AuburnChick's Adventures

Gosh.  Can you believe that tomorrow is Thanksgiving?  As you are reading this, I am in the process of converting a grocery cart of items into four desserts.  Be envious.  Anyhoo, let’s get to Joyce’s questions, which I am thankful for each week.  Y’all have a wonderful day with friends and family!

1.  Are you settling for something?

Yes.  That’s about all I’m going to say.

2.  It wasn’t that long ago almost every store in the US locked doors and turned out lights on Thanksgiving Day. This year many will be open all day Thursday, giving shoppers a jump start on ‘Black Friday’. In your opinion is this a good thing or a not so good thing? Will you be shopping on Thanksgiving Day?

Our world is driven by money, and it has made me very disillusioned about the holidays.  When I look around, I wonder how much most of it really matters.  Yes, it’s fun to buy and receive things, but if the buying (and selling) come to the point of messing up our priorities, I think there’s a problem.

I think I’m ready for a simpler life.  How about you?

3.  Speaking of shopping… I saw a recent article on the twelve best shopping cities in the world. In order they are-

New York, Tokyo, London, Kuala Lumpur, Paris, Hong Kong, Buenos Aires, Vienna, Dubai, Madrid, Milan, and Seoul.

Ever shopped in any of the cities listed? In which city would you most like to pull out the plastic or cold hard cash?

I have never shopped in any of the cities listed, although I did come close to shopping in Paris.  When  I was a teenager, I visited Nice, France, and I will say that shopping on the French Riviera was an amazing experience that I have never forgotten.  If I had to choose which city to shop in, I’d probably choose Milan.  I’d love to find some good Italian leather shoes!

4.  When did you last dine by candlelight?

I last dined by candlelight many years ago when my children were youngsters.  I think we ate breakfast for dinner and lit candles for fun.  It was a different sort of evening that I’ve never forgotten.

5.  What do you have too much of?

I have too much stress…and dog hair in my house…which causes even more stress.

6.  The Hunger Games…are you a fan?  Did you read the book(s)?  Will you/have you seen the movie?  Will you/have you seen Catching Fire?  No spoilers please!

I read The Hunger Games series and enjoyed them a lot.  I did not like the first movie but am eager to see the second.  I’m hoping we will get to see it as a family tonight.  Either way, the Reading Department is taking our Intensive Reading students to see it the Friday we return from Thanksgiving.  I’ve heard the second movie stays truer to the book.  As a purist, I know I will appreciate this.

7.  Share your plans for Thanksgiving Day. The who, the where, the what…especially the what! As in what’s for dinner?  If you’re one of my International visitors, whose homeland doesn’t celebrate American Thanksgiving (the whole world doesn’t ya know!), then still tell us your plans for Thursday.

The in-laws and Super Sis’s family will come to my house for the day.  I’ve been preparing Thanksgiving lunch for almost twenty years.  It began when I didn’t want to drive the nine hours back to the in-law’s house (only to drive it again the next month for Christmas).  Our menu includes a smoked turkey from Sonny’s (a local BBQ restaurant), dressing, mashed potatoes, field peas, green bean casserole, black bean soup (for me, the vegan), and bread.

For dessert, I’m planning on making (doing this as you read right now) Caramel Pecan Bars, Chocolate Chip Cake, Old Fashioned Chocolate Pudding Pie, and Pumpkin Pie.

We’ll eat around noon or so.  Come on over!

8.  My Random Thought

Chicky and Cali arrived on Monday…

I am so glad I worked hard on Saturday and Sunday lesson planning.  I got everything done and have been focusing my attention on these girls.

Chicky doesn’t get home much anymore due to having a big girl job now, so I treasure every moment we get to spend together.

Although she’s almost 22, my love for her is as raw and deep as it was when she was born.

This Thanksgiving, I continue to be so grateful for my family and friends.  I have been blessed beyond what I deserve.

Filed under: This-n-That | Tagged: Wednesday Hodgepodge |