SAID THE CAT

First, great-grandson Dimetrios is back home as of this past weekend. Thanks doesn't get any bigger than the collective one of his family clan and the many friends known and unknown who were rooting for him. He's still on the bi-pap breathing machine, but that likely will be finished in a couple more days. His spirits are up. Spirit--as friend Gloria observes, "He has a strong spirit".

Daughter Valerie and son-in-law Tim joined in the hosptital vigil in Salt Lake City. A few photos they and Sonja sent during the long wait...

Dimetrios and Grandpa Tim in the ICU.

Last week when D started to perk up and could breathe some on his own.

Little brother Kingston during one of the hospital visits.

Val and Tim helped Sonja and Jeff, taking part in the care of Elijah and Kingston's needs while Dimetrios' other family members could take a turn with him.

Part of Elijah and Kinston care was just plain fun...

...after the big snowsrorm...

...a wide-awake Kingston...

I think this is at Val and Tim's hotel. Kingston doesn't know it's fun yet.

...OK, now it's fun...

Whoo-hoo!!! Long-legged Elijah.

Elijah.

By Thanksgiving Day we knew Dimetrios had taken a turn for the better and was steadily improving. Here in the land of many trees, we gathered at Wendy and John's...

John shared this of Wendy making the green bean casserole.

John making the whipped cream.

Keoni and Picasso Luckibird.

Wendy and PL.

While the 25-30 MPH wind blasted cold air, and the peerless aroma of roasted turkey and dressing filled the house, Aidan and I worked up our appetites with a game of Texas Hold 'em...

...from Wendy.

Soon, Keoni and PL joined in and made it more exciting, except for Picasso tipping Keoni off after a flit around the table...

No fair, Picasso!

Right here, I'll pause a moment to lament that I am no longer able to post video since blogger doesn't handle them at all and the conduit to/from YouTube is broken. The only good part is, this time it wasn't me. YouTube is no longer an option for sharing video from an iPhone 6s unless you pay them money. Bah Humbug, YouTube, Google and Apple!!! Other standard photo routes are, as you can see from this posting, open at last after hours of jigging and rigging and reading.

I was trying to post a four-second video of Aidan fanning cards he's about to deal. (Repeat: Bah Humbug.)

Back to Thanksgiving...

The aroma-induced hunger pangs overrode any thought of a food photo of the actual meal. Good company and good food. Mmm-Mmm. Enough to, as Wendy puts it, "Eat until I hate myself!" That didn't interfere with good conversation, considerable hilarity, and a willingness to pack in dessert later after the chores were finished.

A beautiful photo from the chore time...

John captured the last of the day's sun hitting the trees.

Fifteen! That's how many pieces of pie (albeit narrow slices) that Aidan cut for dessert since the five of us couldn't make up our minds about which kind; pecan (Wendy's), apple (Judy's), or pumpkin (Wendy's)...

The next day, the wind had subsided enough to get in a walk with Aidan and Keoni. Still, it was pretty sharp, yet always a pleasure...

Austin all fluffy with her friendly herd of companions.

As we returned, we were greeted as usual by the three dogs and Toby. Sebastian had wiggled through a gap in some unknown spot in the fence lines.

Meanwhile in Missouri, Jeanenne, her now BIG family, and Sandy did a Thanksgiving Day group selfie...

Jackie, Della, Harper and Chad,

Krista, Emery, Olly, Ellie, Jonathan.

Chad & Jackie.

Lexie & Della.

Cousin table. Back: Della & Lexie; front: Harper & Kensie.

Maybe a dream of dancing sugarplums! (Or, turkey tryptophans maybe.)

I understand this is the Mexican Dominoes game they played. Whoever won did it fair and square since they didn't have a Picasso Luckibird hopping from shoulder to shoulder helping with cheating.

Also in Missouri, Susie broke from her write/edit work to master a New York Times puzzle...

Back here in the land of trees, there were many leaves the crazy winds of Thanksgiving blew into enormous heaps...

A pano of one of the leaf heaps outside Dock Manor.

You might ask how the leaves are removed from the much-used walkways, and the answer is a man riding a machine that blows all the debris to the sides. I think I would have liked that job.

Jeanenne found and sent this 1988 picture of me and Winsom competing in a Dressage test. Despite my clamped teeth, we just placed fourth...