Are you familiar with the fable, "Stone Soup"?

It seems that various countries carry their own version - I'll make mine a little simpler.

A hungry traveler passing through a village received no compassion or aid from vendors or passers-by.

He came to a clearing with a creek and set up 'camp' for the night (easier to try to go to sleep than think about your growling stomach). All he carried was a large kettle, but he had matches and a small knife in his pocket.

The man scavenged for branches to start his little campfire, then got it going. He scooped water from the creek to fill his kettle, and placed it over the fire. In another pocket he removed a smooth stone, which he placed into the kettle.

Just then a man came along with his wares from the village market. He stopped and asked our traveler what he was doing, and was told he was making stone soup; it just needed some flavoring or other that he was not able to find out here.

The man offered a large potato from his bag, and sat down while our traveler pulled his knife from the pocket where he kept his matches, He diced the potato and added it to the kettle.

Just when they started a conversation a woman came through, wondering what the two men were doing... she offered an onion from her basket, which the traveler diced and added to the pot as well.

Before long, the traveler had also added carrots, lamb shanks and some herbs.

Lo and behold if a vendor from the village did not come along, with bowls and spoons among his wares (talk about a sight for sore eyes; I was beginning to wonder!)

They conversed and all went home with warm, full bellies, and our traveler went to sleep in his camp knowing that he had (leftover) breakfast in the morning.

It's that time of year again... time for giving, sharing and enjoying the company of others. All I have to offer is a large kettle, some matches, a knife and my trusty stone. As you pass through, please feel free to sit and chat awhile... and if you can spare a morsel from your wares, the soup will be better for it. What can you offer my kettle? Thank you.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING (gobble, gobble)!!!