Thanksgiving Morning

I started to lose interest in work at about 1:00 yesterday. I had a 4 day weekend to look forward to! When someone brought their kids to work at about 3:00, and they started running through the office and yelling, I decided I'm outta here. Is it just me, or is it only the parents who think their kids are cute when they do that?

This morning it was just glorious to not have the alarm go off at 5:50. Pepper the dog did start to run over to my side of the bed when she heard me move, so I came down to feed her and let her out at 8:00. At 15, Pepper does not have the eyesight she used to. When I let her out, there was a squirrel in the front yard, sitting on its haunches eating a nut. I thought oh no, squirrel, be careful, because in her younger days, Pepper would madly chase after the squirrels. But today Pepper just quietly went out and did her business and came back in, and I thought well Mr. Squirrel, you have something to be thankful for today.

After letting Pepper out, I happily went back to bed. Three cats awaited me - 2 in bed with my husband and one on the loveseat. I am so thankful for these little creatures who are truly the most amazing things ever created.

Pepper followed me up and proceeded to roll all over the floor. I have heard that rolling like this is the sign of a happy dog, and Pepper has always been a happy dog.

I got back into bed and started to read a book I've been enjoying. Heaven! A weekday morning to be totally lazy and do whatever I want.

The husband came down and made his Caribou coffee. Something else to be thankful for, cause I always make the cheap and easy stuff during the week. I proceeded to make cinnamon streusel muffins from a mix and put them in the oven. The daughter is home from college and has a friend sleeping over and they can wake up to the smell of fresh baked goodness. That is, if they wake up soon at all (last night involved a trip to a local bar where they enlisted the son to be their designated driver). I don't think I like that my daughter is 21.

The husband just commented that my mother, Lenore, has not called to ask if we're watching the parade. Yet. She has done this in 23 of our 24 years of marriage. I'm sure the call will come soon.

We are having a double Thanksgiving this year. We usually trade off every year - odd years at my sister-in-law's house and even years at my parents' house. I am ashamed to admit that at age 52, I have never cooked a turkey. I never needed to! But anyway, this year (not being my parents' year), my mother decided we should have Thanksgiving at her house tomorrow. She would not follow the normal rules this year.

All I know is that while I used to love to have people over, it is just too much work! So I am thankful I just have to make appetizers for tonight (I'm trying Paula Deen's recipe for spiced pecans and a hot tuscany veggie dip that has all kinds of good stuff in it) and a salad for tomorrow and that's the extent of my obligations.

There is much to be thankful for. I hope everyone out there in blogland enjoys the holiday.