Chapter 272

After a busy week of rushing around and not really having anything to show for it, we went to Kyanne's for a lovely Thanksgiving brunch. I got up early and got the turkey done and we were ready to go. The fruit turkey looks better on a round platter, but I didn't have the proper size round platter soo...I made what looks like a Thanksgiving peacock.

The table was set and it was "game on". 

Reagan was able to join us at the table, but instead of stuffed moose, she should have been having turkey. Next year, Reagan. Next year. 

After breakfast Reagan grabbed herself some greyhound haunch. Sally was very patient while Reagan grabbed her beefy thighs, chewed on Sally's whip-like tail and pulled on dog skin that was already stretched so taut there shouldn't have been enough for Reagan to grab, but she always found some. Here Sally displays her "Nail-me-to-the-cross-as-I-sacrifice-myself" face.

Great-grampa and Grampa look on as Reagan explores Sally for tender places that might elicit some sort of reaction. 

We all walked to the corner store and picked up a couple of papers so we could all do our traditional Black Friday shopping. Amid this paper-flapping frenzy sits Ryan on his island of calmness reading the actual paper! 

We left Kyanne's and went to the cabin to relax for a day then winterize the pipes so we don't have a repeat of last year's frozen pipes incident. Although Bob has a solenoid that drains the pipes each time we leave, the pressurized water on the back side of the shower and washer pipes split so Bob blew them out with air before we left. He must have done a good job because he was graced with a rainbow over the water as we left.

I love this spot on the Naselle River in Raymond. I've taken some awesome pictures here before as we make our McDonald's potty stop. There's some sort of abandoned plant across the river that makes cool shadows on a good day.

On our way home from the cabin, we stopped at JoAnn's cabin on Lake Nahwatzel near Shelton. We caught up on each other's drama, swapped stories, ideas, news, ate yummy stuff, then did it all over again. Reagan is shocked by a tidbit of family news as Kyanne and Carissa look on.

Kyanne made Reagan a Christmas stocking with her name on it. Kyanne upcycled a pair of Christmas jammies that Great-Grama Jodie had given Kyanne many years ago so now Reagan has a legacy stocking. It's not cross-stitched by Great-Grama, but since Kyanne put stitches on it to represent her cross stitching it's the next best thing.

A picture of the rare and elusive Cook couple together. What a perfect couple! 

Carissa holding Reagan, who's grabbing a quick cat-nap since all the latest gossip has worn her out.

Scott, JoAnn, Carissa, and Bob all stretch out while we visit after dinner. 

After a great visit we arrived home to find we've had snow. These little guys are wishing they had migrated to Florida a lot sooner. Hang on guys, this is only the first snow of the winter. 

First thing in the morning, I have to make the rounds and put out fresh hummingbird food that isn't frozen, refill the bird feeders, and put stale food out for the crows. We weren't home and all the feeders were empty. 

Afterwards, I took Nitro for a nice walk in the crisp morning air. It didn't take Nitro long to figure out that the white stuff he'd been wondering about all weekend was not what his imagination has built up. He figured out it's freezing his feet and he's "hot-footing" it back to his nice warm bed to watch it from the warm side of the glass. The conclusion on both our parts is that he is a "pillow prince" and not an alley cat.

 Meanwhile back on the patio, daylight finds the Flingos are still wishing they had been in that container ship that headed for Florida and not the one that made it's way to Washington.

Bob was moving cars around today and the E-type found itself sitting in the yard all by itself so I took some gratuitous shiny photos of it for my dad.  This "cat" was out all afternoon and never complained once of cold feet.

Hey buddy! Aren't you a little too big for this ride? It wasn't just the little birds were happy the feeders were freshly filled. 

Reagan in the windy city of Silverdale eatin' herself some Satsuma bag. 

Reagan's first snow. Look at that adorable little hat! 

Bear loves the snow and appears as if he's already done some snout-plowing. Reagan looks to be about the size of some of Bear's toys. 

Carissa and Reagan in their freshly snown yard. 

Reagan got to sit in a high-chair with all the big folks at Thanksbreakfast, but she wasn't allowed to eat anything that was passing in front of her. It won't be much longer, Reagan. Hang in there! 

Only in America do we wait in line and trample others for sale items to buy one day after giving thanks for what we already have.