The Whites of Winter

a winter sunrise at Daytona Beach, Florida 
2022

This week Joyce's Hodgepodge questions focus on winter. If you want to link up with her blog to answer these questions, click here.

1. What kind of winter person are you-snow lover, fireplace snuggler, winter adventurer, or indoor hibernator? Elaborate. 

My preference over the years has changed from the thrill of being in snow to just observing it from inside a warm house. After years of living in snowy climates (Upstate New York, New Jersey, Colorado, South Dakota, Northern Virginia), when asked if I miss snow, my reply is I don't miss shoveling it. 

my last month in Colorado, May 2017;
6 inches of snow to be cleared from our deck

Been there; done that. Now my preference is the white caps of ocean waves.

collecting sea shells at Florida's Atlantic beach
after moving here in 2017

2. The Pantone color of the year is cloud dancer, described as a gentle, billowy off white shade. The color symbolizes 'peace, clarity, quiet reflection, renewal, and a soft reset'. Of the terms just listed which do you need most in your life this winter? 

I choose "clarity." Some baffling issues have been on my mind in recent years that could benefit from some clarity. 

I'm seeing that there are things in life we just need to accept, make our peace with as much as possible, and move on. 

God has everything in his control. I'm learning to trust His loving character in my life.

1957 "Colonial White" Ford Thunderbird

As to the subject of white, here is a gorgeous car we saw at a show this past November. While I much prefer driving newer vehicles for the techie additions they provide, I am also partial to T-birds since Gary dated me in his 2002 T-bird (a turquoise that was called "Thunderbird Blue").

December 2021

3. Every cloud has a silver lining, on cloud nine, head in the clouds, storm clouds gathering, or cloud of suspicion...which 'cloud' idiom do you most relate to currently? Explain. 

Thinking of current events in our world, "storm clouds gathering" is very accurate. We need to be praying for our leaders and asking God to bring calm to our streets.

4. Coconut, cauliflower, cottage cheese, mayonnaise, onions, ranch dressing...of the white foods listed, which would be the hardest for you to give up? Do you like all or any of the foods on the list? 

Without a doubt, mayonnaise would be the hardest of the listed foods for me to give up. I grew up with Miracle Whip, which I loved at the time, but my desire for that has long since disappeared. Now it's Hellmann's Real Mayo for me!

5. Thomas Wentworth Higginson is credited with this quote-

"How many lessons of faith and beauty we should lose, if there were no winter in our year." 

Agree or disagree? Tell us why. 

Yes, I agree. Winter teaches us to slow down, review where we are, and to consider if adjustments should be made. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Here are the words to an old hymn that fit well with today's theme of winter whites:

Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;

I want Thee forever to live in my soul,

Break down every idol, cast out every foe;

Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.

Whiter than snow, yes whiter than snow,

Now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.

James L. Nicholson United Kingdom/USA 1828-1876

Until next time, grace and peace.

Barbara