Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. I live in the south so we're pretty much only talking about the weather right now. Give us a weather report from where you live. Does the kind of weather you're having today affect your mood in some way? See below for our forecast for the next week. I was trying to find a way to tell what our coldest temps have been but I'm struggling to find it. I don't know that we've ever gotten in the single digits during the daytime. 

The weather today (Sunday) is cold but sunny and it certainly helps. I am sick with a cold so not outdoors enjoying it at all. The warmer weather this week is good because my daughter and son in law need to have patios poured and a front porch built so they can have their inspection done on their home. Hoping this gets done before the rain.

2.  Avocados, kale, cauliflower and cottage cheese have all had their time to shine. 2026 brings us the year of the cabbage. Is this a vegetable you like? I like cabbage in a variety of ways. I also really like all those other items as well. In fact it's Sunday as I begin typing this and I'm making a cauliflower/potato mash. If so, what are some of your favorite dishes that call for cabbage?  I love cabbage in slaw or salads. I also like stuffed cabbage or as someone last week called it Sarma. We just always called it stuffed cabbage. It was a dish I'm sure my mom got from grandparents on my dads side of the family who were Slovakian or her sister in law who was polish. Either way, It was always a favorite. I of course love saurkraut as well. I also like Corned beef and cabbage, pierogies with a side of sauteed cabbage. I love it. 

I'll also say I answered the question two weeks ago about what white food would be hardest to give up. I though it was which one would we give up. Which would be coconut. Now, the hardest ones for me would be ranch dressing, mayonnaise, cottage cheese, onions, in that order. I use them all in some form or fashion regurlarly. I like cauliflower too, but not a fave.  

3. Was a Cabbage Patch Doll a part of your childhood?Yes, but sadly the majority of my childhood toys didn't make it to my house after I moved out. I didn't have room in college or after we were married, then when we were building our house and had things in storage, my mom passed away and I just don't know what happened to anything.  Or maybe your children's childhood? What's a toy trend from your childhood you remember wanting for your own? A trend I wanted for my own self, or for my own children. I loved Holly Hobby and Strawberry Shortcake and wish I had them for my daughters. There are some toys that my girls had and even my grandkids that have come back around. I found a couple lite brights and got them for the grandkids. They used them a few times, but not as much as I've hoped. Maybe I need to pull them out again. 

As a side note, when we were in Vermont, there was an antique toy museum in Queechee, VT that was so neat. It had displays of toys from each decade and was so fun to see. I'll look to see if I have photos. I know I took videos of them. 

4. Something you've spent a lot of time doing lately? Coughing. I started feeling like I was getting a cold last week but felt like I was holding it at bay, but then Friday night I started feeling worse. I haven't slept great and coughing a lot. I'm ready to be done with it. 

5. Somehow it's the last week of January...sum up your month in just three sentences. 

Oldest daughter, son in law and grandkids moved from their trailer in our backyard to their new home...kinda sad. 

Where did the month go.

I'm so glad we had some beautiful, sunny days.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

As I mentioned our oldest daughter and her family moved down to their new house. I was teasing her that they made me go cold turkey. One day they were here and the next they were sleeping at their new place. They're excited though. 

I'm actually getting this typed up on Sunday for a change. I managed to get a co-worker to come in and work for me tomorrow. I'll go in from 10-12 and then she'll finish my day. I don't want to be at work and have a coughing fit. That's never fun. 

I love taking pictures..just for fun, just for myself and the sheer joy it brings me. When our girls started playing on bigger soccer fields, I bought what I refer to as a big girl camera, otherwise known as a DSLR with detachable lenses. Once they were no longer playing, I didn't get out as much with it, though I have tried to. I've always desired to have a bigger lens for my camera, one that I can take wildlife pictures with. I finally bit the bullet, saved up and purchased a used Sigma 150-600 lens. It's heavy but I'm enjoying it. I'm hoping to head to our wildlife refuge this week and practice with it some more. A few pictures below that I took with it. 

With Joy Unquenchable,

Kirstin