(189:  Appetizers.)

I’ll be glad when NaBloPoMo is over.  I need a break from posting so I can spend a little time visiting and commenting on other blogs.  And then I think I’ll need a break from blogging altogether.  Just a few days will do.  It’s starting to feel more like work than fun and that, my friends, is not good.

The sky is clear and the sun is shining here in the Bogs today.  It’s a good day for hanging laundry, going outside to chop or haul wood, and walking or hiking.  I may do all of the above, depending on how ambitious I feel.

Today’s photo is brought to you by last Sunday’s party.  Just a few of the appetizers showing off.  Hopefully I’ll get a few new photos today when I’m out and about chopping, hauling, or hiking.

(This morning’s snow.)

We woke up to snow this morning.  It was very pretty, very cold, and short-lived.  It didn’t even bother to stick around on the ground for long.

An hour or so later a rather large flock of birds came swooping up over the woods at the back of the pond and poured across the sky, almost thicker than the snowflakes that were flying earlier.

(188:  A storm of blackbirds.)

By the time I grabbed my camera, powered it up, and rushed outside, most of the birds had moved on to wherever they were going.  I’m glad I got to see it, but wish I’d thought to switch to video as the movement is what really made the show.  Swoops and swirls done in unison.  Amazing.

(187:  Not so happy for the Turkey Day.)

I’ve been working hard trying to keep things on the positive side today by being grateful for the many gifts and blessings in my life.  Sometimes it works.  Sometimes it doesn’t.  I got the crying out of the way (heh) this morning while stuffing the turkey.  I probably should have prepared something fancy-dancy from the Food Network rather than the traditional turkey and stuffing.  I didn’t think of it until I was pulling the bread apart and making the stuffing, that it would remind me of Mom because it’s Mom’s recipe.

It’s been quiet here except for the phone calls from our sons and the banging of M’s hammer up in the attic where he’s working on his latest project (getting the attic floor lifted to accommodate new insulation).  The day started cloudy and gloomy but then the sun came out and brightened things up for a while.  It was nice.  And another thing to be grateful for.

(Today’s view of the pond.)

The clouds are moving back in as the temperature has been dropping.  There is snow in the forecast for tonight.  I don’t think it will be the sticking around kind of snow.  The ground is still warm and at some point it’s supposed to change over to rain.  I’d rather have the snow.

Since this is a day for thanks, thank you to Cousin Debbie for your note and for visiting Mom.  Thank you to my sons for calling.  Thank you to the Exquisite Emma for cheering me up just with the sound of her voice.  Thank you to friends and blogmates for stopping by the blog or emailing.  And thank you to M, the person I most want to be with on the holidays and every day (even if he is a noisy bloke!).

(186:  Penne with broccoli rabe and black olives.)

(185:  Breadsticks and sunlight in sepia.)

The house is quiet except for the squeaking of Izzy’s meow.  She must be looking for her sister, Bella.  Whenever they get separated in the house, one or the other will walk around meowing until they’re reunited.  You’d think they hadn’t seen each other in ages even though it was probably no more than a few minutes.  They rub noses, sniff each other, purr a little, hang out together for a while until one wanders off and the process is repeated sometime later.

Silly kitties.

We had a lovely visit with friends who have been staying with us since Sunday.  Last night we went to Akron for a visit to 69 Taps and then dinner at Bricco.  It was fun.  Good food, good service,  and excellent company.  B & S left just a little while ago to make their way south to visit with some of their family for Thanksgiving.

M & I are planning a quiet Thanksgiving, just the two of us, the cats, and a turkey that’s much too big for the two of us but the smallest I could find when I went shopping last week.  It’s close to 12 lbs.  I’m used to cooking something bigger because I’m used to having family or friends here for Thanksgiving dinner.  What we don’t eat will freeze well so I’m not worried about leftovers.

The pond looks purple today.  We seem to have settled into the lake-effect gloominess (cloudiness) that is typical of this time of year.  Hopefully we’ll see the sun again sometime before March.  In the meantime, I almost wish it would snow as I find snow much more fun than this dreary, misty, rainy weather.

(184:  Going back to the earth)

Looks as though the moss will cover the top of the tea pot soon.

The party went well.  Our house guests are out and about, visiting with friends.  There is a little party clean-up to do, but not much.  I think I’ll spend most of the day relaxing.  I might even take a nap.

(183:  Entanglement and suspension.)

The leaf was sitting near the bottom of the pond.  The bright red caught my eye.  It’s hung up in some sort of filamentous algae.

Today is party day which means I shouldn’t be sitting here playing on the computer.  But a little break doesn’t hurt and I’m mostly ready.  I just have to make a couple of salads.  Then I can pretty much sit back and relax until 4:oopm.

I do wish the sun would come out.  I saw it earlier, at sunrise.  It was foggy at first, the fog taking on the rosy glow of the sunrise.  After a while the fog burned off and the sunshine poured out.  Then the clouds moved back in.  I’m hoping they will move on soon.

(182:  Behind the waterfall.  Ash Cave.  Hocking Hills State Park, Ohio.)

(181:  Princess Emma & the fairies at sunset.)

I have tons to do today.  Naturally I’m sitting here procrastinating by posting instead of doing what needs to be done.  But I did want to get a post up before I forgot about it.

This is one of my favorite photos from the past.  The setting sun lit up the little insects flying around my granddaughter as she was looking out at the pond.

(180:  Blowing bubbles.)