Sue and I were so fortunate to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving here at our house with Colin, Swayzie, and little 1 month old Rezleigh, and Marissa, Gary, and Mia.

I had picked up a fresh Turkey Tuesday so that I could rub it down with a mixture of fresh rosemary, thyme, sage, salt, and black pepper, and let it sit for a couple of days in the refrigerator. Sue was busy all week preparing home made pumpkin pie, stuffing, and cranberry sauce.

We were up early Thanksgiving morning so I could do the finishing prepwork for the turkey and get it into a 425 degree oven for 3 hours. I had to stop for awhile as I didn't want to miss the opening of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade as having that on is a tradition.

Everyone started showing up around 10:30 am, and we got right into some snacks and drinks. Of course... almost on key soon after Colin and Swayzie arrived and we were just about to sit down to eat, little Rezleigh had a horrendous shit blow out that brought everyone to laughter. And Mia was right there to help clean up the mess.

I had bought a couple of bottles of Sauvignon Blanc, and that went great with the special maple apple butter and cream cheese dip that Sue had also made for the party. Man, was that great! All I did was cook the turkey, but Sue had been so excited about having everyone over that she was just a whirlwind of prep and cooking activity for literally days! Everything was sooooo good.

Of all the days in the year that call for celebration, Thanksgiving is my favorite. And this Thanksgiving was all the more special because it had been years since both Colin and Marissa had been over on Thanksgiving Day itself to celebrate with me. Though Chuck and Denise would have loved to be with us, it was an important time for them to be with family in Illinois. But Colin fired up his tablet and we had a lovely, though too short, video chat with them, as well as Graham.

Early Thanksgiving morning was chilly but bright with just a hint of snow left from the 16th.

Of course, no Thanksgiving would be complete without having the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on!

Sue early Thanksgiving morning getting the serving table area set up.

Gary and Mia.

Mia holding Rezleigh.

Snacks in the living room watching the end of the parade, and then the dog show.

Gramps trying to get little Rezleigh to stop crying. But she was like that most of the day. It's just her little self trying to figure this new world out, so she's either crying because she's pooped or because she's hungry.

Mia at dinner reading a beautiful story she wrote for Thanksgiving.

Baby Rezleigh appears to be very attentive to Mia's reading.

Turkey out during one of it's periodic bastings.

And it's done!

All around the table to share this wonderful meal together.