Wednesday, November 12, 2025
It’s Hodgepodge day with Joyce!
1. What does patriotism mean to you?
I am embarrassed I forgot to mention Veteran’s Day. I thought it always fell on a Monday, and I guess I didn’t realize we were that far into November. Patriotism means being a good citizen of my community, state, and country. It means understanding that a democracy means not always getting the elected official you wanted and being respectful of who is leading.
When I travel I want to give the US a good name and not be an “ugly American”. Travel makes one more patriotic. We appreciate what we have.
2. September-October-November…your favorite fall month? Tell us why. If you live in the southern hemisphere use these months but sub spring for the word fall.
September is still pretty hot but you can feel fall coming! I guess I would say October. We have had the nicest October weather.
3. A song you love with the word thanks (or some form of that word) in the title or lyrics?
The only song I can think of without googling is “Thank you for being a friend” – lol.
After googling, I like Alanis Morisette’s “Thank U”.
4. November is National Peanut Butter Month. Are you a fan? What’s the last peanut butter bite you had? Fill in the blank: peanut butter and _____________________ . Oh, and you can’t say jelly.
I love peanut butter! My Dad loved peanut butter and made me grilled peanut butter sandwiches when I was little. Have you tried that? I think I will do that in honor of my Dad.
Peanut butter and good old fashioned saltine crackers.
5. This week’s gratitude question-What event from this past year are you most grateful for?
I guess I am most grateful for the ability to retire and to handle my mom’s estate for my sisters.
6. Insert your own random thought here.
I am mad that we didn’t pull up the horrible carpet sooner. The floor isn’t perfect but it’s so much better for now. We are putting engineered hardwood on top of the other two bedrooms, hallway, living room, and dining room on our main level. It’s already in our bedroom. It’s darker with wider planks. I bought a cheap and too small rug just for now. I am hoping we get the new flooring laid down within the next couple of months. We have pillows but Eddie Otis steals them so we keep them put away until we are sitting on the couch. He has made us minimalists!
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
I said October too and also thought of the Golden Girls theme song… even with Google I didn’t recognize any of the other songs by name.
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October was just so pretty! I know November will be milder before it stays cold so I look forward to that.
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The floor looks great! The room looks perfectly fall with the wood tones and pumpkins. I’ve not heard of grilled peanut butter. Is it like a grill cheese sandwich except with peanut butter? Have a great day!
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Thank you! I will Christmas it up here soon. It is! I will try it soon and take a photo! You too!
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I loved seeing the pics you shared of your dad for Veterans Day. October is my fave month! The hardwood floors are amazing!
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I should have also put them on the blog – doh. Thank you! Thank you!
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Oh…and the GG theme song! Great answer 🙂
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That has to be your fave!
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You know it!
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The floor looks fabulous!
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Thank you!
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Excited to see how your floors turn out! We are so overdue and I think the ones I like are exactly what you described- hope you will share some photos 🙂
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I will! Thank you so much! Now I’m really excited to get it done!
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I thought of my dad yesterday too, and Veteran’s day always reminds me of him. We had the sweetest little program and parade at my school, and I was so choked up over it all. I also think your living room looks great with that hard wood, even if it’s not in perfect condition! Isn’t it funny how we do that? Do one small thing and wonder why we waited so long? I often think this when I do projects around the house. Have a great day, friend!
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Same! I love that elementary schools are teaching patriotism. That gives me hope. It is so funny and sad! You too!
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September here always feels like an extension of the summer but then October comes and it does start to feel like Autumn.
I have never had a grilled peanut butter sandwich, I think I need to try that!
Your floor looks great! It did make me chuckle how Eddie Otis has made you a minimalist. hehehe
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Same! Well said!
I haven’t had it since I was a child but I’m gonna try it, too!
Haha – it’s funny and sad!
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Your living room looks great with that hardwood floor. I know that pictures don’t show all the imperfections. You are getting a lot of home improvement done around your place. You must love that 🙂
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Thank you! Yes, I do! I feel like the house has been neglected for some time!
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I immediately thought of the golden girls song too but I went a tad bit “deeper” in the one I shared for the meme post. 🙂
LOVE your living room…..we have replaced carpeting in our family room as well as the living room and went with bamboo. I LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Stone in the kitchen, tile in the upstairs bathroom and the vinyl laminate (that i want replaced come early spring with tile) in the guest bathroom. We have new carpeting in the upstairs hallway/bedrooms. My fave though is the bamboo.
Enjoyed your answers!! My dad used to always eat PB and saltines!
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I wish we had more fall-like weather in the months of October and November. It was 50 degrees on Monday and we will hit mid 80s today. Grilled PB & J sandwiches are so good. The floors look great. Have a wonderful day!
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spending time overseas is a double edge sword when it comes to patriotism. I live overseas the majority of the year, and can appreciate the freedom to criticize elected officials and the government. The bad thing is that there is no government provided medical care and insurance companies are allowed to bleed people dry, the US is the only developed country on earth to do this…shameful. I got cancer treatment for free here in Saudi as a legal resident, I have no medical insurance in my native US so I probably would have ended up another statistic.
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Yes, that makes sense. There are always both the good and the bad with all countries. Yes, the US has a long way to go with our insurance and medical system in general. I am so sorry about your cancer and glad that you received great care. I know that socialized medicine isn’t perfect either, though. I am not sure if that is what Saudi medical care is. I have heard stories of not being able to choose providers and waiting insane amounts of time to be treated from Canadians. My husband’s aunt in Germany was not able to choose what type of cancer care she received there. Thank you for commenting. I agree that it is shameful that we have people who can’t afford care or even food here. It’s not right.
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I have not heard of grilled peanut butter. My husband loves peanut butter on toast, which sounds similar. I loved your description of patriotism and also about respecting the office of an elected leader even if you didn’t vote for them. I just don’t remember so much hostility until the past 10 years…maybe it is social media’s influence.
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Yes! The pb gets heated and melty. Thank you. I agree. You take the bad with the good of democracy but I still believe in it.
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I have never eaten a grilled peanut butter sandwich before. My stepmom used to eat peanut butter toast a lot . . .it is good, too!!
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Same concept! The peanut butter gets a bit heated and melty!
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Great answers and I know you are thankful to not have the work responsibilities in addition to selling the house this fall.
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