It has become a Thanksgiving tradition to take a picnic to Switzer Canyon with the Coopers - only this year we were down the Main Cooper as she had back issues. The Coopers have a block that seconds in awesomeness only to ours - in regard to neighbors. Since Lainie could not come, Christine the block yarn dyer and master knitter (that is really her job, dying yarn - some days you can pass her house and see racks of beautiful yard drying in the sun) - Christine joined as as the surrogate mother.
A real giant tumble weed - really.
Joseph and Ryan spent most of their time battling the giant tumble weed.
Menu - turkey sandwiches, popcorn, apples and pumpkin cookies. A pilgrim feast, sort of - only I forgot to get turkey at the store and substituted cheese and crackers.
I learned on this trip that there used to be a house in the canyon. This grove of palms lined the driveway.
Funny story - Ryan has a reputation of being...well, maybe a little rough. Let's just say it was a big deal for his mother to let him come to the canyon with a sword without her supervision. He's not mean...just a little rough. He was sent with thorough instructions not to poke or hack or stab or anything anybody. So Olivia and Joseph pulled out their Indian headdresses and Ryan says, quite matter-of-factly, "Oh good, something we can shoot!"
Looking forward to next year...
Preparations. 
The bird. Mike is exceptionally fond of the bird. I need to let him start cooking it. I think he snapped about 5 pictures of it...just sitting there on the platter. Don't get me wrong, I soak up the fondness and the praise for not burning it.
And give thanks that he takes on the hassle of carving it!
Carnivores
In the end
Year two with the Thoms. Might have been year three if we knew they lived a two blocks down the road when we first moved here. A lovely tradition - to bad no faces in the pictures to prove it.
