Topiaries, penance and fantasy

Calloway Gardens - Saturday


- The delightful Christmas topiaries at Calloway Gardens.

- My niece coming in from the neighboring house looking for milk. We tell her that we are out and are roughing it with that powdered stuff in our coffee. She has lost a bet while playing Super Mario on Wii and her penance was to bring milk and cookies to her cousin.

- My father declaring the Fantasy in Lights show at Calloway, one of the best things he has ever seen. My favorite: the Twelve Days of Christmas light display with the Three French Hens waving French flags.

Repeat visitors, around the moon and delight

Pine Mountain - Friday


- Niece Amanda feeding the geese. And as predicted, their memory of the food lingered - with them coming back for more. And more.

- The voice of Mandy on the GPS sending us around the moon and back just to go 17 miles to pick up a birthday cake. We decide that the virtual Mandy is laughing behind her hand at sending us right and left and right when we could have just gone straight.

- Mother's delight at her party full of singing family, presents and laughter.

Macon, for one more day and hugs

Thanksgiving Day:

- Welcoming family at my aunt and uncle's overflowing home in Macon, GA. From 3-months-old to 84 years old, 50 in all spilling out of the house to welcome each other.

- A bittersweet reunion, knowing the house will be sold soon. So many years of memories and full of life for one more day.

- Hugs, hugs and more hugs. And then on to another journey to celebrate my mother's birthday in style.

Anticipation, sightseeing and "Food That Pleases Since 1929"

Thanksgiving eve and morning:


- Arriving at the airport on a busy evening without incident, settling down on a bench at baggage claim and almost instantly seeing the smiling faces of Carla and Timur in from New York for the weekend.

- Showing them some of the sights of Atlanta on the way home, ending with Stone Mountain Park and its carving. Timur saying, "Now I can cross that off my list."

- Carla says Timur loves diners, so we head to the Majestic Diner for a Thanksgiving breakfast. It was diner food served by a gloriously tattooed waitress, who tells me she is invited to two Thanksgiving meals. Timur pronouncing it "perfect."

Little food, affection and grateful

Gone until Sunday, friends - have a happy Thanksgiving!

- A wonderful dinner at a new restaurant, “Cakes and Ale” that friend Leisa discovered. They cook with seasonal vegetables from local sources, artisan grains and organically raised meats. The food was kind of little, but good.

- Having two friends say “I love you” to me twice in one day.

- Friend Tim fixed my noisy furnace and only wanted shortbread in return.

Bundle of energy, rave and mousse pie

- Calling on a client at her home, a little dog named Lucy comes tearing in the room full of energy, jumping all over the place with excitement that I am there. I ask, "Jack Russell Terrier, right?" "Right."

- Our group pre-holiday potluck at work, full of wonderful things to eat. Scooter prepared pulled pork barbeque that he nursed on the grill all through the night, starting at 10pm on Monday night and taking it up at 4:30am Tuesday morning. We rave and tell him he needs to enter it into one of those barbeque competitions.

- My chocolate cheesecake mousse pie was really good (thanks to Jannie Funster for the suggestion!) I took a second one to my volunteer organization, where there was much excitement over it. The volunteer coordinator, perhaps feeling a bit overwhelmed by food this week, said, "I don't know whether to hug you or throw something at you."

Unexpected, rhyme and native

- Receiving the best kind of gift - an unexpected one from Barbara D, a beautiful blue beaded bookmark.

- Asking new client Tahirih to spell her name for me and she adds, "It kind of rhymes with hip hip hooray."

- My hairdresser is Native American and is hosting a Sweat Lodge and dinner for friends this week, saying he likes upholding the tradition of the original Thanksgiving celebration.