A Haven for Vee

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

It Has Been Awhile

July 26, 2017 to be exact. 

A lot of my blogging buddies participate in Joyce's weekly Hodge Podge. For lack of an original blogging idea, I have decided to join in this week. Thank goodness, Joyce is still coming up with great questions.

Let's begin! 


1. What's one thing you learned at the ripe old age of whatever age you are now?

Hmmm...I have learned a lot in this particular season of covid, masks, isolation, social distancing, talk of vaccines, etc., etc., You think that I'm going to tell you, right? No, though I will say that I am never putting myself in a place of isolation again. Quite frankly, death would be preferable. Needless to say, this is my opinion only; I am not speaking for you or anyone else. 

2. I read here a list of foods that can help you look younger-

extra virgin olive oil, green tea, fatty fish, dark chocolate, vegetables, flaxseeds, pomegranates, avocados, tomatoes, spices, bone broth

How many of the foods listed have you tried? How many do you eat regularly? Your favorite from the list?

Since I am currently on a sliced tomato drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt kick, guess that that's my favorite.
green tea 😣
fatty fish 😣 wait, is haddock considered "fatty fish"?
dark chocolate πŸ˜–
flaxseeds ?
pomegranates 😣
avocados πŸ˜–
spices?
bone broth 😏

3. Something you miss from the 'good old days'? When were the good old days anyway?

I miss the days when almost everyone was a patriot. I'm a firm believer in not looking back all the time, but if forced to make a choice, I'd say the 1980s was a pretty good time. My years married to John were very sweet; nevertheless, the politics of the time made life unnecessarily difficult and oppressive. I'm looking forward to better days ahead. Sometimes you might hear me whispering Maranatha... 

4. What are two or three of the most rewarding things to be found in growing older?

For me, Sam and Jake. Grandchildren. ツ I like to see families moving forward and growing. 

5. What's your favorite part of your life right now?

Family, friends, books, flowers, cooler weather, cozy days...

My friend Deanna from Creekside Cottage found these Gladys Taber books for me at her local used bookstore. They arrived today just in time for tea and cozy time.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

It's back to the garage for me. My goal is to have it all cleaned out by the end of September. So many unnecessary extras that have gathered over the years were making it impossible to function. 

It doesn't all belong to me, but since others are content to allow me to deal with it, deal with it I will. No yard sales for me, though I have considered putting things on the lawn with a FREE sign. I'm just worried that others would not be interested in my castoffs. So to the landfill it is... 

Perhaps you've been away from the Hodge Podge for a while and would like to check it out once again. You can find Joyce 
⬇️



Thank you for your visit. 












35 comments:

  1. Well, from that list of foods that you shared, I guess I better get busy eating plenty of dark chocolate ( which happens to be my favorite) and continue eating my veggies and fish. I don't care for much else on the list.

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  2. It's been years since I've seen the Hodge Podge. Fun to see it here again. I noticed you don't like dark chocolate - I have acquired a real taste for it and now I love it. I want to sit down with you and dip into those lovely books you got from Deanna. What a splendid find that must have been when you went to your mailbox. Enjoy!

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  3. Hi Vee - Great post. We're living in such a different world right now. We can't change it at this time so it's nice to share the pain of it & share ideas to get through it. It was so nice to see your blog pop up on Bloglovin' this morning. I haven't been blogging for quite some time. Life happened and all of a sudden it's 2020 heading smack dab into 2021. Enjoy what you can & be thankful things aren't worse. I detest the news these days as most people do. Anyway so wonderful to read your blog again. Blog on sister! Blessings, Edie Marie

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    1. Edie Marie, so nice to have you pop by. Are you blogging somewhere? If so, I can't find you.

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  4. Joyce sure asks great Hodge Podge questions.

    As for those foods I eat them all - except I am not a huge fan of dark chocolate. I figure if I am going to consume chocolate it's gotta be really creamy milk chocolate or why bother. Though my daughters both love dark chocolate. (Most likely the reason being that's all I left in gift boxes of chocolate back in the day, haha.)

    Flax seed consumption is something my youngest brought back with her when she lived in SoCal. I keep it frozen and just add it to soups and breads and cookies - don't even notice it but the health benefits are there.

    And my word our garden heirloom tomatoes are kicking in - sooooooo good right off the vine. It got cool last night, so figure everything in garden will be slowing down now.

    We didn't plant pumpkins this year so won't have those to look forward to.

    Stay well.

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  5. I always enjoyed your hodge podge answers! Best of luck with the garage! I am doing some weeding out myself this month.

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  6. We've been working in our garage...pulling things out of the attic. We take most of it to donate to the Sheriff's Thrift store. But there are places that will come and pick up stuff too. Hope your week is good! Hugs!

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  7. I think you should put things on the corner/in your yard for free. I can't tell you how many times we have done that recently. No sooner than we turn around, the item is gone. Weird, usually there is no one out and about, grin. ANYWAYS, Have a great day, friend.

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  8. Oh I do dislike a wonky post and this one sure is. Since I can't seem to get it straightened around...multiple fonts and different sizes, links not working, etc.,I'll not sign up at This Side of the Pond this time. Too embarrassing.

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  9. Reading your comments was great fun. I just might participate. I haven't been on the computer much. I don't know how I manage to stay so busy now that I'm not volunteering, but I am staying home and seeing all sorts of things to keep me busy. I'm thoroughly loving being at home most of the time. That's probably because I have been volunteering so much during this past decade that I haven't had time to enjoy home. It always makes me happy to find your posts.

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  10. Your tomato idea sounds lovely. I'm trying to do to my house what you're doing to your garage. Not sure why it's taking so long. Grandchildren sure are a blessing. Glad you have some to share your life with. ~ Abby

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  11. Oh my! I love tomatoes and guess I need to try it drizzled in olive oil sprinkled with sea salt! My mercy that sounds good! I just saw on the calendar that the official first day of Fall is next Tuesday. Lordy Vee, I hope with FALL that some fresh blessings with a dose of fresh air fall upon us girl. Ready for good news for a change. Enjoyed reading your answers. As always, it's a delight to visit you. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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  12. "... the politics of the time made life unnecessarily difficult and oppressive. I'm looking forward to better days ahead. Sometimes you might hear me whispering Maranatha..."

    😊

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  13. You would be surprised what people pick up at the curb!! And sometimes I go 'dumpster diving' myself!!
    Godspeed on your barn....
    I love Gladys Tabor and of the three I see in your photo - I have one. I must look for these...
    It's hard to be a light in such dark times but I have watched yours shine through so much and I love and admire you.

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  14. Wow, those Gladys Tabor books struck a chord. I believe my grandmother had some of those, passed to my father, but they probably went out the way of everything else when we had the estate sale for my parents' home. We couldn't keep everything, even though I would have loved to have tried. But now I am thankful we didn't. I understand about cleaning out a garage. We don't have a garage, but a shed, and when we moved here everything that didn't fit into the house went into the shed to be sorted through and organized, etc. One year ago, and it still looks pretty much the same. Waiting for cooler weather to do that work. I love the word "Maranatha", and it is a good one to be remembering in these difficult days. I keep my eyes on the Eastern Sky every day, listening for the trumpet call. I've noticed no one on this meme today seems to have known what flaxseeds are. My dr. told me to eat them anyway I could to help with cholesterol. There are some organic cereals, breads, etc., that contain them. You can also buy the flour and make your own bread. I'm not that adventuresome, but found one cereal I liked that had them. Nature's Path Organic Pumpkin Seed + Flax granola. Pretty good. Enjoyed this post.

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  15. The emojis you used to indicate your feelings toward the foods on the list were very descriptive and made me LOL. The books from Deanna look like just the thing for the cooler weather and cozy days. I have not seen Especially Father before. Your garage cleaning sounds like a very ambitious project. I know it will feel good when it is all done. Don't work too hard now.

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  16. Good to see you on the Hodgepodge today, Vee.

    If others leave their stuff w/you and don't want to come get it, then I do think you have the freedom and the right to deal with it as you see fit. If they are paying rent for storage space, that's another matter, of course. But it does not sound like that's the case here.

    Yes, Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!

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  17. Always very satisfying to see another blog post from you, Vee....Especially Father was the first Gladys Taber book I ever read. It is quite different from her other books which I also love, but this first one is very special and fascinating.

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  18. We've done the putting things out front with a free sign and it goes fast. Can't do that here though, no one passes by. :)
    Once we had a yard sale where we put everything out and used the honor system. Left a box for money with a sign that said leave any amount you want. MOST every one left money! (we peeked out the window and watched.)

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  19. Being a big Gladys Taber fan, I had to smile at your wonderful books from your friend. We are now in the process of ridding our home of the many toys that our children and grandchildren no longer use or want. Our local AMVETS have started up their monthly pickups and we are happy to make donations to them.

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  20. Isolation is the devil's playground. I miss those days where it seemed people had better common sense and when lawlessness was under control. I think I say maranatha most every day. Dumping is easier than a yard sale...
    Hope the cleaning out goes well. Enjoy the last days of September!

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  21. I loved reading blogs of those who participated in Hodge Podge and I love this post, Vee. I get you on those tomatoes...we are getting them in abundance here in Michigan from friends, neighbors and the farm markets. The best way for me to enjoy them is at a room temp with a little olive oil and some S&P.

    I'm due for a visit to a large Antique Mall near me and I think I'll search for some Gladys Taber books. They truly relax and make me realize there are times from the past when we had good memories and pleasant reflections.

    I have a lot of "stuff in the garage as well. I do put as much out as I can and I'm so happy to see the pile gone the next day. People here are so resourceful. They take things that are broke and repair them. They take metal and melt it down. An overabundance of flower pots are someone's treasure and a break in dropping a pretty penny at big box stores. You'd be surprised.

    Thanks again for a great post. Hope to see you again soon!

    Jane x

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  22. This year had been one long life lesson for me as well. Now I've learned my lesson and I'm ready to move on! Love the flowery header of the blog.
    Amalia
    xo

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  23. Nice to see you here today. The isolation has gotten the best of me. I didn't need to go anywhere but now that I can't I find that I don't even want to do things around the house like cleaning!!! I dig into Hallmark movies which bring me comfort. I agree with you, people loved our country. It is so sad what is happening now. God was wonderful in His plan for making grandparents!!!

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  24. Dear Vee - I feel like I want to come over there and give you a big, not virtual, hug to bring some cheer to you. We will get through this with the least amounts of scars as possible, I pray. Grandchildren are the perfect distraction these days - not so much the garage although that too needs to be done. God bless you and keep you. Be kind to yourself ...

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  25. I enjoyed reading your post, especially seeing that eating dark chocolate is a food that makes you look younger. These days I look in the mirror and think, that can’t be right. LOL ❤️

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  26. I enjoyed reading your answers and always learning more about you. How nice to receive a package of books in the mail. Reading those will be so enjoyable with a cup of tea. Wish I could join you!

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  27. I was so happy to read your post, Vee!! We were away earlier this week, but I decided to do a Hodgepodge post also after reading yours.

    Love Gladys Taber books. I read all that our local libraries had to offer back in the 80s and 90s and have read all the ones you showed. I own The Stillmeadow Road, Stillmeadow Sampler, and one of her cookbooks. I even own one of her fiction books, Nurse in Blue!

    Your tomato idea sounds wonderful ...

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  28. Good question...'When were the good old days?' I guess every year has its good and its bad, though 2020 is definitely weighted one way! Smiling as I think about the last thing we put on the curb. We cleaned out my dad's suite last week and most of the larger furniture was spoken for. We decided to put his favorite Lazy-boy recliner on the curb with a free sign while we finished loading the rest, in hopes someone would want it and save us having to deal with it. It was still there when we finished, so we were going to load it onto a truck, but the lady firmly planted in it and having a smoke told us that she got there first and Kevin had gone to get a truck. Yay. We were rid of it. So we thought. The next morning as we were eating breakfast (September 11th and Elmer's birthday) we got a message from the manager of the retirement home where my dad had been for the past two years, asking whether we had intended to leave the recliner in their driveway or was it left there by accident. Oh my goodness. I guess Kevin never showed up for his free chair, so we made a hasty trip to town to retrieve the chair that we did not want. That's my last experience with 'putting things on the curb'. We had a good laugh, even if it was the last thing we had time for that day! Good luck with the garage clean-up.

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    1. Oh my! 🀦🏻‍♀️ That story made me laugh. I don't know, Judy. Are you sure you don't want that recliner? I am happily sitting in my dad's recliner right now. πŸ™‚

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  29. I enjoyed this post, Vee, even though I was unfamiliar with Joyce's Hodge Podge. Tomatoes and olive oil are wonderful and healthy too and dark chocolate is a favorite and I like it with peanut butter, so it has to be healthy, doesn't it? we all have those clean-out projects to get too and for myself it's the closets here in our apt. We live in less space now than when we owned a home, but still things manage to collect.

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  30. Tomatoes with olive oil and sea salt are such a treat when the tomatoes are summer ripened on the vine. I like most of those healthy foods and dark chocolate is a definite favourite. Those Gladys Tabor books are a real treasure. So sweet of Deanna to send them to you. I keep looking for them but they are rare out here.

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  31. Oh yes, I agree that grandchildren are one of the nicest things about growing older! I also share some of your likes and dislikes when it comes to healthy foods. Sigh . . . But I also share many things on your other "favorites" list. A fall girl through and through, I am loving the cooler temps we've had the past few days.

    Good luck in the garage. The "favorite" part of that will be having a tidier, more usable space!

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  32. I =should look a lot younger as I love all those foods! I also think grandchildren are one of the best blessings of old age. You are so fortunate to get those Tabor books! I check on vintage book sites and often anything she wrote is priced over $30.
    When we were cleaning out my mother's house of 60 years and before we moved from Brooklyn, we found many charities will take things and haul them away for free. One was a Disabled Vets of America charity, another was a Haitian Refugee Charity that was more then happy to take almost everything--I guess they sell what they can't use. It's worth seeing if there is a charity near you that would do the same and keep the landfill from filling up.
    Enjoy autumn and the cooler days and nights--we are starting to see our trees changing here!

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  33. I’m glad that I was able to get you the books! They’ll be great fall and winter reading. I prefer milk chocolate or semi sweet to dark chocolate. I like avocados. Green tea tastes like grass - I’ve found that you can get the same nutritional benefits from black tea but you have to drink two cups rather than just one! I’d rather do that!

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