Whatever Wednesday - Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day.  As I write this post, there is so much uncertainty for folks - food, benefits, jobs, flights, weather.   The list is  huge.  Life seems exceptionally wonky this year. We're dealing with our super seniors - Ray's folks - and health issues.  87 and 89 are tough! 

So, I'm not sure where we are  celebrating and when. (could be at the senior center)

  We are fortunate and filled with gratitude for what we do have.  

 I hope  this post finds you healthy, surrounded by family and/or friends.  Or at peace with a book and streaming a Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.  If you are volunteering or running a Turkey Trot - I hope it's a lovely day and that smiles abound. 

I am grateful for blog world.  Take  care all.  Blessings.  

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Be Kind on Thanksgiving

 Happy Thanksgiving everyone

Levi turned one a few weeks ago.  Is he ready for turkey?

Whatever Wednesday - Whet the Appetite for Thanksgiving

 That time again. I whisked away Halloween on November 1st, and whipped up some Thanksgiving cheer

Oh man - Memories from 2011 - Dad, me, and Lori in Delaware.  We went to a local beach park for a walk after a feast.   Sadly, Dad is gone now.   But I'm grateful forever that he  was my dad.   We  were so lucky to have him  on this earth. 

 

Forget diet in  November and December.   Moderation...yes.....?

A past turkey a la Ray - he's the best baster

I wish everyone a Happy  Thanksgiving weekend.  I  hope there's some gratitude and good attitude. 

I'm lucky - the Faries gang are all convivial and everyone will contribute to a feast.  Very fortunate and blessed. 

Cheers my blog friends. 

Let's have a week of Thanksgiving

I am actually in PA visiting Dad and family.  This is a past Texas turkey. Ray knows how to get that Norman Rockwell look. I hope he and his crew have a good  feast

Gobble Gobble

The annual fireplace decor

 Thanksgiving  time means Lori birthday time. Here she is from 2021 with Dad. We'll celebrate her on Friday. 

I hope everyone has a safe, healthy, and enjoyable Thanksgiving week. 

Grateful

 I am grateful for Ray

 My Dad - he's currently at a rehab place after having some emergency surgery. OMG. He's making progress - needs his strength back in his legs so he can get back in his home.

 My sister - she turns 50 on Sunday and is our sunshine

David and Cherie are gems. David does SO, SO much for my Dad. 

I am also grateful for my friends and extended family. When I put the world in perspective, I am very fortunate.

so, Happy Thanksgiving to blog world.  I hope this season finds you in good health and hanging with friends and/or family.

Take care everyone

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all

I wish everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving. Whether you travel afar or hang at your hearth, may your heart and stomach be full.

But if you are hungry, come by at 3 pm for desserts and Cowboy football. I bet it will be noisy at our house.

Enjoy and take care

Pre-Thanksgiving Tablescape

Filler post. I have some reviews to write, but I get home from work and do NOT want to think

Forgive me.  As soon as Halloween was over, I cleared the dining table for the big 80 birthday.
Then last Sunday, I cleared the table for my Thanksgiving 2016 tablescape........

Oh yeah - we have the spirit, how about you?

We are not hosting Thanksgiving (Praise the Lord).  We are in line to bring fruit salad to Ray's sister's place.  They are expecting up to 25 people.  Holy turkey.......that's a lot of folks.  

Story to be continued in one week.   We just don't want the Cowboys to be turkeys - dang, they are on a roll.........

Post Thanksgiving Filler

 Consider this lazy filler. I've been enjoying this "long" weekend.  Here's Ray's turkey - gloriously tasty. It was Norman Rockwell perfect. He also did a ham with a lovely glaze. I did clean up later after we hosted eighteen people.  Plenty of food, laughs, and good cheer.  We are a very fortunate family and all get along. I am grateful

Remember my post about the store REI promoting the fact that they were closed on Black Friday so their employees could enjoy the great outdoors. Excellent idea and promotion. Now that I look back at their ads, they only featured sunny skies. Hmmm.

Here I am outdoors on Friday - now what??  So far - Thursday thru Saturday - we've had six inches of rain.  That's a lot in a short period of time. I'm not keen on a sloshy hike. It's rather cold too.

The heck with the great outdoors. Ray and I did our duty as Americans to help the economy - armed with coupons we spent an hour at Kohl's and got some darn good bargains. Then we parked our butts on the couch and watched television - sports, movies, netflix, whatever mind candy was available.

and we ate leftovers..........see that turkey picture above. This story has come full circle.

Now time for a nap

Black Friday Boldness Coming Right Up

Now that Halloween is over, we can contemplate Thanksgiving and then the super crazy season.
The Dallas Morning News story title says it all "REI's gutsy Black Friday idea: We're Closed"

REI's quote is "You shop, we're going outdoors."

The outdoor merchandise and travel store is giving their employees the day off and paying them to go outdoors, use their gear, and have fun with their families or friends.

Wow and good for them.

I admit I enjoy shopping. However, the whole Christmas season shopping season has expanded into Thanksgiving Day itself and become insane. Frankly, for me I have a certain amount of money I plan to spend on a certain amount of people and there are plenty of shopping days before Christmas for me to spend that dough. I assume that holds true for most folks.

With online shopping, more and more people aren't even stepping into real box stores. It's all about sitting in your pajamas and clicking a screen. It's up to the USPS, UPS, or Fed-X to deliver. Talk about lazy genius.

So, I hope that the Seattle retailer spurs a trend. Let's backpedal from this huge push for Black Friday insanity. Let's reflect on the meaning of Thanksgiving and enjoy our time with families and friends.

Let's get outdoors!   (A waddle around the block will do us good after our huge meals)

Thanksgiving Week - Sunday

Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the  circumstances of economic injustice which makes philanthropy necessary - Martin Luther King, Jr.

The most excellent of alms is that of a man of small property, which he has earned by labor, and from which he gives as much as he is able - Muhammad


Thanksgiving into Christmas is a huge time of charitable giving. I admit to getting a bit jaded from every request in the mail, etc.  However, there are many folks who live in dire circumstances and do need help. The spirit of Christmas is in giving.

Thus we transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas and open our hearts to the season.

I'll give a Sunday "Amen" to this post.

Thanksgiving Week - Saturday

You are stuffed from Thursday's meal and Friday's leftovers 

Go take a walk

Thanksgiving Week - Friday

Greed for ownership has taken such a hold of us that we seem possessed by wealth rather than to possess it - Pliny the Younger

Black Friday. Today officially kicks off the Christmas shopping season. Retailers and advertisers jam the message down our throats. The whole economy depends on the almighty credit card and where and how it is used.

Sales. Sales. Sales.

I admit I might venture to a store or two, watch the frenzy, stand in a line, use a coupon, and return home weary, but satisfied with my bag of loot.

I shall be grateful for the little things today - look for kids excited to visit Santa Claus, see friends and family bonding over a gift decision, treat myself to a fancy chocolate.

Step back and contemplate the month ahead. Fix a cup of cocoa, sit for a second, and breathe.

Thanksgiving Week - Thursday

O Lord my God, I will give thanks to thee forever - Psalms 30:12

I am not a religious person, but I think it is good to give a general thanks for what we have.
On Thanksgiving Day, Ray and I shall head to Kevin's house where fourteen people shall gather, partake of a bountiful meal, enjoy each others' company, laugh, and cheer Cowboys football.

I hope the same for my blog friends. I wish you Thanksgiving good cheer, health, and happiness. I'm grateful for our writing universe.

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Week - Wednesday

Most People return small Favors, acknowledge middling ones, and repay great ones with Ingratitude -
Benjamin Franklin 1751

Old Ben knew that folks hate to eat humble pie. Indeed, it's easy to proclaim gratitude for generalities. I'm grateful for liberty, nature, and a blanket.  Depending on the situation, it's tougher to be grateful to someone, especially if you caused your own grief. Best to swallow the pride, say thanks, and move on.

Thanksgiving Week - Tuesday

Got no check books, got no banks
Still I'd like to express my thanks -
I got the sun in the mornin'
and the moon at night

Irving Berlin -  1946

A song in the heart can sustain a mood. Try to be down when the Pharell song "Happy" kicks in. Not possible.  I am grateful for music. 

Whistle a happy tune today

Thanksgiving Week - Monday

Gratitude is the sign of noble souls - Aesop

I am not noble, but I am grateful for my life.

Health, hearth, and family.

Don't have to ask for more

Thanksgiving - Soak in the Small Moments

 First, in regards to Thanksgiving, there's no better place to be (besides home) than New York City. My friends Linda and Cecil are visting there this week and thus, here's a behind the scenes shot as the huge parade balloons are aired up. SpiderMan will float high above crowds in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The final float signals the official arrival of Santa Claus and the Christmas season.

Now, a Thanksgiving reflection. Last week as I strolled around the arboretum, I stopped and actually studied the nature around me. I was orignally focused on the babbling brook, but then realized that this tree was fantastic. I don't know how many times I've probably walked by this tree, glanced at it, and didn't think about it. This time I focused on this majestic, gnarled bark, character of a tree.

With Thanksgiving, I usually post my gratitude for family, friends, good health, and general life. And I am grateful for so much bounty - I'm truly fortunate. But this Thanksgiving, in the holiday rush, I want to make a special point of truly looking around me, and savoring the small moments.

Thankful

Thanksgiving 2011

I'm very grateful for my family and friends. I'm excited that my book My Zoo World: If All Dogs Go to Heaven, Then I'm in Trouble is published. It's been a great year with poems and flash fictions chosen for various on-line journals.

I'm employed. My husband's employed. We have health insurance. Wow - that says a lot.

My father, at 80 (no, he doesn't admit to being a senior) is energetic and healthy. I'm SO grateful. My sister is doing great, as well as my brother and his family. All in all, I have so much to be thankful for.

Here's a humorous poem to celebrate Thanksgiving and enter the Christmas season:

Peace on earth

bow my head in church and pray
one eye on my teen brother, he texts his girl
other eye on Nate Holcomb, my enemy
I hate him, but it's Sunday so I can't, should
pray for his soul, for that pious face
to break out in zits, but that's not Christian
charity

close my eyes, soar above the congregation
imagine peace on earth, or at least my
sister's grubby fingers out of my stuff
sorry I pushed her, but she stole my glitter
shirt, claimed it was borrowed, but that
implies consent. Stomach growls
pray for last piece of pumpkin pie


sigh



and peace on earth

Turkey Tales

Just when you think there's nothing prettier than tulips in spring or crepe myrtles in summer, along come mums in the fall. This was given to me in October for my birthday and it's the gift that keeps giving (Thanks, Ann). Fall - I love the crisp air, frosty mornings, and a sweatshirt (Purple - TCU - that's a fave).

Not thankful for leaves in the pool. They clog up the basket and ultimately cause agitation - for the pump and for Ray.

Artsy shot. I need to remember this description as my heroine strolls in her backyard, pensive, regretting her past. The dying leaves represent so much ... Tell me - too dramatic?

Crazy red holly berries. I'm not sure if any birds eat them or if they are poisonous. Either way, we have a bounty this year, which could mean an extra cold winter. I'm ready with a stack of books. Like a squirrel with nuts, I store reading material. You just never know when you could get iced. (it's Texas)

I'm grateful for words, books, friends and family, faithful blog readers, my future agent and editor (I know you are out there). Thanks to Ray for his support.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Talking Turkey plus NaNo

Sometimes you just have to declare it's Thanksgiving. Work schedules, custody schedules, traveling, in-laws, outlaws, and any other life excuse can get in the way of a family gathering. Thus, Sunday, Nov. 15 we had a feast (see above -Ray's Norman Rockwell turkey) and then visiting and of course, a Cowboys game (oops. They lost). This cut into my NaNo writing schedule, but I crammed out words last night and hit the halfway mark at 25K words. My book takes place in the summer and even I won't declare Thanksgiving when it's in the 90s. I might be writer crazy, but I'm not insane.

Saturday, I was out to the arboretum for a chocolate class (yum). Did make time to view gorgeous colors and be re-inspired since my story begins there.

Again, pumpkins and fall colors will not be a part of the book's descriptive pictures, but the Dallas arboretum is inspirational nonetheless.

Back to Sunday. Observed a 15 month old (Makyla) toddle about and the little arms can reach a mile, the little legs can maneuver pretty well. A little tipsy at times, but recovery time is quick. However, I believe I have the details down for my little protagonist and her foray near (and into) the lily pond. Teaser - Dylan, Jay or Summer, or Allie, Terri, Tom or Brooke.....their stories are building. All good people with foibles and anxieties and maybe a few have a fear of water.

I'm not sure what's going to happen..........but it's getting good.