Thanksgiving 2021 - Dinner Time

Thursday, November 25, 2021

So good to be able to spend some time with the nieces and nephew especially after 2 years (due to the pandemic). Here I am with Emma. 

After a brief phone conversation with Sam we all sat down to dinner. 

So good to have everyone together but I miss Dale. Cherish those around you.

Dinner included turkey, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, bread and more! Of course there was pumpkin pie for dessert. 

Loki sat patiently beside my chair. 

After dinner Xander and Abby played against me, Stephanie, and Mom in a game of Beat the Parents.

Above photo from audubonsociety@instagram. 

Thanksgiving 2021 - Day Drinking

Thursday, November 25, 2021

Pete had some Hendrick's on hand. Watched Psych with Steph and the kids. 

Thanksgiving 2021 - The Chef

Thursday, November 25, 2021

Pete putting the turkey on the smoker. 

Thanksgiving Day 2021 - The Parade

Thursday, November 25, 2021

Woke up early this morning, about 5:00. Laid in bed for a while. Finally got up at 7:00 and ran into Pete who was on his way to the gym. Didn't see anyone else until Mom got up around 8:45 which really stunk because I couldn't figure out the coffee maker! 

Emma made blueberry muffins and we watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade at 10:00.

I'm getting old because I only recognized 2 of the many musical acts who performed. 

The floats were more familiar to me than the people. 

Note: Top photo by Dawn Parson and appeared on usinterior@instagram. 

Thanksgiving Travel 2021 - Off to See Pete

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Dale dropped Mom and me off at the airport this morning at around 11:00 for our 1:30 flight out to Washington D.C. to visit Pete and family in suburban Virginny. Uneventful flight but that's just fine. 

The plan was for Pete to pick us up but when his car pulled up he was in the passenger seat and Abby was driving (ABBY was driving!). Had corned beef casserole for dinner and then played with the dogs for a bit. Loki (on the left) is about a year and a half old but I'd never met her as this is the first time I've been out to see them since the pandemic began. Thora Peaches (on the right) is sweet as ever. I'm missing Athena intensely so it was nice to have dogs around. 

Stephanie made the kids peach daiquiris (with Sprite instead of vodka). She made one for me too (with cherry brandy instead of Sprite). The were good. The kids used the tiki glasses I bought them a couple years ago and I got the purple pineapple sippy cup. 

Abby and Xander played darts and Mom, Emma, and I played Bananagrams. Quiet, relaxing, laid back evening. Good to be here. 

Illness, Recovery, Vaccinations, Recovery, and Looking to Thanksgiving

Sunday, November 21, 2021

This past week as been a doozie. A week ago Friday (Nov. 12) I felt quite worn down. I chalked it up to a long week. The next morning I woke up not feeling well at all. I cancelled my plans with Noel and stayed in bed all day. Sunday was more of the same. I felt so awful I had Dale take me to the airport's Covid testing site and I called in sick for Monday. Monday afternoon I got word my Covid test was negative but still took Tuesday off. I was feeling a bit better Tuesday afternoon and went to work on Wednesday feeling pretty much back to normal. I had my second shingles vaccination shot scheduled for Friday. When I got to the clinic they convinced me to get my Covid booster shot as well. I had a strong reaction overnight and was knocked on my ass by Saturday morning. Cancelled my plans with Noel again and stayed in bed all day. 

I'm feeling much better today. Dale and I went to Pittsburg Blue at the Galleria for brunch and did some shopping at Barnes and Noble afterward. Dale got a book and I got a bunch of magazines for the trip Mom and are taking Wednesday to go out and see Pete and family out in Virginia. 

I also picked up some Christmas cards. 

Oh yeah, and we had a chicken pot pie for dinner. 

Martinmas 2021 - Cigar & Remembering Athena

Thursday, November 11, 2021

Uneventful Martinmas. We lost Athena recently and the house feels empty without her. Had a cigar on the back stoop this afternoon. The yard also feels empty without her as she'd often sit out back with me while I indulged in a stogie. I checked this blog's Martinmas post from a year ago and in it I mentioned how nice it was having Athena around. I miss her so much. The holiday season won't be the same without her. 

Farewell, my love.