For These, I Give Thanks

Today is a day of completion. I give thanks for this perfect day. Miracle shall follow miracle and wonders shall never cease. - Florence Shinn

Last super moon of 2020.
Photo: V.E.V., Columbus: May 6, 2020

Days like these.

Perfect.

Exquisite images, sightings.

A white swan by the lake. A rustling deer .
Photo: V.E.V., Blendon Woods: October 2021

Left: Stray pot-bellied pig. Photo: A.V.H., Hawaii Kai: Sept 2021.
Right: Baby geese. Photo: I.T.V., At the Academy: May 5, 2021

Lazy days. Silly days.

  

Left: Nap time. Makapu'u Beach: June 2021

Right: So who's cross eyed now??!!

Fun days.

Left: Riding a tandem bike at the Boardwalk. Right: Water sliding. Aug 5, 2020

Precious days with and remembering beloved pets.

Left: Meeka celebrates a birthday. Columbus: September 2020

Right: Bubba and Snowball's herb garden where Snowball's hutch used to be and where Andy's ashes were buried. The small river rock on the right marks where First Daughter planted wildflower seeds that the vet gave to plant in Andy's memory. July 7, 2020

Baby Minny, Madeline, and Lexi

And, of course, food.

Left: Thanksgiving Dinner. Columbus: 2020

Right: At Duke’s beachfront restaurant, an iconic establishment in Waikiki, anniversary dinner gift from Second Daughter: April 23, 2021

The funny thing about any big meal is that you spend 12 hours shopping for it then go home and cook, chop, braise, and blanch. 

Then it's gone in 20 minutes and everybody lies around sort of in a sugar coma and then it takes four hours to clean it up. So, we take out or eat out.

From First Daughter and Son-in-Law, a fabulous anniversary dinner treat at Roy's: oysters with caviar, seafood and peas risotto, filet mignon, chocolate souffle with vanilla ice cream and complimentary champagne and bread pudding. April 2021

Lunch at home, previewing Second Granddaughter's handcrafted Thanksgiving tablescape: an Indian and pilgrim family scene on her hand-tied runner (left) and her Mondrian-inspired hand painted centerpiece (right). November 2021

But most of all, my perfect day ends with you. 

People who make me happy, the charming gardeners who make my soul blossom.

First Daughter and family vacation. Maui: August, 2019

 

Left: Mother's Day with Second Daughter, Granddaughter. Columbus: 2020.
Right: Shooting hoops. Columbus: October 2021

Today is a perfect day to be better, to be present in all things and thankful for all things. 

Movie night. Hawaii Kai: June 2021

Family. Loved ones. Good food.

Good heavens. Let's eat!

Happy Thanksgiving!