Hodgepodge-ing Under Cloven Skies

How in the world is it this close to Christmas, Y'all? Seriously. How? I do look forward to Christmas every year but it's the anticipation and preparing for the big day that holds my heart and my memories so the closer it gets the more I want to slow down time and cherish my prepping and anticipating. It's nice to be able to join the Hodgepodge for a little holiday sharing, though! Let's get to it! 

1. What title would you give this current chapter of your life? My Life Sentence. Ha! How about Grandparenting, the Most Wonderful Time of My Life.

2. December 6 is National Microwave Oven Day. Who knew? Besides popcorn and coffee reheats, what's the most common thing you microwave? I try not to microwave anything. Those things are not the safest appliances. Could you get along without a microwave? Absolutely. 

3. If you could insert yourself into any Christmas carol and experience the lyrics in real life, which Christmas carol lyric would you choose and why? It Came Upon a Midnight Clear because I want to see the angels come out of those "cloven skies" from the second verse:

Still through the cloven skies they come

With peaceful wings unfurled

And still their heavenly music floats

O'er all the weary world;

Above its sad and lowly plains

They bend on hovering wing.

And ever o'er its Babel sounds

The blessed angels sing.

4. Describe the most beautiful drive you've ever taken. I am a taker of the backroads every time I go anywhere if there's a backroads path available. I do not care about time, I care about traffic and the aesthetic value so I'm going to say anytime I've been on a drive on the backroads in autumn or winter and those few times I've been when there's a full moon so bright I could turn off my car lights. I love the silence of the backroads and the twists and turns as I wind my way up and down hills that are nonexistent in the low-country. I love the rich, vibrant colors of autumn because face it nobody paints like God and the way you can, every once in a while, see a little whirling of leaves falling and in winter I adore the starkness and the cold and the way the branches of hundreds of years old trees all knarled and knotted appearing the darkest black in contrast with a gray sky. There are such drama and peace in a winter's day. 

5. What's something on your Christmas list this year? (an actual list or figuratively speaking, either one) I don't have a Christmas list this year. I have learned not to bother. However, I do have Christmas wishes for a few days of fun and laughter of family together, for the delight of grandchildren and a renewed hope in my little world and in the great big world. Among others.

6. Insert your own random thought here. Did Y'all think I was going to put something grandchild related here? You were right. Ha! But first this- Dad had hip replacement surgery Monday and was home yesterday afternoon, isn't modern medicine amazing sometimes? Anyway, he said he wasn't worried at all because the lady who was in charge of setting up the surgery was Grace, the surgery took place at Mercy Hospital, and his check-in nurse's name was Angel. Dad said he know he was covered. :)

And now, grandchildren:

Y'all might recall Baby R's daddy somehow misses out on the pictures around here so I caught this one Monday. Seriously, how stinkin' cute is this? 

Here's that little darling boy by himself. Mister (thinking of this for Baby R's blog name) is 3 months old and already turning over both ways and will pull up to standing while holding onto your fingers. He talks and smiles all the time and has laughed out loud several times though it sort of startles him to do it. Can Y'all imagine the joy knowing my grandbabies are happy brings me and why didn't anyone tell me how many times I would tear up over the silliest things once I had grandchildren? 

Here's my girl having a discussion about the tree.

If you follow me via Instagram or Facebook, you already saw the video. If you haven't seen it, listen carefully and you'll hear Bug say, "Hi, Santa" and "Hi, Rudolph" towards the end. It's only 10 seconds long and I turned it off before I caught the "HoHoHo" because I had no idea she was going to say it. Hey, you take what you can get when a toddler is involved. 

And that friends, is why there is a tree up at Grandma's house this holiday season. Full heart doesn't even begin to cover it. 

Have Y'all checked your lists? Twice? Have a wonderful Wednesday, Y'all! 

Please visit my Etsy shop, CoasterDoodles

and feel free to FAVORITE the shop
or buy something! 😁💓

I've got new, hand-drawn travertine stone coasters for Christmas!
AND THERE'S FREE SHIPPING TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY!