Happy Thanksgiving

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That would be our turkey in our kitchen center stage surrounded by Patt, sister-in-law Kay and sister Betty, left to right.  We actually hosted Thanksgiving in our house.  A real nice activity.  Let me recommend it to you.  That turkey had spent the night and most of the day before being cooked on Thursday in a bucket of special recipe brine  -- an organic turkey it was - and it was real real good.

 the desert table in the foreground and the beginnings of dinner on the counter

and of course at the dinner table.  

I think I have mentioned how beautiful and extraordinarily warm our fall has been -

- looking up the driveway

and back down -- 

How 'bout them apples !

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Actually they are pumpkins, pumpkin pies, but why quibble over a great line.  Yep, Patt's cook prepared two -count 'em -two pumpkin pies.  

 The crust crinkling needs a little help, but the cook is somewhat of  a novice.  And Patt was pleased.  Surprised you got that right !   Tastes great - and filling.

 Today is a bit overcast and windy and if you look carefully you can see some  of the "rain" of leaves we are having today.

 Earlier in the week you would not believe how pretty it has been.  We are talking mid to upper 70s and a blue shy that goes on forever.

 and the top has been down -- absolutely a lovely lovely fall here in N C.

big doings at church

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Sunday we celebrated 200 years of being a church at Edenton Street.   http://www.esumc.org/   Patt and I got to church early for the one and a half hour (scheduled) service - but were late for our normal area of seating as the place was really full for the special service.  All our living former pastors, Walace Kirby, baptized Stephen, Vernon Tyson, Bill Simpson, Roger Elliot (married Laura and Matt) were there and had a part of the service.  Picture taken with iPhone as I was among the last to sit down.  Those are about a hundred or so little kid choir members all along the front behind the alter.  Also the liturgical dancers were in the aisle- so little kids were all over the place.

 After church at numerous locations around the facility cake was available.  (The Gathering service went on as scheduled).  Here is Patt on the steps of the Poindexter Education Building

Out front of the front of the church courtyard was one of the busier places of cup-cakes and meet and greet.

And of course some kids were playing on the steps - the purple is the liturgical dancer outfit.

 As we were walking to our car, I turned around and took one last photo to have of just the church 0 forgetting to remove the lens screen that is part of my phone case - hence the gray look -- it really was a pretty day.

big doin's at Wake

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Saturday was beautiful, the sky clear and blue, and leaves pretty and a crowd of us joined friends in the parking lot for a pre-game tailgate picnic.  

 Had some good stories to tell, and optimisim was high as Notre Dame - yes, that Notre Dame was in town to play the Deacons on the grid-iron.

 Yes that is them versus us in our stadium.  Something none of us ever thought we would see.

 and goodness but those in the gold helmets were big - and at this moment in trouble.  Unfortunately that period of being in trouble did not last long enough.

 one of the things we all noticed in addition to their size was how shiny their helmets were.

after leading by a touchdown at the half, we ended up losing but it sure was a fun and exciting evening.

got home

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As indicated below, I had good help taking luggage to the airport.  We did discuss who and when bags got to be pulled and Isaac did indeed pull one too.  

Goodness but it was hard to leave.  I surely had a wonderfully blessed time with the kids - all of them, Matt, Laura, Julianna, Lydia and Isaac.  

travel home was the easiest and smoothest ever.  Connections on time, hikes to departure gates short, wait in immigration exit, entrance, customs exit entrance, security clearances, all amazingly short, meals - well I was on an airplane-meals, delightful people to talk with available, absence of annoying people, (on that later point, I maintain a  rather large category- so this indeed was nice), and no weather issue, and the about anything else you can think of went well.  

I was of course extremely happy to be home and see Patt -- much catching up to do, and errands to run, but that is what I get paid for so -- I am off to it.  Also the Wake Notre Dame game Saturday.