Thanksgiving 2024

 The holiday was either extended, or delayed, depending on how you look at it. 

We celebrated on Tuesday by having a lovely feast at Mom's residence. They host one each year. I got to sit next to a very chatty lady and hardly got to say a word to either mom or to Mike. But it was a nice meal and a good time. 

I have been working on some craft things for Relief society. Cards and gift tags. I have been on the phone and video chat with Gail quite a bit so she can hold my hand and walk me through those foreign things to me. That has taken hours of my time. 

On Thursday, Mike and I went to Our House assisted living again to eat with Mom.  It was the Holiday and a sparse crowd. They fed us leftovers from Tuesday, I think. We weren't doing anything at my house because Nick's family was supposed to be coming for Thanksgiving, but not until Friday. They had other family in town to spend time with up north. And then Emily ended up getting quite sick with a bad cold, so Kaylee and Emily stayed home and Nick and the three older kids came for Thanksgiving in Cedar City. They came on Thursday night. Friday we had another nice Thanksgiving feast. I made pies and turkey and potatoes and green beans. Nick brought rolls and fruit for salads. It was a wonderful feast. Of course, I forgot to take a picture of it. 

We enjoyed the leftovers for lots of meals! 

On Saturday morning we hiked in St George. We had Eric and his two dogs come along with us. We were just up near his house. Red rocks and sunshine! What can be better? 

Later in the afternoon, Nick took the kids up to Park Discovery. They also went downtown to check on the vendors and activities there at a Christmas Festival of sorts. We went back later all together to look for Santa's arrival and the lighting of the main Street Christmas light decorations and the fireworks. We saw it all! The fireworks were really good. Short and sweet, but really nice. Lots of loud music, huge crowds. Nice small town atmosphere all the same. And then by 6:30 pm they were on their way home to Herriman. 

Mike missed out on all of Saturdays activities because his stomach felt pretty icky. Too much food? Hard to say. Rachel even threw up in the night after our Thanksgiving dinner. I'm hoping I didn't produce something in my kitchen that caused food poisoning, but they were the only two who were affected. But it was just so good, we can't help but overeat sometimes. :-) 

Mom made some holiday crafts ( a rare thing-- she seldom participates in activities there at Our House,).

These are the crafts I worked on for DAYS.

This is a nice, big, thick paper COLORING table cloth that Nick's Family brought.

We did NOT have COSTCO pie for Thanksgiving. However, at our Ward/neighborhood Christmas dinner December 2nd, they did serve Costco pies for dessert. Pumpkin and apple. Check out the size difference! My ' normal homemade ' pie compared to giant COSTCO ones. 

A pensive Rachel, overlooking St. George.

I like that they feel comfy and right at home, walking out of their shoes.

Main Street,  Cedar City, after Santa's arrival. Jane, Logan, Rachel. There were a lot of free activities and crafts along Main street. It was closed off downtown most of the day.

Mom Bought a Chicken!

 The Giving Machine is in St George. Since we had to go to St. George for a cardiology appointment, Mom and I swung by the Red Cliffs Mall for a bit on the way home. 

There's three machines, five other LOCAL charities to donate goods and services to, as well as the international Church- sponsored ones. 

I'm guessing people will be buying a lot of chickens, as it is the most affordable item in the machine that I saw

 But I didn't take the time to look at every single thing in there.

They can accommodate crowds, and I hope there ARE many crowds. I think there will be. I hope there are NOT crowds when Mike and I go back together later.😊

And we saw this license plate on the way home. 

Quick visit from Nick

 I caught my typical "four days after air travel" head cold Friday. I thought it was allergies from flower pollen. NOT. But they ARE still pretty. These are birthday flower replacements because the first original roses died on day 2( markdowns don't usually die so fast). 

Nick and kids arrived around 5:30 pm Friday. Nick was invited to participate in an ordinance with a good friend here in Cedar, so he came with the three younger ones. Just overnight. Rachel stayed home with her Mom. It's just a fast trip. They will ALL be back here for Thanksgiving.

The Little ones like car time and travel for the extended tablet benefits . Ha.

All three on tablets. I was not a fun grandma. No games or stories from me this time. Just sneezing in my room. 

Flipping frogs is similar to tiddley winks, so Nick taught them that game. They had read about the game in a story book at home, so it was nice to have some practical application. 

Heading home from AGW

 

Not a cardboard box. But it looked like a box when you just walked by it. It's wood. And very expensive art. Nice paintings and textiles, too. Gail and I took in an art exhibit at the airport in Knoxville. After we had lunch at the nearby airport Hilton hotel. We got dropped off at the airport after we wandered thru a big scrapbook store in Sevierville, TN. I've never seen so many stickers. Ever. A lot of their stock was really old.

We had a long Airport wait, Gail and I, so I napped and read and walked. Our flight was on time ( yay!).

But we still got into Las Vegas, NV fairly late, got our car, got a burger and drove home to Cedar in some pretty stiff wind. 

We dropped into bed about 1:45 a.m. Zzzzz

Poor Gail had to drive all the way to Spring Creek on Tuesday. And it had snowed that morning! But not West of Cedar, so she had a clear drive home.

More views of the cool, non- cardboard box.

Knoxville airport bears.

Gail saw an actual bear on our trolley ride. I missed it.

Sunday November 10 in Pigeon Forge

 Lots of driving and fun.

We went to "The Island." However, we FIRST slept in and had  a late breakfast.

We had such a lovely and comfortable cabin. Book furniture. Like it was made for me. Bear decor everywhere. This wasn't IN our cabin, but would have fit.

Barbara Buller was our driver. She and Donna are partners in crime. (They go to estate sales together)

Views from the cabin.

Fun deck! We enjoyed it each morning.

View to the left

View from driveway area. Tall, tall foundations, perched on sides of "Rocky Top" mountains here in Tennessee. 

We spent Sunday at the Apple Barn and Cider something. We spent time at "The Island" and rode rides. Fun! 

We did the big, 200 foot tall ferris wheel at sunset. Beautiful.

Donna and Eve on Merry go round.

Apple cider time!

Ate dinner ( and browsed her gift shop) at Paula Deen's restaurant. So good! Way different than the one in Savannah, GA. 

Home early enough for a game or two, but we were all tired out.

Silly Gail.

Ride 'em, Donna!

Donna and Eve Autrey.

Amy and Donna. Amy lives in Tennessee now, but met Donna in Aviano when they both lived and worked there.

Both directions had pretty pink clouds.

Wendy. She's sad because she didn't get to ride the Merry-Go-Round with the other silly ladies. Wendy is another Aviano friend.

The Island had a Baby Bellagio fountain, With rocking chairs all around it. Lots of shops, kiddy rides, but also a good "Soaring over California -type" ride I really enjoyed. Twice. 

Me and a hat I didn't bring home. It's big.😁👨‍🌾

Quotes from Paula Deen's store. Cute stuff.