Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Turkey Talk Hodgepodge Style

Welcome to this pre-Thanksgiving Holiday Hodgepodge! If you've answered the questions add your link at the end of my post and then go say hi to the blogger who linked before you.  

Thank you for joining the party here every Wednesday. It's a day brightener for sure, and always fun to see all the many directions people run with their answers. Please don't miss next week's HP, because I have a special little giveaway planned in honor of our 200th Wednesday Hodgepodge.  

Feeling especially grateful today for the way words connect people. Happy Thanksgiving!


1. Besides U.S. Thanksgiving it's also National Game and Puzzle week...what game have you played most recently, and who were you with? Have you worked a puzzle of any kind in the past week?

I enjoy games and puzzles of all kinds. I played Rummikub with my mom last weekend because that's her favorite.  I work a crossword puzzle as often as I can and definitely at least once a week.  

2. What is one place you were thankful for this year?

So many, but I'm going to say Portugal. I love old cities, grand architecture, royal buildings, medieval landmarks, interesting foods, foreign words, the European countryside, winding roads that run along the sea, and most especially the friends who make whatever 'place' we're in more memorable. 

3. Take a nap, watch football, go for an after dinner walk, or hit the stores...which ONE is on your must-do list for Thanksgiving day? If you aren't in the US answer as it relates to any big holiday meal.

Well I'd say a nap while watching football, except this year we'll be at the neighbors house so can I take a nap? I do like a walk after dinner on Thanksgiving Day, but we may be dealing with Wednesday's snow on Thursday, so not sure we'll manage a walk either. I can say for sure I won't be shopping. 

4. Besides Thanksgiving, what's your favorite home cooked meal?

I love a really tender roast beef dinner with mashed potatoes, all day green beans, and my grandma's made from scratch rolls. We actually call that our 'grandma dinner' because it was something my grandma used to make when we'd visit. That particular meal also makes me think of my own mama too, who has always been a wonderful cook, and often made this meal for Sunday lunch when I was growing up. 

5. What product from an infomercial would you most like to own?

The Shark Sonic Duo Carpet and Floor cleaner. It gets good reviews and you can use it on wood floors and carpet. I have both, and also a dog that sheds so 'nuff said. 

6. Christmas shopping? Have you begun? Finished? Will you shop on Black Friday? How do you feel about stores opening on Thanksgiving Day? What percentage of your Christmas shopping is done online?

I've started, but haven't finished. I do most of my shopping online or in small local boutique type stores in order to maintain my holiday spirit. I can't think of anything I'd rather do less than shop on Black Friday, except maybe a trip to the dentist. Black Friday shopping and going to the dentist fall into the same category in my head.  

I wish all non-essential businesses were closed on Thanksgiving. I don't know about you, but I've been getting 'Black Friday' offers since last week. Black Friday now lasts more than a day, and in fact is rapidly morphing into Black November. Ugh. 

7. What are you most grateful for that adds beauty to your everyday life?

Sunrises that set the morning sky afire, sunsets that quiet the day with their soft pinks and lavendar, our backyard woods that change with the seasons, a big black bear lumbering through the neighborhood, the majestic hawk who circles and swoops and finally rests high in the treetops at the edge of our patio. 

Creation is so utterly amazing.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Is there anything that brings out the Grinch in us more so than pulling out the outdoor light bins, untangling, testing, naturally finding half don't work and you haven't got the proper fuses, and then it's something like four trips to the hardware store later before the lights are actually up?

Far later in the day than you imagined, but before the snow comes so whoohoo! 
And our poles are in the ground now too, so we're ready.  

For those of you scratching your head right about now, you who live in climes where there is no need for such nonsense, we have to mark our driveway in the wintertime so the plow driver knows where the pavement is. Not pretty, but effective.


As for the sunset behind our woods last night? See #7! Be blessed this Thanksgiving my Hodgepodge friends!





18 comments:

  1. We love Rummikub as well. Don't play it as often as we used to. Happy thanksgiving to you and your family!

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  2. So thankful that you are so faithful with the Hodgepodge week in and week out. Not even sure how I came across it years ago but so glad I did. Blogging friendships are some of the best for sure!

    Wishing you and yours a most wonderful day tomorrow!

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  3. Since I live in the south, I've never thought about having to mark the driveway for the snow plow! I can identify with the tangled Christmas lights though :(
    Have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving, Joyce!
    (Kathy)

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  4. Ha! I was going to say the same thing that Kathy (comment above) said! I've never thought about having to mark the driveway for the snowplow! Y'all seriously need to get back south! :)

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  5. Black November, LOL! Sad but true.
    Love games, love roast beast, and love creation.
    Totally get your random thought, GRRRRRR!
    Happy Thanksgiving Friend Joyce! Hope you get football AND a nap!

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  6. Oh I am with you...wish "black Friday" was never born, lol. And this California gal had NO idea what polls were...interesting, lol Wishing you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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  7. Thank you for hosting another week of hodgepodge.
    I look forward to seeing what the giveaway is.

    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  8. Your backyard sounds breathtaking! I like how you mentioned small boutiques/businesses. So important to support those. Happy Thanksgiving!!! I'm grateful for you and this link up:).

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  9. Creation is beautiful! I could just picture the beauty around you. Have a beautiful Thanksgiving with your neighbors!

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  10. I've never played that game. Had go Google it. I did buy a new family game to put under the Christmas Tree! We are flying to Houston today to be with Mark's family and I am looking forward to walking. It's hard for me to walk here because of the terrain. I have never heard or eaten all day green beans. Will have to check them out! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

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  11. Well, now I will have to Google the game I've never heard of before, and also the Shark floor cleaner. Trying to take care of floors is something for which I'm always looking for "something better." You live in a place that is like dreamland to me. It's so beautiful in all the seasons. Maybe your neighbor will nap with you!! ;-) pot roast is something my Granny and my Mom cooked on Sundays.

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  12. We are so much alike on our Black Friday thoughts!! It was cool when it was when the stores revealed their Christmas decor, and Santa arrived, but now...craziness...

    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  13. A few number of us chose Rummikub, i am surprised! Most people haven't heard of that. I would like to be done with shopping but i'm not, we're probably going this weekend after black friday of course! I think your daughter will love Washington! Its such a gorgeous state!

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  14. I too love watching God's wondrous creation. That's one reason why I hunt. Being in the woods in the fall is often magical. With respect to my guitar skills, my talent falls somewhere between a six year old banging on the strings and Eric Clapton with them being much closer to the six year old. It's still a lot of fun. Thanks for stopping by my blog. Happy Thanksgiving to you and Hubs and the girls.

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  15. We have a huge rock off to one side of our driveway and we have to mark it as well so the plow knows not to go that way to drop the snow off to the side. I so understand about having to mark the drive.

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  16. The shark floor cleaners? Yes, you could add that to my informercial wish list, I think!!.. As for Christmas lights? UGH!! What a pain in my neck they can be, but they are SO-oooo beautiful, and worth the trouble!... Best wishes to you and yours for a blessed and very Happy Thanksgiving!!! ~tina (aka beansie)

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  17. It's been too long since I last played Rummicube! Thanks for the reminder! I need to pull ours out!

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  18. We played a game I made up during half time of the lions game on Thanksgiving and it was so fun. I used the catchphrase timer, but wrote thanksgiving words on cards. Games that bring the whole group together are the best. I'm going to do a Christmas version too :-)

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