We drove through the neighborhood today after running some errands. We passed a lot of homes that had Christmas decorations, but this one stood out.
What should we call him? ZZ Claus? Hell’s Santas? SC Rider? Any other suggestions?
We especially liked the sign in the window behind Santa.
We had occasion to visit our local home improvement emporium today. Even when we’re there for another purpose, I always like to see what’s going on in the garden section. What else but poinsettias? A sea of red with green undertones. One of these beauties became mine and sits on the dining room table (until we move it to accommodate the Christmas tree next weekend, that is).
Last night in our neighborhood, Santa Claus came to visit. Thanks to our Police Department and the Police Officers Association, Santa goes to almost all residential areas of the city starting late in November (we’re almost first on his list) and continues through Christmas Eve. He is preceded by an entourage playing Christmas Songs over a mobile music system and several police cars with red/blue lights and sirens — pretty impressive, not to mention that it gets your attention. Lots of kids show up curbside to see Santa and collect a candy cane or two.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, writing in the voice of his “greatest detective” character, Sherlock Holmes, presented a tribute to this magnificent natural beauty (read below the photo).
During a brief lull in a criminal investigation (“The Adventure of the Naval Treaty”), Sherlock Holmes took a moment to smell a red rose. The flower, he remarked to his friend Dr, Watson, clearly was evidence of divine beneficence. “Our highest assurance of the goodness of Providence seems to me to rest in the flowers,” proclaimed the world’s greatest detective. “All other things, our powers, our desires, our food, are really necessary for our existence in the first instance. But this rose is an extra. Its smell and colour are an embellishment of life, not a condition of it. It is only goodness which gives extras, and so I say again we have much to hope from the flowers.”
The roses in the photo will assure goodness at our table this weekend.
I posted about our Thanksgiving Day, and Damsel posted about the sacrifice our military families make on holidays. All good and well — but — imagine having an untimely event happen in your family on this holiday and having to make the best of a bad situation — well that’s exactly the scenario for Retired Geezer and family as they rushed to be with their son recovering from a helicopter crash. Seems like Brian is on the mend and will recover — A Thanksgiving, indeed.
Note to Brian: get well soon — and welcome to the club. “They” say there are two kinds of helicopter pilots: those who have crashed and those who are going to. You and I are both past that milestone now. I was lucky and walked away from my crash in 1979. Damsel and I hope you keep flyin’ Brian . . . I kept at it and I’m thankful that I did.
Damsel and I are planning to celebrate Thanksgiving at home again today. According to the American Automobile Association, 40 million people will be travelling somewhere or another, so we figure that home is haven from the madness.
While we will be preparing the feast for later, we plan on watching the NFL Thanksgiving Games:Dallas vs. Tampa Bay and Detroit vs. Miami. I think the home teams will win, but Damsel wants the Florida teams to win. We’ll see . . .
In a break from tradition, the NFL has decided to air a third game in Kansas City where they will be hosting Denver. Damsel and I are again split where I think the home team will win and she likes the visitors (well not really, we like San Diego and Oakland over both of these teams). Luckily, we have the satellite and will be able to see this game on the NFL channel; the game is not going to be shown on local TV.
Finally, we’re having the traditional American Thanksgiving feast this afternoon, with turkey, mashed taters, green beans with onions and fennel, Brussels sprouts with pancetta, cranberry sauce, stuffing, gravy and pumpkin pie. I have a couple of Sam Adams Winter Lagers on ice and Damsel has a bottle of Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay (a great California Wine).
OK — enough about that — let’s start the preparations!
Have a very Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
