Wednesday Hodgepodge - Volume 408

1. This week's Hodgepodge lands on Ash Wednesday which signals the beginning of Lent. Do you mark this season in some way? If so tell us more. Did you grow up 'celebrating' Lent? Is attending church part of your weekly routine? Are churches open for in-person worship where you live? 

No, we don't mark Lent in any way.  I didn't grow up celebrating Lent.  Attending church has been part of our weekly routine but with Vic gone, and COVID, it's just not happening right now as churches are not open for in-person worship here.  I hope that when he is home again, we will find a church home and be a part of a worship community again.

2. When is the last time you sat beside a 'real' fire? Do you have a fireplace in your home? Wood or gas logs? Favorite thing cooked over a fire?

When our family celebrated Christmas in England, my parents searched high and low for just the right holiday cottage.  It HAD to have a coal fire, that was non-negotiable for my Mum.  I still have the brochure that she used to circle and usually then cross out various properties until she found the right one.  It was a wonderful trip and we spent most of the time in the cottage in front of the fire.

We have a fireplace at home, with gas logs.  I suppose s'mores would be my favorite thing cooked over a fire.  Several years ago, when I went to a reunion with four of my friends from our MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) days, there was a gourmet s'mores bar.  It was a great idea if you're having a family or friends gathering.

 3. Something that's currently got you fired up?

I had to look up the definition!  Fired up - Very emotional or excited, positively or negatively, regarding something.  I'm excited about Vic coming home, of course, but all the details are not finalized.  I mean, he is coming home in July, but I don't know the exact date yet.  We're putting our rental house on the market in the spring (yay, end of landlordship, is that a word?) so I'm excited about that.

4. February also happens to be National Cabbage Day. Who knew? Do you like cabbage? Is cabbage on your menu Wednesday? Of the following cabbage dishes which is your favorite-coleslaw (mayo or vinegar?), sauerkraut, cabbage rolls, cabbage soup, kielbasa and cabbage, grilled cabbage, bubble and squeak, kimchi, or haluski? 

I LOVE cabbage, cooked or raw.  It's not on the menu for today but my favorite from this list is bubble and squeak - such wonderful comfort food.  My Mum's coleslaw (mayo) was amazing too.

5. Do you hang on to pennies? What do you do with them? Last thing you purchased for $1.00? Last thing you purchased for $5.00? 

I wouldn't say that I hang on to pennies specifically but I do put small change in a jar.  I used to turn it in to the change machine at our bank where it would be deposited into our account, but they got rid of the machine.  Rolling coins is such a pain so I'll have to find a new machine.  One of the grocery stores in Virginia would give you electronic gift cards for change for places like Amazon or Starbucks.  The last thing I purchased for $1.00 was probably two cards - Dollar Store has two cards for $1.00, a great deal, and as they are by a division of Hallmark, they are just as nice as any at the Hallmark store.  The last thing I purchased for $5.00 was probably some Valentine candy.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

We've pretty much recovered from Winter Storm Uri.  All the main roads are plowed, some side streets still need some attention but the temperatures are going up so I would imagine that most of it should be melted by the weekend.  I hope so, the gardener is coming on Saturday!