Monday, November 29, 2010

Winter is Coming.



Autumn’s colored splendor fades away.
It’s coming; I hear the north wind’s song.
Bare branches stand against a canvas gray.
Days shorten; nights become too long.

Cool, crisp, sharp, raw, blue.
Varied harshness marks its passing here.
Weak ones sometimes do not make it through.
At times, it also brings the strongest fear.

Blinding brightness – Snow is on the ground.
Icy crystals bend the straining bough.
Silence broken by its tinkling sound.
Surreal, it manifests its beauty now.


Dennis Price

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Time for the next season.

Black Friday is over and the Thanksgiving leftovers are appearing in smaller and smaller Tupperware tubs, but there is no time for rest.  The adds and glitz of the Christmas Season are everywhere.  I happen to like the Christmas season.  I like what it represents, and the feelings it brings.  I'm not much on the commercial trappings, but I do like the traditional symbols.  I have an artificial tree that looks similar to a real one, but there is nothing like the appearance and smell of the real McCoy.


With blue spruce tree I mark the season’s start.
Its Christmas smell stirs memories from my heart.
When as a child I marveled at the sight
Of tinseled branches hung with colored fare.
Anticipating with each passing night,
The presents that Old Santa would leave there.
Its Christmas smell stirs memories from my heart.
With blue spruce tree I mark the season’s start.


Dennis Price


Friday, November 26, 2010

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