Does anybody really know ....

 

Thanks for the prompt, Joyce!

... and welcome back to the Hodgepodge, friends!   This week Joyce asks,

Does anybody really know what day it is?  Last week we skipped the Hodgepodge and I just assumed this week would find us in December.  But nope.  Still November.  Do you wear a watch?  Use a paper calendar or strictly electronic?

I print a monthly grid each month and hang on the refrigerator ... more to satisfy my OCD tendencies than anything else.  At month's end, each page gets filed with those going before.  5 years now, and I've no idea 'why.' 

What's your favorite hour of the day?  Why?

Depending on our dogs' bladders, that would be 5-6 (ish).  Once they do their thing, I swallow my pills, hop back in bed then scroll through FB/word games 'til it's coffee o'clock.

Having lived all my life under deadlines/timelines, you've no idea how I longed for this sort of freedom to do as I please.  (Most of the time, that is.)

Tell us something about how you celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday.

Delicious and delightfully low-key.  Troy and Lois joined us, bringing with them a yummy casserole, beautiful poinsettia and two boxes of Little Debbie Christmas cakes.  (Ha!  Guess who was the most popular gal at Bible study?)

What's a sound you hate to hear?

Our weather radio/sirens.
Living in the south, I'm thankful for them.  But wow.  What absurd, ear-splitting sounds they make!

Where you do not mind waiting?

Provided I'm not travelling, I'll say a busy airport.
What a kick to watch the human parade!

I really wish .....

... for so many things.
Let's go with an upcoming negative test result.

Insert your own random thought here:

So, I believed myself 'Done!' with my Christmas shopping, until!

A gift I'd ordered via Etsy arrived yesterday, exceeding expectations!

This is probably the part where I should say, I've been promised nothing for saying this, but like to support small business folks whenever possible.

Unbelievably soft, one nuzzle and the dogs went absolutely batty.  I literally had to run to the bedroom and shut the door while I put it away.
All the while, little Grace sat crying loudly on the other side.

She's never done that!

What to do but get back online and order another for the girls' Christmas present.

As far as I know, they don't watch true crime television, but it was the only one that boasts a 'mink touch' (v. fleece).

If you're looking for something indulgent, I'm giving this one two thumbs up.

💛

Thanks so much for visiting!

Like Jack's fond of saying, "It means a lot!"

Hugs, Myra

On the Other Hand

 

Happy Thanksgiving!
    Of late, life on Chapman Road's been a mixed bag.
    Let me pour another cup and tell you about it.

Question!
When you get your new auto insurance cards, do you stop to check everything's in order?  Particularly when you've been doing business with this company for years.  Me, a resounding "No. Why would I?"

Imagine the look on my face when I received an e-mail from the State of Alabama informing me, if I don't provided proof of liability insurance within 30 days, my new car's registration will be revoked.

Spotting the link provided, I guessed it was a cyber scam.  Still, they had my attention.  Thankfully, the satellite tag office is but a mile away.   Thank goodness for eagle-eyed title clerks!  Turns out, the VIN # shown on the new insurance card bears little resemblance to the actual VIN!

On the other hand!
The company's customer service rep was really nice, apologizing all over herself -- and said we'd be receiving a $124 premium reduction.  (Suppose this is their way of saying, "I'm sorry"?  Stunned, I totally forgot to ask.)     

Happily, Tom recently agreed I could schedule the yard folks to come tame the shrubs, corral the fallen leaves.  Returning from the doctor yesterday afternoon, everything looked great.  Ready for company and carbs!

Yet, last night Mother Nature said, "Let's just see about that!" -- unleashing a whopping windstorm and buckets of rain.

On the other hand!
This means I don't have to clean the floors today.   And, because the clothes dryer's still on the fritz -- the repairman seems to have lost my number --  I'll go sit atop the machine with my finger on the power button while listening to my latest read.  (JA Jance's Collateral Damage).  No shoes or make-up required!

Thanksgiving?  Actually, I'm more relaxed than I've been in years.  (Thank you, Publix meal deals!)  My granddaughter's travelling to Mississippi to meet her fellow's extended family, so it will be just us, Troy and Lois.   Like the old saying goes, it's not what's on the table that counts, but who's around it.

You may have seen this 'funny' before -- it's making its way around FB again.  But this admonition still makes me giggle.  Let's call it, Holiday 10 Commandments:

Avoid carrot sticks.  Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit.  In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately.  Go next door where they're serving rum balls.

Drink as much eggnog as you can.  And quickly, it's rare.  You cannot find it any other time of year but now.  So drink up!  Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip?  It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something.  It's a treat.  Enjoy it.  Have one for me.  Have two.  It's later than you think!

If something comes with gravy, use it.  That's the whole point of gravy.  Gravy does not stand alone.  Pour it on.  Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes.  Fill it with gravy.  Eat the volcano.  Repeat.

As for mashed potatoes?  Always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk.  It it's skim, pass.  Why bother?  It's like buying a sports cars with an automatic transmission.

Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating.  The whole point of going to a holiday party is to eat other people's food for free.  Lots of it.  Hello?

Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Years.  You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do.  This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and vat of eggnog.

If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge.  Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention.  They're like a beautiful pair of shoes.  If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

Same for pies.  Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat.  Have a slice of each.  Or, if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin.  Always have three.  When else do you get to have more than one dessert, Labor Day?

Did someone mention fruitcake?  Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories but avoid it at all cost.  I mean, have some standards.

One final tip:  If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table you haven't been paying attention.  Re-read tips.  Start over, but hurry.  January is just around the corner.

And remember this motto to live by:  "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but to skid in sideways, chocolate and wine in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, "WOO HOO what a ride"!

🍂

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all.
Please stay safe!

Hugs, Myra

Friday Fotos

 

... brought to you this morning by my management team, Macie and Grace.

(stock image from Facebook)

After mom quit laughing hysterically, she said something like "The story of our lives" -- but booked our spa day.

Next she planned a photo shoot out in the sun room that went something like this:

"We can't heaaaar you!"

"What did she say?"

"Oh, Come all Ye Faithful ..."

"Like this, momma?"

Momma here --

So later that evening, Macie Ann was giving the universal signal, "I need to go out.  Now!"   I opened the french doors then turned back to get something.

Little fibber!   She no more needed to go out than the man in the moon.   Rather, she remembered how posing nicely earned her a tasty kibble.  Now if I could only teach them synchronization.   Hats off to professional photographers everywhere!

Have yourselves a tasty weekend!

Hugs,

Myra

  

#527

 

Welcome back to this week's Hodgepodge.  Episode 527, that is.
Thank you, Joyce!

Do you suppose these fallen leaves number more?  Or less?

🍂

This week's Hodgepodge lands on National Clean Our Your Refrigerator Day.  Is yours in need of a cleaning?  Will you get that done today?  How often do you tackle this particular chore?

I'm sure ours could benefit from a clean-out ..... but aside from checking expiration dates, I'm in no hurry.

Now retired, I'm able to more closely monitor what duplicates someone brings home 'just in case.'

November 15 is also National Philanthropy Day.  Tell us about a charity (local or otherwise) you like to support when you're able.

A large part of my heart belongs to those individual and organizations who rescue and foster abandoned dogs and cats.

What in nature inspires you and why?

Oh wow, how to choose?

Even tho' our trees obscure much of the rising sun, my #1 favorite will always be sunrise.  God's given us a zillionth second chance!

Close behind, the ocean -- particularly while out to sea on a stormy night.

What's something you own that makes you feel cozy?

By his own admission, this doesn't do anything for Tom -- but our faux fireplace makes my heart happy.

Who did you thank today?  Who thanked you?

I hope I never fail to thank God for waking me up each morning!

Other than that, I like to regularly express thanks to everyone whose path I cross -- whether it's the UPS deliveryman, our server or the little guy who held the store's door open for me yesterday.

Perhaps it's my imagination, but it seems people are more apt to express thanks these days.

Insert your own random thought here.

Can you believe Thanksgiving's practically upon us?

I've still no idea what's going on the table or who all will be around it.

... but that hasn't stopped me from brewing pots-full of yummy comfort food.

Unfortunately, last night's potato soup missed the mark.  Not because I didn't follow directions but figured "if a 10 minute boil is good, 30 should be better."

Granted, it's not quite as bad as my epic nut bread fail when the blender began to smoke and died .... but still.

Have you any holiday kitchen stories-gone-wrong to share?

Thank you so much for stopping by ...

I hope you'll come again!

Hugs, Myra

Doing Life in the Slow Lane

 

    Good morning!  Today, I'm ...

    

    Loving

..... the fallen leaves out my window.

Poor things are undoubtedly confused -- 2 weeks ago we enjoyed record low temps, then a few days ago, record highs.

    

    Spending more time in the kitchen 

..... enjoying green chile pork

... and Green Enchilada Chicken chowder.

(Isn't 'chowder' a delightful word?!)

Reflecting

... on my recent rush to judgement re. funeral etiquette.

Since then, 2 more members (both sweet friends) of our little church have passed ... compelling me to get my "Southern on" with a smile.

It's been years since I attended a service but was a bit surprised to see the funeral's 'homegoing' staged in a room that more closely resembled a conference room than a chapel -- complete with round tables and hardback chairs ... devoid of any religious symbols or warmth.

Monday morning's Bible study chatter was more about our friends.  We agreed, it's high time we make our own wishes known.

(I don't recall where I found this, but it punctuated my conscience.)

Moving right along!

Village Green's dolled up so nicely, I begged and wheedled the ladies to join me for a class photo.  No?
Tom wasn't thrilled with the idea but agreed to accompany me before it all gets replaced with Christmas-y decor.

Let there be peace on earth!

(Click to enlarge)

What's your pleasure?

I think this tree just goes to show,

even in old age beauty still exists.

Let's all have a blessed day!

                                                                        Hugs, Myra

 

Tuesday 4 - My Playlist

Hi friends ... and welcome to Toni Taddeo's Tuesday 4!

Songs can have a lot of meaning and bring out a good helping of emotion - whether happy, sad, nostalgic or funny.  Annie invites us to talk about it.

🎵

Tell us 4 songs that define your life.  (I know, this one is hard, but it's not written in stone!  Feel free to be serious or silly as you choose.  Maybe even some songs that you would like to describe your life!

I've posted a similar theme before (here and here).  What an assortment I've enjoyed at different seasons in my life!

For this chapter in time, however, I've chosen:

That's What Friends Are For

Why Me, Lord

Sweet Home Alabama

Jesus Loves Me

(Our friends Frank and Cindy performed this at the conclusion of a funeral the other day, inviting everyone to sing along.)

A song or songs that are special to you in some way:

Unforgettable

Just a Closer Walk with Thee

A song you and your sweetheart loved, or maybe your parent's favorite?

Sister Golden Hair (by America)

A movie soundtrack you have enjoyed, or a theme to a TV program or commercial you like/liked.  Name as many as you like!  If you have no favs, then how about ones you remember well?  Some songs just stick in your head!

Cinematic soundtracks?  That's a tie between Forest Gump and Sound of Music.

Drives me bananas, but lately I've two silly commercials stuck in my head.
Word-for-word, I walk around the house singing.

(*WARNING*)
At risk of developing ear worm, do not click!

😁😁😁

I hope you're having a great day ...

see you tomorrow!

Hugs, Myra