I LOVE THANKSGIVING

Friday, November 29, 2019

I LOVE THANKSGIVING

All the preparations are sooo much fun! Planning, making lists, the shopping numerous times to various stores and at least three days of cooking prior to the main event!
But first, a trip to the Pumpkin Patch...

Ahhhhh.....

This handsome fellow was spied on a second trip to Whole Foods.

I finished checking out and then had to go back for him!

Cranberries done, stuffing done, curried fruit done the day ahead...Sweet potatoes are done the day of...

I apologized to the turkey for this...

Kita trudge on through the rain...

I always cook the neck and veggies for lunch and then the broth goes into the gravy! Sooooo good. In fact, I can always tell if the turkey is going to be sweet and tender if the neck is.

Fun watching the Dog Show while doing last minute preparations...Why don't they ever show the Akita's being judged. It's so not right!

There was a separate table for the pies....wonderful pies from Kc and Patricia, and the cheese.

Here comes Curtis and his famous garlic mashed potatoes!

Not quite sure what was going on here...

Thank you Dr. Reilly for carving the turkey.

Sweet Carol....

Kita got lucky several times...

Jim Reilly prepared one of his famous questionnaires (this all about Thanksgiving) for the needed break between dinner and desert!

We had fun with the 'photo booth' signs....

Sweet Patricia wanted Kita to 'strike a pose' but the puppy wasn't having it!

Now it's on to Christmas...

May yours be bright and beautiful!

No comments:

Post a Comment

Introduction

There is no avoiding the pull of the internet, the blogs, the YouTube imaginings. It's as if we're all 'On the Road' with Jack Kerouac each in our own world of meanderings. When we tell someone to 'get a life' it might be a bit difficult when you're dragged into other people's 24/7.

I've come to realize two foundational principals, there are no accidents and everyone has a purpose. More and more I'm desiring everyone to come into a full realization of their purpose as we all find our way on this little jewel of a planet.

For me, as a professional 'Western style artist', I stumbled into Chinese Brush Painting after a trip in 1980 to Monet's home/garden. Seeing all of his collection of Japanese woodblock prints was an ahh haa moment for me and when I returned to the States I started painting in the Chinese manner and never looked back. The first year was extremely painful for me as I felt that I should be able to master the technique since I was a 'trained' artist. Not a chance ... that just gets in your way.

Now, after teaching close to 3,000 students and having my book 'The Ch'i of the Brush' published by Watson Guptill, I can say that every one of my students does better their first day than I did my first year! Why? Because I insist that they leave their critical parent outside and just enjoy the journey, respecting the work that they do. I never let anyone throw anything away because that just ingrains frustration and defeat.

We really only begin to learn when we stop and figure out how to 'save' a painting. It works every time.I am so proud of my students, their receptivity and eagerness to express themselves is a continuing blessing for me.So, back to finding your purpose. Perhaps it starts with realizing 'it's not about me'. It so easy to want our needs met and to filter everything thru this attitude. When we realize that we're here to be of benefit to every life that we touch the universe really provides the ways and means.

The best part is that it's really exciting to not have yourself on your mind all the time!I'm re-reading a wonderful book about authenticity and in my next meandering I'll tell you about it. In the meantime I'd love to hear about your journey and am here to answer any and all questions about Chinese Brush Painting.