HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

We’re so lucky. It’s time to count our blessings and I have many.

*Dinner tomorrow with family, including a big turkey and—most importantly, mashed potatoes. OK, even more importantly, grandchildren.

*My faithful readers, reviewers, and fans.

*The mystery writing community—a bunch of the nicest people I could ever have hoped to fall in with. Many thanks for the camaraderie, support, and understanding.

*Living in a country that is still, in spite of many failings, a good place to live. It’s way better than being in Syria right now, for instance.

*My health (for my age, as my doctors always say, bless their hearts).

*My thumb surgery, which will alleviate my pain and make it more useful so I can write more books.

*The beautiful place where I live, which will recover from the current drought and wildfire smoke and be beautiful again because, again, there are grandchildren here. AND another set not too far away.

*The fact that, as Hubby and I often marvel, we have three children who are all healthy and happy and like each other and even like us.

*The corollary to the above, that we have seven marvelous grandchildren, each one a delight in their own way.

I hope you have a wonderful Turkey Day, or as one movement wants to declare, Mashed Potatoes Day.

Images from Morguefile.com

Post Halloween Thoughts

Thought #1. The same one we usually have. We bought too much candy. This year was worse than

some because it started raining at 7. We got 5 trick or treaters, then, I figure, the fled to the nice warm, dry mall, where candy was also being handed out.

Thought #2. November 2nd was National Cookie Monster Day, but why isn’t it National Leftover Candy Day? That would make sense. Or maybe have that one on November 1st and then follow it with the lovable Monster’s day.

Thought #3. Thanksgiving is next, although it’s hard to discern, since the only commercial value is to the grocery stores. Should we try for a fresh turkey this year? They turn out well, no thawing required. And I have a handy new meat thermometer that I can read outside the oven.

Thought #4. I kind of miss the injected deep-fried turkeys our son

used to make when he was single. And the ones Hubby used to smoke all day on the driveway. Neither of these guys are inclined to do these any more. Things change.

Thought #5. Even though I lament the early advertising for Christmas, I need to get cracking on gifts. I have two packages that I sent overseas and they need to go out this month. Pretty soon, actually. That’s why I shop for Christmas all year long.