Happy Thanksgiving!

 We had an early Thanksgiving last weekend. Our SIL, Jean-Luc, was going to be traveling to Las Vegas for business on a last minute basis, and we were worried about him bringing COVID back. 

Many of us have a holiday on the second Monday in October, on either side of the border.

From my reading, some Americans are marking Columbus Day today, yet there have been changes. Of course, Columbus' and his men brought disease and they put native into slavery. He didn't actually 'discover' this land. Nor did he have any respect for its people. 

Some states have replaced this day with Indigenous People Day or Native American Day. I  like that. 

Back to us! I sent Grampa out for a turkey. He couldn't lift it, and staff were very helpful in putting it in the cart, and putting it in the car for him. This one was 9.4 kg. It thawed in our little refrigerator. We have two bar fridges. The previous owners put the regular fridge in the basement, we gave it away. We've a chest freezer in the basement. 

I worked on the table. There were adjustments. Did you see it?

They arrived. While dinner was cooking, we were catching frogs. This took me back! The days of kids and nature. Jo and Aster took them down to the pond.

As they were headed down the hill to the frog pond, Jo found a ribbon snake. He came back to show us. Aster held onto the frog bucket.

Back down he went...

JL stuffed the turkey with Caitlin's stuffing, and then put the turkey in, I could barely lift it! (9.4 kg/ 22 lbs.) Then he used the power washer on the sidewalk. He was soaked. He loves a project, Caitlin says!!

xxx

The turkey was great. JL did a really good job. I sent home half the leftovers for Caitlin. 

We had a surprise dessert. Aster decorated it for us. Jo turns 17 in early December, but we seldom are able to celebrate it since things are busy at school. Both kids are in the musical, The Addams Family, in the chorus. Rehearsals after school for a couple of weeks. Also, Jo has to train the tech crew. Then, there is school work! 

His gift was a piece from an artisan in the Sundance Art Festival in Maberley. You can hang it on the wall. 

We had a sleepover!

 Yes, it was time. We could not remember the last time we were away for Thanksgiving. It was a wonderful opportunity to visit the kids in Ottawa. The kids in Vancouver were at the cottage with friends, as were many other Canadians with the opportunity. We did the reverse, we drove from cottage country to the city!

We've had days of rain, which might have improved my drive-by shootings!

As we approached Ottawa, those dreaded traffic circles! JB just doesn't like them, I felt badly. We avoided them on the way home.

It is a lovely neighbourhood! Look at those trees.

Isabelle and I got a little silly! There was much love. It is wonderful being able to visit them. And to hear the words, "Gramma, you are awesome!" really warms my heart and soul.

The new kitchen, with the half wall, really open up the space. The renovations are amazing. 

Look at this! You can grab items from the pantry drawer. 

JL is an amazing cook, who loves to cook. He prepared a charcuterie board for us. This is all that was left, but you can see the wonderful markings.

Caitlin lit the candles. (It was a gift!)

I took a quick photo of all of us. It's tough getting everyone in the same room at once!

JL was given a painting done by a relative of his step-mother's, Alex F. Yaworski. You can read about the artist in a blog post by his son, Don Yaworski, in a blogpost. He was born in Odessa, lived in the US. It is a painting of the St. Regis Hotel, created on June 25th, 1972.

Josephine was doing some sewing in the basement. We interrupted her to watch a movie. Even Grampa smiled. It was fun entertainment.

Walkies in the rain for the men. 

Off we went home, after breakfast. What a terrific visit. 

There were quite a few people at the various trails, kids in toques and mitts, about to go walking. I am sure it is a family tradition, even though it was raining!

There many fields with geese, and several short skeins of geese over head. With the dull, cloudy, rainy day, photos were not great.

It is a shame to waste these old photos, so here are geese in person, in the flesh, in feather!

We came home through Richmond, with lots of new developments. 

The homes and tree colours were much more appealing.

This is one of my favourite backyards. You'll have to biggify it to see the water treatment, but it looks like Santa is waiting to be installed. Wow!

We had a quick Happy Thanksgiving phone call with our Vancouver family, Jesse and Bryony specifically, who were entertaining friends at the cottage. We were grateful Jesse took time to call!

The new week begins!

Happy Thanksgiving 2020

 Nutmeg is still confined to barracks, but she is a LOT better. For that I am grateful.

I headed off down the highway, to pick up our turkey, and there was a turkey and its chick.  

In preparation for the celebration, I went to our local farms and snagged me some more pumpkins and veggies for the veggie tray. The fall harvest is a wonderful time.

There was just one car and a truck there, and they were about to leave. 

There is lots of parking. Except for this woman, who had to squeeze between us and the wagon. Not only that, but she kept the car running while she was shopping. JB had a hard time getting in his door, and he had to back out very carefully.

No mask, either.

The kids arrived. We are in their bubble. We have had the grandkids for 18 weeks since March Break. It's been wonderful. Now, the adults are working from home. The kids are homeschooling. 

School is intense, promptly at 9 a.m. they have to be on camera or marked absent. Both girls have about 35 kids in their virtual classes. They break at 11:00, and come back for 11:45. Another break in the afternoon, and they are done by 1:30, when they have asynchronous work. Jos is working on a group project, as well. 

JL loves to cook, so he was in charge. I asked Josephine to grab some photos. (I think it was Josee!) I fetched utensils and pots. 

In lieu of a veggie tray, JL roasted up some veggies.

Both he and Caitlin basted. I bought the turkey from down the road, as well. I'd ordered a 15 – 19 lb. but Diane was wondering if I'd take the 23 lb. one off her hands. Oh, sure, I said. We could send some home with the kids. JL stuffed it with stuffing Caitlin made.

Basting involves glasses getting fogged up!

Prepping the veggies...

It's coming along!

There was lots of wonderful conversation, wine and beer, and great food. We watch AGT, which the girls had been following all season with us. Then, a movie. We all konked out by 9:30! 

Next morning, after breakfast, JL was tearing down the obstacle course they kids had brought. JL showed me how it goes together for when they come back. Once we get our FTE 5 internet upgrade, we can try them here for a week of school. They girls use the Ninja Line during breaks. Jos runs around the house!

Nutmeg snuck outside as we were going in and out, but she seems much better.

All packed up, ready to go. Jos thought she'd sit here!

We didn't do many photos. This one was important. We were practically twins! Isabelle is growing, I am shrinking!

I'm doing work on the eavestrough, you can see the ladder. We await parts. More on that later.

Happy Thanksgiving to all. I've had some pretty gruesome ones during my single parenting days. 

This was an amazing one, for that I am thankful.