November 26, 2008 - Msg 68209: Rocking on each other's toes tonight aren't we Boo :) I'll email you right now.
The rest of ya'll can continue now with your regular programming. teehee
*Mavis
November 26, 2008 - Msg 68210: Sweeping at this time of night, no wonder the creeping crud is creeping up on me!
*Mavis
November 26, 2008 - Msg 68211:
Morning Porch

We are having Corain counter tops installed today (he says with fingers crossed) and, yes, we got another 5 inches of snow so far. They're calling for maybe another 18 inches by Thanksgiving. These "lake effect" snow storms are crazy you can move a mile in another direction and not see a flake. But, it looks like it's our turn to get hit. Have to make sure the driveway is plowed.

Hey Mavis, Boo, Hazel, Rev, MDC, DES, Romeena, Chuck, Spot, Tom, Sterling, possum, ky girl/ky kid?, Big Maude, and Lucy.

Boo-That does sound like a nice day.

Me-They & Asa Haven't been around much?

Sorry about darting in and out lately hoping to have things even-out a bit over the next couple of weeks.

M-T This is for you. No bail outs!

auh2o
November 26, 2008 - Msg 68212: Mornin' Y'all! Hope it's not as windy around here today as yesterday.Been a might cold in the South lately,but haven't gotten any snow like some of y'all have.Matter of fact,haven't seen even one flake for the past couple of years.Would be nice to get a dusting of snow on the rock!
Mavis,you buck up now & feel better so you can eat that turkey dinner! Oh,and send me a Christmas card-I like getting them.Last year I sent one to Pappa Bear and received a beautiful card back,which is a keeper. It's a nice feeling to connect outside of the Porch.Ro,you can give my snail mail address to any regular Porchster.
In case some of y'all are wondering why I'm getting "thanked",I sent Thanksgiving e-cards to everyone here (if I had you e-mail address) this year.Just felt like doing a little something after all the support & love I've gotten from y'all recently.And to all I didn't send an e-card to- you are very special to me as well and I love each & every one. Have a great Thanksgiving!
I'll see y'all later.Breakfast at Cracker Barrel on Asa!
*******************
possum under a rock
November 26, 2008 - Msg 68213: I miss Asa and Me-They too. I hope all is ok with Asa's wife. And maybe Me-They took off this week for the holiday? Maybe the two of them went on a road trip to visit the Hubacher brothers. I know they'd always wanted to do that...
And did Big Maude check in after her tests? I don't think I saw it in the archives...
Mavis, I'll e-mail you tonight with my snail mail address.
Boo, the town I live in is about 56,000 people. Getting a little too big, I think. It was around 2000 folks when my family first moved here. Just a small farming community. Now they've got subdivisions crammed in everywhere, and we're so close to Boise that it's all just one big city, it seems. Sigh.
Good luck with your counters, auh2o!
- Hazel
November 26, 2008 - Msg 68214: Oh, you snuck in on me, Possum. And I meant to thank you for the card too! It was cute!
- Hazel again
November 26, 2008 - Msg 68215: Good Morning Porch, hope all is well this day before Thanksgiving.

Possum thanks for the e card. I appreciate you too.

Hazel. haven't heard a word about my tests yet. still waiting and worrying. They were both done last Friday.

Lets go to Olive Garden for lunch today, my treat.

Have a blessed day.

Big Maude


November 26, 2008 - Msg 68216: Well hey gang im still here...been working on the barn...hope yall have been eating well...will catch up when I get to work at 2....prayers...SPOT
November 26, 2008 - Msg 68217: Thanks Mavis, Gizzy woke up this morning as full of vigor as ever and ready to play. I put him out to potty and then put him back in bed with me to sleep a little longer, though. I swear, he's the best dog ever. So sweet and obedient (wish the kids would take some lessons from him). Right now he is running with his favorite toy in his mouth, shaking the tar out of it and growling. Thanks for the vaccine info. I did do a continuing education course a few years ago about diseases in pets and how they are passed to humans and learned alot about rabies transmission. In the study, they said that if a pet received at least 2 rabies vaccince, he would have immunity against rabies for life. I thought that was interesting, but if you think about it, every year is over-kill! I also learned that, while dogs are always assumed to be the ones most responsible for the transmission of rabies to humans, cats are by far the no. 1 problem. People tend not to vaccinate their cats and cats roam more and get into more fights with other animals. Skunks and bats are high on the list, too, as I recall. Here in Texas, they started dropping bait laced with something for the coyotes that was supposed to prevent rabies and it worked. We have less now. I remember reading that it's possible to get rabies from a skunk if it sprays you in the eyes or the spray has contact with open sores or mucous membranes.

Enough of that pleasant subject...

Hope you get those countertops in before Thursday, Auh2o! Corian is a good product. What color did you select?

Well, Maude, I'll bet that no news is good news. Maybe you should try to call the dr's office today before they leave for thanksgiving and see if they have your results so you can enjoy the holiday with no worries. Let us know as soon as you find out, ok? Prayers for peace. Focus on the blessings.

Sorry about your town, Hazel. The small town I grew up in is growing too much, too. The traffic is getting terrible.

Well, better get dressed and get to the thanksgiving prepartions. I am going to try to get as much done today as possible so I won't be killing myself tomorrow. I can just reheat the casseroles and sweet potatoes tomorrow, and I decided to make a chess pie and a chocolate pie (for Bruce), and I always put to gether the cornbread dressing the evening before (except fo the eggs) so that the flavors can blend together well. Then tomorrow, I will add the eggs, dripping from the turkey, and extra chicken broth. So much to do!!..better get going...

Where are some more of those thanksgiving memories?

Boo

APB for ASA and Me-They.
November 26, 2008 - Msg 68218: Morning, all! Boo, Mavis is so right about the toy dogs and vaccinations. In fact, I'm about to take Starr to Dr. Mike this morning for the second of three vax. She got one last week, now this one, and one next week. He divided her dose into three parts, for the very reasons Mavis mentioned. Also, he doesn't just vaccinate routinely, he usually does an immunity titer first to see if it's needed. It's like he said - she lives in the house, where is she going to get rabies? Still, the unexpected can happen, so he does keep her immune, but it isn't a big issue.

NOTE TO EVERYONE: I will be happy to be the social secretary and manage the address list for Christmas cards, but I would ask this of you. Please don't depend upon me to spot notes here on the porch, because I may miss them, or forget. If you want your address shared with regular porchsters (which of course would be the only ones I'd share with) - please send me an email, and include your current address. From those, I'll compile a master list and will email it to those participating. If you don't have my address, it's romeena at tx dot rr dot com. Put it together. If I don't get an email from you, your address will not be shared. That way, I can't make any slip-ups.

Boo, speaking as a "sloth with gray hair and lens implants" - let me just say I'm not exactly a bundle of energy anymore either! (heehee) There are times I could make a sloth look like the Energizer bunny!

Well, gotta run, Starr's appointment is in thirty minutes and I'm not even dressed yet! Be blessed, all. --Romeena
November 26, 2008 - Msg 68219:
I'd be happy to give pappabear's snailmail address to anyone. He asks about the porch often in our letters. Email me if you'd like it.
dipper40 at hotmail dot com
Hazel, is that the Hubackers who are up in the state pen? ha
You and i could team up and call ourselves frick and frack! ha
So your Mt Pilot is turning into a Raleigh? I bet they even bulldozed Morellis! darn them.
Prayers for Big Maude and for Des
Mavis, have you seen the craze this year..Littlest pet shop VIPS?! They're cute and ugly at the same time! ha
APB for ME-THEY!
I agree AUH20.
We got rain today!! First time in 65 days (but who's counting) and it is actually in the 60s instead of the 80s!!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU ALL!
God bless America.
MDC


November 26, 2008 - Msg 68220: Yep Ro, I figure if I make it to my 70's I'll be letting the kids do everything for me, too. Honestly, I am very understanding and never ask her to do anything and I always say thank-you when she does. She has been through so much in the past year...she lost her husband, had to sell her home and move down here and live with us. She had to sell most of her things and just about everything that belonged to her husband, so I know she must be depressed and that makes you tired. She is on Zoloft again, but it hasn't been long enough to do much good. Now we will be coming upon the anniversary of her husband's death (Christmas Eve, no less) and I know it will be so tough for her. I joke about her, but I am very protective of her and try to do what I can for to help. I found Gizzy for her, and that has been a very good thing because she adores him and he is the perfect little companion for her. It is very sad to remember what she used to be like 20 years ago when she was so active and always doing something. She was very artistic and used to paint and now her hands shake so badly that she can barely write. In spite of all this, though, she is still involved with most family activities and is cheerful most of the time (she has kept her childlike spirit and sense of humor). She also never misses church, God bless her. In all her years, she said that losing Don was the hardest thing she has ever had to go through. Please remember Ann in your prayers as we go through the holiday season. Some of you know how tough it is that first Christmas (and ever after, for some). It seems that we skipped Christmas last year. It was my first Christmas without Karen and Don died unexpectedly on Christmas Eve. This year will be better, but not easy. I am going to try my best to make it special for my family. Sean told me the other day that Christmas just hasn't felt like Christmas for a few years. I hope we can get the Christmas spirit back this year.

Well, I made the green bean casserole, a chess pie, and now am about to start on the chocolate pie. I'm tired and it's only noon...guess I, too, will be a sloth someday (maybe by Friday)...:-)

Boo
November 26, 2008 - Msg 68221: Anyone putting up their tree yet?? Since Erin is out of school all week and they are dying to put up the tree, I let them and put the lights on (white this year) and they are decorating it (slowly). It does look rather festive.

Meant to tell ASA and Ro, I bought a "Chicken Soup For the Soul" book today called "Virtues of Christmas" and it had a free Manheim Steamroller DVD with it. It is shorter than the orginal but I was happy to get it anyway. I was playing it this morning while making my pie.

Better get back at it!

Boo
November 26, 2008 - Msg 68222: Well hey gang...I have been so busy with the barn...comming along good...I will read in just a bit...im at work now till morning..Maude thanks for lunch..and Asa thanks for breakfast..hey possum,Ro,Boo,MDC,auh2o,Rev,my friend Mavis...and hey Mavis that dog snow video was a HOOT..I showed it around work...well supper will be Pizza Hut tonight...60 and nice here in ga...back in just a bit...SPOT
November 26, 2008 - Msg 68223:
Happy Thankgiving Spot!
Thanks for the lights.
Did you ever see my Peach Bowl question
in the last archive?
Prayers for all,
MDC
November 26, 2008 - Msg 68224: Howdy to all. Just passing by - wish I was on the way to my bed for a nap before going to work, but since I have a cake in the oven, I guess I'd better stay up. Can't complain, since that's all I'm responsible for making for dinner tomorrow. My big "do" will be this weekend.

I've been on the run all day - picked up prescriptions, took Starr to the vet for the second of her divided vaccinations, brought her back home, went to Petsmart to pick up a supplement called "The Missing Link" that her vet said might help her coat to thicken up a bit, then to the grocery store (two hours and $$$ in there!), then by the church to drop off food for the benevolence pantry, then dropped off newspapers and cans at the Humane Society. They sell the cans and shred the papers for dog and cat bedding. My yard man was here when I got home, and he helped me unload the car and carry stuff in, bless him.

I chopped up an apple and put the pieces out on the feeding stones, and a little airheaded squirrel is methodically burying the pieces! I'm sure they'll be good if he ever finds them again - all shriveled and moldy! Goofus.

Well, better go check my cake. Blessings to you all, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving. --Romeena
November 26, 2008 - Msg 68225: Woohoo! I had just settled down for an attempt at a very short nap, when the phone rang, and it was the hospital, offering me cancellation for tonight, as our census is low. Naturally, I accepted! So, hooray for me, I don't have to work tonight. I'll be able to get some things done and won't be a zombie tomorrow. God provides!

My church sends an email out several times a week, listing those in the hospital and other prayer needs. The one responsible for doing that is Miss Betty, the receptionist and general factotem around there. That woman could drive a 12-horse hitch and type a letter at the same time. The pastor and other ministerial staffers have secretaries, but it's Miss Betty who holds it all together. REV, you will remember her. Anyway, in the hospital report I received this afternoon, Miss Betty had posted this bit of wisdom at the top of the page:

There will be empty chairs at many tables this holiday season because family members have changed addresses from this world to a better one. Hold on to your memories – and talk about your loved ones - and if you cry just grab a Kleenex and be thankful you had someone worthy of your tears.

Isn't that just beautiful? Sure hits home with me. Holidays are still hard, guess they always will be, but that thought makes it easier to bear.

Now to tackle the laundry, and vacuum the kitchen and sunroom. Happy Thanksgiving, all. --Romeena
November 26, 2008 - Msg 68226: Well porch if quite tonight...guess everyone is full of pizza and pop!...will check back in a bit..Rev you on the road?...Romeena dont work to hard tonight...its slow right now here...gona try to find a good movie but not much on...any suggestions?..possum girl how are you doing?..auh2o?..Tom?..ok...will be back with a snack after while....SPOT
November 26, 2008 - Msg 68227: Hi All.
Spot how would you like some snow.
HAPPY THANKSGINING TO ALL ARE MAYBERRY FRIEND AND TO ALL WHO GONG HOME TO BE WITE THE LORD FOR IT.

TOM

November 26, 2008 - Msg 68228: Same to yoy, TOM! I don't know if Spot wants any snow, but I sure do...send some down here, will you?

Romeena, you are a such a caring person. I am very glad you got the night off tonight. Give Starr an extra cuddle from Aunt Boo, will you? I am very thankful for little Starr because I know she is God's gift to you.

Well, St. Susan came and picked up the kids around 6 and I am all finished up for the evening! The sweet potatos are done and the dressing put together and now all I have to do is put the turkey in the oven in the morning. Bruce took MIL and I out for supper tonight to my favorite little local diner/cafe. It is one of those that is just like it was years ago (founded in the 20's). I had a good BLT and a pretty good cup of chili. There was a black and white picture of the original staff, with their names and one of the very pretty ladies was named Ann CRUMP, so naturally, I thought of my porch friends.

Well, in the morning, I can put the turkey in the oven, grab a cup of hot coffee and watch Macy's parade. See ya in the mornin'....where are those thanksgiving memories??

I thought of one. I remember as a kid, that mom and I would always watch Charlie Brown Thanksgiving together. I just love that one! Snoopy is great.

Boo
November 26, 2008 - Msg 68229: Boo that one I like and the christmas one


TOM :)
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68230: Tom & Boo how funny is that, I thought I was the only one that still watched those old Charlie Brown specials. I can't wait to watch Rudolph each year either!
Ok, here's my Thanksgiving memory.....
It must have been over 20 years ago, my nephew was just a little thing, still sitting in a high chair. My mother collected antiques of all kinds & on holidays she would use some of the antique furniture & such. She had a beautiful, hand made stroller/high chair combo, it would convert from one to the other, pretty cool actually, it stayed in it's regular place in the living room until the holidays, then she would use it for the kids.
Anyway, we were all sitting at her dining room table, another beautiful antique, made of cherry with carved legs & the chairs were carved with tapestry covers, it's a gorgeous 200 year old set. We all had our places, the antique china was set & my nephew was at the table in that high chair/stroller combo. Mom had the video camera running over in the corner so she could capture all of us together. We had just said grace & Mom was passing the turkey around, asking who wanted what, all of us were talking at once, when all of a sudden we heard Jesse, my nephew, just crying to beat the band. We looked over to his place & he wasn't there, that high chair had slipped & converted back down into the stroller part & Jesse was still in it! He wasn't hurt, but he was crying so loud for that turkey he thought he was going to miss out on, Mom ended up giving him the entire drumstick! When we went back & watched that video, we laughed until we had tears in our eyes, it was like one minute he was there & the next he was sucked down into some vaccum chamber it happened so fast! I will never forget that as long as I live. After that, every Thanksgiving up to the last one Mom spent here on earth with us, we would watch that video after our big feast. My nephew still doesn't think it's all that funny, but boy was it ever! Mom continued to use that high chair/stroller thing as long as our kids could fit into it, each & every one had their holiday in it, but Jesse was the only one who ended up under the table.
Wish I could get that video from my sister to put on DVD, but I don't see that happening, she won't let me have any of those & I'm tired of asking for them.
Anyway, hope each & every one of you have a wonderful holiday & if you get a chance stop by here & tell us how it's going.
I love you guys!
*Mavis
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68231:
Hello porch family

Ro....yes....that sounds like Miss Betty. She is so sweet.

Spot.....nope brother....I'm not on the road. Home with the family.

Boo....my wife already has our tree up. She put it up this pass week. She has over 2700 lights on it.

I want to wish all of our porch family a very blessed Thanksgiving Day. Let's give our Lord thanks for all He has done and continues to do in our lives. Most of all for giving His Son, Jesus Christ for each of us. I also thank Him for each of you my dear friends!
Blessings and prayers for each of you!
-REV.
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68232: Good late evening, friends. I hadn't thought I'd be back by, but Mavis sent me an email that I think is worth sharing with everyone. Here's the address, just copy and paste:

http://www.presidentialprayerteam.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ppt_homepage
The Presidential Prayer Team:

I had no idea this thing existed, and I'm very glad to know that it does. One thing it did for me, it addressed a problem that I've been struggling with since Nov. 4. Like it or not, Mr. Obama is going to be our president, and as a Christian I need to get past my gut-level fears and objections, and pray for him - sincerely pray for him. If he's as ill-suited for the job as I fear he is, then he's going to need all the help he can get to keep from wrecking this country. If he's truly a Christian, as he claims, then he will welcome our prayers. If he's not, then he needs them all the more.

Thanks, Mavis, for sharing that link. Oh, and reading over the site, I learned about something that Calvin Coolidge DID say:

If American democracy is to remain the greatest hope of humanity, it must continue abundantly in the faith of the Bible.
—Calvin Coolidge

I have so many wonderful Thanksgiving memories that it's hard to choose one, but maybe by morning I'll decide. Sleep well, friends. --Romeena
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68233: My goodness, REV! 2700 lights? I thought I had overdone it at 2150. That must be a sight to behold - a picture no artist could draw! --Romeena
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68234: Well Happy Thanksgiving Porch!..im headed home to sleep then back to keep the lights on at 2...Mom has me a big lunch packed up (the works)...will stop by at Mom and Dads for a quick bite before back to work...but Mom will have enough food for me and my co worker!...FOOTBALL all day Mdc,Rev,goober and all sprots fans...well lets just have a bowl of oat meal for breakfast cause we will be eating Plenty the rest of the day...well will holler at yall in just a bit!...(gobble gobble)...SPOT
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68235: Morning, Porch! Happy Thanksgiving!
Funny, Ro, I always thought Mark Twain said that... hehe
Well, I'll be heading over to my mothers here in a bit to help her stuff the turkey and hoist it in the oven. Then back home for a couple hours to get cleaned up and fix my green bean casserole and then back to mothers to help set the table and peel the taters, etc. Dinner will be about 1:30 or 2:00. I can taste it already!
We got our new puppy last night. She is just as cute as can be, with perfect markings. She's like a little tiny soft bear, a real sweetie. We still haven't agreed on a name, we had about 20 on our original list, then about 6 made the "short list", but we decided to wait til we had her to see which one fitted. I think it's going to be "Belle". But she has a small tip of white on her brown tail, so I'm sort of liking "Tip". That was a name of a dog in one of the James Herriot books (can't remember which one). Anyhow, for now, she's just Doggie.
Well, 10-4
- Hazel
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68236: Mornin' Y'all and Happy Thanksgiving!Count your blessings,friends. You all are among mine.
Have a wonderful day-love to all.

Boo, no one Thanksgiving stands out in my mind.We didn't shoot any turkeys up with saline solution (too funny!) or anything like that. I do recall this one thing,not really funny now,you had to be there & have been a kid,I guess.Anyway,here is a memory:
Growing up,I had 3 grandmothers,my maternal,my paternal,and my stepdad's mom,who we called Granny. Granny was very prim & proper-looked like Miss Daisy (Driving Miss Daisy).We usually had Thanksgiving at her place,but one year we went out to this really swanky restaurant. We were sitting around the table,behaving ourselves,sipping appetizers of hot apple cider with cinnamon sticks when all of a sudden,Granny blurted out "Pringles Potato Chips". We looked at each other,at our mom who was giving us "The Look" that said we'd better NOT start up in the restaurant,at our other grandmother (my paternal) who was kind of encouraging us to laugh at her ( they had a love/hate kinda thing going on between them.Lived next door to each other) and boy was it hard NOT to laugh! To this day,my mom gets irritated if any of us mention Granny's Thanksgiving outburst!
Well,that was kind of lame for a memory,but it's all I can come up with! Made ME smile thinking back on it and I'm gonna bring it up at the Thanksgiving table today-hee hee
*********
possum under a rock (gobble gobble back at ya Spot!)
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68237: Hey Hazel,didn't see ya there- Happy Thanksgiving! Did you get another border collie? My fav dog-love 'em! Get some pics in to Ro's album,ok?

possum again
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68238: Yes, she's a border collie. One of the brown and white kinds. Our Molly was a black and white one, which is the more common. I love Border Collies too, they're so smart and loyal. If I can figure out how to do pictures and send them, I will!
- Hazel
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68239: LOVED the thanksgiving memory, Mavis...so funny. Thanks for sharing and have a great day.

2700 lights, REV?!..Her tree puts my 4-footer to shame. I only have 2 strands of white lights on it. I think it looks very pretty, though. It has red and gold glass balls and a few of our family favorites on it. We just don't have room for a big tree in this apartment this year (we now have MIL's big-screen TV and her recliner in here, too). I like "simple", but when/if that house of ours gets built (still waiting on the new plans), I will have a big tree again.

I know what you mean, SPOT. I had a cup of coffee and one piece of buttered toast...I'm holding out for the good stuff. We will eat around 3 or 4.

Congratualtions on the new pup, Hazel! Belle seems to be a favorite puppy name here on the porch. I had a Belle, Maude has a Belle and someone else, too, I think. I made greenbean casserole for the first time this thanksgiving. I hope it turns out ok, but seems simple enough to make. I just have to add the french onions and heat in the oven. I can smell that turkey cooking and the parade is on...

Possum, your Granny story made me think of "Aunt Bethany" in the Christmas Vacation movie. You never said why she came out with the Pringles outburst. Why did she say it, or do you know?

I think I will talk my MIL into unloading the dishwasher for me while I take a quick nap (went to bed at 12:30 and got up way too early). I was in the kitchen all day and evening yesterday and did all the clean-up, so I am really hoping MIL will help a little with the clean-up today. I know my sister will.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my porch friends. I am SO thankful for all of you!

Boo
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68240: ...and all God's children had a Belle...hehe
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68241: Good morning, everyone, and Happy Thanksgiving! I'm up and about, have cleaned my big window (outside) and now realize I'm going to have to do the inside as well. At least the job is half done. I've gotten a few other things done too, still have more to do, but am well-rested so shouldn't be a problem. I think it was worth giving up the pay for last night's shift.

Ha! Sometimes I just amaze myself. That vitamin supplement I got for Starr has to be mixed with her food, and it comes in a stiff little plastic bag with a ziplock that doesn't work very well. In other words, it's a lot of trouble to get the 1/4 tsp out of the bag and then reseal it. So - brainstorm. I got an old saltshaker and enlarged the holes with an icepick, filled it with the vitamin powder, and there you go! Instant vitamin dispenser. I've cooked enough years that I can just look at what shakes out and know when it's the right amount. Anyway, sure is easier. Now I can just shake the powder over her food, and it's done. The package can stay sealed in the fridge.

Well, I'm off to clean my strawberries and finish the fruit compote to go over my angelfood cake. That's about all the cooking I'm doing today! Saturday will be a different story. Have a wonderful day, everyone. --Romeena
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68242: Hey, Hazel! Glad to hear you got the new puppy. I think Belle is a neat name. Boo is right, there are several by that name (my daughter has a yellow lab named Bella, that's close), but who cares? A good name is a good name, and if it fits her, go for it.

One Thanksgiving memory stands out for me. My grandparents lived with us for several years, and my grandmother did most of the cooking. She was getting a little forgetful, and one Thanksgiving she was just fussing and complaining because there were no giblets with the turkey to make the giblet gravy. She fussed and grumbled all morning, hoped that the family that got a turkey with double giblets enjoyed them, you'd think they'd have somebody checking to make sure every turkey had giblets, etc. Finally, the beautifully browned bird was brought to the table and my dad was chosen to carve. He began removing beautiful, juicy slices from the breast, and the tip of his knife entered the cavity behind the flap of neck skin. A funny look crossed his face, he probed a little deeper, and then began to laugh. Finally, he lifted the knife, and skewered on the end was the paper-wrapped package of turkey giblets! Of course, everyone roared with laughter!

My grandmother never missed a beat. Without a word, she snatched the package off the knife, disappeared into the kitchen, and in less than ten minutes she reappeared with a steaming bowl of giblet gravy! No one dared to comment, and the gravy was delicious.

Blessings, everyone. --Romeena
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68243: Nope,Boo,we never were clued in on why she came out with "Pringles Potato Chips"- one of the great mysteries,I suppose!
Ro,that's a good one- my husband said that his sister did that once-left the giblets inside the bird!
Well,heading off for Thanksgiving Dinner soon.Hope everyone enjoys theirs!
************
possum again
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68244: Hey possum,hazel,boo,Ro..glad you are home Rev..got my food packed up and headed back to work to keep all those electric stoves running for the cooking!...prayers...will holler from work...SPOT
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68245: Now we're leaning towards "Bear" for our dogs name. We better decide soon, I guess.
Thanks for keeping the lights on, Spot!
- Hazel
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68246: Well, I guess giblets have to cook too.;)
Romeena, I was imagining the grandma from The Waltons, when you spoke of yours, grumbling and fussing.
Funny story about the Pringles, Possum!

I am all by my lonesome this Thanksgiving. Well, not really ALL alone, as I am going over to my parents for the meal today. But my wife and Kai went down to Indiana to be with her mom. They went with my SIL and her daughters, since her husband and son are hunting; I guess it is kind of an all-girls Thanksgiving, as my BIL is also away, so his wife will spend the holiday with them as well.

I am trying to enjoy the solitude that I used to enjoy. Though it is hard being at home with so much of Kai around here, and for such a looonnngg weekend.

Well, I'd best get over to my parent's house. Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

-Sterling Holobyte
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68247: My MIL is the one who always makes the giblet gravy, not me. I didn't grow with it and don't like it, but Bruce loves the stuff. It is her one contribution to the thanksgiving meal, but an important one as far as Bruce is concerned. I put the giblets on to boil for her and boiled the rank stuff over, so I had that gray foam all over the stovetop (eww). I cleaned it up but she can do the rest.

Bear is a good name, too, Hazel. The reason we named our dog Belle (she was our chocolate lab who died a few years ago), is that when we first saw her as a pup and looked into those amber eyes, I thought of Belle from Disney's Beauty and The Beast. Her hair was the color of Belle's hair and her eyes the color of Belle's eyes. She was a beautiful dog.

Sorry you are alone this thanksgiving, Sterling! We are all here on the porch for you. Check in later, if you can. Bruce was in your situation last year when my sister and I took my kids and Dad to New Mexico for thanksgiving. He is really looking forward to dinner this year. At this time last year, I had a turkey in the oven in Cloudcroft, New Mexico. We were in a cozy cabin and it was beginning to snow. I was cooking dinner and keeping the wood burning stove going. What a great thanksgiving it was. I STILL need to send Ro some pictures of that trip a whole year later (shame on me).

I have been taking it easy today. Most of the work is done, turkey is still in the oven and the kids are still with my sister. The bad news is, it's 84 degrees outside! I hate it when it's warm on thanksgiving. Oh well, I have the thermostat down to 74, so it feels cool in here and I am watching a Christmas movie on ABC FAmily channel. The peace and quiet will be over soon when the family gets here. Besides my immediate family, I will have MIL, Mom and Dad, St. Susan and her husband, her son Matt and his wife and 7 yr old daughter, 9 yr old boy, and Baby Emily. It will be quite a few for this apartment but it is nice enough for the kids to be outside and I have set up a table in the backyard for them to eat.

My table is not big enough for many, so we will sit around the living room an eat, mostly.

Well, better get some last minute prep work done!

Boo
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68248: Shoowee, the sen-tance of the day around here is eatin' speaks louder than words! After we ate, we took a nap & now it's a lazy, hang out on the couch evening. Hope everyone is having a great day with family & friends. Sterling I'm sorry you're alone today, you have us there with you in spirit tho. & Spot I'm sorry you have to work on Thanksgiving, guess that's one of the "joys" of working to keep the electric runnin. Want me to send you a big ol' hunk of pecan pie with a cup of coffee? Hazel a friend of mine has Border Collies that she does competition obedience work with, one of them is just awesome to watch working, she's a liver & white BC too & they call her "Raisen" Have you ever seen a Lemon & White? Talk about breath-taking! Speaking of fur-kids, I have a 55 pound baby Bull Terrier bossing me for his evening snack, so best go get him taken care of. Back in a bit. Oh & I loved that story Ro I'm with Sterling I was picturing Grandma Walton too. How funny!
*Mavis
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68249: Mavis girl that slab of pie would be great right about now...I just finished off my second plate...quite here..had one outage and got them back on...yes pie please....Happy Thanksgiving Sterling and my friend Boo...SPOT
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68250: Whoo- what a feast! I am full and will probably just have a bowl of cereal for supper tonight! Sterling,you want some pie? I've got pecan & pumpkin,so take your pick. Spot,there's enough left over if that slab of Mavis' pie didn't fill you up.Heck,I'll just sit the pies on a table here on the Porch & you fellas can dig in.
Hope everyone is enjoying Thanksgiving & counting their blessings.
Mavis,I like the name Raisin for a brown/white Border Collie.I'd love to have a black & white one someday.All we have is a big oaf of a German Shepherd-he's rotten for Mr.Possum,I don't really mess with that wild dog!Never seen a lemon colored Border Collie! Bet that's a pretty dog.
Well,I am tired from all the turkey,so I think I'll go be a couch potato/possum. Y'all take care!
*******************
possum under a rock
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68251: Happy Thanksgiving everybody!! I think it's gonna be a long while before I even think about food again. I'm enjoying all your stories. Wish I had one to add but most of our Thanksgiving's have been pretty normal. Sorry you are alone Sterling. Just hang out here with us, we'll keep you company. Spot, you are not alone, I too had to work this morning, then went to my mom's this evening. But working on T day does have it's perks, by the end of my shift, I had about 4 plates of food people brought me cuz I had to work and they felt sorry for me ha ha!! So now we're just vegging on the couch, and my poor little dog looks like she swallowed a basketball at some point today, I have no clue where she got thanksgiving dinner at, but she obviously went mooching somewhere. Hope you all have a wonderful evening. And if I aint said it yet, I'm VERY Thankful for all my friends here. Love you all--Salty Dog
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68252: Yes, Mavis, I think today would qualify as a great day with family. Boy, did everyone EAT! My sister told me that the food was the best she ever had on Thanksgiving...makes all the work worth it all. My mom enjoyed the food so much, too, and it was just a special time together...very festive. The kids even got along! After dinner, my Dad and I sat down at the computer and looked at the pictures from our trip to New Mexico last thanksgiving and he said it made his day. When our food settled, we took a little walk together before dark...very, very special time with Dad. I pray we still have Thanksgiving ahead to spend with him (and Mom). At their age you are very thankful to have them each year. Well, the clean-up is done, Bruce and MIL are watching the Cowboys play, and all is fairly quiet. I feel a contented, deep-seated joy in my soul and I am very happy to be where I am at this moment in time.

Erin just came in and gave me a kiss and I told her I was very thankful for her. Her response was, "I am very thankful to Jesus for dying on the cross and going through all of that for us, and for the people in the bible who went through so much for us, AND for the pilgrims, and especially for Squanto"!...haha...I love it.

Well, I didn't picture Grandma Walton, I pictured Jessica Tandy bursting out with "Pringles"!

Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, SPOT. Hope you have an easy time at work. Maybe there will be a good movie on tonight for you to watch.

Raisin?...I prefer Prune or Fig. I had a friend with a spaniel named Fig.

Well, I think it is time to kick back in the recliner...

Boo
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68253: Hey there, Salty! It just occured to me that the reason I probably have few thanksgiving memories is that I worked on Thanksgiving for 10 years straight when I was working at the hospital. I always opted to have Christmas Eve off and work on Thanksgiving. I usually worked New Year's Eve, too. I was a single girl and had to make a living. Now that I don't work at the hospital, I slave away in the kitchen (at least I am with family)! :-) Happy Thanksgiving to you, too.

Boo
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68254: Hi All. A THANKFUL HEART.
Each morning as a new day breaks
I say a little prayer
And thank the Lord with grateful heart
For blessings-everywhere...
For sunlit daysand starry nights
And roses in the Spring
That captivate the senses
And cause my heart to sing...
For countless joys of Summer
And evening's Summer breeze,
Sweet moments to remember
Among treasured memories...
For Autumn's of colr
In shades of flame and gold,
For reverence at Thanksgiving,
Uniting young and old...
For famliy ties at Christmas
Where love is inertwined
With heightened hope and gladness
And prayers for all mankind.


TOM:) HAPPY THANHSGIVING.

November 27, 2008 - Msg 68255: Good evening, everyone. Sterling, I'm all alone now, too. We could get together and watch a movie, but people might talk. At my age, I can't imagine why they would, but they might.

I came home a little early from my DIL's sister's house. We all ate too much - food was wonderful - and I just wanted to get home, get in my old raggedy gown and curl up in my chair with little Starr.

Grandma Walton, hmm? Well, you're not far off. Make her a little taller and a bit heavier, and you're pretty close. Crusty and a bit gruff on the outside, soft as pudding on the inside. Tough as nails, raised a family during the Great Depression, and could have fed an army with one chicken and still have leftovers.

Pringles Potato Chips!! Now that does make one wonder. Where on earth did that come from?

I had to laugh as I was leaving the house this afternoon. There's a guy who lives across the street who has lived there as long as I've lived here. He absolutely never did anything around the house to make things look nice. Not a bush or a shrub, not a flower, no Christmas lights, nothing. His daughters used to tell our kids how much they enjoyed our Christmas decorations, because their dad would never spend the money or go to the trouble. He always had plenty of beer money, though - you never saw him without a can in his hand. Well, about ten years ago, when the girls grew up and left home, his wife left too. Said she had just had enough, and walked out, got a job and built a new life.

In a few years he moved a woman into the house and a couple of years ago, he married her. Boy, have things changed. She has flowerbeds (which he dug) and I was laughing this afternoon because there he was, teetering on a ladder, hanging Christmas lights, beer can sitting on the roof. His new wife had a whole stack of decorations waiting for him to assemble and install, and he wasn't looking too happy, but he was doing it. I guess she drives a harder bargain than his first wife did. Good for her, serves him right.

Well, I'm off to cuddle my little Starr. David will be here in the morning to get my lights up, I'll get the twinkles out in the yard around the deer, and the outside will be done. Then comes that fearsome tree. Anybody want to come help? You'd be most welcome.

Blessings, friends. --Romeena
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68256: Hey Salty..yea as yall know I work monthly rotating shifts so we never know who will fall on holidays to work but its double time and a half so good Christmas money!..my co-worker for the evenings wife just brought up MORE food..will get into it in a bit...Miss Sherrys daughter is up from south Ga and they are eat at her sons and daughter-n-laws...and once again she will have me a plate for tomorrow!..Texas whuppin up on Texas A&M....well let me get ready for shift change at 10..on will leave and another show up...im working 3 shift too tonight..well back in just a bit...possum the mail ya sent me were fun!....SPOT
November 27, 2008 - Msg 68257: Beautiful poem, Tom. You never let us down. Thank you. --Romeena
November 28, 2008 - Msg 68258: Thanks everyone! It makes things a little bit less lonely knowing friends are here on the porch.
I had some nice turkey and stuffing over at my parent's house. I also sent a picture to my wife of the corn pudding, because she loves that stuff and no one else ever makes it for her except my mom.
Well, she called me back and told me to not save any of it for her. I thought she was just talking about how it will be old by then and I didn't really understand her comment.
She then asked me if what she saw in the picture was a mouse in the corn pudding. I said no, it could be the spoon or where some was scooped out of the casserole dish, but I would check the picture.
I rechecked the picture, and it was the spoon that she saw, but sure enough, it did look like a mouse. I started laughing and showed my mom the picture.
My phone has a little feature where you can zoom in on pictures you took, and when I zoomed in, I could even see what looks like an eye, just where it would be on a mouse.
I am going to try and figure out if I can get the pic over to the computer and send it to Ro to put in the album, because it is pretty weird, but funny.

After that I put up some of the lights on the house(no, Ro, that wasn't me with the beer can on the roof;)), and then I invited my brother over to watch one of the movies we rented. He actually was over last night as well, and we watched Iron Man, and tonight we watched Blade Runner(one of my favorites), so I am not living totally like a hermit. :)

Hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving.

-Sterling Holobyte
November 28, 2008 - Msg 68259: A rat illusion in the corn pudding, eh? I look forward to seeing the picture (I think). Glad you had a good day, Sterling. I'm sure you enjoyed your mom's dinner.

I decided that I'm not putting up any lights outside this year. I do it myself every year so I am getting tired of doing everything by myself. I'm no spring chicken anymore. I find it discouraging that even though I am getting older and more tired, people are expecting more from me than they ever did. How do you put a stop to that?

Very nice poem, TOM, thank you.

Well, I am off to my nice, comfortable bed, which I am VERY thankful for. God be with those who don't have a place to sleep tonight.

Boo
November 28, 2008 - Msg 68260: Gooood Friday Morning gang!..Well im home to sleep at 6am then back at 2 for just an 8 hr shift then sat the kids and I are putting up the tree at the dog house and my huge 15ft lit crosses on my fence (will get a pic for the album),people are allready asking when Im gona get them lit,they are a site and well known around these parts each year,...Miss Sherry and her friends hit the stores at 3am this morning...NOT me...but they are some good deals out there..hey Sterling,Boo,Romeena,Asa,possum,auh20,hazel,MDC and all.well lets get back to the good stuff...breakfast menu:3 eggs your way,country ham slices,diced fried taters,grits,bisquits and gravy,coffee,milk,h2o....prayers all and good luck shopping!...SPOT
November 28, 2008 - Msg 68261: Mornin' Y'all! Good gracious,Spot,who has room for that big breakfast this morning?! Well,I guess Asa will chow down,but I'll bet the rest of us are just too full from yesterday!
Glad you liked the Thanksgiving e-mail,Spot.I was hoping to find some disco dancing turkeys or something 70's related,but I think what I sent was pretty cute.
About the "Pringles" outburst- my mom claims that Granny heard an advertisement on the radio and that's what prompted her to say "Pringles Potato Chips"- funny, nobody else heard a radio playing in the restaurant! Plus,Granny was hard of hearing!Just strange! Yes,she looked like Jessica Tandy.
I'm gonna put my tree up today too.Anybody not helping Romeena,come on over to my rock & I'll put ya to work! Boo,we're not putting our outdoor lights up this year either.Mainly because of how the light company (not Spot's light company!) jacks up our rates over Christmas.Last year we paid about $200 more on our bill-ridiculous! If Laci was still living nearby,we might put them up,but think we're going to try and save some money & just leave it alone this year.
No way would I be up at 4am in the stores today catching the Black Friday sales! Anybody out shopping this morning? As Spot said-good luck!
Well,I'd better get going around here. Y'all have a good day-love to all!
*******************
possum under a rock
November 28, 2008 - Msg 68262: Good morning, all. Drizzly out there today - not sure I want my son walking around on that wet roof putting up the lights. Will call him in a minute and let him off the hook, I think. He may want to come on, and if so I won't stand in his way, but I surely don't mind if he wants to leave it for another day. I'm not concerned about him getting a shock - he'll test the lights in the dry garage, then won't power them until they're in place and he's on the ground, but he could slip on the wet shingles.

No, I'm not out shopping. I wouldn't get up at that hour and get into that madhouse for all the bargains in town. There's nothing out there that I need or want that badly.

Spot, send some pictures of those crosses. I'll bet they're just beautiful. And Sterling, I'd love to see the "mouse" in the corn pudding. Can you email from your phone? If so, just email it to me and I think I can take it from there.

Well, gotta go feed Starr. She's poking my ankle with her cold little nose, to remind me that I haven't made it into the kitchen yet, therefore she's still hungry! Rotten little thing. But I love her. Blessings, everyone. --Romeena
November 28, 2008 - Msg 68263: It's rainy in the Dallas area, Ro? It is actually very humid and warm here, yuck. We are supposed to get some kind of a cool front late tonight. Is it in your area yet? I said I wasn't going to do outside lights, but I am probably going to change my mind. We live in a duplex and our neighbors suggested that we might do it together and just put lights on the whole thing...we'll see. Right now I have to do laundry and get ready for our trip out of town tomorrow. We have a family reunion somewhere north of Houston, so will be leaving real early in the morning. We have a youth tree-decorating party tonight, as well, and I have to get some snacks for that. No rest for the weary!

Looking forward to the pictures of the crosses, SPOT. As far as shopping on the Friday after Thanksgiving, I made that mistake ONCE. Karen and me got that idea a few years ago but we went all over the place looking for certain items on sale, but when we got there, they were already gone. It seems like alot of the stores lure people in with a great price on a popular item but they only have a few of the item to sell. Once you get there, they try to sale you something similar but at a much higher price. It wasn't worth the aggravation to me. Hope Miss Sherry has good luck, though. We are doing a very simple Christmas this year so I'm not doing alot of shopping, just trying to focus on the meaning and spirit of the holidays and spending time with friends and family.

This morning, MIL's dog (Gizzy) went poo on the rug in the bathroom and when I told her about it her response was, "Why didn't you clean it up?"..mine was, "I do everything else around here, but that's where I draw the line":-) I'm such a pleasant daughter-in-law...

Possum, I guess the Pringle mystery will always remain just that....a mystery...:)

Better finish up the coffee and send some emails.

Oh, hey SPOT, I got an email from the guy doing our new housplans and he said he should be sending us something next week...that is quicker that I thought! How are things coming with the barn?

Boo