Turkey With A Side Of Hodgepodge

Welcome to The Wednesday Hodgepodge. I'm always grateful for those who join in here each week. And if you're here just occasionally I'm grateful for you too! If you've answered today's questions, add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for your neighbor there. Here we go-

1. Do you feel like you have a 'full plate' at the moment? In what way? 

In a word, yes. Don't most people feel that way this time of year? I sat down yesterday and organized my 'to-buy' list which helped, and then I went ahead and did some online shopping and shipping. Many items were already marked with Black Friday pricing and it felt good to get some of this done. 

We have a lot of fun things on the December calendar and I want to enjoy each day as it comes. I make lists and put everything on the calendar including when I'll bake, when I'll wrap, when I'll write cards, etc. It makes the proverbial plate feel a little less full. 

2. How did you learn to cook? If you have children did you teach or encourage them to cook? Do you like to follow a recipe or is your cooking style more 'let's wing it'.  

I learned to cook by watching and helping my momma, a truly wonderful cook. She made everything from scratch, served balanced meals, set the table, and baked a ridiculous, but much loved and appreciated, number of Christmas cookies every year. 

Both of my girls also enjoy cooking and baking and I think would say they learned the same way I did. That is, by watching and helping me in the kitchen. Still one of my favorite places to be with them, especially at the holidays. So many great conversations are held while chopping and stirring. 

As far as cookbooks vs. winging it I'd say I'm a little bit of both. I'll follow a recipe, particularly in baking where measurements and proportion matter. I love cookbooks, but I can also come up with something on the fly from my pantry in a crunch. I guess I'll say that while I can 'wing it' I rarely do. 

3. Last time you bit off more than you could chew? Elaborate. 

I can't really think of the last time I might have said yes when I should have said no. I try not to do that in this season of life. I used to excel at juggling many many things, but these days I'm happier without quite  so many plates in the air.  

4. When did you last say 'the more the merrier' and mean it? 

I became part of (a witness really) to an extremely awkward conversation at an event we attended recently. I was chatting with a woman and her husband when their Thanksgiving host came over and rescinded their invitation because several other anticipated guests had cancelled and she didn't think she wanted to cook for 'just them'. Yikes. 

I wanted to slink away and pretend I didn't hear, but instead I spontaneously invited them to my daughter's house for dinner. I told my daughter the words were out of my mouth before I could actually check with her and see if it was fine.  It was fine. 

Thanksgiving is a time to be generous and I think is made for a 'the more the merrier' kind of attitude. As it turned out, the couple's original host ended up adding more guests to her dinner table, so their invite was back on. It all worked out. 

5. Write an acrostic using the word T-H-A-N-K-S. 

Giving T-H-A-N-K-S today for...

Traditions kept alive

Home

Acts of kindness done without fanfare

New mercies every morning

Kids, the ones fully grown and the ones still growing

Sunshiny days and life's simple pleasures 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

This handsome fella had his nails trimmed yesterday. 

He's not a fan. 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 630

Here are the questions to this week's Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here on Wednesday (November 26th) to share answers and count your blessings. See you there! 

1. Do you feel like you have a 'full plate' at the moment? In what way? 

2. How did you learn to cook? If you have children did you teach or encourage them to cook? Do you like to follow a recipe or is your cooking style more 'let's wing it'.  

3. Last time you bit off more than you could chew? Elaborate. 

4. When did you last say 'the more the merrier' and mean it? 

5. Write an acrostic using the word T-H-A-N-K-S. 

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

Monthly Musings-November

'Twas the week before Thanksgiving... 

Time for November's monthly musings hosted by Holly (Pink Lady) and Patty (Good Better Best Life). They're asking this month's questions a week earlier than normal because next week we'll be giving thanks around the table for all our many blessings. 

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It feels like it can be enjoyed for what it is as opposed to what we'd like it to be, which sometimes happens with Christmas. Family, food, and gratitude rule the day, and I for one am thankful for the pause this day brings before December bells start ringing. I'm going to throw in a few Thanksgiving throwbacks here too just because I can. 

How many times can I post this picture on my blog? 

Many it seems, but I love it. 

1. Favorite Thanksgiving dishes? 

In my opinion Thanksgiving is one of those meals that should not be messed with or changed too much from year to year in any big way. It's comforting familiarity is one of the things that makes it special and I want the same tastes and aromas that have filled this day for as long as I can remember. 

My favorite dishes are all of them, but dressing is tops, there must be cranberry sauce, homemade or canned either one, or better yet both, and my momma's fruit salad with homemade whipped cream on the dessert table. 

2. Stuffing or dressing? 

I sometimes call it stuffing, but I don't actually stuff the turkey. My mom used to stuff the turkey and have a separate dish of dressing on the side so we used the terms interchangeably. We have cornbread stuffing made with cornbread baked the night before so it dries out a little, a bag of Pepperidge Farm stuffing mix added to it along with turkey stock and lots of onion, celery, and seasonings. 

3. Are you hosting any of the holidays this year? Please share any tips. 

I'm not hosting this year, although we will have an early Christmas here with our girls and their families the weekend prior to Christmas. My tips for hosting are pretty simple-

• make ahead what you can make ahead
• people want your presence more than a perfect meal, home, or place setting. 
• take time to look around the table, whether there are two or twenty seated there, and count your blessings 

4. Turkey trot or football game? 

I'm going with football game and by that I mean watching, not playing. I enjoy spending the whole morning in the kitchen as we tend to eat late afternoon, so a turkey trot messes with my meal prep.

Also, I don't like to run and I don't like to be cold so there's that. 

5. If you decorate for Christmas do you decorate before or after Thanksgiving? 

Team after all the way. 

6. Are your holidays sit down meals or more casual affairs? 

Ours are sit down. I like to use my china on Thanksgiving and my Christmas dishes in December and fancy napkins and pretty glasses and the gravy boat and big platter that only come out for holidays.

If I'm invited to your house for a meal you do you. I actually like a casual get together if we're talking parties, but for the dinners themselves, both Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, at my house I want sit down. 

7. Pumpkin or apple pie? Or another dessert? 

My daughter is making an apple pie this year and I like it better than pumpkin so am good with that. Growing up we always had a simple fruit salad as a dessert option too, topped with whipped cream. Lots of years I'd skip the pie and just have fruit. 

The meal is filling and sometimes a bowl of fruit is just the right thing. The salad is made with chopped apples, chopped oranges, and halved and pitted purple grapes, all topped with a can of crushed pineapple. It doesn't sound like much, but it's refreshing and delicious. 

8. Are you traveling for Thanksgiving or staying closer to home?

Staying closer to home this year. 

9. Do you Black Friday shop? 

In person? No never. Online? Maybe. I mean Black Friday has turned into a whole month now hasn't it, and most places offer deals for more than just a day. I'm not mad about it. 

10. Thing you are most looking forward to this holiday season? 

Time spent with family, both my family of origin and the one I birthed. 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 

Home Is Where The Hodgepodge Is

Welcome to this week's edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then hop over and leave a comment for your neighbor there. Everyone is thankful for comments. Here we go-

1. Let's do our gratitude question first this week...what's the best thing about your home, and have you taken time to enjoy it lately? 

Best thing about my home? The view. 

Have I taken time to enjoy it lately? Absolutely. Every single day. There is never a day I walk out of my bedroom in the morning, see the lake, and feel anything less than a lot of gratitude for the beauty of what's right outside my window. 

2. Do you like squash? Of the varieties listed, which one's your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Is squash of some sort on your Thanksgiving menu?? 

acorn, butternut, delicata, spaghetti, zucchini, crookneck (yellow squash), patty pan

I do like squash, all varieties really. My favorite is probably yellow squash in the form of a squash casserole. I make this one when I have squash on hand and sometimes add zucchini too. It's easy and delicious (Mrs. Hopkin's Boarding House Squash). I also love butternut squash roasted or as a soup. 

I'm not hosting Thanksgiving this year, but I am bringing a vegetable and think I'll make it squash. 

3. Last time you were 'squashed in' somewhere, or felt squashed? 

Not exactly squashed but...hubs and I had sushi on Friday evening and we sat at the bar to eat. There was an empty seat between my chair and three gentleman who were talking business. On the other side of hubs there was one empty seat and then on the other end of the bar there were two or three empties, maybe more. A man came in and asked hubs if he'd mind if he squeezed another seat in next to him? Huh? Why? 

It was so odd. He jammed this bar stool in where there clearly wasn't enough room to sit without being right on top of hubs when there were empty seats on the other side of the bar. We were getting ready to pay, so we just rolled with it, but it was odd and I wouldn't have wanted to eat my dinner that way. I was trying to decide if he was on a date with someone he hadn't met before, because it kind of felt that way. I mean we were all squashed in together so it was hard not to hear.  I wanted to tell him this wasn't the best way to begin his evening, but I refrained. 

4. Have you ever played squash? What about other 'racquet sports' such as racquetball, tennis, pickleball, badminton, table tennis (ping pong)? Are these sports something you enjoy? 

I've never played squash and only played racquetball a couple of times in college. I have played all of the racquet sports at some point in my life, but none seriously. Except maybe ping pong. I'm competitive at ping pong. 

Hubs and I played pickleball some when the craze began, but then I broke my elbow (unrelated to pickleball) and we never picked it back up. The injury count is particularly high in this sport (just ask my son-in-law the orthopedist) so I don't think I'll go back to it. 

5. Something in today's society or culture that feels like a 'racket' to you? If you don't like that one, tell us about a place you've been recently where there was a lot of 'racket'. 

Personal property taxes. I own the car. I've paid for the car. I paid taxes on the car when purchased. Why do we have to continue to pay 'personal property taxes' on a movable asset we own outright? Real estate I sort of understand because you live in the community where schools and other services you require benefit from them, but vehicles and boats are something entirely different and I burn a little every year when I have to pay that particular tax. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

I've been running all day so am light on random thoughts at the moment. Who's cooking Thanksgiving dinner this year? What's on the menu? 

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 629

Here are the questions for this week's Hodgepodge. Answer on your own blog, then hop back here on Wednesday (November 19th) to share answers with the blog world. See you there! 

1. Let's do our gratitude question first this week...what's the best thing about your home, and have you taken time to enjoy it lately? 

2. Do you like squash? Of the varieties listed, which one's your favorite and how do you like it prepared? Is squash of some sort on your Thanksgiving menu?? 

acorn, butternut, delicata, spaghetti, zucchini, crookneck (yellow squash), patty pan

3. Last time you were 'squashed in' somewhere, or felt squashed? 

4. Have you ever played squash? What about other 'racquet sports' such as racquetball, tennis, pickleball, badminton, table tennis (ping pong)? Are these sports something you enjoy? 

5. Something in today's society or culture that feels like a 'racket' to you? If you don't like that one, tell us about a place you've been recently where there was a lot of 'racket'. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

PB And Hodgepodge

Welcome to another edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Here we go...

1. What does patriotism mean to you? 

I try not to repeat questions, but every now and then one slips through. This is one of those times. I looked back and saw my answer to this one all the way back in 2011, and while the world has changed a whole lot my answer to this has not. 

"Loving your country is at the heart of patriotism, but I think it goes deeper than that. Living in a foreign country helped me see the word patriotism also means you personally identify with your home country. You worry, defend, promote, and act as cheerleader. You want to see her demonstrate all that is good and right in the world. Sometimes she lets you down but you love her anyway. 

In 2025 I would add that patriotism also means showing respect for our national symbols (the flag, our anthem, etc), obeying our laws, honoring those who've sacrificed and are in service to our country, and doing what we can to be good citizens. 

2. September-October-November...your favorite fall month? Tell us why. If you live in the southern hemisphere use these months but sub spring for the word fall. 

Well this one is tough because I love all three of these so much, my favorite three months of the year. I love the weather, the skies, the color, and the change in menu and clothing. My birthday is in September, but November gives us Thanksgiving. That much needed pause before the busy-ness of the Christmas season truly begins, makes November my favorite. 

3. A song you love with the word thanks (or some form of that word)  in the title or lyrics?

I love the song I Thank God by Maverick City Music. I've linked it (here) if you don't know it. You can't listen to this one sitting down. 

4. November is National Peanut Butter Month. Are you a fan? What's the last peanut butter bite you had? Fill in the blank: peanut butter and _____________________ . 

Oh, and you can't say jelly. 

I like peanut butter but don't eat a lot of it. I think the last peanut butter bite I had was a Reese's Cup on Halloween.  

Peanut butter and fluff aka marshmallow cream for those not in the know. 

5. This week's gratitude question-What event from this past year are you most grateful for? 

I'm sure you can guess my answer to this one...my daughter and her family moving to tiny town is the event I'm most grateful for. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Whew. We busy. I will do a catch up at some point. Probably. Or not. Whatever. 

Tomorrow I'm hosting a link up here for anyone interested in sharing a Day In The Life post. These are always fun to read and help us remember all the ways we're connected as we go about the everyday ordinary business of living. Hope you'll join us! 

Day 23-WOW

I'm going with my usual Saturday list of little things I love, all relating to the letter of the day in our A-Z Blog Challenge. 

 

W is for Whimsical

'lightly fanciful'

I've had fun coming up with these lists each week, and they do feel a little whimsical in nature, so the word fits. Here in no particular order is my W list of 20-

worries unrealized

wisteria in bloom

wittiness 

a water view

Sunday worship

wisdom gained

no weeds

warmhearted people

a sense of wonder 

watermelon

willpower 

freshly washed windows

homemade blueberry waffles

the Carolina wren 

weddings 

winning a mahjong hand

a walk in the woods

a warning heeded 

sushi with a side of wasabi 

water lilies in bloom 

Kounting My Blessings

In keeping with my Saturday A-Z Blog Challenge tradition, here's a list of 20 things in no particular order, all featuring the letter of the day, that I enjoy-love-am grateful for in this season of life. 

K is for Contentment is Key

'feeling happy with what you have;

deliberately choosing to be thankful'

secrets kept

my kin 

knowledge gained

kisses

key lime pie

even-keeled people

kingfisher on the lake 

unexpected kindness

kaleidoscope skies

a clean kitchen 

music by Kenny Chesney

promise keepers

kids

Lake Keowee

kayaking 

keen insights

kudos given

the Florida Keys

blooming kalanchoe

kindred spirits

G is for Gratitude

Rolling right along in the A-Z with today's Letter G- 

G is for Gratitude

'a state of being grateful; thankfulness'

I've always been an optimistic person. If someone brings up a negative point I have an irresistible urge to counter with something positive.  Are we born this way or is this an attitude we cultivate as we grow up and older? 

I think my parents encouraged an attitude of gratitude from the time we were small. We said grace before meals and were taught to say thank you for gifts we were given or kindness extended, and to put our appreciation in writing too. While I can't say gratitude is something I've had to learn with age, I do think it's a habit I've learned to practice with more intention. 

Here are a few things I do to cultivate a grateful heart-

blog-seriously, blogging has been so beneficial in helping me see all there is to be grateful for...if you don't blog, then journal, keep a list, put slips of paper in a gratitude jar, whatever works for you, but write it down. There is something about writing down what you're grateful for that helps you call it to mind when you need remembering

pray-pausing to acknowledge and give thanks for the good things I've been given certainly, but on the flip side of that... when life is hard or confusing talking to God reminds me I'm not walking through those things alone, something for which I feel tremendous gratitude 

volunteer-the best way I know to change the way I see a day, a circumstance, or life in general is to do something for somebody else

say thank you more-for the small things too. You never know when you'll make someone's day, which in turn has a way of making yours

send the card, write the note-let the people who have meant something to you know it 

be present-we have far more distractions than ever before, and it's a challenge to look up from our phones, but look up we must if we hope to catch the sunset, marvel at the rainbow or admire how the tiniest of flowers bursts through the dry, hard ground. 

We always have a choice in how we see our lives. I want to view mine in every season through the lens of gratitude. 

Merry December

Good Monday morning friends. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Ours was lovely and I'm linking my weekend recap with Holly and Sarah as per usual here on a Monday.  

We spent Thanksgiving with Daughter2 and her family in Tennessee. Technically it was the in-laws year for Thanksgiving and it's our year for Christmas, but she asked us to join them and we all enjoy one another's company so it was nice. 

I baked a loaf of pumpkin bread in this cute dish a friend gave me back in October and this recipe is really good. I added white chocolate chips mainly because I thought the bag in my pantry was semi-sweet, but  turns out they were white chocolate and it also turns out white chocolate chips in pumpkin bread are a winning combination.

My daughter always makes the trip to her grandmother's the day before Thanksgiving to collect her and bring her back to her house for the holiday. This makes my heart so happy and I hope one of my grands does the same for me and the hubs someday. Hubs mother lives about an hour and a half from my daughter which means three hours of driving with her two littles in tow. She loves doing it though and my mother-in-law really enjoys it too. 

This thought reminds me I was mostly a photo failure because I don't think I have a single picture of my mother-in-law. 

Hubs got one. Whew. 

We just do not seem to manage the family picture taking thing very well. We try, but not too hard. Littles this age have places to go and people to see and sitting for a posed photograph is way down on their to-do list. We snagged this one (barely) the day after-

We did get a fun picture with our girl on the actual turkey day-

She bought these shirts for us at least four years ago, but we all decided to pull them out this year for Thanksgiving morning. My older daughter who is currently living in the UK and thus not celebrating Thanksgiving with the family, saw it and asked for one to wear next year. I cannot wait to have everyone on the same continent once more. 

Hubs and I drove over to Tennessee Thanksgiving morning. It's about three hours but we left early and arrived before 11. There were charcuterie style snacks and my mother-in-law's cheeseball, and we all just relaxed and caught up on life and baby girl snuggles. She is scrumptious...

 So is this one-

He is so smart and so funny and so chatty and we love him to bits. Nana had to bring him an early Christmas present because that's what Nanas do. He's a big fan of the Grinch. 

We ate about 4 PM and shoutout to my girl who made a fabulous meal with two under two, not only in the house but also under foot or, quite literally, on her hip. My son-in-law smoked the turkey and it was so good. He also cooked the brussel sprouts on the Blackstone because oven space was at a premium. 

I brought the dressing I'd made at home along with the cranberries, and Daughter2 did the rest-green bean casserole from scratch (no canned soup for her), mashed potatoes, the most scrumptious sweet potato casserole (recipe linked here-trust me, it's a keeper)-

There were homemade!! yeast rolls, plus two pies from scratch. Oh and there was a glazed ham too, which was yummy. 

Somebody 'helped' whip the cream.  

Friday we were back at it, the eating I mean, and we pulled out all the leftovers for lunch. My son-in-law was on call this weekend and ended up having to go in for a mostly minor work emergency Friday morning, and didn't get back to the house until almost 10 PM. 

Luckily there were four grandparents and a great grandmother in the house to keep everyone entertained. 

Hubs wonders why his back aches???

We spent the day mostly just chillin'. We read a lot of books to sweet baby J, watched Sugar trying hard to take her first steps, went for a brisk walk around the neighborhood...

And we set up a big jigsaw puzzle which kept us all occupied...

J couldn't wait to get into this 1000 piece puzzle lol. It had been sitting in the box on their dining room table the week before Thanksgiving, and every time we spoke on the phone he would tell me we were going to work this puzzle. 

Hubs and I headed home Saturday morning after dropping his mama off at her house. It's a challenge to get from our house to hers just now as Hurricane Helene continues to be a problem. The interstate we normally take is gone and the rebuild is going to take at least a year which means a work around for us. 

We found the Vols-Vandy game on the radio, and man the Vols like to keep you guessing until at least the third quarter. A win though so we'll take it. We stopped for lunch on the way home and ended up skipping dinner. 

We.were.full. 

Sunday we pulled out all the Christmas decor and made a dent in the decorating. Technically not all because we're not hosting and I won't have kids in the house, but can you decorate just a little? I'm finding that challenging. 

I've got a full day today so the dining room table will remain a mix of beads and baubles and Christmas cards waiting to be stamped. There are ornaments waiting to be hung, still in boxes in the family room, and we can't remember how we hung the garland but it will all get done eventually. I'll post some pictures here soon because I realized today I posted very few last year and a picture would sure be a help with that garland right about now. 

Happy Monday everyone! 

THANKS For The Hodgepodge

Welcome to our Thanksgiving edition of The Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger before you. I'm truly grateful for all who participate here each week and for the friends I've made, both online and in real life, via my little corner of the Internet. 

1. Talking turkey...are you cooking the turkey this year? Does ham belong on a Thanksgiving day menu? When it comes to gravy do you pour it over your whole plate, skip it altogether, or land somewhere in between? Cranberries-homemade or jelled right out of the can? Do you look forward more to the main course, the savory sides, or the desserts? 

*I know there are at least a couple of bloggers who participate here who live outside the US and won't be celebrating Thanksgiving. If that's you feel free to adapt the questions to your December (or any) holiday meal.

I'm not cooking the turkey this year. We'll be celebrating with my daughter and son-in-law, and he'll smoke  the turkey on the grill. He's got skillz. I love ham and am not opposed to having one at Thanksgiving as long as there's also turkey. I've never served ham at Thanksgiving, but my son-in-law's family always has both, so we're having both this year too. 

 As far as gravy goes, I'm not a huge gravy/sauce person. I like to keep it light. I like gravy on my turkey and maybe just a tiny bit on the dressing but my plate definitely won't be swimming in it. I like both homemade and straight out of the can cranberry sauce and we'll have both this year. I definitely look most forward to the savory sides, with dressing being my fave. 

2. Holiday movies...tell us your favorite and what it is about the film that makes you love it. Is it the film itself or a memory it stirs? 

White Christmas. Partly because I love the story and the music and especially the dresses (swoon!), but also because my girls used to love to recreate the Sisters song whenever we watched, and that's a sweet memory. Daughter1 might have even sung the first line of that song in the toast she made for Daughter2's wedding. Pass the tissues please. 

3. A favorite way to give back and help others? 

I volunteer in a local soup kitchen every week and I really enjoy that. We make a hot lunch and I enjoy the team I work with and interacting with the folks who come in. It's generally the same crowd so you get to know some of them a little bit. It's not my reason for doing this, but one of the effects this weekly task brings is the way it shifts my perspective about so many things in my own life. 

Besides the soup kitchen we support several organizations with our dollars and our prayers too. Samaritans Purse, World Vision, Compassion, Young Life, and St. Judes. I also like to donate the cost of an ultrasound to pregnant moms considering abortion. Seeing and hearing their baby's heartbeat is often a game changer. 

4. Name a place or setting you encountered this month that made you feel grateful. 

We had friends visit a couple of weeks ago and the Saturday weather was sheer perfection. The sky was a brilliant blue and we were outside most of the day. 

There's something about a beautiful sunshiny blue sky day that stirs my soul. Beauty in the great outdoors stirs up feelings of gratitude for me. 

5. Knowing what you know today, if you could redo yesterday what would you do differently? 

I'm answering these on Tuesday so yesterday was Monday. Would I do anything different? Yes, and I'm just gonna leave it at that. 

6. Spill your own random thought here. 

Let the games begin...

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 

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Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 579

Here are the questions to this week's Wednesday Hodgepodge. Guess what our theme is? Answer the questions on your own blog, then waddle back here tomorrow to add your link 'to the table'. See you there!

1. Talking turkey...are you cooking the turkey this year? Does ham belong on a Thanksgiving day menu? When it comes to gravy do you pour it over your whole plate, skip it altogether, or land somewhere in between? Cranberries-homemade or jelled right out of the can? Do you look forward more to the main course, the savory sides, or the desserts? 

I know there are at least a couple of bloggers who participate here who live outside the US and won't be celebrating Thanksgiving. If that's you feel free to adapt this question to your December (or any) holiday meal.

2. Holiday movies...tell us your favorite and what it is about the film that makes you love it. Is it the film itself or a memory it stirs? 

3. A favorite way to give back and help others? 

4. Name a place or setting you encountered this month that made you feel grateful. 

5. Knowing what you know today, if you could redo yesterday what would you do differently? 

6. Spill your own random thought here. 

A Hodgepodge With All The Trimmings

Welcome to our Thanksgiving edition of the the Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered today's questions, add your link at the end of my post, then leave a comment for the blogger before you. Everyone is grateful for comments on Wednesdays and everyday. Now let's talk turkey-

1. Have you ever been on a cruise? If so where did you go and how did you like it? If not, do you have any desire to take a cruise someday? 

No and NO. 

2. Tell us about your Thanksgiving plans...are you hosting? cooking? eating out? turkey or some other main? is it stuffing or dressing in your house? homemade cranberries or cranberries in a can? are pies on the dessert menu? what kind? what are your 'must have' sides? Tell us one thing you're especially grateful for this year.

We'll be having dinner with daughter2 and her family, along with my mother-in-law. Turkey for sure, but daughter2 will also bake a small ham because that's her hubs tradition. We call it stuffing in our house, but it's not stuffed so technically I guess it's dressing. Also, it's my one must-have side. 

I'm making homemade cranberry sauce, but we'll have the canned variety too. Don't you need that as a condiment on your leftover turkey sandwich? There are pies on the menu, pecan for sure. I'm bringing a fruit salad which has been my family's tradition forever, and honestly is what I want for dessert after a big meal. 

One thing I'm grateful for this year~family

3. If someone approaches you and asks for money do you give it to them? Do you drop money 'in a tin cup' that belongs to a person on the street? Do you have a specific charity you support during the holiday season and/or year round?

I do give if I happen to have cash on me, but that's rare. I don't normally carry cash. We support specific charities year round including Compassion, World Vision, Cru, and St. Jude, others as needs arise that we feel led to support. I also volunteer in person in a local soup kitchen here and find that meaningful. 

4. Have you started decorating for Christmas? Is your tree up? Shopping done? Wrapped? 

I've started decorating but only a very little bit. Our main tree isn't up because we're going to have a real one this year and we haven't gone to get it yet. Hubs put a tree on the screened porch but it's not decorated yet. We always put a tree on our dock too, and that still needs to be done. There's a small tree on the bar with lights but no decor, but my snow village is up which feels like a huge win. My shopping is not done and there is lots of wrapping still to do.  We have time though...it's still November! 

5. Create your own acrostic using the word THANKS. 

Traveling over the mountain and through the woods to

have Thanksgiving dinner, turkey with 

all the trimmings, including potatoes, dressing, and cranberry sauce, 

not to mention pie. Can't wait to 

kiss and snuggle baby boy and 

say a prayer of thankfulness for our many blessings this year. 

6.  Insert your own random thought here. 

Happy Thanksgiving from my home to yours...

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Hodgepodge Leftovers

Hello Hodgepodgers and welcome to another edition of your weekly random. If you've answered today's questions add your link at the end of my post. Be sure to leave a comment for the blogger before you because everyone appreciates kindness.  

Please note- I'm taking a Thanksgiving week break next Wednesday so no Hodgepodge on November 24th. We'll be back in action the following week, December 1st. 

And we're off-

1. It's often said we should be grateful for small blessings. What is one small blessing you are feeling especially grateful for today?

This front yard tree-

She's a stunner. 

2. How do you feel about leftovers, not just on Thanksgiving but after any meal? Favorite thing to make/eat using your Thanksgiving leftovers? 

I'm good with Thanksgiving leftovers although my one 'quirk' is I am generally not a fan of meat re-heated. I will pour warm gravy over turkey right out of the frig, but I don't like to reheat turkey. Or chicken or fish. Roast beef is usually okay reheated. 

Give me my leftovers in the form of a turkey sandwich please, with lots of mayo and pepper. And I'll have a left over side of all the left over sides. I'm not cooking this year so leftovers won't be an issue. 

3. Sherwin Williams unveiled it's 2022 Color of the Year-Evergreen Fog. Are you a fan? Would I find this mid-tone gray green shade anywhere in your house? Does your house need painting? Inside or out? What one space is most in need of a paint job? Are you a do-it-yourselfer or do you hire a professional? 

I love the color but don't have that particular shade in my home. My house needs some interior re-painting, nothing urgent, but it's been five years so probably time. Most in need would be the bathrooms and we hire out. 

4. What is one aspect of the way you were parented that you are grateful for today? 

I always felt safe and loved. 

5. Write an acrostic for the word-thankful

T-thankful for 

h-home

a-America the beautiful

n-eNchanting little boys who call me Nana

k-for Kids who grow into remarkable women

f-family and friends scattered far and wide

u-for undeserved grace and 

l-love from above. 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Who here is cooking dinner on the big day and who's shopping the day after? Is Black Friday still a thing? I feel like the Black Friday sales are already happening, which is probably a good thing. 

'Thanksgiving is the enemy of discontent and dissatisfaction.' H. A. Ironside

Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving day xo

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A Hodgepodge Of Thanksgiving

Welcome to another edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post. Be sure to leave a comment for the blogger linking before you because everyone is grateful for comments. Here we go-

1. It's Thanksgiving week in the US of A so let's talk turkey. And by turkey I mean the elephant in the room because it's still 2020 and our blogs are a record of sorts of the times in which we live. 

Do you live in a state (or if you're outside the US, a country) that's instituted restrictions on the size of gatherings in your own home? What do we think about this? 

No I don't live in one of those states. I think its fine for health officials to offer recommendations about gatherings, but states saying fines will be issued and police will come knocking are in my opinion, overreaching. A lot. 

I'm not someone who thinks the virus is a hoax and hubs and I have made the decision to limit travel and group activity. We wear masks without complaining for shopping, hair cuts, and appointments. That being said cities are literally burning to the ground and we're going to send the police after families having Thanksgiving dinner together?

I find the current level of hypocrisy in our country to be mind-blowing. People can protest in the literal thousands, but businesses with social distancing measures in place can't open? Large scale funerals for the more well-known are celebrated but you can't sit beside a dying parent? Police cannot intervene in the rioting but can knock on your door if you have eleven people around your dining room table? 

This explains why at least one half of  the people in our country are so angry. Add to that all the social media scolding and shaming and it's no wonder the pot is boiling over. 

Personally I'm not in favor of shutting down the economy, and I think everyone needs to make the best decisions they can given their own particular circumstances. There are many factors that go into these decisions, a family members isolation and mental health being just one. Oftentimes these factors cannot be known or assessed from an online photograph or Facebook post so maybe less judgement of that would be a good place to start. 

Will some people make unwise decisions? Absolutely. I think we've learned after 200+ years as a nation, some things cannot be legislated. Most people I know are considerate of others and are trying their best to do the right thing for their circle of connection. God bless America, land of the free...

2. Let's move in a cheerier direction. Will there be corn on your holiday dinner menu? How so? Cornbread-corn pudding-corn chips and dip-cornbread dressing/stuffing-corn chowder-or regular canned, frozen or fresh corn in a bowl...which of the 'corns’ listed is your favorite? 

There will be corn pudding on our Thanksgiving table. Since my plan was to simplify the menu a bit I asked hubs and my mother-in-law what would be the one side dish they'd most like to have and my mother-in-law chose corn pudding. I normally make corn pudding for holiday meals only so I'm glad it's on the menu.  

Of the corns mentioned cornbread dressing would be tops on my list. It's another dish I only make at Thanksgiving and sometimes Christmas. 

3. What is there a cornucopia of in your home, job, or life currently? 

Cookie dough? I have buttercreams waiting to be dipped, chocolate crinkles waiting to be baked, and shortbread ingredients waiting to be mixed, rolled and decorated. 

4. Have you ever quit something (such as a habit, a food, a time-sucker, a relationship) cold turkey? Is there something you need to quit cold turkey? 

A while back I quit french fries cold turkey. I just decided they were something I did not need to eat and I quit eating them. I have fallen off the wagon a teensy bit, but am back at it.  I'm sure this is a ridiculous answer but it's the one that popped into my brain first so I'm going with it. 

5. Share a favorite verse, quote, saying, or song lyric relating to gratitude. 

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things."  Philippians 4:8

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

HappyThanksgiving Hodgepodgers! I'm grateful for our every Wednesday meet up...

Hodgepodging In Abundance

Welcome to this week's edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. A gratitude theme felt appropriate today...thanks for playing along! If you've answered the questions add your link at the end of my post then go say hey to your neighbor. Everybody's welcome here on Wednesdays (and everyday) so why not take a break from all that turkey prep and join us? Here we go-

  

1. Tradition...how tightly do you cling to tradition when it comes to holiday gatherings and celebrations? For instance do you always do the cooking, never eat at home, always go to grandma's, never miss the parade, always watch football, never change the menu, always eat at 2 PM, etc.? Have you ever celebrated Christmas or Thanksgiving away from hearth, home, and family? How did that feel?

I used to hold tradition tightly in my iron clad fist, but you know life and all that. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and if I had my way my family would all be gathered round my dining room table each and every year. So how often does that actually happen? Rarely. Very very rarely. And I adjust and feel grateful for my many blessings, but I miss my girls in the kitchen on that day most of all. 

Cooking together opens the door to the very best conversations. 

I've spent very few Christmases in my own home, a factor of living far from family most of my adult life so I've learned to enjoy Christmas wherever we're celebrating. We spent two Christmases in England, and seven Thanksgivings and we absolutely cherish those memories. We spent our first Thanksgiving in the UK on the Eurostar to Paris eating a fish dinner which Daughter1 claimed was not very Thanksgiving-y, but then Paris so yeah. It's one of our favorite travel memories too because we were total novices and blundered a bit. We learned. 

The year before we moved to England we spent Thanksgiving in St. Thomas and had a delicious turkey dinner at the Marriott where we were staying. If I've got my girls I'm good to go. Not sure how it would feel waking up somewhere tropical on Christmas morning, but as I said a few paragraphs ago I'm an adjuster so I'd probably adjust. 

2. Help...is it easy for you to ask for help or are you a do-it-yourselfer? How is that a good/bad thing?

I'm a do-it-yourselfer and will admit that's not always a good thing. I've said it here before, but my mom and all my siblings will tell you my mantra even as a young child was, 'I can do it myself'.  I'm not talking about home repairs, or plumbing, or car maintenance...when it comes to that type of thing I'm all about asking for help. I'm talking about everyday life kind of stuff, and in my defense it's not always a bad thing either. 

3. Abundance...what is there an abundance of in your kitchen?

This is a tough one, because last week's Hodgepodge inspired me to rearrange my pantry and clean out that annoying overly full cabinet, so I got rid of a few things that fell into the category of 'too much'. Is abundance too much or just plenty? I found two unopened bags of Resees so let's go with that. 

4. Name...the smallest thing you're thankful for? the biggest?

The smallest?

The biggest? 

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow-not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below-indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 (NLT)

5. Key...What do you think is the key to living a more grateful life?

This may sound simplistic but... be grateful. We always have a choice as to how we see things and I think gratitude is a choice. Sometimes life is hard and we have to dig a little deeper to make that choice, but there is always something to be thankful for. 


6. State your own random thought here.

Are you cooking Thanksgiving dinner this year? We're having dinner with my sister and I'm making the desserts. Of course it's plural-ha! My niece requested a coconut cream pie and I've never made a coconut cream pie but I'm going to give it a try. I'm also baking an apple pie and making my mom's Thanksgiving Day fruit salad because that's the law. It's simple-sliced purple grapes, oranges, and apples with a can of crushed pineapple poured over all. So refreshing after a meal where you don't mean to eat too much but you always eat too much. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

Hodgepodge Questions-Volume 330

Here are this week's questions (with a slight Thanksgiving slant) for the Wednesday Hodgepodge. I know we have some bloggers participating who live outside the US, but gratitude is universal, right?  And since everybody's welcome why not take a break from all that turkey prep and play along today? Don't forget to waddle back over here tomorrow and add your link to the party. See you there!

 

1. Tradition...how tightly do you cling to tradition when it comes to holiday gatherings and celebrations? For instance do you always do the cooking, never eat at home, always go to grandma's, never miss the parade, always watch football, never change the menu, always eat at 2 PM, etc.? Have you ever celebrated Christmas or Thanksgiving away from hearth, home, and family? How did that feel?

2. Help...is it easy for you to ask for help or are you a do-it-yourselfer? How is that a good/bad thing?

3. Abundance...what is there an abundance of in your kitchen?

4. Name...the smallest thing you're thankful for? the biggest?

5. Key...What do you think is the key to living a more grateful life?

6. State your own random thought here.

In Sync With The Hodgepodge

Welcome to another edition of the Wednesday Hodgepodge. If you've answered this week's questions add your link at the end of my post, then go say howdy to your neighbor there. Thanks for playing along each week!

1.  In a rut, in a jam, in the groove, out of sync, off balance, out of touch...which saying best fits some area of your life currently (or recently)? Explain.

Well I think we all know I was physically off balance back in August of this year, so that fits. My ribs took a good three months to heal completely and I hope I never experience that sort of injury again. 

More than off balance though I feel out of sync. We were away for a large chunk of October and then hit the ground running upon our return. Still trying to catch my breath, and seem to be always a step or two behind where I need to be. 

2. What is it about somebody else's style of work (coworker/employee/shared volunteer project/household chore) that makes you crazy? Why?

habitual lateness, laziness, being unprepared on a regular basis

3. What's a tradition that always makes you feel at home?

I think partly why I love Thanksgiving is because at the core it's celebrated in a very similar way all across America. Family and/or friends gathering, shared cooking, turkey and dressing, pie, parades and naps...this is Thanksgiving. Yes I know that's not 100% across the board true, but in general we celebrate this day counting our blessings and eating a little more than we should. 

I've eaten Thanksgiving in a country not my own and the smell of turkey roasting and the sound of my girls chatter in the kitchen as friends from various parts of the globe gathered round all said home to me.

'Forever on Thanksgiving Day

The heart will find the pathway home.'

~Wilbur D. Nesbit

4. A favorite song with a girl's name in the title or lyrics? Any reason why this is a particular favorite?

Just one??? There are so many I love... Georgia (Boz Scaggs), Aimee (Pure Prairie League), Amanda (Boston) Rhiannon (Fleetwood Mac), Aubrey (Bread), Annie's Song (John Denver), Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond)...

I'm going with this one though because I've always loved the name. ahem. This song was written about a big Irish Setter (cue the waterworks).  

Shannon by Henry Gross-



5. Share a favorite quote, verse, or saying relating to gratitude or thanksgiving.

'Come thou fount of ev'ry blessing, tune my heart to sing Thy grace

Streams of mercy never ceasing, call for songs of loudest praise...'

~Come Thou Fount by Robert Robertson

6. Insert your own random thought here.

So much to love about this time of year-

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