Thanksmas...24º--

Pumpkin

It's 5am...the dust has settled...quiet looms...The only sound is made by the washing machine as Herb starts on his Sunday chores...Rusty and I are on our computers, he playing the new "Angry Birds Seasons" and I surfing through the new "Google Cloud" introduced by Bobi...I was ready for bed at 7pm last night, so called the "kids" to check on their homeward progress...They were in Troutdale only a half hour from their home in Tigard.

It was a whirlwind family gathering...Thanksgiving day was spent fixing snack foods, putting puzzles together, laughter, conversation and eating...Cienna explained the wonders of her new itouch to Papa and I, how much we understood was probably nil but it was fun listening to her explain with confidence the wonders of cyberspace, from a 13 year olds perspective...Not the world we grew up in.

Mixed berry

Friday loomed with a stormy day overhead but soon turned to sunshine and blue skies, although a cold wind persisted...We dined on Cienna made pancakes, covered with huckleberry compote, topped with sour cream...Bacon and sausage on the side...A breakfast that would hold us until late evening...At 10:30am Rusty phoned from Seattle to say his flight was confirmed to Lewiston and Herb was out the door and on his way...He had shopping to do at Bi-mart and Costco before the flight arrived..."We" kept the home fires burning, sliced and diced more food, made pies, fun and frivolity prevailed...Herb and Rusty arrived about 5:30, everyone helped themselves to a "make your own nacho buffet", pandemonium reigned...Our family coming together from far flung places, all made possible with the conveniences of modern travel and the computer age.

After the gifts were opened!

Our little Christmas tree was surrounded by gifts just waiting to be opened, so our celebration continued with Ci playing Santa, passing out gifts, we oohed and awed over the cozy fleece shirts, remade felted slippers, books for the long winter nights, a trench coat and swimsuits for Ci and a funky chicken for Bob... Then a grab bag of windup toys and races on the coffee table with the pig, rhino and butterfly all in a dead heat...We are easily entertained when all in one place!

Saturday morning with a prime rib in the oven, rolls in the making and the sausage, artichoke stuffing coming to room temperature, the Wall family packed their bags and organized the car in preparation for the return to Portland...We had any early dinner, took the final photo...Life is good.

Hope your Thanksgiving was as blessed as ours....  OWAV:)

Rusty, Herb, Cienna, Stan, Della, Bobi