Thursday, November 28, 2013

Thanksgiving 2013

Wild turkeys
I just got this nice picture of two local wild turkeys, a picture placed on the Whatcom Birders' site just a few minutes ago. It gave me a perfect lead-in for my post. Joe Meche, the photographer, put the following comment along with the picture: "Here are two happy Wild Turkeys on the top of Squalicum Mountain, happy to be there and not on someone's table."

I have eaten plenty of Thanksgiving turkeys over the years, and last year in Texas with my siblings I enjoyed it for several days. This year, however, I'm at home and will prepare wild Atlantic salmon (NB: I mean "Alaska" salmon) caught by my fisherman friend Gene, along with all the trimmings.

None of the places I normally go for coffee this morning are open, since all independent coffee shops are closed for the day. I headed off to the local Haggen's grocery store, which is open 24/7 and has a Starbucks inside. While there, I bought a new ice scraper for the upcoming cold snap, and a young man in line in front of me was buying a 10-pound bag of potatoes and two dozen eggs. Then he took his unicycle out of the cart and proceeded to get everything ready to transport home. I asked if I could take his picture as he balanced the potatoes and the eggs in his backpack and took off!
A fall would make an omelet
I suspect he didn't have far to go, but there was little traffic on the streets in any event. I watched in admiration as he navigated his unique mode of transportation. Bellingham is filled with people who follow a bit of a different path. Like me, for instance. This is another sport I don't think I'll take up any time soon, even though it sure looks like fun!

A list of all the reasons I am grateful to be here, today, would be way too long and cumbersome. But just a few things:
  1. Being healthy, hale and hearty, and having plenty to eat.
  2. Having a partner who shares my life with me.
  3. My extended family, siblings and their mates, nieces and nephews.
  4. Blogaritaville, where my other extended family lives.
  5. Not needing a lot of "stuff" to be happy (no shopping tomorrow).
  6. All the blessings that come from living in a place where I fit in.
  7. The gift of technology (as I sit here with my laptop).
Yes, this is a good year to take some time to sit back and reflect on my blessings. It doesn't get much better than this, right here, right now. Blessings to you and yours! Oh, and don't forget to take a walk after dinner, if you can. You'll sleep better. 
:-)

31 comments:

  1. def some great things on your list...was so cool i saw a flock of wild turkeys on the way home earlier this week...like 8-10 of them...just ate our meal about an hour ago...about nap time...smiles.hope you have a wonderful turkey day!

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  2. blogaritaville. :)

    laughing at the unicyclist! wow! good for him!

    i am going to take a walk before i eat my early dinner. waiting for it to warm up a tad, more.

    happy salmon day to you!

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  3. Much to be thankful for, indeed. I love that you snapped the unicyclist. I've encountered one also, a few years back. They do encourage camera clickage.

    I also love Blogaritaville. I suspect a few of us might just steal that name. ;)

    Have a great Thanksgiving, DJan. I don't doubt that you will.

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  4. Salmon! What a great idea!

    Gratitude here too, for good friends, in person and virtually - and many other things, too.

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  5. Do you live in Eccentricity by any chance? You always find someone living on the edge to show us. A unicyclist putting all his eggs in one basket is something I've never seen.

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  7. Happy Thanksgiving DJan. You are most definitely someone I am so grateful to have found. The warmth and the wonder of the blogosphere is amazing.

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  8. I hope you've had a wonderful Thanksgiving. You're like my daughter where you don't have the traditional turkey. I don't like the store bought turkeys. I remember the flavor of farm fresh turkeys.

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  9. A most pleasant post. It is a simpler life now for me too.

    Male turkey's huff and puff. Great capture.

    I am thankful much the same wonderfuls as you.

    Thank you for sharing.

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  10. Those are some lucky turkeys. The salmon does sound good, wish I had a source here for fresh caught. Love that unicycle.

    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  11. Blogaritaville - I love it!
    Your town does sound like a wonderfully eccentric, lovable place.
    Salmon sounds superb.
    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  12. What wonderful thoughts, DJan. An the guy on the unicycle was just something else.

    Happy Thanksgiving. Blessings and Bear hugs!

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  13. As we all know, there was no turkey at the original thanksgiving. I had lobster and scallops. (But turkey is fine too, I've eaten my share). Btw, I love your new word, and am thankful to be a part of your Blogaritaville.

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  14. We have never had wild turkeys in our part of the state my whole life, until the past few years, they've been moving north. We hear them regularly now, from the woods that surround our yard, and we saw 12 of them last month!
    They aren't actually good for things here, because of the scratching they do to the vegetation. In our harsh climate, our native trees need the vegetation to insulate their roots from the deep freeze. So, it's a conundrum.
    I like that you prepared Atlantic salmon. As I read with Beau, they ate EEL at the first Thanksgiving! :)
    I'm very impressed with the unicyclist, that made me smile.
    And YAY for no shopping tomorrow!! I don't buy into the madness, myself. I need some household supplies, but will wait until Monday when things have settled down.
    Happy Thanksgiving, DJan!

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  15. Happy Thanksgiving DJan with love, Debbie aka CG

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  16. Tom and I are back in our recliners winding down. Guests are gone, dishes are done, left overs stowed. It was a good Thanksgiving,
    No, I didn't get a walk today, but I was on my feet most of the day so I'm too tired to walk now anyway.
    We visited Bellingham several times over the four years Jake was in college there. I liked it there, and Jake really did too. We especially liked Fairhaven and the Hagan store near the campus.

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  17. DJan - I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving. Love, love, love the unicyclist!

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  18. You know DJan, I live right beside the border - you know one of those small border towns, eh. Well a nice American Girl (Sonja) married a nice Canadian boy(Darren) and they get to have Thanksgiving twice and guess who is also invited to American Thanksgiving Dinner - Yep, ME n a few others. Definitely not going to America today to shop, however going to eat lots of yummy food, for Sonja has a talent in the kitchen only her Mother In Law could surpass. Enjoy your salmon and the best to you n partner. Hugz to you both.

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  19. Those photos of the turkeys and the unicyclist made me chuckle. I am glad you had a great Thanksgiving, DJan.

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  20. Yes, DJan, lots to be grateful for. You for one!

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  21. Your list is a beautiful one, Jan.
    I am thankful for you, for your blog, and for your friendship.
    Hugs,
    J.

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  22. Love that unicyclist! Even if he didn't have far to go, that's a feat to be proud of!I can actually see you trying this!

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  23. That young man is very balanced! Potatoes and eggs balanced on his back is quite a combination. I hope he and his cargo made it home safely.

    I would have loved having your salmon dinner since I'm not one who like turkey, nor do I like most of the trimmings that come with the turkey. I am grateful for the bounty of the season. We are all so greatly blessed. My list would be much like yours.

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  24. A unicyclist at the grocery store! What an interesting life you lead. I think your list is excellent and I could ditto quite a few of them. Hope your salmon dinner was delicious. :)

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  25. I saw you over at "?" forgot where and remembered I haven't been here in a while. Came and was surprised at how different things look. I picked up on Bellingham, WA as that was one of the places I spoke at their college or university (don't remember which) and stayed at a doctor's house (a person I met there). I remember it rained most of the time that I was there and it didn't seem to be far from the ocean or noise from the ocean. That would have been in the early 1960e.

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  26. Hope your day was wonderful! Blogaritaville..love it. It is a nice place to be isn't it. I can wander off do laundry, fold clothes..come back and you are all still here!
    We had two Turkeys one regular and one smoked. The leftovers from the smoked one are in my fridge and freezer..no cooking for a few night in my future...and that makes me happy:)

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  27. Hi DJan! Glad you had a good Thanksgiving. Salmon sounds great to me, but DH won't touch it. We smoked a turkey as we do every year. Kids took most of the left-overs home.

    Those turkeys in the picture are sure handsome fellows!

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  28. Hi DJan! I enjoyed your cheerful post! Much to be thankful for, I agree.

    The salmon sounds yummy. I would be thrilled to have salmon instead of turkey . . . I make it, but it's not a favorite of mine!

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  29. I'm afraid I didn't take any sort of walk because we had to wake up early to do a Black Friday outing the next morning at 4:00 am. It was crazy but the price was just too good. I'm so glad you had such a great Thanksgiving, DJan.

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  30. What an amazing sight - a man on a unicycle with shopping to carry. Each day something to astonish! Your salmon sounds wonderful - I love it!

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