Thank you, Raffey. I can always depend on you for a thoughtful answer. Now, here's where YOU helped me. I found a recipe for green beans with ham, which requires making stock out of two ham hocks. You have convinced me to go to an actual butcher shop in the area (which will definitely not be half the price) rather than the local grocery store, for ham hocks. I try not to shop at Whole Foods, because I don't like to add a penny to Jeff Bezos's considerable purse, but do you think Whole Foods might have acceptable ham hocks?

Thanks for the lesson about pumpkins. I attempted pumpkin pie several decades ago from an actual pie pumpkin, but I still ended up with a stringy mess. Purple yams are the jam, aren't they? They're delicious, and I know a chef who makes cookies with them. I'd consider them for a pie, but it might look a little off putting.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours as well.