Life...A Changing Kaleidoscope November 2023

November 2023 Issue

“Thanksgiving is an emotional time. People travel thousands of miles to be with people they see only once a year. And then discover once a year is way too often."- Johnny Carson

Do you know what a group of the following animals is called? Q: Cobra

Q: Colt

Q: Cow

Q: Coyote

SEE ANSWERS AT BOTTOM OF PAGE.

Hello Friends,Ah, Thanksgiving. The day of hearth and home.Known to all of us is the story of the Pilgrims in Plymouth, Massachusetts, who feasted for three days in thanks with the Wampanoag people in 1621.Can you imagine –– three days of stuffing yourself? I don’t know why I have this nagging feeling some slick Pilgrim guys increased their land holdings while the Wampanoag guys were in a turkey induced sleep coma.

I think back over many Thanksgiving celebrations, and nothing really stands out in my mind –– except for the ones which we kindly referred to in our family as “unusual.” Our best ones were the big family dinners hosted by Tante and Uncle Bep at Beaver Dam Lake.Every family should have one member like my Tante –– an Aunt Mame who taught me how to play blackjack for money, let me read Gone With The Wind when I was 12 and kept a pitcher of Manhattans in the fridge on her bridge club afternoons with the “girls.” Thanksgiving Day extension tables would be set up in the living room at Beaver Dam, to accommodate everyone. Tante would already be in the steamed-up kitchen, turning out food from soup to dessert for over 15 without blinking an eye. Well, she did have her straight up martini to help.One year, my cousin Irma, who had six kids, announced it was easier to hold the dinners at her house rather than travel with the brood, so it was off to Westport. This was the first time I encountered a separate “children’s table,” which I found demeaning and way beneath me. I mean, sitting with a pack of crayons to color napkins –– come on!Finally, Thanksgiving found its way to Aunt Mary’s house on Rte. 39, in CT. Now this set up meant Tante, Aunt Mary, and my Aunt Irene –– three women in the kitchen. Need I say more?It would start as a mild discussion about the turkey. Breast side up, or down, cover with gauze, not –– then the verbal games began. Tante was always the first to leave the battle scene, muttering, “It’s going to be dry.”Then there was the year Aunt Mary invited friends Roland and his wife, who were circus trapeze performers. Little did we know that they would bring Bebala their monkey, who was accustomed to eating at the table.That dinner was outstanding –– I’ll spare the details.Happy Thanksgiving. See you in December with our special holiday issue ❄️🎄🎁Cheers!“Be the Goat in a World of Sheep.” 

YOU CAN CHAT WITH ME.JUST CLICK BELOW. I ALWAYS ANSWER.

VETERANS DAY, NOVEMBER 11Thank you to all membersof our military, in all branches, past and present, living, and dead.We salute you and thank you for your service.

I’m always trying to make this newsletter more interesting.

Please check out the box at the end. Thank You For Your Help.

Cat TipsFor those of us who are cat lovers, here are some tips —Learning to “speak” cat.Smart food selection.

Shester, Doctor Ada’s beautify Tabby in Chicago.

Winter 🥶 Our Songbirds Need Our Help

Winter is a difficult time for birds. Days are often windy and cold with even colder nights. Vegetation has withered, seeds have been consumed and most insects have died or are dormant. Finding food is a challenge for our nonmigratory songbirds to survive. This is the time of year when bird lovers can roll out the carpet and support our feathered friends with a little bit of help.

Art by Stephanie Piro

Turkey TetrazziniWhat to do with the leftover bird? There are just so many turkey sandwiches you can eat. How about this creamy Turkey Tetrazzini for a yummy pasta change.

Nancy's Quick Tips

Aluminum foil doesn’t come in a dull and shiny side on purpose, it’s a result of the manufacturing process.Testing shows both sides behave the same when used to cook food.If you are stuck on a deserted island and need to signal an airplane, using the shiny side will increase your chances.  For cooking purposes, both sides are the same.

As life on earth propels forward, we face complex issues like global warming, A.I. ethics, deaths of despair (suicide), and the unknown. What better time of the year to come together, despite differences, and be open to all viewpoints ­— willing to agree to disagree with a smile.

Check out my new and improved website!nancyhungerford.com

A: A quiver of cobras

A: A rag of colts

A: A kine of cows (12 cows are a flink)

A: A band of coyote

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