Turkey Days, Part I

It's hard to believe that it is already DECEMBER, that Christmas is almost here, that Christmas vacation is almost here, and that a new year is right around the corner! Jeepers creepers, time flies. The new month is also bringing winter snowfall which is reminding both Mark and I about the start of last year's Winter Yuckfest: ungodly amounts of snow, illness, and terrible loss of our little fireball, Roxy. But, on a lighter note....

Bill, Mingo and Lily watch the snow falling Thanksgiving morning

Busy preparing the big meal



Thanksgiving was spent in Rhinelander and we had a wonderful time seeing many people in the family. We sorely missed seeing brother Don and Bragg Family South, Jim, and Lisa, but we enjoyed spending time eating, hunting, walking, playing games and blabbering with everybody else. We were also very happy to have Jonathan Hurlburt drive over and join us! It's very fun to see the oldest brother with his youngest siblings; they adore him.

Jonathan

Bob and Michael singing carols


Mark and I arrived at Mom and Dad's very, very early Thanksgiving morning (2 A.M.). We both had to work and close the restaurant Wednesday night, and Mark was bringing and cooking the turkey, so he wanted to leave when we were done with work rather than go home for a few hours, try to sleep, and leave at 3 or 4 in the morning. Fortunately, Mom and Dad are used to us occasionally arriving at a later hour, and we always prepare them for those awful times, but another thanks (and apologies!) for understanding!

Lily

Bob and Dad



Mark volunteered to do the turkey and gravy but then became so inspired by the thrill of the holiday, he also made a HUGE batch of herb and sausage stuffing. Really, my only food committment was to bring the 2 large jars of delicious cranberry chutney that my mother-in-law made for us. Yup, that was my only "personal contribution" (and let's remember I didn't even make it), but guess what I forgot to bring? The cranberry chutney! Arrgh. Luckily, Mark is the best and took pity on all of us and made a new big batch that morning. If you didn't already know, Mark absolutely detests cranberries.

Michael teaching Mom chess

Bill treating Cocoa to some rubs


Mom was busy this autumn and made the Hurlburt household some stunning new quilts. I always get inspired when I see what mom can do and how quickly she seems to be able to do it! Maybe someday, that will be me? Maybe?






Of course, we all played "pass the baby" game with Leila. Who do you think fared the best?









We did play several rounds of "Murder", a beloved, yet rather sinister, childhood guessing game. By the way, Jon Hurlburt proved to be quite adept at "murdering." While brother John needed to work on the subtleties of the game....

Wink Wink!!

Who will get the "x"?


Of course, Thanksgiving in Wisconsin means that blaze orange is the necessary fashion. Mark and Jon H. went out a few times, but didn't even see anything this year. They did, however, set up a more permanant metal tree stand in the woods, with plans to get one more up some other day for optimal vantage points. Thanks, Jon, for helping Mark with that endeavor. John and Emma also assisted in one of the hunts following the big Thanksgiving meal.