Today, January 19th, is a great day. It is National Popcorn Day. This is a wonderful day that we can all enjoy and nip our teeth into – literally. I know my kind loves corn and I know that little piglet in the Hotel Thompson loves the popped corn. Some people believe that the origin of this day is somehow connected to the Super Bowl. I guess it kind of makes sense since they’re all kinds of bowl games on right now. I know Bacon’s daddy is in football heaven.
Let me tell you story about Bacon and his love of popcorn. That little oinker can be all the way in his bedroom playing around and watching his television. But the moment that he hears the corn kernels hitting the pan in the kitchen, he totally loses it and runs through the hallways skidding into the kitchen. He will sit on the floor in the middle of the kitchen and watch his mommy as she pops the corn over the stove – you know old fashioned like. When it starts to pop-pop-pop, he always walks over and hits his mom in the ankles with his snout wanting some. He knows he’s going to get some but he doesn’t have a lot of patience that little guy. And then when he does get some, he sounds like a little chomping machine. He’s a hoot.
Mom’s ready for tonight. She has her costume complete. She even went and got her a pedicure. She’s ready for the big time.
Are you going out tonight? Are you dressing up? Do tell – I need details my friend.
Us – we will probably visit Nana up the street and perhaps the neighbors. Then it’s back to the Haunted Hotel Thompson – snorts. That’s where we will pop some corn, watch some scary movies and then shake/shiver together in fright.
Whatever you do, ya’ll be careful tonight and have some fun!
I gotta share a picture from mom/dad’s trip to Australia. One morning, mom/dad and Fozziemom/Fozziedad were staying at the Oscars on the Yarra in the Yarra Valley – beautiful place! Magnificent suite with two bedrooms, a common room, kitchenette and a back deck. So breathtaking! Well mom sleeps with a fan on for white noise sound. The next morning, mom wakes up and sees the next to her on the bed. OMP – wouldn’t you have squealed with piggy fright? Yep, that’s dad all bundled up like Casper. Shaking my head snorting – those peeps of mine. Just wait until I tell you more about their trip.
And years ago, mom made a movie about all of us anipals here at the Hotel Thompson for Halloween. I thought I would share with you again. Have fun – don’t be too scared – snorts and oinks. Make sure you watch until the end to see who is the most afraid here at the Hotel Thompson.
Today, January 19th, is a great day. It is National Popcorn Day. This is a wonderful day that we can all enjoy and nip our teeth into – literally. I know my kind loves corn and I know that little piglet in the Hotel Thompson loves the popped corn. Some people believe that the origin of this day is somehow connected to the Super Bowl. I guess it kind of makes sense since they’re all kinds of bowl games on right now. I know Bacon’s daddy is in football heaven.
Let me tell you story about Bacon and his love of popcorn. That little oinker can be all the way in his bedroom playing around and watching his television. But the moment that he hears the corn kernels hitting the pan in the kitchen, he totally loses it and runs through the hallways skidding into the kitchen. He will sit on the floor in the middle of the kitchen and watch his mommy as she pops the corn over the stove – you know old fashioned like. When it starts to pop-pop-pop, he always walks over and hits his mom in the ankles with his snout wanting some. He knows he’s going to get some but he doesn’t have a lot of patience that little guy. And then when he does get some, he sounds like a little chomping machine. He’s a hoot.
Welcome my friends to SPOTLIGHT THURSDAY. This is the time that I will introduce you to one of my fellow anipals so you can get to know them better. Some of them, you may already know. We hope that you enjoy this series!
Name: Sophie
Age: About 2 years old (a lady shouldn’t tell her age, right?)
What were your first thoughts when you met your new parents? FOOD! I get real cat food! My mama found me outside a movie theater and I had been surviving on popcorn and whatever else I could find for the first 6 months of my life.
Who do you have wrapped around your paws more – mom or dad – and why? DAD! I love to lay on his chest and he sometimes lets me groom his hairy chin (I guess they call it a beard). I’m pretty sure I’m his favorite kitty in the whole wide world. He loves the way I coo and chirp when I want attention. I loaf on his chest all the time and he’s putty in my paws.
What was the defining moment when you knew you were in your forever home? .When my big brother Dexter cuddled and groomed me for the first time. I’ve been his shadow ever since and I love him very much.
What’s the biggest misconception that humans think about you? About me personally? That I’m a big foodie. Yes, I like food. A lot. But really I just get so excited when I see food because I didn’t have it handed to me for the first part of my life. But I rarely ever finish my plate. And my big belly? That’s just that pouchy thing that some kitties get. But I don’t keep food in it.
What has been your biggest “Oh no, now I’ve done it” moment so far in your home? Probably the time I trapped my head in a Kleenex box. Luckily the Pops put the camera down after snapping a few shots to help me out.
Hope you enjoyed meeting my friend – check back next week for another Spotlight edition!
Hello sweet friends and welcome to another great edition of Travels in the South. This past weekend, my mom/dad had to go to Alabama for a quick trip. While they were gone, they stopped at a restaurant called Top O’ The River in Gadsden, Alabama. Now this restaurant has special meaning to mom/dad. You see it was over 20 years ago that dad and his family ate here. They then told mom about it and mom and her family ate here. But mom/dad together have never been here. So going to this restaurant was kind of like a coming home if you will.
When mom/dad arrived at the restaurant, there was not a single available parking space in the entire lot. It was barely 5:00pm and there were 100’s of cars. Mom says this is a sure sign of good food to come. Finally mom spotted a parking space, they parked and entered the restaurant. That’s when they saw lots of people waiting in line. Mom/dad knew they were going to be in for a long wait so they put their name in and started looking at the menu. You can see the menu here. Amazingly, mom/dad might have waited less than 15 minutes and their number was called. Mom/dad were ecstatic to say the least. There were lots of big parties here that night so thank goodness it was just mom/dad.
Mom/dad got a fantastic seat at a booth next to the windows which was what – overlooking the top o’ the river. Cute huh? And what a view they had that you can see from this picture. Beautiful and serene, lots of green trees and there were some ducks swimming around in the water. Can you imagine what these trees are going to look like when Fall finally decides to get here?
The sweet little waitress came to the table and mom asked her what was good to get. She said that there platters were awesome and way more food than one can eat… although the platters say for one. So mom/dad said why not and went with the platter to share. Boy, were they surprised when the waitress came back with some starters in the form of cole slaw and cornbread.
If you have never had southern cornbread, you are in for a treat. Cornbread is one of mom’s specialties and dad says she makes the best. In fact here in the south, a good cornbread will get you a good man… so says mom/dad – snorts. But mom said this cornbread was fantastic! Cornbread is made with cornmeal, milk, eggs, some people add a little sugar although mom doesn’t, and this cornbread had corn and jalapeno peppers. This cornbread was served with a delicious creamy cole slaw and sliced onions on the side. Mom/dad said they could just eat these starters and be just fine. That’s country folks my friends – simple food for a fantastic experience.
But mom/dad ate all they could and before they knew it, it was time for the main course. Remember the platter was suppose to be for ONE person? Well here is that platter in it’s glory. There is boneless catfish fillets, popcorn shrimp, fried shrimp, chicken fingers, hush puppies and french fries. Doesn’t that platter look simply amazing! And the size of it compared to dad’s hand. Remember, the platter was for one person. There is no way! Mom/dad were so glad they decided to share the meal.
They ate to their hearts desire both of them afterwards being so full and happy. That’s what this experience was all about. Enjoying each other, sharing a wonderful experience and just enjoying the time and scenery. For a while, time stopped and mom/dad sat for a while and just relaxed for a bit away from everything. And of course, you all know my daddy. He’s never met anyone that he can’t talk to. Today was no exception.
On the way out of the restaurant, he met the restaurant mascot, Mr. Catfish at the exit door. They had a moment to discuss politics, the secret recipe for those wonderful catfish fillets and dad got directions home… that is after they visited the back deck of the restaurant for one last final view.
And that final view is what I leave you with today my friends. A reflection of a great meal with some wonderful memories made. And I have to ask you. When was the last time that you had a dinner with family that you just sat in comfort with each other, laughed and just let everything stop for a moment. Enjoy my friends.
At night, I run around the house when mom gets home from the worky place. Last night was an exceptional fun time. After dinner and washing the dishes, mom prepped my food for the next two weeks. This is *always* a fun time for me. I get to be her sous chef while she works with my food. 🙂 You don’t want to miss this quality mommy piggy time!
She starts off washing my seedless grapes. Those things are sinfully delicious. She pats them dry and sometimes one or two may fall on the floor right in front of me. Funny how that happens. She pulls all of the magnificent grapes off of their stems, puts them in one of my containers and puts it in the magical food box. Last night, one of them rolled under the kitchen table. Mom was laughing because all she could see was my little butt shaking in the air trying to go for the grape. I’m glad I was such amusement for her.
Then mom preps my carrots. Mom says that I *must* have been a bunny in a former life because I LOVE my carrots. They are also scrumptious. She cuts all of them in tiny matchbox sticks and puts them in my giant ziplock baggie. Of course, I get to try some, you know for quality purposes. These also go in the magical food box.
Then mom does my salad mix. I’ve never seen such huge heads of lettuce before. She cuts it all up in tiny bite size pieces and puts it in two of my giant ziplock bags. And, of course, for quality purposes I get to try some. I have to make sure that it tastes good, right? Again, this goes in the magic food box.
Lastly, mom fixes my favorite… okay all of them are my favorites. My favorite though is the personal size watermelon. Thud. I really do love me some watermelon – from the juice, the melon and the rind. They are divine. She cuts all of my melon up, including the rind, and puts it in two of my canisters. I of course get to try it… for quality assurance. I did see dad in there last night trying it as well for quality assurance. See, everyone wins during prep night. She puts this in the big magic food box and she’s done for the next two weeks.
Of course, I eat other things as well but these are all snack and supplements to my piggy chow. There is the occasional apple mom cuts up for me. And then there is popcorn night! Who doesn’t like popcorn night? I can hear that corn popping on the stove all the way in my bedroom. I’ll come running down the hall to get to the kitchen on popcorn night.
After all of this quality assurance during prep night, I disappeared while mom was cleaning the kitchen. She finally found me though. I was curled up hiding in my blankie on the couch. My belly was so nice and warm… and full.
Okay my friends. Let’s discuss weird food combinations. What foods do you mix together that *you* think is so good but somebody else would say eeeww nasty?
I’ll start – snorts with piggy laughter. When mom/dad go to the movies, which is infrequent but does happen, mom has to have popcorn while dad is a huge nacho fan. Dad will dip his nacho in his cheese and then put the cheesy nacho in mom’s popcorn to pick up some popcorn before eating it. Can you see his nacho in mom’s popcorn. Disgusting huh? I haven’t seen such a disgrace since peanut butter bumped into chocolate.. oh wait a minute. I do like that combination.
Then there’s mom who when she fixes tuna for sandwiches, cuts up green olives with the pimentos and throws it into the mix.
Another thing that mom does – when she fixes a peanut butter sandwich, she crumbles up plain potato chips and puts inside of the sandwich. Yep, inside of the sandwich. Shakes piggy head. Unbelievable huh?
So what do your humans fix that seems weird. Please share. My humans can’t be the only strange ones.
I’m not sure what the weather is like in your part of the world but here in the deep south, it’s h.o.t. I mean really, really hot. As in are we living in hell right now hot. I just want to make sure you understand what I’m talking about. I’m saying it’s so hothere that mom does her hair in the morning, walks outside and it becomes wet and falls hot. So hot here that you sweat in places you didn’t think you could get sweat around. It’s so hothere that you can put corn kernels on the asphalt and it will make popcorn. Okay you get it? Mother Nature, please bring me some cool air. I’ll take winter anytime. You?
Happy Popcorn Lover’s Day! Today is a great day – many of us love popcorn. Today is the day to pop yourself some – maybe even share it with a friend. When eaten just plain (like Bacon likes it), it can be good for you. It’s all the extras that the humans like to add to it like buttery, salt, maybe some pepper flakes, cheddar cheese, or barbeque flakes. Do you add anything to your corn?
.How do your humans make popcorn? In the microwave, over the oven the old fashioned way or do they have a ‘popcorn maker’? However they make it, tell them to make extra to share with you. I know Bacon will have his share today.
And do you know the origin of Popcorn Lover’s Day? This day was created on January 6, 2012 by Bob Matthews of Rochester, New York. It was he and his wife’s favorite snack and they have it on most Thursdays. Thus, Popcorn Lover’s Day is celebrated always on the second Thursday of March.
Today, January 19th, is a great day. It is National Popcorn Day. This is a wonderful day that we can all enjoy and nip our teeth into – literally. I know my kind loves corn and I know that little piglet in the Hotel Thompson loves the popped corn. Some people believe that the origin of this day is somehow connected to the Super Bowl. I guess it kind of makes sense since they’re all kinds of bowl games on right now. I know Bacon’s daddy is in football heaven.
Let me tell you story about Bacon and his love of popcorn. That little oinker can be all the way in his bedroom playing around and watching his television. But the moment that he hears the corn kernels hitting the pan in the kitchen, he totally loses it and runs through the hallways skidding into the kitchen. He will sit on the floor in the middle of the kitchen and watch his mommy as she pops the corn over the stove – you know old fashioned like. When it starts to pop-pop-pop, he always walks over and hits his mom in the ankles with his snout wanting some. He knows he’s going to get some but he doesn’t have a lot of patience that little guy. And then when he does get some, he sounds like a little chomping machine. He’s a hoot.
Miniature pot bellied pig and friends - Bacon, Houdini, Hemi and all of the Rock Clan with Journalist Rocky the Squirrel all out looking for adventures from the Hotel Thompson.
Journalist Rocky the Squirrel here –
yourself some – maybe even share it with a friend. When eaten just plain (like Bacon likes it), it can be good for you. It’s all the extras that the humans like to add to it like buttery, salt, maybe some pepper flakes, cheddar cheese, or barbeque flakes. Do you add anything to your corn?
.How do your humans make popcorn? In the microwave, over the oven the old fashioned way or do they have a ‘popcorn maker’? However they make it, tell them to make extra to share with you. I know Bacon will have his share today.
Let me tell you story about Bacon and his love of popcorn. That little oinker can be all the way in his bedroom playing around and watching his television. But the moment that he hears the corn kernels hitting the pan in the kitchen, he totally loses it and runs through the hallways skidding into the kitchen. He will sit on the floor in the middle of the kitchen and watch his mommy as she pops the corn over the stove – you know old fashioned like. When it starts to pop-pop-pop, he always walks over and hits his mom in the ankles with his snout wanting some. He knows he’s going to get some but he doesn’t have a lot of patience that little guy. And then when he does get some, he sounds like a little chomping machine. He’s a hoot. 
Piglove 