A January Blog Post

life guard chairs at Jacksonville Beach
January 2019

Today I'm linking up with Joyce and friends to answer the Hodgepodge questions. 

1. It has been said January is 'the month of opportunity, inspiration, and change.' Which of the three do you need most right now? Elaborate.

The holiday season preceding January seems to take a bit more out of me every year, even though I've slowed down considerably. In following BillieJo's blog, Afternoon Coffee and Morning Tea, I've been intrigued with her thoughts on using winter as a time to rest, just as nature does. That seems like a pretty good idea to me. 

So to answer the question, opportunity, inspiration, and change do not resonate with me in the month of January.

2. Do you consider opportunity as something that comes to you or something you create for yourself?

Life has taught me that I tend to be pretty impulsive. I'm thinking opportunity is something I need to allow to come to me because creating it for myself tends to involve decisions that have not been well thought out. 

3. The British Museum opened on January 15th, 1759. Do you like visiting museums? Do you have a favorite?

Yes, I like visiting museums and special exhibits in public buildings. My two all-time favorites are in Washington DC: The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and The Smithsonian Museum of American History. 

Since I have been an avid quilter for much of my adult life, sometime I would like to visit The National Quilt Museum in Paducah, Kentucky. I have been through Paducah many times (always while en route to either Illinois or Florida), but it's never been at a time when it was convenient to visit the quilts. 

I'll step off the Hodgepodge briefly to share snapshots of some of my quilts. I have made quilts for many babies, both in my family and for church baby showers. But these here were made for home decor.

Carrots for my mother's kitchen wall
(she made the brown autumn leaf decor)

variation of the American flag
for my home

pre-cut pink squares assembled by hand
and hand-quilted
(most of my quilts were machine pieced and quilted)

Kandy Korn table topper

Moose in the Woods 2002

This last one is an Irish Chain pattern (one of my favorite patterns, used many times) with a stenciled moose in the center surrounded by evergreen trees. I never did actually quilt this one but chose instead to  "tie it off" with old buttons. I hung this on the walls of 3 of our houses over the years.

4. It's National Oatmeal Month (yes, apparently it gets a whole month as opposed to a single day). Do you like oatmeal? Yes How often do you eat a bowl of oatmeal? Not often enough. Pouring a bowl of Cheerios is much faster. How do you like yours? I like oatmeal from the packets because preparation is easy. What about an oatmeal cookie? Of course! Include chocolate chips, too! Is that a sweet treat you enjoy? Need I answer this??? 🤭

5. What's something useful you learned in high school?

Driver's Ed is what most quickly comes to mind. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

We watched the confirmation hearing for Pete Hegseth. I thought he handled himself very well. I also appreciated the comments by one of the Republicans who addressed faults and imperfections -- which we all have. (Remember Romans 3:23 that says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.") 

When people are repentant of their mistakes, God is not done with them and nor should we. Yes, we need to be discerning in what we entrust to them in the future, but to close the door on them completely is not God's way.

I think of the Apostle Paul, known in the New Testament as a persecutor of Christ-followers until God confronted him in a powerful way that completely changed him for the good. 

Forgive. Relate wisely to others. Leave judging to God. 

Until next time, grace and peace. We all need it. 

The Hodgepodge questions were taken from this link:

http://www.fromthissideofthepond.com/2025/01/hodgepodge-questions-volume-585.html