hump day nuggets :: a week's worth of thanks

hump day nuggets :: little bits of the season in photos and words about the last week

So many wonderful times were had over this past week and I have hundreds of images to remind me of all the merriment.  This post will be an homage to my gratefulness and thankfulness, as we end this month of November with dozens of photos and a few words.

:: Wednesday, November 23rd (Thanksgiving Eve)

:: Starting the day with the amber glow of an amazing sunrise and watching it wash over my boy's sleepy face.

:: Appreciation for the barista that helped me start the day with a little bit of beauty in my cup.

:: Grateful for the opportunity to teach our son about giving to others in need on this day before an abundant, food-focused holiday.

:: Toasting our friends who helped bring the spirit up to our house on the Eve of Thanksgiving with the prettiest platters of nibbles and nosh.

:: Loving the fact that we were all about playing Twister and, later, a more sedated & convivial Trivial Pursuit match.  Who knew Hitler was the answer to most questions in that game?

:: Thursday, November 24th (Thanksgiving)

:: Handing over a lot of the duties in the kitchen this holiday, as Steve roasts the most succulent & picture-perfect Willie Bird Turkey we've ever had.

:: Watching the father-son duo prepare the secret ingredient cranberries is a yearly tradition and sweet reminder of just how silly those two are together.  Psst!  The secret ingredient changes every year.

 :: A bounty of foraged persimmons decorated our holiday table this year and, yes, I'm grateful for them, too.

:: I'm glad Grady didn't "stain" his eyeball this year when his father squirted him with juice from a pomegranate seed.  Minor kid meltdown and then the boy bounced back after he realized that literal interpretations can sometimes be misleading.  A lesson for life.

:: I'm more than grateful that I found a chore that Grady actually wants to do every day.  He kept exclaiming how much he loved it (all the while sporting his awesome new, handmade duct tape wrist band).

:: Thankful for a rare family photo before we begin our feast.

:: Friday, November 25th (Craft Day on Johns Street)

:: Appreciative of my limb-trimming friend (not as sadistic as it sounds) who personally delivered the greenery for our wreath and swag making adventures the day after Thanksgiving, along with an amazing pot of delicious wassail.

:: Gathering California Bay from a fellow community member proved worthwhile, as I slapped this swag together & tied it with a red satin ribbon.  Easy.  Peasy.

:: Super pleased that Grady pulled himself away from the movie Elf long enough to get inspired to make his own holiday swag.  He used a bit of greenery from all of the piles and made his very own creation.  Then he went back in to watch Elf, again...and again...and again.

:: Thrilled that we made advent calendars, a few pots of turkey soup, labels for my canned goods, as well as got outside to fashion garland, wreaths & swags.  It was the perfect antidote to Black Friday and hopefully a new yearly tradition for us.

:: Saturday, November 26th (Santa Visit)

 

:: Keeping the magic alive for a little bit longer with our yearly visit to Santa Claus at the Bodega Christmas Craft Fair.  Santa can be a bit iffy at this small town affair, but he was on his A-game this year.  Grady wrote & illustrated his letter - just in case Santa was confused or questioned his choices.  Smart boy.  Top of the list - night vision goggles.  Really?  Yes, really.

:: Saturday, November 26th (Open House @ West County Design)

:: In awe of the very talented Jerry Kermode, master wood turner, and his ability to take a beautiful piece of wood and turn it into an amazing small work of art for Grady.

:: Saturday, November 26th (Annual Chili & Tree Trimming Party in Bodega Bay)

:: The Saturday after Thanksgiving is the annual tree-trimming party at our friends' home in Bodega Bay. They make us dinner and we trim their tree with hundreds of beautiful, white shell ornaments that their family painstakingly collected & glued glittery gold ribbon onto years and years ago.  I look forward to this event every single year.  It never disappoints and the tree looks amazing when we're done.  I'm so very grateful for the traditions my friends have extended to me and my family.

:: Sunday, November 27th (San Francisco Day)

::  Still thankful after this long post?  You betcha.  We spent about five hours at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art on Sunday and enjoyed every bit of it.  Grady has a new found appreciation for Jasper Johns, Rufina Tamayo & Richard Serra.  I enjoy hearing what he finds interesting in a painting and what his favorites of the day were on the ride home.

:: Monday, November 28th

:: Relieved that our local commercial fisherman have agreed upon a set price for crab and that the season is now officially underway.  This brings a lot of people and commerce to the tiny fishing village of Bodega Bay.  Let the crab feeds begin!

:: Tuesday, November 29th

:: I'm enjoying watching my long-haired boy on the basketball court during practice.  First game is this coming weekend.

:: Wednesday, November 30th

:: Our local nursery closes for the winter months and today they set out about 50 native plants in front of their gates with a small sign that said free.  I gathered what I thought I could use and then a few extra for friends.  I'm grateful to the owners of this nursery and their kindness and generosity.  I purchase from them all year long, but this is like an added bonus!

This was a long, visual post.  The last week pulled me out of my funk and I feel ready to jump into December.  I'm so thankful for my life, my family, my community and my home. I like that Thanksgiving happens just before we all move into the season of giving.

Happy hump day.  What are you grateful for?