The Morning After

I

A Dog And His Friend

Pup, Granny, And Marlena

7:30

It's 6:50  and I have been up for an hour, joined only by Bella who barked to be let outside. I'm still full from yesterday's dinner. It's a chilly 33º with an absolutely clear sky, not a cloud in sight. A great day for Black Friday shoppers!

The Gals

Thanksgiving was typical here in Lees Summit and like much of the US, it was a day filled with lots of football or futbol, depending on your tastes, and great food. I was up a good hour or two before anyone else but by 9:30, all but Marlena were up and either finishing their coffee or prepping something for dinner. Tom was smoking the turkey so he had it out in the smoker by 10:00 after brining it overnight. We had eggs, bacon, and toast for breakfast and were surprised to see that Kansas, Tom's favorite team, was playing Wisconsin on TV. It was a thriller, right down to the last-second shot to win for Kansas. 

With Granny

Nick and Aundraya, the newlyweds, arrived at 11:30 and they look great, both seem to be enjoying married life and their jobs. Nick was hungry so Mary heated up some of her meatballs and sauce for him as we sat down to watch the Bills/Lions which we saved because it overlapped the basketball game. We watched the first half, paused it, and drove a couple of miles to Tom and Mary's new site for the house they will be building. It does not look like much at the moment, just dirt and a ravine but it's going to be spectacular, with a view, a great porch, and most likely, a pool. We then drove around the corner to a trailhead and went for a short walk in the woods that's just below where they will be building their house. 

At The Home Site

Strike A Pose

Working Up An Appetite

Chillin

Mom And Daughter In Law

When we returned home, Mary pulled out the appetizers, cheeses, and red pepper jelly, and we enjoyed them along with special libations, coffee martinis for the gals, and old fashions for Evie, Tom, and me. We (Evie and Me) were excited by Bill's last-minute win. It was fun talking much of the afternoon with Nick and Audraya and we will be seeing their new apartment Saturday night. Their complex also has a fabulous Fitness Center, with everything from weights, machines, and saunas, to both indoor and outdoor pools. Just like our first apartment in 1965. We did have a garage. 

Turkey Dinner

The turkey and fixings were ready and spread out on the island, ready for eating. We had everything we desired, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, rolls, and salad. We all thought it was one of the best Thanksgiving dinners ever. I did miss the rutabaga and creamed onions of my youth, but not really. We did not want to leave the table but finally Frank said he wanted apple pie and ice cream so we quickly cleared the table, cleaned up the kitchen, and got out the pie and ice cream despite being stuffed with dinner. Evie suggested we watch Last Flag Flying. Like all films we recommend, there were a couple of uncomfortable scenes we had forgotten about but overall, everyone liked the film. Nick and Aundraya had to leave early, unfortunately, but they can watch the end at home. By the time the film was over and we watched more football, we were all ready for bed by 9:45. 

5:25