On the Monday after Thanksgiving, I do my traditional 'changing of the wreaths' ritual ....

Although it's in conflict with my Dutch upbringing, I've gotten into the habit of starting to decorate for Christmas in the week after Thanksgiving, just like if I was a true American.

In Holland, we (used to) hold of doing this until after 'Sinterklaas'-evening, on the 5th of December, just to give this tradition the time and attention it deserves. 

But I'm over here, and nobody knows, although I might have given it away on Facebook ... oh well ...

On Friday we went to see the Christmas Parade in Hammond. 

The town was packed, and we were very lucky to find two vacant chairs and a table under the front awning of the local coffee shop (PJ's), where we got some rather good hot chocolate and nice truffles.

The parade passed right in front of us and when it started raining about halfway through we were even more happy to be where we were ... under the awning!

There were 56 entrees, varying from the usual floats to classic cars and motorcycles, to marching bands and dancing girls.

There were silly bicycle cops with reindeer antlers, and we even scored some Christmas stockings .....

         

Anyways ... we're now totally in the 'holiday Spirit', how 'bout you?

The weather has turned a lot cooler and we're getting a lot of rain lately. We needed it, but I keep a wary eye on that rising river ... please ... not again!
The cooler temperatures have at least inspired me to cook some 'stick-to-your-ribs', typical dutch, winter-comfort food:

     

Like 'hutspot' and the only 'real' pea soup, which of course is dutch pea soup! Yumm!

And although we don't quite celebrate Sinterklaas-evening anymore (but I might change that next year again), I still bake the traditional speculaas we eat around this time of the year.

It's soooo good!

Outside, nature still tries to hang on to Fall, but it's on it's last legs. A lot of trees lost most of their leaves by now, more due to drought followed by this week's rain and wind than to the cold I must say, and Fall colors have not been very good this year.

Liquid Amber's never disappoint though, and the rain has sprouted a lot of (unidentified) mushrooms everywhere ...

   

And guess who's baaaaaack?

Yep, he's still hanging around, and I'm sort of getting used to him. A little. Which might be a mistake ...
But he looked almost cute just floating around in the lake. I think he was sleeping actually, his eyes were closed. Maybe he tried to lure me closer? Creeps!

I still rather see 'my' gorgeous Heron, fishing from his favorite perch in the Bayou, right behind the RV.

I photograph him often, he's so striking.

 

He's very skittish, so it always takes me forever to get a few good shots, but this time he was more focused on the fishing than on me, and I actually saw him catching a fish! So cool!
                                                           
                                  

       

And with that I'm calling it quits for today. Have a great week (or so) and ... I'll be baaaaack!