What Did You Learn

 

A gift from my friend J, during the pandemic.

 

Hello Friends, 

March 17th 2020 our state started to shut down because of the COVID pandemic. It is amazing to me that was 5 years ago. So much happened in 2020 and so much continues to happen, it is hard to keep track. 

I do know that I learned a few lessons from the COVID pandemic.

One of the lessons I learned, is how special relationships are. Friends and family rallied to keep each other upbeat during the pandemic. I am thankful for the text messages, the phone calls, letters, packages, prayers and more.

Having someone stop in the middle of their day to send a text message... "Just said a prayer for Sam."  or "How are you on your supply of toilet paper?"

My sister sent fun postcards each week.

I started to text friends and family daily.

We made it a habit of checking in on each other.

 

My lesson learned...  DO NOT LET GO OF NOURISHING FRIENDS and FAMILY .. do not let that go once we get back to "normal".

Our lives get busy. We can forget to take time to text a friend, make that phone call or set up that lunch or coffee date. 

I did not want to do that. So I continued to keep on with nurturing my friends and family with text messages, calls and setting up those special lunch and coffee dates.

Let us not to get busy in life that we forget to spend "real time" with our loved ones.

How about you? 

Did you learn any lessons 5 years ago that you are still doing today?

Or goals made and continued?

As I look back at how our world is just about to turn upside down as we shutdown our state, here is a look back at some of our 2020.

 

We had a 2020 graduate. 

BooHoo... his final year of shooting sports was cancelled. 

We had a small graduation party with family.

 

 

 

 Our National Guard son earned the following for his role with the pandemic.

The Wisconsin National Guard was very busy in 2020 with the pandemic, the Kenosha riots and the election. Our son Sam was deployed for all three events.

 

 

 My husband carved the 2020 pumpkin. 

RIP 2020

 

 

 And a special Christmas gift from our friend D. She made the perfect 2020 memory ornament ... who can forget the toilet paper shortage??

 

 

 

 

Top of the Hodgepodge to Ya

 

 

Top of the Hodgepodge to Ya my friends.

Joyce asks the questions.

We answer the questions.

 Click here to join the fun!

 1. I write the Hodgepodge questions so they'll post on Sunday, which sometimes throws me off in terms of what day it is. St. Patrick's Day will be celebrated on Monday, March 17th. Did you mark the day in some way? Wear green? Make a special meal? Watch or participate in a parade? 

We made a special meal of corned beef, roasted potatoes and carrots. We boiled some cabbage and I made soda bread muffins.

 

 2. Do you think luck plays a part in your life? Explain. 

This has been a question that has come up several times in discussion with my husband. We have a friend who thinks luck plays in the success of a marriage. My husband does not agree. It can get to be a real interesting conversation. 

I will be interested in what other Hodgepodge friends write here for an answer.

 

3. Of the 15 green foods listed, which one is your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Any on the list that are a hard no for you? In general do you like fruits and veggies? As a kid did you eat them willingly or did you hide peas in your napkin hoping your momma wouldn't see? 

Asparagus, avocado, broccoli, celery, cucumber, grape, green bean, kale, kiwi, lettuce, lime, 

pear, peas, pistachios, spinach

Out of the 15 my all time favorite would be the cucumber. I LOVE cucumbers. I grow lots and lots of cucumbers in our garden. I love the snacking varieties. You usually can find me working in the garden and snacking on a cucumber.

Broccoli is a hard NO for me. 

Yes, I enjoy fruit and veggies.

And the one veggie that I did roll up in a napkin or at least try, was beets. YUCK, I do not like beets and my mom made me eat beets.

 

4. What's something that makes you 'turn green'? (with envy or with illness... whichever way you want to run with it)

 

The smell of strong sewage can make me turn green with illness. 

 

5. Did you spend a lot of time outdoors as a child? Doing what? Do you spend a lot of time outdoors now? Doing what?

 Yes, I grew up on a dairy farm, we worked and played outside. My sister and I played outside in all the seasons. 

Yes, I spend a lot of time outdoors. I garden and have a fresh cut flower business. I grow my own flowers for my bouquets. I love to be outside gardening. I also enjoy hiking, kayaking and simply sitting outside visiting with a friend.

 

 6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

The world is just about to go upside down... FIVE years ago on March 17th our state of Wisconsin started to shut down. 

 

This is a photo of our National Guard son Sam. He is dressed to do COVID testing and give vaccines starting in May of 2020. These suits will become to hot for them to wear so they were able to wear scrubs after a month of working like this.

Sam worked testing and giving vaccines in the heart of Milwaukee with his team. 

 

 

 

 

 

It is a Roman Holiday and it is the Hodgepodge

 

Hello Friends, We still have snow on the ground.. but the promise of spring is in the air.

Time for the Hodgepodge, Joyce asks the questions. We answer the questions.

Here we go.

Click here to join the fun! 

1. March 15th is known as The Ides of March, the date on which Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 B.C....have you ever been to Rome? If so what did you love most about the city? If not, is this a place you'd like to visit? 

I have not been to Rome. Yes, I would like to visit someday.

 2. 'Rome wasn't built in a day.' What project/activity/improvement (of any kind) do you have going on right now to which this saying might be applied? 

We have plans to paint and redecorate our bedroom, but things are moving very slow.

 

3. Let's do a little this or that with some Italian foods...

• Caprese salad or Prosciutto with melon? 
• Bruschetta or Antipasto? 
• lasagne or ravioli?
• bolognese or Carbonara?
• Risotto or gnocchi? 
• tiramisu~gelato~cannoli?
  

Prosciutto with melon

Bruschetta

Ravioli

Carbonara

Gnocchi

Cannoli

 

 We made Creamy Spinach Ravioli Soup for dinner Saturday.

 

 4. Of the colors red, white, and green which would I find most prevalent in your home? Which one do you think is most flattering to you in terms of your wardrobe? Have you ever had your colors done? Is that something you'd be interested in doing? 

 We do not have these colors in our home. We have several shades of blue, brown and grey.

Red is in my wardrobe.

I had my colors done long ago, it was a fun Girl Scout outing my mom planned. I would love to do it again.

 

 5. Life would be boring without____________________?

 

The weather? Hee Hee 

Here in Wisconsin, we talk about the weather hourly, because it can be all four seasons in a day around here.

 

 6. Insert your own random thought here.