Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Punctuating the Hodgepodge

I am joining Joyce today, at From This Side of the Pond, for the Wednesday Hodgepodge. It's been a busy summer, and we have been a bit hit or miss on the Hodgepodge, but I'm glad to be back today. Please click on over to visit Joyce and the others. It's always fun to meet new friends on the World Wide Web.

Now, here are her questions, and my answers:

1. What have you 'fallen for' recently?

Our newest grandson, Cayden John, two weeks old. Love.

2. What's something you're 'squirreling away' for later?

You could say I 'squirrel away' books on my Kindle to read later. So many books, so little time.

3. How do you like your apples? Sweet? Tart? Crisp? Cooked? Apples are one of the superfoods for fall...how often do you eat an apple either plain or as part of a favorite recipe? What's your favorite variety?

I love a sweet, tart, crisp apple, especially in the fall, straight from the orchard. I usually take apples to our football tailgates, sliced, with individual cups of caramel for dipping. I sometimes make my own dip by mixing cream cheese and caramel ice cream topping. Yum!

Honeycrisp and Ambrosia are my current favorite varieties, but I'll also be happy with Jonagold or a good Red Delicious.

One of the recipes I like for apples, from the cookbook compiled by my sister-in-law, Carol, for her soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Lucy, 17 years ago (my go to cookbook, by the way), is:

Zapped Apples
7-8 apples, peeled and sliced
Dried cranberries (amount desired)
1/2 cup sugar
1/8 tsp. crushed cloves
1 tsp. cinnamon
4 tsp. cornstarch
In large bowl, mix cinnamon, cloves, sugar, and cornstarch.
Add apples and cranberries. Toss well and place in covered casserole.
Cook in microwave on high for 4 minutes.
Fold apple mixture several times to coat with juices.
Return to microwave and cook 4 additional minutes.
Before serving, toss again.

Quick and easy in the microwave, and also easy to make in smaller portions. It works for breakfast, for a snack, or, with chopped nuts and ice cream, for dessert. And I like dessert. :)

4. According to Fodor's the ten best fall foliage trips in the US of A are-Aspen ColoradoThe Catskills New York, The Berkshires Massachusetts, Columbia River Gorge Oregon, Green Mountain Byway Vermont, Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway New Mexico, Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, Upper Peninsula Michigan, Lake of the Ozarks Missouri, and Glacier National Park Montana. Which would you most like to visit this fall and why?

I would love to visit the Green Mountain Byway in Vermont. Our family vacationed in Vermont many summers of my childhood, spending at week at the lake where my paternal grandparents had a cottage. Jim's sister lives in Vermont now, and it would be great to visit her there and see the fall foliage too. On another note, Jim and I honeymooned at Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, but it was in July. I imagine it's beautiful in the fall.

Of course, thousands of folks flock to nearby Brown County, Indiana to view the foliage, and we are blessed to have our own little slice of fall foliage heaven at Sweetwater Lake.

5. The topic of legalizing marijuana was raised in the most recent televised political debate so let's wade in too. Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia currently have laws legalizing marijuana in some form. Four states have legalize marijuana for recreational use. Your thoughts?

Funny that you ask, Joyce. A friend of mine from out of state recently told about trying some 'brownies' to relieve some of the pain and symptoms of her cancer. It was a good story, and it made me wonder if it might be a help to Ruthann, who has just started chemo again. Janet, Becky, Ruthann, and I had a lively discussion about the possibility of adding 'brownies' to her treatment plan. Not sure it will happen, but we had some laughs at the idea of it. And laughter is the best medicine.
Please keep Ruthann in your prayers as she bravely faces chemo again.

6. Are you okay to watch a movie already in progress or do you need to always see it from the beginning? How about jumping into a TV series somewhere in the middle? Is that okay?

I guess I would rather watch a movie from the beginning, but I have been known to jump in mid-movie if it looks interesting. As for TV shows, I am okay with starting in the middle, since they usually go to great lengths to 'review' what has happened in previous episodes. That being said, I don't often find a TV series that I just can't miss. Maybe now that we (finally) have a DVR, I'll change my mind about that, but I doubt it. 

7. Thursday (September 24) is National Punctuation Day. What rule of punctuation trips you up most often? What rule of punctuation, when broken by someone else, bugs you the most?

It's risky to discuss punctuation when posting on a blog in which I am sure to have made an error. :) I try to use proper punctuation, but we all make mistakes. Grace, my friends, grace.

Commas can be tricky, and I probably use too many of them. It is clear that commas have the power to change the meaning of a sentence, as noted below:


As for what bugs me? Save the puppies!

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Just for fun, here are a few more photos of our sweet new grandson, Cayden John (and his mommy and daddy, of course). Photos by Cayden's Aunt Jennifer.

The cradle was built by Shylah's paternal grandfather around 30 years ago.
Sweet baby in a basket.

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Reading about your love of apples made me thing of hot apple cider I got while in Virginia. We were driving to tour Thomas Jefferson's crib and saw a sign saying hot apple cider so we made the turn and drove up a little road to the top and saw all these little kids picking out pumpkins. We got our drink, headed back to the B n B and enjoyed...Thanks for bringing that memory back!

Cathy said...

I love the picture of Cayden in a basket. So adorable.

That apple recipe sounds delicious.

Brown County is beautiful in the fall. It's been awhile since I've been there. May be time for a day trip.

Cranberry Morning said...

Oh good grief, that little grandson is darling! Congratulations. :-) Loved your punctuation examples. I have my pet peeves, yet I'm sure I have mistakes in every post. Ha-ha. Have a wonderful fall day.

Capri K said...

Oh my GOODNESS, what a precious baby!!!!!!!
Hopefully I have killed no puppies on my blog!!!

Joyce said...

What sweet picture of your new little grandson! The one in the basket is my favorite. Congratulations to the happy parents, and grandparents too : )

Lea @ CiCis Corner said...

Oh, my, I've probably killed a few puppies. :o))

Such a sweet, sweet baby and these newborn pictures are just precious. Ours had his made last Sat. and did very well. He slept right through them which I think is the object.

Happy mid week!

Terri D said...

Prayers for your friend Ruthann. I do a Prayer and Praise post every Friday, for prayer requests. Join us! Joyce always gives us such a fun Wednesday Hodgepodge!!