I just got back from a walk up along the lake that I began a little after 4pm. By the time I got home it was night time. Fortunately, our Christmas wreath is up on the side of the garage and can be seen from the other side of the lake!
How was everyone's Thanksgiving? What a great holiday. It's unique. I was always struck how other countries are beginning to celebrate Halloween but no one tries out Thanksgiving. The Canadians have a low-key version that they mark on the same weekend that we celebrate Columbus Day (and Janet's birthday), but that's as close as it gets. I think the world would be a better place if everyone gave thanks, even for just one day.
Our Thanksgiving week started with a 36-hour snow storm that left about a foot of snow here. It was a snow day for Mary and that meant snowshoeing, hot chocolate and fires in the fireplace. And only four more months of snow! Ugh.
Wednesday morning, though, the roads were clear and there was little trace of the white stuff south of here. We made it to DC with little problems, and first stop was Margaret's where we met the new kitties. Very cute. Now I know why some people end up having 20 cats: they want another kitten.
We stayed with Joe and Leonor and prepared our contributions for the big dinner there. Annie flew in from Cleveland and Andrew's parents joined us for the dinner. Andrew and Margaret did a great job with the main courses, and their new house was plenty big enough for all of us.
We saw on Facebook photos of a big gathering with several tables in New Jersey that Peter and Janet, Sean and Johanna went to. David tells us that their experience of ordering out the turkey meal last year when Matthew was in the hospital convinced them to try that again this year. Jeffrey and Melodie drove up to join them for the weekend.
Andrew also had a big crowd of Lur's family at their house. Claire came home for the weekend, and reconnected with a high school friend to play oboe and violin at the Thanksgiving church service. Andrew sounded like he was ready to cater the entire eventt next year, if not order out pizza. Has anyone ever had turkey on their pizza?
So, we made it through Black Friday, small business Saturday, cyber Monday and giving Tuesday, and we even have a few dollars left in the bank. I'm trying to come up with other days and possibly make a million: how about Barter Wednesday? or Fasting Thursday? Or send your money to 5 Hancock Road Sunday?
The rest of the week up here has been pretty uneventful - new snow tires, a good movie (Moonlight) and an adult visit to Mass Moca, Mary's swim team party and some more garden work, now that the snow has melted.
While our week was a little dull, Joe went to Hong Kong and China, Margaret was sworn in at the State Department (with my old boss who talked about serving institutions and laws, not individual people) and Annie moved to her more permanent quarters in Cleveland.
What's new with everyone else? Anyone sleeping through the night yet? I still wake up arguing with our new President.
Other than that, life goes on, and we are settling in for the winter. Hope you all are well.
Love from up here.
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