GRANNY NIRVANA HODGEPODGE!

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?

The last game was Domino's that I played with our grand daughters.  I've not worked a puzzle in a very long line.

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

One place I'm thankful for this year was Dog Mountain.  It's an amazing place to visit and to walk around.  I hope to go back soon.

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? For those of you playing along who aren't in the US, answer as it relates to any big holiday meal.

Well since we are getting a bit of snow, going for a walk is out of the picture.  A Nap is certainly in my plans for Thanksgiving day.

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

WOW There are several favorites that I have.  I really love the meat stuffing we will have on Thanksgiving and Hubby will make it at other times of the year for me.  I like a nice pot roast that has cooked in the crock pot all day.  I like a lasagna especially the next day!

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

I tend to change channel when infomercials come on.  They make the product sound so good and after all it's only $14.99 to try it at home for 30 days right?  I wonder what happens after the 30 days and how much you are charged after that.  Not for me.

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?

Christmas shopping is almost done! I will not shop on Thanksgiving  and I'm so sorry for those people who have to work on Thanksgiving.  If no one shopped, the stores would stop opening.  They will get the message by the amount of money it cost them to pay everyone to show up and do nothing.  But since so many are greedy, they shop.  It's sad that we talk about all we are grateful for and then leave the table to go to stores to get more.  If I do shop on Black Friday, it will be online.  A lot of my shopping has been online, more than 80%!

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

Life with Hubby adds beauty to my life everyday.  He enriches everyday with his tenderness and care.  He goes out of his way everyday to show me he loves me.  We still hold hands to watch TV and enjoy each others company.  We've been together for over 42 years and we not only love each other but like each other, respect each other and enjoy each other's company.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Well the snow has landed here in NH. It's beautiful, it's white, it's snowman making snow and there is going to be a lot of it.  It really does make it feel like the start of the Holiday season and puts everyone in the mood for eggnog, fire in the fireplace, decorations and sharing things with good friends and family.
Happy Thanksgiving All!!

Thank you Joyce for the questions,  If you all have time while your  bird is cooking, visit  others blogs and answer the questions.

Gratitude Hodgepodge!

Thanks Joyce for this weeks Hodgepodge about being grateful.  It's time to remember why and who we are thankful for.  I'm thankful for Joyce.

1. What's something you take for granted, that when you stop and think about it you feel truly grateful for?

Our Pellet stove and especially the man who feeds it!  I love our pellet stove and the heat it puts out.  Hubby cares for it, cleans it, fills it, starts it and checks on it.  I get to enjoy its warmth and I will turn it off.  I love our pellet stove and really, really love the man who cares for it.

2. The color brown-love it or no? What's your favorite shade of brown? Most loved something in your home or closet in a shade of brown?

Not a great fan of it.  It doesn't really have much color does it? It reminds me of dirt.  I do have one sweater and one vest that are brown but 'most loved', not really.

3. What's something you're looking forward to today?

Christmas wrapping for the west coasters and it's done.  Hubby now has to mail it out.

4. The word 'feminism' is not new, but it has been generating all kinds of headlines in recent days and months. What do you think/feel when you hear the word? If you're a woman, do you want to be described as a feminist? Why or why not?

Feminism is a collection of movements and ideologies aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, cultural, and social rights for women. Well that is according to wikipedia.  It used to be a movement to get equal rights for woman that men had already.  But now, it's all about 

bullying others who think differently.  Just this past week, a scientist landed a shuttle on a moving comet 

and he was picked on for what he wore!  Sorry people, he is a nerd and that is what i makes him what he is. 

Yes his shirt was tacky for TV and so he needs someone to dress him for TV but to bully him over it was just too much.  Ladies, grow up!! No I do not want to be described as a feminist.

5. What's something you personally can't eat without making a mess?

BBQ.  So I don't eat it in public.  It gets all over my cheeks, my fingers and my face.  So I use a knife and fork and eat it at home, with the door closed, and the lights off, and the curtains pulled shut.

6. When did you last surprise someone with a little gift or when were you last surprised by someone with a little gift? What was it?

Last Sunday, I made a dog coat for a friend who has a little dog but couldn't find a coat for her.  Some little dogs are hard to fit.  It's either too short from neck to tail, or too small around the middle.  So I made her a coat.  The friend liked it and since it's reversible, she has 2 coats to put on her little girl.

7. Share a favorite quote, saying, song lyric or scripture relating to gratitude.

Psalm 107:1 - Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
I have 2 thoughts this week.
1. Hubby made stuffing for me.  It was not a dry run for Thanksgiving, it was just because I asked him to and it was so delish!! He made 6 pounds of it and it is all gone.  

2. The news is covered with pictures  of snow that has hit the the great lakes.  Here in NH it's cold - teens to 20's but no snow. I'm glad for that as I'm not a fan of snow.  Yes, it's very pretty. Yes, the ski area will be up and running. Yes, it's winter in NH.  However, still, I don't really like the snow.  The first snow people have to remember how to drive in it and it is just plain cold.  I like looking at pictures of snow from inside my home, by the fire and holding a cup of hot cocoa.  How about you?
For those of you  caught in the snow, I'm sorry and I hope you are doing OK.  Stay warm, stay safe.

SALUTE TO VETERANS HODGEPODGE!

I for one, look forward to the weekly Hodgepodge.  Last week Joyce took time off to get ready for her daughter's wedding.  I understand "time off". It feels like I've taken lots of time off.  I really don't mean to but once I get home and get through dinner or work on getting the outside  ready for winter, I just can't sit up and write a blog post.  I just need to sleep.  Joyce did in fact create a Hodgepodge for this week.  Thank you Joyce, I hope you got everything ready for the wedding.

1. We celebrate Veteran's Day in the US of A on November 11th. When did you last interact with a member of the armed forces (either currently serving or retired)? Have you ever written a letter to a soldier, bought a meal or coffee for a solider, said an unprompted thank you to a soldier you encountered out and about somewhere? If you're not in the US, comment on a similar holiday in your own country.

I was taking a picture of him while he was taking a picture of me.

I interact with a member of the armed forces every day.  Hubby was in the Air Force for 8 years.  I have written a letter to a soldier before, especially during Christmas time when they are still protecting our country while I enjoy my family.  I have also thanked a soldier while I was out and about and saw him/her in line at store, or standing on the corner.  I think it's important to thank as many as possible.

2. You can have fifty pounds of anything at all (except money)...what would you choose?

Fifty pounds of mulch would be nice to add to the yard next spring.

3. When did you last receive an invitation in the 'real' mail? What was it for and did you attend? When it comes to RSVP-ing, are you an 'early responder' or a 'last minute, barely-under-the-wire' kind of guest?

The last invitation, delivered by real mail that I got was for a baby shower.  I didn't go as the invitation showed up about 4 days AFTER the shower.  Talk about slow mail!!

4. What's something you really don't like to waste?

I'm Scottish, so there are lots of things I don't like to waste.  I use tea bags for at least 4 cups of tea. I  fold the trash to make more room in the trash can (saving more trash bags).  I guess if I have to pick one, it would be the craft paper I use to make cards.  I will use as much of the paper as possible before I toss what is left out.

5. Cheers, Friends, MASH, Seinfeld...of the ones listed, your favorite long-running sitcom?

Friends.  Watching those friends grow and become a real family was just so much fun.

6. What decision are you glad you made?

Hands up -marrying Hubby! He is the other half.  We truly have become One.

7. In this month of 'Thanksgiving' what is one thing that's different today than it was a year ago that you're grateful for?

Last year we were not able to watch the grand girls because I was too weak and couldn't be sure if I would catch anything from them.  This year, we get to see them often and spend time with them. I am so very thankful that we get to play with them.  If only our Grandsons were so close.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

My heart goes out to those of you in the middle states.  The news is covered with photos of the snow and cold that you have.  By the time is gets to us, the temps will be cold but it looks like the snow will only be light and scattered, If at all.  I pray that you have not lost power and that you are all safe and especially warm.