Thankful for...

All the love in my life.

I know, kind of cliche. But it's the honest truth. There's little that love cannot reasurre one about the anxieties or unknowns of life. And from the moment I woke today, I was in touch with those I love and feel love from: immediate family (who were fortunately in immediate proximity today) and my lovely friends (who were unfortunately too far to hug, but close enough thanks to txt msgs. Oh hai, friend!)

S and B arrived in the AM (crazy cats, rising at 5am to ferry over!) and the feasting began promptly. Attempts to burn calories were done by trekking (very lightly) through Courtenay's trails. Smells of recently-procreating salmon filled the air around the river. We found a rope swing, a hand-shaped stump, several slugs and Sam's new theme tune (including enough laughs to burn perhaps that extra dallop of ice cream I had for dessert. Nah.).

"I love animals. All they do is live to have babies.
And lucky for us humans, that means more for us to eat."
(Sam)

No mounting horses?

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Then more food was prepared; we could have fed an extra two people most definitely.

Favourite twists on Thanksgiving staples included: brussel sprouts sauted in butter with roasted almonds, sweet potatoes with browned marshmallows, local baby carrots in lemon and honey. Mom's stuffing shall never be tampered with, and the bird came out pretty near perfect - a feat worth noting considering my parents' technique of wrapping the cooked bird in towels and storing in a cooler til serving time. Sangria and white wine flowed but the Wagner's don't get too rowdy with alcohol, just a little slurry and fatigued. We were reasonable and gave ourselves an hour between sets. So prior to the pies we (I) did the dishes and the Ontario Oma was telephoned.

"Just stay healthy, Jocelyn. Don't pack too much in either."

Well, in regards to dinner, such advice was perhaps a little too late. But I'm taking it to heart for my travels. Danke, Oma.

Eating and games go hand-in-hand with this family.
Dutch Blitz and Sequence were the favourites today.