Yes, there it was again .. Thanksgiving Day!
And yes, as always, so much to be thankful for! Our health, our home, our jobs, our friends, our family .. each other!
We're lucky, and we know it ..

Our usual traditions were observed. We watched the Macy Parade:



While drinking coffee with a BIG piece of apple-cranberry pie!
I don't know why but while I make this every year for thanksgiving and we always love it this one tasted exceptionally delicious this year!

   


Of course we had to see who won the Purina National Dog Show which turned out to be Vito, the first pug ever to win best in this show!

And I'll have to say it again, despite Vito's cuteness, it's so sad to see dogs with such an unnatural and unhealthy anatomy win and get so much publicity.
Short-nosed dogs, also known as brachycephalic dogs, can have a number of health problems such as breathing problems, eye and nose problems, and skin and ear conditions to name just a few.

In Holland it is illegal  to breed dogs in the red zone, where the snout is shorter than one third the length of the skull and they are now working on a law to ban ownership of flat faced dogs and other pets with other 'harmful external characteristics' (folded ears, shortened legs, all cropping) as well.
I agree with their statement: “The message must be clear: purchasing these animals is irresponsible, results in serious harm to welfare, and will soon no longer be allowed.”

Moving on shall we .. more food was consumed:

                                                 

To keep it 'simple' (James' words) I'd bought turkey thighs, which were a quick roast in the oven, and I had boxed stuffing, a pouch of (sweet) mashed potatoes, a package of turkey gravy, a can of cranberries and frozen green beans for the casserole (made with a can of mushroom soup of course).

               

Let me tell you though, it's still quite an undertaking to get everything ready and hot at the same time.
Still not simple enough for me .. next year we go out for dinner! (although I say that every year, but you know ... no leftovers!)

So, Thanksgiving is over and, as we saw at the end of the parade, the 'Big Guy' is back in town once again, and we know what that means ... decorating for Christmas!
I made a start by taking down all the Fall-stuff:

It seems that it gets to be more every year ... funny how that works when you go to the Dollar store and are tempted by all their cute little nick-knacks. I mean, only $1.25, how can you not?
Next year I need a new straw-man for outside because the ground squirrels took the one I had completely apart (for their nest?) and one day they even disappeared under the RV with his whole bottom halve, legs and stand included!

We haven't seen any for a couple of weeks now and when I googled this I found that they actually go underground in late Fall, close off their tunnels and hibernate for the winter.

Well, I say, good riddance! Of course they'll be back in the Spring ..

It's getting a lot colder now, daytime highs are in the mid 40s and the nights are dipping into the high 30s.
While I was working on this blog the other day I heard some knocking on the window in front of me which turned out to be a Red-breasted Sapsucker:

                                                    

He reminded me of a dutch children's song 'Roodborstje tikt tegen 't raam'
It's a short song that's very popular and it tells the story of a little red robin tapping on the window and asking to be let in the house - because he finds it waaay to cold outside!
It sure seemed like he was saying 'let me in, I'm cold', but I doubt it. They're fine here in the NW during the winter.
I bet he was after insects that hide in the ridges of the window frame ...

The days are so much shorter now, only about 10 hours of visible light and the sun starts to set around 4.30 already!

 The light is beautiful around that time ..

                       

                       

One more day and we're in December. Time keeps on flying!