Sounds like an eventful week in Ottawa. Did you enjoy meeting up with old friends and were there many there that you've stayed in touch with over the years?

It looks like the meeting in Oklahoma won't be able to happen, the time flew too quickly and I have a commitment tomorrow that doesn't allow a last minute last day visit. BUT - good news today - my son and his partner will be home for Thanksgiving next month, flying in on the day. They have a wedding to attend on the weekend and we'll probably do our big meal on Friday. SO exciting! I have five weeks to clean the house. That ought to be enough time. Get the table set up and the den ready ahead of time so we can concentrate on cooking; have the guest room dusted and ready (it is in pretty good shape now since I resist putting things in there for general storage). Will I manage to get the the yard tidies also? Will there be a new heat pump by then? Ducks to line up.

It is almost three years since I've seen this young man. Hugged him. Damn COVID. Tissue alert at the airport. In the time that has passed these two bought a house and they're doing a lot more adventurous cooking, so I fully expect to have his help in the kitchen this year. We're going to spatchcock the turkey (I did it last year and it was simply the best turkey I've ever cooked.) I'm looking forward to greater kid participation all around and will have to make sure there is enough counter space.

No delicate cat episodes at this house, we're all about dogs. Today I rearranged some pieces of furniture after deciding that the elderly Labrador retriever needs some accommodations. He's a dark chocolate guy who gets tripped over in a couple of narrow areas where the remedy is moving furniture. In addition to his moving around the house, I've decided to change the walk. Last spring I started walking him separately from the other two because he can't easily keep up. Yesterday when I walked him alone the girls wanted to go also, and when I brought him home and got them ready to go, he wanted to go with them. He wants to be with the pack. Today in another accommodation I took them all out on his little walk then came back to the house to let him in and continued on with the girls. They all seemed happier with that. They'll get smart to this move in the next walk or two, so there will probably be treats at the door to get him through it before we continue.

I put a Beto for Texas sign in the yard today after it arrived in the mail.