Many thanks to Joyce for this week's Hodge Podge questions.
1. The Hodgepodge lands on National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.2. Many books, both fiction and non-fiction have been written with WW2 as the setting. Is this a 'genre' you gravitate towards? not necessarily
Share with us a book (or two) you've enjoyed that is set in some way around WW2. If you're not a reader, how about a movie? .🎥The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society 🎥Tora Tora Tora was the first and only movie my family saw in a theater when I was growing up. My father felt that it was important. Whether what was presented was 100% true, I don't know. The
3. According to Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, there are seven popular color trends for the holidays this year. They are- red and white, Victorian blue, pops of pink, rich shades of green, rainbow hues, black and white, and nostalgic retro colors. Are you 'trendy' when it comes to holiday decorating in 2022? I hope not.
How so? Oh-oh! A careful look at my wee tree in an antique trunk reveals that my colors are mostly red and white so I may have to rethink my disdain for trendy.
Does your tree have a 'theme'? Now that would imply careful thought and planning — nope!
4. What's a current trend you buck? I like to think that I buck most trends.
5. What's your favorite chocolate something? A molten lava cake made in a crockpot served with vanilla ice cream is so delicious.
6. Insert your own random thought here. My best random thought is this: Sparkle on! We who have invited Christ into our hearts have every reason to rejoice!
I Christmas shopped all day yesterday with my sister. Fun! I followed Susan Branch's advice to "Be an Elf."
This means washing my face dressing up, putting on some make-up, and trying to get my hair to cooperate. It also means finding my mother's poinsettia pin to wear on my coat. Plus I worked on smiling a lot. My face aches today. ツ Thanks for reading! You deserve a prize.
Love,
Vee
"One of the more shocking things we learned about WWII was that many Jews were turned away from entering the United States even though they had all the required papers and passports. You can read more about that *here.*
ReplyDeleteDo you think it matters? yes"
Me too.
If I remember correctly they were returned to Europe and were taken to the camps. They had been at our ports. So close.
I wonder what led to them being refused. How did that happen?
I went to your link. Thousands! The story I heard was about one ship. This happened multiple times? Hard to believe they thought they were spies, but those were strange days.
DeleteAbsolutely devastating that they were turned away. So sad!
DeleteOh, I never knew about the Jews being refused entrance here during WWII. That is shocking and very very sad. Breaks my heart even to think about what those people endured. may God forgive us for our ignorance and foolishness. I enjoyed your responses...I did not know that you were an American History teacher! Wow! I bet you made it interesting...I might have even learned something if you had been my teacher! My history teachers were so BORING!! But History was never my thing then. Then again, learning wasn't high on my list in High School...I was enjoying all the extracurricular activities more. I wish now I had studied more. But that's that, and I guess I still survived life. Anyway, I LOVE your tree in the antique trunk! What a neat idea! See, you are trendy! LOL. I love that you went shopping with your sister and had a good time...smiling is very good for the soul and also for the face muscles! And I love that you wore your mother's poinsettia pin on your coat. That is a beautiful way to remember her when shopping with your sister. Kind of like taking her along for the joy of being with her daughters on a shopping trip again...in a sweet little way. Oh, BTW, I LOVE The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society book and movie. That was a real treasure to me. I loved that story and I think they did a good job with the movie, but I am glad I read the book first. I enjoyed your answers and learned something here today, so you are still teaching!!! Thank you, and God bless you dear friend in Maine.
ReplyDeleteI always love reading the hodge podge questions and answers.
ReplyDeleteLoved everything about this post! I had a wonderful American History teacher my senior year of high school. He was very hard but made it so interesting. And I sadly don't think our schools have done a good job of teaching the truth about our history for many, many years. Always enjoy your posts and hope in the New Year you'll post more often! Merry Christmas and blessed New Year!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat questions and even greater answers! Love you have your mother's poinsettia pin - I still have some of my mother's jewelry which I enjoy wearing.
ReplyDeleteVee, I never knew you were a teacher - but I always knew you were a very smart woman! Admire how you taught history - today the kids aren't getting much in the way of WWII stories. Growing up/being educated in England, I don't recall being taught much American history. . . . . . . . . other than the Boston Tea Party!!!!!!
Love and hugs for the holidays, good health and much happiness for the coming year.
Mary & Bob (now he's a history buff and knows everything that happened everywhere!) XX
Your last few sentences had me laughing! As always I enjoy your candor about everything. I did not realize you taught history. That is not a surprise but after all these years surely you must have mentioned it. Love how you taught from present to previous events--brilliant! Take care and continue to be an elf.
ReplyDeleteI saw Tora Tora Tora with my dad in the theatre too. I'd forgotten about that one until you mentioned it here. I like the idea of teaching history in reverse. There's a lot to know, isn't there? Enjoy the rest of your week!
ReplyDeletejust fyi-I don't think your link is working in the link up. I saw your name and searched but the link did not bring me here. If you want to add a new link I will go in and delete the old.
DeleteThanks for letting me know. Alas, Mr. Linky will not allow me to enter the same link twice. It's okay!
DeleteWonderful post, Vee! Loved it.
ReplyDeleteSo very sad about those Jews being turned away. I had not known that. A few years ago Mr. T and I were in Jerome, Idaho on a family trip and had some time to kill. We went to the historical society museum which happened to be open and there was a large exhibit concerning the internment camps for Japanese-Americans. I had heard of those, but being close to one of the sites and seeing all of the photos really brought it home.
Love the idea of teaching American history backward! Leave it to you to come up with something so innovative and, no doubt, very effective.
Yay for Christmas shopping with Grandma's poinsettia pinned to your coat!
Good idea about teaching history from present to past!!
ReplyDeleteDidn't know that about the Jews!
Just love your blog today, Vee. So fun to see the sights and sounds around you home. Lovely Christmas decorations. I feel the joy!
ReplyDeleteHistory was one of my favorite subjects. US and World History. I also took Art History in college. That Molten cake sounds so good! I need to take pictures of my decor and post them. Thanks for visiting my site!
ReplyDeleteI am smiling at your disdain for trends. 😊 I think (I hope) that I am with you there! Looking around my house and in my wardrobe makes me think that I am.
ReplyDeleteYour method of teaching history has merit! Who ever finishes the end of the book? In our homeschool, we rotated through history several times, so I think we delved pretty deeply into most periods. There were many excellent WWII books, but one of my favorites will always be The Hiding Place,>/i> It was required reading for my high schoolers.
Love your "random thought!" We do indeed have reason to rejoice!
Being one of those who found history totally boring in high school, I wonder if the outcome would have been different had you been my teacher. Your method sounds much more relatable.
ReplyDeleteI got a kick out of the answer to question 3. I agree :)
I have always liked Susan Branch's Be An Elf idea. I am sure you brought happiness to others and hopefully to yourself as well.
Hello Vee,
ReplyDeleteI must have been on trend for many years now as red and white have been my main colours for a long time. Maybe we're just the trendsetters!
History is a favourite subject of mine and I love learning more about it and about how all the pieces fit together. What a great idea to teach from the present backwards. I did know about the Jews being turned away and find it so very sad. And then I wonder what policies we have today that will be judged by historians in the future in a similar way. Sobering thought.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is a favourite book of mine, and I also enjoy the Zion Covenant series by Bodie Thoene for WWII history from a different perspective. I read them long ago, but the stories have stayed with me.
I am so thankful for the promises of Christmas - Emmanuel - God with us! Let us rejoice!
I really enjoyed reading your hodge podge answers and you made me giggle with your "trend" answers! Your tree and decor looks just lovely Vee. Sparkle on ...
ReplyDeleteWell I learned something new, as I never knew you had been a history teacher. I liked reading about your approach to teaching the students. I read The Gurnsey book and loved it, and saw the movie.
ReplyDeleteI’d share some of the chocolate molten lava cake with you!!
Sparkle on, Vee! I’m trying my best to do that, too.
This is a fun hodgepodge!
ReplyDeleteI was shocked to learn about the Jews being turned away as well. I think I learned that as an adult reading books by Broke and Bodie Thoene!
I loved the Guernsey book too. I thought the movie was also, good.
Your tree looks very good! So smart to put it in the trunk!
"My face aches today. ツ "--bahwaaaaaaaaaaa---thanks, I needed that, every.single.day I put on that face too, grin. I think my face is permantely cemented now with that smile---LOLOLOL.
ReplyDeleteSounds like fun getting out to go shopping. I hope you found something for yourself too. Enjoy your weekend. Keep that sweater handy! We are watching the weather channel and it looks like a cold week ahead for you. Hugs, Diane
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the encouragement to sparkle on. I like that. There is a lot in our history and present that we can be ashamed of. This present darkness we are experiencing makes it even more important to shine the light of Jesus in this dark world. So glad to enjoy that light and sparkle of life and peace that passes understanding. Shine on dear Vee. I appreciate your 'style' and the way you put words together that make me think and smile!
ReplyDeleteI really like your "random thought". I will attempt to "sparkle". And I need to find the recipe for a crock pot molten lava cake. Mmmmm And I dislike the whole idea of trends. As soon as I become aware that something is a trend, I am over it already.
ReplyDeleteIt's linked, Becki. ☺️
DeleteThe Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society -- now that's a title I've never heard! Very intriguing!
ReplyDeleteLove your answers Vee! I tend to stick with red and green for Christmas. Would love to try that Molten Lava in the crock pot! Can you share you recipe sometime? Merry Christmas Vee!
ReplyDeleteIt's linked...just click on the sentence. ☺️ Easy and delicious!
DeleteHi Vee~ I missed this post by a good week!! I have always been interested in WWII, any thing from books to movies. When I was a senior in high school, I took a history class all about WWII, it was fascinating! My father was in that war as well, so that sparked my interest...he never talked about it. One of my favorite movies has always been, Bridge over the River Kwai. I am very far from trendy. Your tree in the old trunk is beautiful, and your tree is so pretty! Have a wonderful week! Hugs.
ReplyDeleteI'm a little late here. But, as always, you make me smile. Of course you would be bucking the trend! I'm definitely bucking it, since I don't see gold on that list at all. My decor hasn't changed much over the years. The gold angel at the top was one my daughter and I bought when she was in her teens.
ReplyDeleteI've actually read a few WW2 books recently and really enjoyed them. They were historical novels, but I learned a lot about that time in history. Also read the 'Potato Peel Pie Society'. And yes, I have been to the Pearl Harbour Memorial, though it was so long ago, I can't recall too much about it.
I like your 'best random thought'. Let's reflect the light of Jesus this Christmas season. That is what Christmas is all about. Wishing you a wonderful and blessed Christmas filled with joy, peace, love and hope!
I am a little late getting here for a visit but I loved your Hodge Podge - and now MY face aches from smiling at thinking about YOU being an elf and smiling till it hurts. Oh my word don't we need more smiling days, my friend?
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you and your family. Big hugs. ♥
Hope you're enjoying this holiday season and all the best for the coming year, dear Vee.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Belated Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year to you Vee! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas season, and like you, we both spent time praying for those not having family around or dealing with difficult situations over the holidays. May this New Year be special and wonderful for you in every way! Love and blessings!
ReplyDeleteHello! New here...I really enjoy reading your blog...
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoyyed a wonderful Christmas and New Year!
hugs
Donna