A Day of Gratitude

Hello, Dear Friends, I hope that those of you who 

celebrate Thanksgiving had a wonderful day! 

I was tasked with baking the pies, and the day before

the holiday, my kitchen was a busy place. 

A deep-dish apple pie ready for baking. 

It was an unusually warm November day (65 degrees), 

and even with the door to the deck opened wide, 

it was a warm, 76 degrees inside. 

But it smelled absolutely wonderful! 

I baked and baked all day long, and by the time I was done, 

the sun was setting, turning the clouds a lovely coral 

over the Cascade mountains. 

Besides the deep-dish apple pie, I baked some individual

apple pies for Ramblin' Man :) and a blackberry pie

from berries I picked myself. 

Can you see Kai coming in from his pet door?

A few raindrops illuminated by the outside spotlight, 

over my vintage gelatin molds, 

in the kitchen window as I clean up. 

By morning the clouds were lifting......

And as we approached the Narrows Bridge on our 

way to daughter, Jennie and Steve's, for Thanksgiving dinner, 

the skies were blue. 

The Narrows Bridge is actually two bridges - 

the older span on the right, and the newer 

span on the left, just completed a couple of years ago. 

Each side is one way. 

Its name comes from the waterway beneath, 

called, 'The Narrows' - a slender stretch of Puget Sound

which connects the Kitsap Peninsula to the mainland. 

Tall fir trees rise above the landscape on the other side. 

We are almost there. 

The beautiful table. 

There were 14 of us, including two little ones.

The sideboard holds the pies. 

A pumpkin pie was added later. 

Everyone contributed to the meal. 

Lots of yummy appetizers. 

I couldn't stay away from this spinach dip and bread!

The house is perfect 

for entertaining :) 

Flannel shirts are true Northwest style. 

xoxo

The host carves the turkey - charbroiled on the grill. 

There were two turkeys and a ham. 

We fill our plates. 

Turkey, stuffing, scalloped potatoes, green bean

casserole, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and roll. 

Yum! 

Many toasts to all that we are thankful for. 

xoxo

We even celebrated a special young lady's birthday! 

The end of a wonderful meal. 

All too soon the day was over, 

and as we took the long drive home, 

we thought of all the ones we love.

The near and the far away, 

and those we've lost and miss so dearly. 

xoxo

So grateful for them all. 

xoxo

Thank you for joining me, Dear Friends! 

I am so grateful for all of you who 

fill my life with such joy and friendship! 

xoxo