it becomes dangerous with the years when we become more and more rusty.

4. Do you enjoy visiting historic homes? If so, of the homes you've visited which one was your favorite? What historic home near you is open to visitors? Have you been? Southern Living rounded up eleven of the best in the southern part of the US and they're as follows-

Monticello (Jefferson's home in Virginia), Nathaniel Russel House (Charleston SC), Swan House (Atlanta), Ernest Hemingway's home (Key West), The Biltmore (Vanderbilt home in Asheville NC), Mount Vernon (Washington's home in Virgina), San Francisco Plantation (Garyville, Louisiana), Windsor Ruins (Port Gibson Mississippi), Longue Vue House and Gardens (New Orleans), Whitehall (Palm Beach FL), and Pebble Hill Plantation (Thomasville GA)

Have you been to any on the list? Of the homes listed which would you most like to visit?

As I live on the old continent, we have so many historic homes dating even before America was discovered so it would be impossible to list all I have visited in and out. It's very difficult to say which one was the nicest. The last one I have seen was The Royal Palace in Brussels. I found it very beautiful. From your above listed homes I haven't seen any or I don't remember, I saw Elvis home, yes !!

5. What's something you think will be obsolete in ten years? Does that make you sad or glad?
I don't know how I will be in 10 years, and maybe with 84 my tastes have changed ? For the moment nothing makes me sad. Glad makes me new inventions which makes my life easier, like a GPS, a smartphone, or timers on machines, that way I can do my housework while I sleep. (Dishwasher for example)

6. Insert your own random thought here.
I start to think about Christmas gifts. The worst is my grandson ! He has his birthday now on Nov 17, then in Holland they celebrate more St. Niklaas on December 6, then Christmas, and then finally Christmas on the 24th ! That makes 3 gifts for one little 7 year old person !

From this side of the pond

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - ABC WEDNESDAY - L - WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE

Seen in London


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This is my land and nobody is allowed to walk near me and even less to sit down !



I don't know if it is her usual mess or if she thinks I need a lamp to eat, anyway the lamp is there !



As I am a princess I don't know from which land, I need several layers to be comfortable in my sleep !

ABC Wednesday

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HODGEPODGE

1. What pets did you have while growing up? Tell us a little something about them.

I was an only child, had no pets not even a goldfish. My father had declared that pets are a burden and unsanitary. I took my revenge when I lived of my own by adopting a cat, later another cat and a dog, a guinea pig and I kept the school rapid during holidays ! And I still have 3 cats !


2. What is one thing you absolutely must accomplish today?

"Absolutely" doesn't exist in my vocabulary today, except cooking. 


3. Where were you ten years ago? What were you doing there?

Thanks to my blog I can tell you exactly what I have done 10 years ago at this day ! I was at home and wrote for a meme called "Thursday Thirteen" what I wrote was this "13 Findings about men"

4. September 26th is National Dumpling Day. Did you celebrate? Apple dumpling, xiao long bao (steamed Chinese dumpling), chicken and dumplings, pirogi, matzoh balls, or gnocchi...which dumpling on this list would be your dumpling of choice? Have you ever made homemade dumplings of any kind?

You have a lot of national days ! Even for Dumplings ! I like dumplings together with goulash or gnocchis from my husband's region in Italy


5. 'There are two kinds of adventurers: those who go truly hoping to find an adventure and those who go secretly hoping they don't.' William Trogdon

So which kind are you?

Real adventure of course (not with a man !) ! Otherwise life would be even more boring.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

That's the most difficult part of the meme, the random thoughts ! Each time I read this sentence my head is empty ! Maybe I should use this method for relaxing exercise

From this side of the pond

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Grandson Toby


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WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - WEDNESDAY HODGEPODGE

Two little Draculas, grandson Toby and friend




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1. Share one favorite moment/memory from your Christmas holiday.




We played cards and our 6 year old grandson won ! We didn't cheat, he really won, and Mr. G. made a sour face because he is a real player and can't stand to loose ! Even against his grandson !

2. What was the best thing you ate over the holidays? Was it homemade or store bought? If it was homemade did you make it?
We had Sushis and they were not home made of course ! I had ordered them.

3. What was one of the most beautiful things you saw over the holidays?




Beautiful was a bracelet in silver with red zirconiums here presented by Rosie

4. What does fresh start mean to you?
Getting out of my bed when it's cold and dark, that's always fresh !

5. On a scale of 1-10 (with 10 being very positive and 1 being not so great) how would you rate 2016 in terms of personal achievement and well being? Explain.
I had some up and downs so I would say 7

6. Every January 1st since 1976 Lake Superior University has published a list of words they'd like to see banished from the Queen's English. Words may be banished due to misuse, overuse, or just general uselessness. Go here to read more about how the words were chosen or, if you're like me, to find out what in the world the word or phrase even means or the context in which it's used. There were quite a few on this year's list I'd never heard before.
Here's the 2017 list of banished words-
You, Sir-focus-Bete Noire-Town Hall Meeting-Post Truth-guesstimate-831-historic-manicured-echo chamber-on fleek-bigly-ghost-Dadbod-listicle-get your dander up-selfie drone-frankenfruit-disruption
Which word on the list would you most like to see banished in 2017? What word or phrase would you add to the list?
I would banish them all, except "you" they all sound Greek to me and I have never used one of them, except Bête noir, but that's a French word and means "the black sheep" in a group.

7. Large or small, light or deep, share with us one goal you have for the new year.
I have no goal, I follow the Beatles' motto "Let it be"  (but without mother Mary)

8. Insert your own random thought here.
I am happy that the year's end festivities are over and I can go back to my normal life ! I am ready to attack 2017 !

From this side of the pond

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - WEDNESDAY's HODGEPODGE

When kids are growing .... (mother behind)



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HODGEPODGE


1. What's something you might say runs in your family?
Big ears ! at least on my side, very tall on Mr. G's side !

2. I read here a list of ten things you should do before 2017 arrives (in less than six weeks!)...which tasks on the list might you do? What would you add to your own 'before the year ends' list?

visit your Dr. or dentist, deep clean your home, donate unwanted items to charity, look someone in the eye and tell them you love them, write an honest letter to yourself, clean up your inbox-desktop-photos, travel to a place you haven't been, compliment a stranger, watch the sunrise, think ahead to your goals/plans for the new year

Donate clothes to charity, travel to a place I haven't been, make travel plans for next year

3. What's something other generations (not your own) misunderstand about your generation?
That's a good question because each generation misunderstood or criticizes the next one. My parents didn't understand their parents, I didn't understand my parents, our son doesn't understand us and probably his son will not understand his father's generation ! 

4. Sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy, cornbread dressing-which would you miss the most if it weren't on the holiday dinner menu?

Nothing ! that's not my kind of taste !!

5. What are you overthinking right now?
I have to send a parcel with a globe to Amsterdam ! This is the Santa Claus gift for my grandson, and I am raking my brain how to pack it  ! 

6. Your favorite slang word lately?
lately ? rather since a long time it's "merde" this word has moved into the French language like "Hello" .

7. Write an acrostic for the word grateful.
Can't find out what "acrostic" means exactly so I give up. Anyway I am not grateful, for what ??

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I wished my suitcase was already packed and everything ready for my holidays to Hurghada at the Red Sea in Egypt. Next week if I have time I will write you from there in the heat and sunshine ! 


PS : "Merde" means "shit" for those who don't know !

From this side of the pond