Ha, what a great toy, Nell Jean! Thanks for the idea!

Aaawww, we have stockings for ours, too, Lzyjo!

When we were in the store we did see something else we bought. My husband needed new pants as half of his now have holes. The brand he likes was on sale. Sadly they only had one in his size.

We didn’t get sucked into anything else, but we certainly bought on Black Friday for the first time in years and weirdly there were few lines and fewer people than I remember in the past.

Well, I’m glad you got two things you really needed and didn’t have to combat lines, Daphne! I was afraid my toaster oven had died yesterday (thank God, false alarm), so I know what you mean. Yow, defrosting. I’ve never had to do that! I just toss my frozen veggies or fruits into the pan and go with it. Geez, I guess there are a few advantages to being vegetarian I’d never thought about!

I wouldn’t go because of the traffic and crowds even if there weren’t other good reasons, Deb! But I’m one of those people who wouldn’t stand in line for a half-hour to eat at the greatest restaurant on earth. Lines, crowds, and traffic jams are the ultimate annoyances. Nothing could be worth that!

Good for you, Jen! And yes, the issue of excessive consumption aside, I’d do anything to avoid being stuck in parking-lot jams and crowds, no matter what the payoff might be. It’s just not worth it!

I tell you, Lzyjo, my goal for 2010 is to see how many days I can turn into “Buy Nothing Days”! With a second goal of seeing how much stuff I already have I can give away. And, though I admit I’ve never heard of a food processor for $4, I’ve bought a really classic, totally functional Crock-Pot for $4 at a Salvation Army. Reduce, reuse, recycle, right?!!

It turned up on the table here, too, Daphne (along with some lovely sauteed green beans and plump, beautiful Brussels sprouts). I was really intending to eat some, just to see, but there was SO much good food I gave up after a few bites of stuffing, corn pudding, the sauteed beans, cranberry sauce, and potatoes, and couldn’t eat another bite! But we’re going back for leftovers today, so maybe I’ll finally taste them. Btw, if I ever manage to finish writing today’s post, it will have recipes for sweet potato biscuits and sweet potato cornbread, so save some of those leftover sweet potatoes!

FUDGE!!!! Oops, sorry, got a little carried away there. These recipes are great, Joy, you all should try them! And yes, to me the ultimate high involves sugar, fat, and salt. Hooo—ahhh!!! A very happy American Thanksgiving to you, John and the girls from all of us down here!!!

We prefer our oatmeal cookies full of goodies, too. I’ve used dried cranberries, never chocolate bits. We also like glaceed cherries and pineapple, golden raisins, walnuts, coconut, dried cherries; in any combination. Our late son prefereed plain oatmeal cookies, no additions.

I use one and a half cups of flour and 3 cups of oatmeal; not nearly as much sugar as the recipe calls for, only about half.

Pumpkin roll is so delicious, Nell Jean, you have to try one!!! There’s a wonderful local bakery, Louie’s, that makes my two favorite pumpkin desserts: pumpkin roll and a luscious, dense vanilla cheesecake with pumpkin swirled through it. Someday I have to try to recreate that!

Your oatmeal cookie suggestions all sound wonderful. I didn’t give the recipe for my non-holiday oatmeal-cookie standard, which has raisins, pecan bits, and chocolate chips, but they are wonderful. I love chewy oatmeal cookies, but there’s one time I totally agree with your son: When I dip an oatmeal cookie into hot tea or coffee, I want it to be plain and hard. Talk about a guilty pleasure!

Needless to say, my thoughts and prayers will be with you and yours this Thanksgiving. How terribly hard it must be to see that empty place at the table! At least you can be thankful for the time you had together and the memories that no amount of time can take away. God bless all of you!!!