A Time to Eat Turkey

There will be another Hodgepodge before Thanksgiving, but I'm not sure I'll remember to post. After all, it has taken me 3 days for this one! ... I have fixed the font size about 10 times... I'm so sorry if the print is too small.  No clue! 

1. What's surprised you most about your life, or about life in general?

How quickly it seems to go! One day I was dating and the next day I was married and the mother of 3 and grandmother of 2... How'd that happen, anyway?

2. Among others, these ten words were added to the Oxford English Dictionary this year...awesomesauce, beer o'clock, brain fart, buttdial, cat cafe(apparently this is a real thing), fatberg (gross-read the definition here), fat shame, hangry, Mx (gender neutral), and skippable. 
Your thoughts? In looking over the list, which word do you find most ridiculous? Which word would you never in a million years say out loud? Which word would you be most likely to use in conversation?

Sadly, I have used the term "buttdial" but think there must be a better one...I've switched it to "pocket dial." Two words, though.    I don't like any of these.  I suppose "skippable" is ok but I'd rather use a phrase instead.  We seem to be becoming a generation of one word conversations...

3. Do you like gravy? Is there a food you'd rather not eat unless it comes with gravy? Do you make your own or buy the canned or store-made variety? Turkey and gravy, sausage gravy, mashed potatoes and gravy, country ham and red eye gravy, biscuits and chocolate gravy, pot roast and gravy...which one on the list is your favorite?

LOVE gravy! Make my own. I eat it on whatever I want. Bread and gravy was a must when I was little. It didn't matter what kind.  I love it on mashed potatoes, stuffing, meat, biscuits, pancakes (hamburger gravy.)

4. Do you have a plan? Do you need a plan? Have you ever had a plan fall into a trillion pieces? Explain.
Perhaps I have too many plans at the moment. I have a ton of housework to do as we have ordered some new furniture... it's about time!  It better not fall into a trillion pieces, either!  I don't think I've ever had a plan fall apart. Our plans are always simple and flexible.  However, now that we are older (and Bill's parents even older - 92 and 96), I'm always a bit concerned when we make vacation plans...

5. November 19 is National Play Monopoly Day. Do you own the original or some version of the game? Do you enjoy playing Monopoly? How likely is it you'll play a game of Monopoly on November 19th? Ever been to Atlantic City? Ever taken a ride on a railroad? Is parking in your town free? Last thing you took a chance on?

I think our oldest took the Monopoly game with him when he got married. It was given to him when he was a kid. It's a regular one. I liked playing but my husband did not! We didn't play on November 19th. It has probably been 20 years since I have played.  I have been to Atlantic City to the beach. I have been on a train, once to NYC and back with my mom and brother when I was 4, again with my pre-schooler (25 years ago) and his classmates, and a couple of steam locomotives Straasburg and Black River and Western. Oh, and subways in Brooklyn and NYC plus the Staten Island Rapid Transit. How could I forget those?! Parking is free in town. Last thing I took a chance on?  Traveling 3 days on the road with my husband when I was running a fever, hoping I'd be better in time for visiting friends...   I was! Whew!

6. A song you like that has the word (or some form of the word) thanks in the title, lyrics, or meaning? 

"Come Ye Thankful People, Come" comes to mind, first.  Then “Thank You Lord (for saving my soul)” , and the other “Thank You, Lord” by Sandi Patti,  “Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart.”  OK, I’ll stop, now!

7. In keeping with this month's theme of gratitude....what is something you're taking for granted that when you stop and think about it, you're grateful for?  

Lots of things: Fresh air, clean water, warm house, good food and the stores where I shop, the love of family, etc...

8. Insert your own random thought here.

It's almost time!  We are open for business the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

First Week of November and No Snow :-)

There have been Novembers that had more snow than December, but apparently this is not one of them and that is fine with me! I'd like some snow flurries, though and maybe a 'snow squall.'   While we were on vacation in TN, there was some snow that stuck to the ground here at home, but.. October?  NO.. No thank you! 

1. Besides Thanksgiving, something you're looking forward to on your November calendar?
Oh, did I mention 'snow squalls?'  Can't quite put them on the calendar, though.  So, on my calendar, I'd have to say my 3 days of substitute teaching in Pre Kindergarten!

2.  If I gave you a thank you card right now who would you send it to and why?
Auntie Babs for giving us peanuts from Virginia. She's awesome like that! 

3. Of the breads listed, which one's your favorite...bagel, cinnamon, sourdough, garlic, banana, biscuit, pita, Naan, or plain old fashioned white bread?

Yikes! Sourdough and cinnamon. I could never choose between the two!

4. What's something you have in abundance? Is that a good thing?

In abundance that is a good thing?... Well, that narrows it down!  Let's see.  Carrots. Lots of carrots from my garden that will go on the table this winter in stews, soups and just plain cooked (in water with a teaspoon of maple syrup.)

5. November 5th is National Love Your Red Hair Day. Are there any redheads in your family? Who's your favorite redhead?
Until I had children, there seemed to be a rule in my family that if a brunette married a blond, they would have at least 1 red headed kid.  My cousin Millie had 3 out of 4 with red hair! My cousin Barb had 1 out of 3. I had none. BUT one of them has a red beard :-)   There are too many to call a favorite...   

6.  The travel website Busbud recently calculated the most Instagrammed spot in every state. Go here to see what made the list where you live. Are you happy with your state's #1? If not what do you think should be the most photographed spot in your state? Have you snapped a photo there? If you live outside the USA answer as it relates to your state, city or province.

In NY it is the Empire State Building.  I'm ok with that. I lived in the city for a few years and even took a picture of the front of the building.  My husband worked in the World Trade Center (back in the 80's) and I have pics of that as well. I think the Empire State Building was more photogenic with all the other sky scrapers clustered around it. I would think that Niagara Falls (photographed from the Canadian side) would be a close 2nd.  Also, Letchworth State Park would make a great #3.

7. I'm going to try to have something related to gratitude in this spot each week during the month of November. Here's this week's question-

What's something you've learned about yourself this year that you're grateful for?

At 63, I'm not finding many things about myself that I don't already know... I have figured out the "trigger points" that make me dizzy (positional vertigo) and manage to avoid them when it strikes. Seems to come every fall but now that I know how to manage it, I'm doing really well.  Years ago, the meds the doctor gave me to "help" made it worse! I'm very grateful for being able to manage it on my own as others I know are much worse off. 

8. Insert your own random thought here. 

I'm thinking that soon our Christmas Tree Farm will be alive with families tagging, cutting and just having fun: