Thursday Thirteen for the New Year

THIRTEEN THINGS I'D LIKE TO MAKE HAPPEN THIS YEAR

1. Sell some handmade shopping bags. Maybe even make a little money doing it.

2. Give away some handmade shopping bags. Just because.

3. Practice Christmas giving all year, that is, give away bread and goodies and meals and little gifts to everyone I'd like to show appreciation for, but instead of trying to get it all done in one short month, spread it throughout the year.

4. Go to bed with a clean kitchen every night. I'm starting this with FlyLady's help. So far, for the last week, I've gone to bed with a shiny clean sink. Which makes a bigger difference than I thought it would.

5. Get in the habit of wiping down the bathroom every time I get out of the shower. The whole room is wet from condensation anyway, might as well wipe it and stay on top of the cleaning.

6. Continue daily prayers.

7. Read the bible through, which I'm doing via this online chart.

8. Make opportunities for my boys, particularly MB3, to get to know other young people. I'm starting by planning a big wingding in honor of his birthday this month. It's just getting revved up; I'll keep you posted as it gets closer.

9. Invite a certain large family over for a meal. I know from experience that if you have more than two children you never get invited anywhere, and I'd like to show my sympathy and support for large families. But it will have to be when the weather is nice so we can be outside at the picnic tables. My house is no longer babyproof!

10. Plant a garden again. Every summer for almost twenty-five years we had a large garden, but for a few years now it's fallen by the wayside. I sure miss that home-grown produce.

11. Revive the custom of taking a walk every day with Hubby, and failing that, then taking a walk every day alone.

12. Get MB3 ready to graduate from our homeschool.

13. Practice being humble about accepting criticism and instruction.

TT#32: Thirteen Random Questions and Their Answers

<

Another Thursday is upon us, and I have another list. This time it's thirteen random questions out of a "getting to know you" thing that was going around some time ago.

1. What color are your socks right now? Ha! I'm not wearing socks! It's sandal weather!

2. What are you listening to right now? The sound of GuitarGeek typing, and the house fan running. Otherwise, it's very quiet here at this moment. Which is actually very unusual and strange.

3. What was the last thing you ate? A piece of Dove chocolate (dark, of course).

4. What is your favorite drink? Cold water from our well.

5. What is your favorite sport to watch? Ice dancing, or maybe gymnastics. Those are considered sports, aren't they? I'm not sure.

6. Have you ever dyed your hair? Nope. I have no plans to do so, even though I'm starting to turn gray, but who knows what I'll feel like in ten years?

7. Favorite food? Ummm. Fresh homemade bread? Chocolate? How about both-- at the same time. Sounds good... I'll be right back....

8. Last movie you watched? Enchanted. Which I actually enjoyed. It's as if Disney did a spoof on themselves.

9. What do you do to vent anger? talk talk talk cry

10. What is your favorite season? Fall.

11. Hugs or kisses? Hugs. Well, unless you're Hubby, then both.

12. Cherry or Blueberry? Cherry.

13. What is on the floor of your closet? A stack of shoe boxes, a laundry basket, and a big teddy bear (that Hubby actually won for me at a carnival dart game a few years ago. Isn't that sweet?)

TT#31: Thirteen things I do when I'm supposed to be making supper, or cleaning something

Thirteen things I do when I'm supposed to be making supper, or cleaning something. I don't do these all at once, or every time, but I do tend to procrastinate. I'm not sure why I procratinate cooking meals, because I like to cook. I think it's because of all the decision-making about what to have that pulls me up short. Now, cleaning? I like a clean house, but I do not like to actually clean it. So, what else can I do while the dust quietly accumulates and the dishes stack up? I can... 1. re-read old books that I've read many times already (I'll bet I've read Anne of Green Gables more times than you have) 2. play TipTop or Cubis 2 (my favorite online games) 3. read the latest updates to the blogs in my feed reader (if you're in my list of blogs I like, know that I read your blog within minutes of you posting. My feed reader BONKS at me to let me know) 4. follow links from the blogs to who-knows-where (and sometimes I find interesting stuff, too) 5. find someone to talk to (like Hubby, or anyone who's home) 6. check email (often, at all three accounts. Maybe THIS time I actually got mail!) 7. eat chocolate (Dove is my favorite, and I limit myself to two or three a day. I don't want to pull the ripcord, after all, as Hubby says.) 8. look for stuff on Amazon and eBay (I don't buy much, but I will look for certain things. Like right now I'm looking for a replacement for my paring knife that broke) 9. check the mailbox (not the virtual one, the real one) and sometimes even read the junk mail 10. look for interesting things to watch on YouTube (usually stuff like the latest from American Idol, or music videos, or episodes of very old TV shows) 11. write comments on the blogs I read (If I can think of anything to say) 12. check my blog tracker (Who's been here today, and what were they looking for, and where are they from? Those are the burning questions) 13. re-read my own old posts to see if they're worth reading (Sometimes they are, sometimes they aren't) What do you do when you don't want to do something else?


Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants



TT#30: Things I've Never Been Sorry I've Done

Thirteen Things about mom huebert 1. Married Hubby-- Well, I've had moments I've wondered about.... (Kidding, KIDDING!) 2. Had four kids-- I love them all, and sort of wish we'd had more. 3. Moved to Nebraska-- I just like it here. 4. Learned to play the violin-- I like the music I can make with it. 5. Homeschooled my children -- I've had my kids home with me a LOT, and have been able to create a closeknit family. (for the most part....) 6. Moved away from Kansas City-- I grew up there, but I don't miss it. The only thing I miss is that all the rest of my family is there, but I can go visit. I'm just glad I don't live there. 7. Bought a computer-- I was afraid maybe I'd be sorry for getting into the whole internet thing, but I'm not. 8. Planted lots of trees-- We have wonderful shade now. 9. Learned to drive-- My mom and grandma never did learn to drive. They were, and still are, too nervous. And besides, how would I get around out in rural Nebraska if I didn't drive?! 10. Stayed out of debt-- We have had very little debt over the years, and whatever we do get a loan for, we pay back as fast as we can. We have one credit card, and we pay it off every month. 11. Smoked-- I've never smoked, and I can't see myself ever starting. I think this is a good thing to keep off my to do list. 12. Forgave Hubby for the lousy honeymoon-- Part of it wasn't his fault, and the rest... well, I kept telling myself that the marriage was more important than the honeymoon, or even the wedding, for that matter. And whaddaya know-- I was right. 13. Learned to cook-- Let's just say it's come in real handy over the years....


Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants



TT#30: Thirteen H's

Thirteen Things about momhuebert Well, last week time I did a list of thirteen things about me beginning with the letter C (the letter of my first name), and that was so much fun, that I think this time I'm going to do thirteen things about me that begin with the letter H (the first letter of my last name). So, once again with the help of the American Heritage Dictionary, here we go. H stands for.... 1...Hair. Twice I let my hair grown down to my tailbone, and both times, I cut off the braid for Hubby to keep. 2...Hamburger. Something I use a lot of, cooking for six or more people as I do. 3...Hamster. A pet we've never owned, and probably never will. Cats are enough. 4...Hand, small. I have small hands, the smallest in our family. My ring size is 5. 5...Hand-me-downs. Something I've gotten a lot of over the years, both for my kids and for myself. In fact, I myself often get hand-me-downs from teenagers. It's not just my hands-- the rest of me is small too. 6...Harangue. What my kids think I do when I get upset. (GuitarGeek says, "it's not what we THINK you do, it's what you DO"... so who are you going to believe?) 7....Harmony. What I like to play on my violin. Also, what I encourage in my family and household. 8...Hurry. What I'm always in, because I procrastinate, and then have to catch up. 9...Hastings. "A city of southern Nebraska, Population 21,000." Yup. It's about a 45 minute drive from here, and I only put it on the list because IT'S ACTUALLY IN THE DICTIONARY, FOLKS. Pretty cool, huh. 10...Hosiery, as in pantyhose. Something I never wear anymore. I don't believe in pantyhose. *smirk* 11...Highfalutin. Something I am not. I think I'm ordinary, friendly, loving, accepting-- at least I try to be, when I'm not having an introvert moment. 12...Hyperbole. Something I use a ton of. At least, in conversation. I probably tone it down when I write. 13....Hereafter. Something I think about more and more, as in, I walk to another room for something, and when I get there I think, "Now, what am I here after?"

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

TT#28: A "C" List

So, today is thirteen things about me that start with a letter of the alphabet.

Hmm.

Okay.

Today is brought to you by the letter .... C!

(With a little help from the American Heritage Dictionary.)


C is for...

1. ...first letter of my real name.

2. ...chocolate, which is my favorite candy, and also dessert flavor. And also snack. And ice cream flavor.

3. ...carnivorous. I'm not a vegetarian. I love vegetables, but they're not my only source of nutrition.

4. ...crochet. I DO NOT like to crochet. I've tried, but I have a hard time figuring it out, and I decided I don't really like crocheted things anyway. I'd rather knit, although I haven't for a while.

5. ...cabin. I would love to build and live in a cute cabin somewhere in the middle of a woodsy nowhere.

6. ...calcium. Something I need to take regularly, or I turn into a screaming bundle of nerves.

7. ...Common Prayer, Book of. ditto from number six. Seriously. I do much better every day if I spend some time every morning and evening using it.

8. ...camisole. I have several of these from Shade clothing, and I love them. They make looking trendy a much more modest and cute proposition.

9. ...campfire. I love campfires. In fact, I'll bet we could have one tonight already, now that I think about it. Cool!

10. ...camping. My favorite form of vacation. I love to find a really pretty, quiet spot and hang out, with a tent and a campfire.

11. ...chamomile tea. My favorite kind of herbal tea.

12. ...cast iron skillets. This comprises most of my cookware--I think I have at least six), and I love using them. My boys tease me that I will never be weak-wristed, with all the exercise I get handling those heavy things full of food.

13. ...cavity. Something I am unfamiliar with, since I have no cavities whatsoever. Thank God for good teeth.

TT#28: Song Snippets-- Can you guess?

Thirteen Things frommomhuebert Today's list is thirteen snippets from (mostly) old songs that sometimes run through my head at odd moments. Can you guess what songs they're from, and who sang them? It might help you to know that I graduated from high school in 1980. Then again, it might not. Tomorrow I'll post as much as I know of the answers. 1. "ninety-nine dreams I have had" 2. "money, money, money" 3. "please, mister, please" 4. "aye, calypso" 5. "don't be a hero" 6. "too young for love they told her" 7. "how long do you wanna be loved?" 8. "you can check out any time you like" 9. "took two shots, got no ducks" 10. "songs that make the young girls cry" 11. "you don't ever laugh like you used to" 12. "baby why don't we go" 13. "you kissed me and stopped me from shakin'"

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

TT#26: Thirteen books on my Amazon wish list.

Thirteen Things about mom huebert Today's list: Thirteen Books in my Amazon wish list. I have many more than this, but many of them are sort of repeats, that is, lots of books about the same subjects. I'm very thorough, and don't want to miss anything good! 1. The Abbey Psalter. The Psalms translated in cadence for chanting or putting to music, like this: Happy indeed is the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked; Nor lingers in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of scorners, But whose delight is the law of the Lord and who ponders his law day and night. (Try reading it aloud, and you'll see what I mean.) 2.The Celtic Way of Prayer: The Recovery of the Religious Imagination. "Peregrinatio (Celtic word for a pilgrimage of sorts) is not undertaken at the suggestion of some monastic abbot or superior but because of an inner prompting in those who set out, a passionate conviction that they must undertake what was essentially an inner journey." 3. Prophetic Lifestyle and the Celtic Way. A book about one family's experiences with listening to the Holy Spirit. 4.Windows into the Soul: Art as Spiritual Expression. Ways to use art projects as a form of prayer and contemplation. Sounds like fun. 5. Prayers of the HeArt. An exploration of the role of creativity in the life of prayer. 6. The Divine HoursTM, pocket edition. A book for ordinary folks to pray the liturgy of the hours. 7. Celtic Daily Prayer: Prayer and Readings from the Northumbria Community. Just what it says. Actually, this one is on order and due to be here this weekend! 8. Journey Against One Current: The Spiritual Autobiography of a Chinese Christian. A woman's memories of standing up for Christ in Marxist China. 9. A Scandalous Freedom: The Radical Nature of the Gospel. From Publishers Weekly review: "I fear too often the church has become an organization of guilty people with a guilty preacher standing in the pulpit, telling guilty people that they should feel guiltier," {the author} writes. The oppressed and their oppressors miss the power of the authenticity, especially the freedom to fail, the joy of God's complete forgiveness and the boldness it brings. Sounds interesting! 10. Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World. About learning to feel God's love for us, and how to blend service and spiritual worship in our everyday world. 11. Keys to the Deeper Life Six essays about Christianity. 12. Keys to Great Writing. More keys, this time to writing better. 13. The Procrastinator's Handbook: Mastering the Art of Doing It Now. Much needed. Plus, it's been on my list for probably a year, and I still haven't gotten around to ordering it....

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

TT#25: Thirteen Birthday Cakes I Have Made

Since tomorrow is my birthday, I thought it would be fun to make a list of thirteen birthday cakes I have made for my kids over the years. Up until they hit thirteen years old, I made them a "fancy" cake, and when they were old enough to choose, I let them pick out of two different books I had.

Of course, these are not MY cakes. To show you the actual cakes I made would have required digging out the scrapbooks, finding the birthday pictures, and trying to figure out how to scan pictures in a scrapbook on to the computer. Just way too much work a bit too technological for me. Instead, I have found pictures of similar cakes to give you an idea. (These are in not in chronological order.)

1. A Turtle cake. This is the exact cake, out of the exact book I have! I made this probably once for each of my four kids.

2. Ladybug cake. This was for LovelyDaughter.



3. "Bob the Tomato". This was for MB3, when he was younger, of course. Mine was nicer than this, I think, but I never thought of adding the Peas!


4. Castle Cake, for LovelyDaughter. This looks very much like the picture out of the book I used.


5. Spider Web cake, for DrummerDude. And I think I did use chocolate frosting.



6. Computer cake. For MB3. This is almost exactly like the one I made.

7. Hobby Horse. Again, this is the exact book I used. I made this cake for MB3's first birthday.

8. Princess Doll, for LovelyDaughter. We used miniature marshmallows to decorate the skirt.


9. Cat cake. Or, as my kids called it, a Kitty Cake. I don't know how many times I made a cake like this. Probably twice for each of the kids. It was their favorite when they were little.


10. Smiley Face. For LovelyDaughter.



11. Pick up truck. This looks pretty close to the one I made for DrummerDude, except for the side boards. His was even blue. The frosting I made was sort of a marshmallow frosting, and it was sort of a flop. It ran and oozed, but when it set up, it actually looked really cool, like a smooth, shiny paint job. We filled the bed of the truck with crushed oreos, and it looked just like a load of dirt.

12. Train cake. I made this cake more than once. One time, I made it in conjunction with another cake that I decorated to look (sort of) like a train station. This was because DrummerDude and GuitarGeek have birthdays one day apart, and that year we wanted to have one party, but yet let them each have their own cake. I also made this for MB3.

13. Pumpkin/Jack 0'lantern cake. This was another double-duty cake. It's actually two bundt cakes, one right side up on top of one upside down. So I let DrummerDude and GuitarGeek pick their own flavor of cake, and then made two bundt cakes, and made a pumpkin out of it. If I remember right, one was chocolate, and one was yellow. Unlike this picture, I used a flat bottom ice cream cone for the stem. I thought the whole thing turned out really impressive.

TT#24: How Does My Garden Grow?

Thirteen Things about MomHuebert Spring is coming. Even though there's still snow on the ground here, and it's still cold, it feels like Spring. The shadows are different, the air smells spring-y instead of winter-y; there are robins! I'm not the only one feeling the change of season coming. My friend Ornery's Wife (who by the way gave me this wonderful award: Thank you!) is feeling her oats and planning her garden already, and she wrote a TT about it. After reading her list, I thought I'd like to make my own. So, Wife of Ornery, this list is for you. Let's compare lists! This year, I'm going to plan my garden backwards. Instead of asking myself, "What do I want to plant?" I'm going to ask "What do I want to eat this summer?" Well, I want to have a good summer picnic/cookout meal. That means burgers on the grill-- which, of course, I can't grow in the garden-- but I can grow almost everything else. First, we'll want pickles on the burgers. I love to make our favorite pickle, Russian Dills, so I'll need to plant... 1. Cucumbers 2. Onions 3. and Dill Well, the dill usually comes up by itself, but it will definitely be in the garden. Next on the menu, to go with our burgers, will be 4. Corn (On the cob. Of course.) After the corn, I want to have salad. I'm really looking forward to an enormous salad with any number of wonderful young vegetables in it. Let's start with... 5. Lettuce (a mix of several kinds) 6. and some Spinach Then let's add... 7. Tomatoes. Tiny pear tomatoes, yum. 8. Zucchini. 9. Peppers 10. Broccoli And it might be nice to have some chips and salsa, so let's plant salsa makings: 11. Tomatoes 12. Peppers. Both sweet and hot. 13. Onions Oh-- and we have to have potatoes! I think I'll cut them in chunks, cover them with seasoning, stick the chunks on skewers, and grill them: 14. Potatoes Well, gee. I'm full already. I guess I'll have to save for another meal the green beans, the beets, and the carrots. Oh, and the pumpkins. And the marigolds. Wait. Marigolds? So what's growing in YOUR garden? P.S. All pictures courtesy of Gurney's and Henry Fields.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants