A Non-Traditional Hodgepodge

Hello, dear friends.  The day is finally here.  Both girls are arriving for Thanksgiving, God willing.  I haven't told the pups yet, I don't want to come home to a house torn apart due to their excitement. 

Our #1 will be the first to arrive.  The Mister is scheduled to pick her up at the airport, and I will meet them for lunch in Beantown.   Our #2 arrives later, and the Mister again picked the short straw and is assigned to airport duty.  
I'm sure the airport won't be in the least bit busy today.


You know the drill... if it's Wednesday, it's time for Hodgepodge.

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 2PM, etc.?  Have you ever celebrated Christmas or Thanksgiving away from hearth, home, and family?  How did that feel?

We have lived far away from relatives for almost all of our family life.  Over the years, we have established our non-traditional traditions.
  

The girls usually catch up on their beauty sleep on Thanksgiving morning. 

We then sit down for a big breakfast that includes 
 my world famous, homemade coffee cake.
The recipe has been passed down for generations.
We then go to a movie which had been voted on and debated weeks before.

That evening, we indulge in 'tails and d'oeuvres, overstimulate the hyperactive hooligans, and supervise the Mister's cooking which is whatever meal that won the vote the week before.  

Btw... we never have turkey because none of us like it.

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?

It is extremely easy for me to ask for help, even when my requests are welcomed with a disappointed frown and a subtle roll of the eyes.  
It's lucky that I'm not sensitive.

It's a good thing for me to ask and not so good for the guy who has to help me.  He spent a total of nine hours setting up my new computer last weekend.

I told him that it's good for him -
it builds character.

Enter:  another eye roll.

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

We have an abundance of quirky kitchen utensils and complicated gadgets.  

I have no idea what most of them do.

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

Besides my family and friends and our good health that we have been blessed with this year,

the smallest thing that I'm thankful for is:

Radiators.

When I looked at our house for the first time, I could practically see my breath, the house was so cold.  I then spotted the radiators.  The agent explained that the owner was very frugal and that was the reason for the arctic chill.  I told the Mister that I didn't believe her and that I thought that the house had a major (big bucks) problem with the heating system.  

The inspection proved me wrong.  
All was well with the heating in the house.

So, on this cold, rainy morning I am sitting in my home which is as warm as toast and very grateful for our radiators.

And the biggest thing that I am thankful for is:

that I'm not married to him.

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

6.  State your own random thought here.

Have you heard about the new craze tiny food?  I watched this segment last Sunday on my favorite TV show, and I was enthralled.

While I watched, a fabulous idea popped into this old noggin of mine.  What about the tiny food diet?  I could eat this entire cake and not gain a pound.

Will you come to my book signings when I become a world-famous diet cookbook author?

I hope that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  When I count my blessings this year, my blogging friends are in my top five right before Bravo TV, Photoshop, and Whole Foods Caramel & Sea Salt Gelato.  

Until next time...

Chowdah and Chili got a surprise in the mail yesterday.  Beemie, who writes the blog, A Milkman's Daughter, sent them several darling bandanas.  Beemie has an Etsy shop called Beemie Bags which not only carries the doggie accessories but also adorable clothes for American Girl dolls.