I hope each of you had as wonderful a turkey or tofurkey day as we did! Our Thanksgiving was very quiet without the boys. It was also much less hectic. We were all here, no one had to get anywhere by a certain time, we ate when we felt like it, and we didn't do anything fancy.
Thursday morning, we all piled into the car (which has new Ohio license plates and just doesn't look right) and rode around to see the sites. We rode through Caesar Creek Gorge, Miami Cemetery in Corwin, Waynesville, Lebanon, Fort Ancient, and back home. Here's a picture I took from down in the gorge. The green hill is actually the dam. The road runs along the ridge at the top and on the other side is the lake. The gorge area is so pretty and peaceful.
Mom and Daddy arrived with a cooler of food! Daddy smoked a turkey for us back in Virginia. Mom brought the makings for her broccoli, cheese, and rice casserole and her dressing with her, too. I made mashed sweet potatoes with brown sugar and cinnamon and a sweet potato pecan pie. Lois, back in Danville, VA, sent a jar of homemade pickles which were really crisp and sweet/tart for us to enjoy. And, Barbara sent us a loaf of homemade bread. Everything was delicious.
We have really enjoyed the house. The furniture is so comfortable and has proved itself snooze-worthy. We've all taken turns doing just that. I've knit a little and dozed a little. Mom has done the same. Lily, of course, has spent time doing what she does best --- sleeping. She has appreciated the furniture, too, for all the laps it's created. We've turned on the gas logs a few times to knock the chill off the air and they just make the room so cozy and comfortable.
Earl Gray and Gracie also have new furniture - a kitty cat tower - and they are loving it! Earl Gray goes outside and cats around and then comes in and settles onto one of the shelves of the tower and keeps watch outside through the garage door that's left ajar.
Friday morning, I was expecting a little snow on the ground but nothing. It was, however, 28 degrees!
The feeders have stayed full of Goldfinches. I have dozens at a time. A little Titmouse has made an appearance over the last several days. Just this week, I've seen two Downy Woodpeckers who have come for the suet feeders. Here's one
enjoying a snack on Friday.
After breakfast, we bundled up and headed into Waynesville to inspect all the shops. Mom has really been looking forward to seeing all the places that I've written about on the blog. I had not been in most of them so we both had fun shopping around.
I decorate the house and Christmas tree in snowmen - I just love them! - for the holidays and winter. A couple of the shops had these really cute fat stuffed snowmen - one with a top hat, one with a stocking cap, and one with earmuffs. Mom and Daddy gave me one of each and they now sit on the bench at the top of the stairs. A perfect place for them.
We covered a fair amount of the street and then stopped to eat lunch. Several people have told me how good the Cobblestone Cafe was so we decided to eat there. It was delicious! Mom ordered the Cheese and Fruit Plate with Bruschetta, Daddy got the Angus Burger, Andy ordered the Ratatouille Omelet Roll, and I got the Asian Wrap. Everything was presented nicely and tasted as good as it looked.
The picture of Andy and me was taken outside the Cobblestone Cafe with Frosty the snowman. Mom and Daddy were standing in front of one of the shops when I snapped this great picture of them. Mom is wrapped up in my Sursa Shawl and I'm wearing my Blossom Shawl. Both never fail to get compliments when worn -- I think it's the colors.
After lunch, we hit another dozen or so shops and then we were ready to go home. We were whipped!
I'm not sure what we're going to do Saturday. I hope Mom and I get to go to Panera's to sit and knit a bit with the ladies. Then, we could stop at Grandma's Garden and Secret Garden on the way back home. Since tomorrow is supposed to be in the 50's, I thought we might want to go to the Cincinnati Zoo to see the zoo and also the Festival of Lights. We also would like to check out the Air Force Museum (and here). And, then there's the Cox Arboretum. Oh my! So many things to do and see!
With all the riding around we've been doing, the baby blanket is making terrific progress! I'll post a picture soon!