family and friends

It's a good time to get in touch- what with turkey on the menu this week and all...
Spoke to Rosie B in Oregon this morning-
....they will host a crowd for dinner on Thursday. Ruby and Joe were there- cleaning in prep for company. Tom was making pancakes for everyone......
R & T arrived in Fla days after hurricane - visiting family- a very old very huge banyon tree came down with the wind in front of a brothers' house....they are on the Atlantic coast..
fortunately power went out for a short time- and no other damage.
They will spend Christmas in Bflo- where the 5 grandchildren live.
SmW and SrW won't be home til the 6th of January- then we'll have our
birthday celebration for SR and mini-Christmas- in time for the European gift exchange,
traditionally - the Epiphany. In the meantime we can celebrate the 21st- the WinterSolstice and Christmas Day and Boxing Day, our wedding anniversary, the NEW YEAR-
December 10th is set aside for our neighborhood potluck- 8th annual. It is our turn to host - there will be 14 of us and I hope to pull out a Pictionary game - fun for all.
I am told there are different versions of this game & that we have the original which gives the advantage to 'old' people.
These potlucks can not be rivaled in the deliciousness of dishes offered. Our neighbors are all great cooks-or at least have wonderful recipes. Lisa B is the dessert queen; chocolate plays are large role in her repertoire.
Ordered a 20lb Amish- farm turkey- which means no preservatives, etc.
1.79/lb for the larger sizes. DH shopped for the trimmings today at Joe Randazzo's, our bargain produce market, which caters to the many nationalities in our communities- there is something for everyone from Bangkok to New Delhi to Baghdad to Naples to San Jose........Joe has it all. A couple of weeks ago we had fun at Whole Foods and Trader Joe's- out on the border of AnnArbor/Ypsilanti-
and we are still enjoying the dolce from Belo Horizonte- and now Girl Scout cookies...
can't say we aren't well fed.
Looking forward to seeing Sophia- 2 1/2 now- and talking more and more.
Hope the weather is just like today- sunny with temps in the 40's......
Enjoy your holiday dinners- if you are not with the Natives you love- love the Pilgrims you're with.
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