turkey day rotation had us with hubby's family this year, and we decided to make the journey the day after. the occasion of all the cousins (that is, my nieces & nephews) gathering seems to be behind us, as all but three are in college or beyond & their own parents can hardly get them home - let alone add hours of travel to the weekend. so, we brought thanksgiving dinner with us & greatly enjoyed sharing it with my in-laws.
 |
| Lawrence & Geneva, at home |
when in rome, do as the romans ~ so, i pulled out my mother-in-law's recipe cards, & we cooked a modest southern thanksgiving with, likely, some inevitable revisions (can't help myself). turkey, gravy (my first-ever attempt was a hit!), roasted veggies, sweet potato casserole, corn pudding, jellied cranberry, biscuits, stuffing,....yes, just a modest offering. oh, & pecan pie, which, this year, turned out just about as perfect as it can ever be. i say all this with humility and some degree of amazement, as i am often stunned when i produce dishes that actually look and taste the way the recipe intended.
 |
| the remains of a feast |
 |
| happy people |
my sister-in-law & her family stopped by,
including my two sweet nieces!
 |
| Rebecca & Elizabeth |
i always make them pose
(you'll thank me later)
 |
| Rebecca, Samuel, Isaac (E's bf), Elizabeth, Joseph |
it's a relatively short drive from door-to-door,
but we decided to stroll around downtown Hillsborough
on our way home.
 |
| Autumn Trees & Sky I |
found myself looking up a lot.
such a changing sky.
 |
| Autumn Trees & Sky II |
 |
| lights strung across a restaurant courtyard, with cloudy sky |
we stepped off the main street
& wandered through the presbyterian cemetary
 |
| little eight-year old Sophronia |
graves dating back to the late 1700's
 |
| little Sophronia's dove |
 |
| embraced by a tree |
 |
| in memory of Lily & Rosaline |
 |
| gravestone for William Hooper, who signed the Declaration of Independence |
the boys enjoyed communing with this friendly cat
(& found it's color exceedingly appropriate)
 |
| over the cemetery wall |
 |
| golden gingko petals |
 |
| the shuttered Colonial Inn & the cemetery cat, who followed us |
 |
| briar roses |
 |
| on a side street |
 |
| patient teenage ramblers |
back to trees & sky on our way home
 |
| Autumn Trees & Sky III |
& then the earth turned just enough that the fire disappeared
 |
| cool blue-grays just before dark |
as we drove out of guilford county earlier in the day, we saw a man putting lights up all over his house. to me, they always look somewhat forlorn in the daylight ~ but turn into glittering magic once night falls.
 |
| from a car window at 50mph |
&, just like that, we are into the christmas season. three weeks of school and work before we pause for the winter solstice & start counting away from the longest night.
