Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 2015.

First, I'm sharing this sweet picture of Joseph peeling potatoes the day before Thanksgiving--which is when I do most of my food prep work.  He peeled ten pounds' worth for me!!

Dad and mom hosted the holiday this year, with the entire family gathering together.

Relaxing while Mom, Char and I work in the kitchen.

I was so busy helping Mom get all the food ready that I didn't take a family photo, as I have done the past several years.  All I got was the table settings!

Fernando helped Mom pull the turkey out of the oven.  Mom had had a break last year--it was my first year preparing the bird and hosting Thanksgiving--so our 20-pound bird was a monster for her!  I think she's ready to give up Thanksgiving turkey-baking for good!

Mom didn't brine the turkey--purchased from our farmers Eric and Samantha over at Nature's Choice Farm--and it turned out delicious.  Yay for us!

After dinner, we cleaned up and spent the afternoon relaxing, playing, and sharing conversation.

I took the below for Dad and Mom to use in their Christmas cards this year.  :)

Thomas chillin' with his tablet.

Ping-Pong!  This brought back memories from my teen years, for sure.

Danny, with goofy face as usual.

Danny discussed computer monitors with Grandpa, with his Uncle Jeff looking on.

No one forgets dessert on Thanksgiving Day.  I had rolled out crusts for four pies, experimented with fashioning some creatively-edged crusts.  At the end, I had enough extra dough left over that I exclaimed, "Boy, there's enough dough here I could probably make another pie!"

Thirty seconds later, Joe appeared at my side with a pie tin.  "Here you go, Mom!"

"Um, I didn't mean..."

Then, "And I know just what to fill it with!"

Thirty more seconds, and he re-appeared with two cans of plums, gifted to us by my generous friend Heather.

He added, "And we already have crumble pie topping for it in the freezer!"

Hence, the 7th pie on the right in back--plum pie!  (Mom made two of these pies...)

The pies were enjoyed by all, with fresh whipped cream, and ice cream brought by Jeff.

The cherry on top of the day ended up being the Chicago Bears' victory over the Green Bay Packers--what a thrilling game down to the final seconds!!

Thanksgiving usually encompasses the four-day weekend, with leftovers lasting that whole time and me not having to cook, with pie being eaten at various times and for various meals, naturally.  This Thanksgiving, however, was tinted with sorrow at the passing of Fernando's Tia (Aunt) Dora.  Providentially, we were able to obtain last-minute free plane tickets to fly out to Los Angeles to be with his family, and what a Godsend it would be:  Fernando hadn't really visited his family in the seven years since his mom's death, and I hadn't been out in eight (when we visited with our boys).

We would miss a wedding over the weekend, but other than that our schedule was clear (more Providence!), our guys could take care of themselves (thank You for leftovers!!), and we had a ride to and from the airport.  Before we knew it, we were off and flying.


Back to life,
Christine

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Danny Sings!!

Danny signed up for the UIC University Choir this semester, but something funny happened.  The choir director, Dr. Anderson, emailed his name over to the Chamber Choir director, Mr. Lewis, for consideration.  Danny sang a few scales and he was in the smaller, exclusive choir!

Another exciting fact:  Danny was singing a solo!  There is his name, in the program:

The first concert was held at Notre Dame de Chicago Church, a beautiful setting for what I thought was the best UIC concert I had ever heard.

The church's dome.

The combined choirs entered the sanctuary and ringed the seats with music before moving to the front.

If you want to hear the Danny and the UIC Chamber Choir sing, click on the link below!

UIC Chamber Choir Sings "Dark Night of the Soul" 

We took pictures afterwards to commemorate the evening.  We met Mr. Lewis, who praised Danny's talents and singing ability.  We are so thankful that Danny was able to sing with this group, which Mr. Lewis said was the best in all his years leading the Chamber Choir!

Back to life,
Christine

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October Arboretum Date

I arrived home from the lake today at lunchtime.  My parents dropped me off at home, then went home themselves.  I wasn't hungry--for food, anyway.  I was intensely interested in the autumn colors in my own neck of the woods.  Fernando wanted alone time with me, so a half hour after I arrived home, I was in a car again, taking Thomas to tech school and stopping off for a walk at the Morton Arboretum.

The colors were just starting to turn in spots, so I knew I'd be visiting again and again with my camera.  For now, Fernando and I walked, talked, and enjoyed time together before heading back to life and reality.

Looking up toward the tops of the spruces.

Back to life,
Christine

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Autumn at the Lake -- Goodbye

Wednesday morning.  Time to say goodbye.

My personal ritual is to visit the lake one last time, just to drink in the view and store it in my memory.  My camera helps me with that, too--I usually take one or two pictures, say my goodbyes, and head back to the car for our leave-taking.

May I visit again.


Back to life,
Christine

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Autumn at the Lake -- Tuesday Pictures

Amidst the cleaning and winter preparations for my parents' cottage, I wandered down to the lake for a few daytime pictures.  It was a nice, bright day.

The Jackson docks and shoreline.

Here's my favorite sunset picture that night while my parents ran out to get pizza.

After the sun had set, a few ducks gathered in our bay.  Then, one by one or in groups or two or three, more and more ducks flew in for an evening soiree.  It was as if they knew I was there and they had come to say goodbye until next year.

Back to life,
Christine

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Autumn at the Lake -- The Last Boat Ride

For Dad and Mom, the last boat ride usually happens in the Cadillac, the little old aluminum boat that used to belong to my grandfather (Dad's father).  The day was crystal clear, the water just a bit choppy, and everything looked good for a not-too-long ride.

We headed over and into Mud Lake, an arm off of the lake owned by the U.S. Army.  It's usually calmer back in here, and the colors were amazing.

This picture is my favorite.

Time to head back to the dock, and to take the boat out of the water for the winter.

Tom gives the boat and Dad a ride on the four-wheeler.

Time for sunset!

Sometimes, when the sunset isn't so spectacular, other scenes greet the eye--such as these clouds turning misty orange by the setting sun.  And every so often, a vertical sunset picture, such as this one, looks better!

Back to life,
Christine

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Autumn at the Lake -- Sunday Group Pictures

After our boat ride, the next tradition was to take a group picture.  We took several this year, because some of us wanted a picture with the lake in the background, and cousin Tom and Mare wanted us to pose inside their house-under-construction.  We obliged everybody.

Al goofing off.

We got a pickup truck ride up to Tom's and Mare's property!

The group up at Tom's and Mare's place.

The group inside Tom's and Mare's new place.

Close of day, a cloudless sunset.

Back to life,
Christine

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