Post Thanksgiving.

Bebe set a beautiful table and it awaits the guests arrival.  We look back today at the wonderful feast of yesterday.  Truly a day to be thankful for and a repast of note.

Pappy takes the hot bird off the smoker and heads for the cutting board.  The wind was blowing from the south and the temperature was in the eighties.  That all changed last night when the wind shifted to the north.

Grandson Aaron shows us the pumpkin pie he and his mother made.  He has become quite the Chef.

Andrea sneaks up on Pappy and gets an early piece of turkey.  Everybody loves the guy slicing the bird.

Aunt Nene reads to niece Ava while the mighty preparations are being completed.

The spread is out and ready to put on the plates.  Ham, smoked turkey, fruit salad, yeast rolls, cornbread dressing, gravy, squash casserole, green bean casserole, corn casserole, cranberry sauce, cranberry relish, two pumpkin pies and one pecan pie.  The blessing has been said and the plates are being filled.

The left side of the table is too busy to be bothered with a picture.  Aaron has put on his Indian attire to really get into the spirit of the first Thanksgiving.

Andrea tries to match the left side of the table knife stroke for knife stroke.  Bebe took a picture of herself in the mirror.

And last, but far from least, Pappy anticipates the tasty delights.  With a little afternoon exercise and skipping supper I was able to stay within my calorie limit.  Those three pieces of pie were worth missing one meal.

 You must learn from the mistakes of others. You can't possibly live long enough to make them all yourself.
  - Sam Levenson

Thanksgiving at the Deer Lease

Off to the deer lease for Thanksgiving with friends and family. This is roughing it Texas style.
Today we got up, packed the Jeep and headed northwest to a ranch near Benavides, Texas. After two and a half hours we were through the front gate and headed for the campsite. I smoked a turkey yesterday and Bebe made dressing and gravy for the composite feast. I caught Bebe going back for seconds on the cranberry crunch. The meal was delicious.
The weather was perfect with sun, some clouds and a cool breeze. After lunch I made sure my pistols were in working order. The hunters headed for the deer stands and Bebe and I packed up for our return trip home. Lots of deer and other game were moving on the ranches as we drove along and the sunset was magnificent. I was sleepy after consuming a dangerous portion of carbs and Bebe took over the driving during the last leg. Tomorrow I'll start my reduction program to ready myself for Christmas.

I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

Thanksgiving Day

Now you might think this a strange picture to mark our traditional Thanksgiving Day holiday. Stick with me and I think you'll pick up on the drift as we go. This all started hundreds of years ago when a group of immigrants decided to set up a settlement on the continent of North America. There were people living here already. But, the Pilgrims, who were predominantly concerned with finding a place to exercise their religious practice without interference, managed to stick it out. Freedom was the driving force that made people endure a long sea journey, risk a clash of cultures with those already here, and endure the hardships of making a life in a new land far from the things they had learned to depend on. When they knew life was sustainable, they gathered together to thank God for letting them see a glimmer of hope in their new home.

Freedom has driven our great United States of America from the beginning. Men were willing to give everything they owned to advance this noble idea. I believe it was God who inspired the idea. In Romans Chapter 13, Paul devoted an entire Chapter to explain God's intended purpose for governments. In a nutshell, the government was formed to provide a secure atmosphere where people could worship God. Both the role of the government and the role of the governed are explained here. I'm thankful we can still talk and write about God, and the Bible, in a public forum.

I am thankful for my family and the life I've been privileged to live here in the United States of America. I believe in one nation under God. Even though some don't share my beliefs, I still believe we continue to exist because God allows us to. We are beset on all sides by those who have given up on God and would have us join the larger global community of humanists who hold to the premise that man can solve all of man's problems. However, I believe that the majority of those who live in the United States still hold to the idea that God ordained this country and he will be the one who says when its time is up.

Now, back to the cartoon. I believe this backs up what I have just said. The current leader of our great nation, Barack Hussein Obama, and a sizable number of followers have decided its time for us to join the Godless ranks of the global humanists. However, his election was possible because a huge fraud was perpetrated on some of the voting public. Change to them meant something totally different. They were duped because the system failed to work as our U. S. Constitution intended for it to work. Now we see the real forces behind the change. More and more are revolting and support is lagging. I am thankful because we live in a country where we can freely talk about the issues and correct our mistakes before they wreck us entirely. I don't portend to know what God has in store for our country, but I am convinced by personal experience that he is in control and will take us in the necessary direction.

I hope that as you celebrate the tremendous bounty of our great nation with its freedom from tyranny, you will pray for God's guidance and continued blessing as we swim into the deep end of the pool. Happy Thanksgiving and may God bless you and your family. Remember, God loves you even if you don't believe in Him.