Post Turkey Post. Or, Turkey Post Post. Or, Post Post Turkey. Whichever...

We travelled 600 total miles and stuffed ourselves, shopped 'til we dropped and went pier fishing on the coldest day of the year.  We  about went deaf during the televised Alabama/Auburn game which was playing loudly while we were dining at The Hangout.  We got to meet friends of our Alabama daughter that we knew from Facebook. 
We had ups and downs and brought home warm memories that linger in the heart.... hugs, kisses, sweet grandchildren and a surprise waiting when we returned home.  Thank you Susan, Sarah, Mikey, Nathan and Matthew for your love and decorating talents.  The lighted tree at Susan's and our front yard all decorated when we returned are but two highlights of our Thanksgiving visit and return home.

The sunset picture was taken by our Alabama Daughter, from her  balcony.  It is on its way to my cell phone and just stopped by so y'all could admire the photographer's skill.  

Turkey Day

We were coming back from a quick trip to town to get a few cans extra of pet food.  We wanted to have enough on hand in case our trip to 'Bama goes into Saturday and the cat and dog think their stomachs are dining on their backbones.  It's bad enough the cat still hasn't adjusted to Daylight Savings Time and serenades us at 11AM instead of 12PM.  She is in the habit of rowling out when she gets hungry and the established feeding time used to be noon.  So what if she's an hour off by the clock.  Her tummy still rumbles and she still sings for her dinner to be dished up on her own time table.  If she wore a watch, things might be better.  But, I digress.

The car was pointed down the highway and we had just crested the big hill on the Branford Highway and were coasting down the south slope.  I glanced over at the small pond to the right and let my eyes slip across the view from the water to the grass in the yard.  I saw two large and really dark birds stalking along the inside fence line.  I pulled my eyes back to the road ahead of me and told T., "I think I just saw turkeys in that yard!"  He wanted to know where and I told him they were in the yard of the house with the pond.  He said he hadn't seen them and told me  to double back to let him take a look.  We whipped the block at the next corner and came back around to the main highway again.  As soon as traffic was clear, I turned northward and we drove back the way we had just come.   After we cleared the tree line, T. proclaimed, "Yes - I see them.  They're turkeys."  Good to have my observation confirmed.

 I started up the hill again but as we came to the driveway for the house, I told T. I was going to swing around and take another look.  There was no objection to the plan, so I made a small circle in the driveway and headed back downhill towards the south.  Sure enough, there were two huge tom turkeys parading in the yard.  They were of a size to feast upon!  As we drew abreast of the pair, one lifted and soared across the fence into the enclosed yard.  I guess he had seen our car circling around and he probably got a bit nervous, imagining the rifle being poked out the side windows on our next pass. 

Little did he know that these pioneers are used to procuring their turkeys in the frozen wastes of the nearest Publix or Walmart cold case.  May those two majestic turkeys can live a long life and enjoy lots of happy Thanksgivings in peace and prosperity. 

We wish you the same!

Tis the Season, almost!

This time last year I had been looking at all the websites, like Woot.com and eBay - hoping to save a bit of the long green on my Christmas shopping.  This year the Black Friday ads have been popping up in my phone for a month, at least!  There are some good deals, if you're in the market for televisions and other electronics.  I'm not in that market and I'm hoping nobody else in the immediate gift giving range is, either.  With the economy in such bad shape, I've got a feeling the retail stores aren't going to have such a banner year as they hope. 

I want coupons and sales that cut prices to the bare bones. 

I can't shop though, until I take myself into the bank and renew that little piece of plastic we use at the ATM and most other points of sale.  When did cool cash disappear?  I haven't seen the inside of my checkbook in such a long time.  Groceries?  Swipe that card.  Clothing and shoes?  Swipe, swipe.  If I don't take a minute to see my banker, the likelihood is that we'll be spending Thanksgiving day with our daughter in Alabama and using the checkbook exclusively to pay our way. 

We have plans to do the Black Friday Shopping while we're out there.  We will be using some of our traditional family moves.  You know, wake up and squint at the clock.  Say in a disbelieving voice, "Are we really  going shopping at this time of the morning?"  Wait for the voice of reason to say, "Of course not, Mama, go back to sleep."

 And the voice of  reason will have taken the morning off!  My sweet daughter in Alabama will insist that I rouse myself and hurriedly dress so we can get to the sale before all the good stuff is gone.  Which I will do, with mutterings and gnashing of  teeth.  Possibly there will be bumping of knees, in  the dark. 

Returning home to her apartment, shopping completed - I'm sure we will feel virtuous and pleased with the savings we have amassed.  I'm sure as well that I will  forget that I have driven 300-plus miles to stand in the cold and dark with a couple of hundred fellow bargain hunters.  At that point in time, however - my idea of a swell Christmas  gift will probably be a couple of Tylenol and an hour off my feet.  I really need to update my card.  Tomorrow.

Delimna?

The Veteran's Day holiday this year is on the 11th of the month.  That is a Thursday. 

The next day - Friday, is not a holiday.  One would think  the calendar planners could have moved Thursday a little closer to the weekend this year and given us working stiffs a 3 day weekend.  But, no!  They inserted that pesky Friday into my weekend, forcing me to split my days off. 

This puts an extra day in the way of our annual Veteran's Day parades and the placing flags at the cemetery.  We can't even thank our servicemen who are doing so much to protect and preserve our way of life - we should wait until the weekend comes!

Or no, we don't have to wait, do we!  We can say thank you right now to all servicemen in all branches- whether on active duty, reserve or retired.  And we should do that today.  And tomorrow and every day that comes under the freedoms they have fought to preserve.

Thank you to all branches.  We salute you!