Thanksgiving

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with my son and daughter-in-law, John and Jen, and my three grandsons.  It was cut short, however, due to that ugly storm that decided to strike right at the peak travel time.  My plans were to drive down on Wednesday, but instead I drove down early, VERY early on Thanksgiving morning, leaving long before dawn.  I had to get there. . . I was bringing the Thanksgiving turkey!

First order of business when I arrived. . . get the turkey in the oven!

On Friday, we took a walk through the grounds of an old mansion in Richmond.  Here are some pictures of that.  You can click on the pictures to make them larger and easier to view.

This is an animal sanctuary for birds and animals.  All of them have been injured, or otherwise rendered unable to survive in the wild.  There is a huge area that is home to a black bear, double fenced because someone in the past who wasn't too bright, got too close and was mauled by the bear.

John, Jen, Andrew, Kevin, and Jake.

Kevin, Jake, and Andrew

Jen had a fantasticThanksgiving feast.  One dish, in particular, was extraordinary - and so simple to make.  It is a cranberry orange relish and here's how to make it.

one 12 oz bag fresh cranberries

one orange, peel and all

sugar (here you can add an amount to suit you - 1/4 cup up to a cup)

Put everything in the food processor and blend well.  It is not only eye-catching but tastes great.

This has been handed down in her family for years.  It's no wonder!

I hope your Thanksgiving was as memorable as mine was.  It is good to pause, in this rat race world we live in, and give thanks for those things that really matter - family and friends.