THANKSGIVING 2016

We spent the Thanksgiving Holiday with Gerry's family this year.  We avoided most of the holiday traffic by traveling on the less hectic days.  We flew from LAX to St. Louis on Tuesday and then returned to LAX on Friday evening.

It was wonderful to stay with Gerry's mother, Ann Hans, who is a very kind and gracious woman.  She will be 90 years old in April and is still quite sharp.  In fact, her memory seems to be every bit as good as ours.  She is also doing OK, physically, though she does use her cane when she goes out.

This bike path is 1/4 mile from Mom Hans house.

Temperatures were in the 40s for our brief three day stay, which was a bit chilly for us southern California folks.  I never took my sunglasses out of their case the entire visit.  Gerry and I did take a 4.2 mile walk on Thanksgiving morning.

Keeping warm, with long sleeve shirt, down vest and rain jacket.

A fine mushroom specimen.  They get more rain here than we do in L.A.

Gerry's sister Ginny hosted Thanksgiving at her new home in Alton, Il.  She custom built a gorgeous house and moved into it this spring.  It is spacious with plenty of room to host our clan of 34 (25 adults and 9 children.)

The front of Ginny's house.  (picture does not do it justice.)

It's part of the family tradition to have the Thanksgiving meal early in the day.  Most of the family arrived by noon.  Ginny offered everyone a drink and then gave us a tour of the beautiful house.

Cranberry punch?  Or a glass of wine?

Living room with a view.  Comfortable furniture and a large fireplace.

Lovely china cabinet.

Plenty of conversations and mingling before we sat down to eat.  I tried to talk with everyone for at least a few minutes, which is quite the challenge with a group this size.

Gerry with his younger sister Jane.

Gerry with his younger brother Allan.

Our niece Alison, nephew Jeff, Jane, and nephew Brendan.

Here's Danielle with our youngest niece, 4 month old Norah.

Gerry's mother talks with Diane and Dave.

Ginny provided the turkey and stuffing.  Everyone else contributed side dishes, salads, appetizers, drinks and desserts.  Gerry made a double batch of his famous cranberry-orange relish.   The turkey was cooked to perfection and ready to eat at 1:00 pm. 

Ginny's putting the final touches on the meal.  (Gerry's relish in white bowl.)

We gathered around four tables, all of which were decorated with autumn centerpieces and set with real silverware and festive napkins.  The kids had their own special table.

A colorful centerpiece

A plate piled high with scrumptious food. 

While we were finishing our meal, Gerry walked to the head of the room and read the poem that his Grandfather Brazier (his mother's dad) recited by memory every Thanksgiving that he can remember in his childhood.  It is "When Father Carved the Turk", by Charles Noel Douglas.  It is a classic!

He addresses the kids table and reads the poem. 

 In the afternoon, some of us took a snooze while others went for a stroll in the neighborhood.

Gerry's brother Phil "catches some ZZZs."

Getting some fresh air and exercise feels good! 

I am thankful for the time with family on this Thanksgiving Holiday.  I love the concept of Thanksgiving.  Everyone, no matter their political or religious beliefs, can come together and celebrate in the spirit of gratitude.