From Dayjillymo (Jill) ---- SECOND PLACE WINNER
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DOWN HOME for THANKSGIVING
We gather in Aunt MILLIE’S KITCHEN as we arrive. Various members of the MILLER FAMILY and the WESTBOURNE KIRBY FAMILY CIRCLE join the annual THANKSGIVING day CELEBRATION bringing food and SMILES with them. GRANDMOTHER puts on her GRANDMA’S APRON and supervises both the cooking and the trips DOWN MEMORY LANE, flashing her GRANDMA’S SMILE and sharing her GRANDMA’S PUMPKIN PIE .
Before long, the CRANBERRY SAUCE , the WESTBOURNE SWEET POTATO PIE, mashed potatoes, RED EYE GRAVY and the BUTTERBALL turkey with all the FANCY FIXIN’S are brought to the table for the BIG FEAST and we all gather to enjoy the BOUNTY of the FALL HARVEST. ONE AFTER ANOTHER we GIVE THANKS and express our GRATITUDE for a BOUNTIFUL HARVEST and for the ENDURING FRIENDSHIP of FAITHFUL FRIENDS and family. MANY THANKS are said around the table, with SPECIAL THANKS given for those who were CALLED TO SERVE with our troops in FAR AWAY PLACES.
After dinner, kids are shooed outside while the DESSERT is readied. Before long, we can hear the WESTBOURNE KIRBY KIDS FLYING KITES shouting “APPLE PEACHES PUMPKIN PIE!” and they all come running to see what’s available. As the little ANGELS GATHER AROUND, the OOHS, AHS, AND WOWS are heard LOUD AND CLEAR as they express their APPRECIATION and ANTICIPATION for the grand assortment of DESSERT ON DISPLAY.
PUMPKIN PIE, APPLE CRISP, CARVED PUMPKIN PIE tarts, and an overflowing COOKIE JAR are all available alongside SCRUMPTIOUS CARROT CAKE, two versions of ANGEL CAKE,(one with FROSTING ON THE CAKE),Aunt HELEN’S BLACKBERRY COBBLER, GEORGIA PEACH COBBLER and the ever popular CHOCOLATE FUDGE that UNCLE DON says is FOR CHOCOLATE LOVERS ONLY! HEY LOOKIE – There is a TODDLER holding GRAPES GALORE in one hand and a FROSTED PINK GINGER COOKIE in the other with his BIG SISTER right behind him cradling a SUGAR COOKIE in the shape of TURKEY LURKEY. They both look PLEASED AS PUNCH and their HAPPY LAUGHTER ECHOES down the hall.
On Uncle ELIJAH’S MANTLE above the FIREPLACE are GRANDMA’s PRECIOUS CANDY jars and ANTIQUE SILVER tins which hold a WONDERFUL SELECTION of AWESOME CANDY. Tins of homemade STRAWBERRY CANDY sit beside jars of ELDERBERRY CANDY made fresh with GRANDPA’S CHOICE HANDCRAFTED elderberry TABLE WINE, striped RIBBON CANDY and even CANDY CORN in honor of the FALL HARVEST season. Everyone feels like a KID IN THE CANDY STORE looking at the DAZZLING DISPLAY.
Once our SWEET TOOTH is happy, COUSIN CHARLES calls out “LET THE GAMES BEGIN” and kids scramble OUT OF HERE to be FIRST IN LINE to play HIDE AND SEEK, BASEBALL, LEAP FROG and HOP SCOTCH. The kids always have MORE FUN than a BARREL OF MONKEYS at these FAMILY AFFAIRs and the CHILDREN’S LAUGHTER ECHOES through the FARMSTEAD.
All too soon it is TIME TO GO. We pause long enough for HUGS; GRANDPA HUGS, BIG HONKING BEAR HUGS and whole group hugs we call OCTOPUS HUGS. With calls of “THANKS A BUNCH”, and “SAME TIME NEXT YEAR” we start our JOURNEY HOME. What A PEACHY DAY!
