I Just Like To Smile; Smiling’s My Favorite.
Behold, my Thanksgiving recap post (with pictures!), which is only being posted one week (to the day!) after Thanksgiving, which means, yes, I’m patting myself on the back. And wishing I had absconded from Spokane with more leftovers.
6:30am(ish) on Thanksgiving morning, heading from Portland to Spokane with Hans:
Her car was bewitched, I think, because we managed to make it from Point A to Point B with two stops in less than six hours. (That’s a new record, and a bit nuts, actually, though I promise we weren’t really speeding. I’m telling you, her car is a magic carpet living inside a Ford Focus shell.) The drive was also one of the best ever, mostly because I can’t imagine a better person to be stuck in a car with for a long drive than Hans. She even laughed when Iggy repeatedly made eyes at her and snarfed on her arm.
Gingersnaps for my first ever sweet potato pie crust:
More sweet potato pie prep (Have I mentioned how much I hate cooking but love! baking?):
The verdict: the pie was definitely tasty, but I really shouldn’t have put it on the bottom of the oven to bake, as the crust was a little burnt in places. (Thanks! again to Ali for the recipe.)
The oven was doing some serious multitasking on Thursday:
My parents live on a lovely little lake:
The resort area where they live was incredibly quiet, so peaceful, and so so cold.
When we arrived my mom had her famous homemade stew on the stove (I could eat it for weeks, seriously), and while I was wholly expecting to have a fantastic weekend, I wasn’t prepared for the (generous/unexpected/crazy) gift waiting for me in my parent’s garage.
Exhibit, My New Car (that is my parents’ old car and also: awesome):
(The car pictured above is not my exact car, but it’s a Ford Focus in that exact color, so close enough. My version had a rad red bow attached to the antenna. “Thankful” doesn’t even really begin to cover it.)
This is what happens when I’m trying to take a picture while Iggy is attempting to pull me in the opposite direction:
It’s a tradition of sorts in our family to decorate the tree the day after Thanksgiving. My mom and I managed to get the tree up and fully glammed in less than an hour, mostly because this year we decided we didn’t need lights on every single solitary branch, amen.
On Saturday afternoon I (very reluctantly) came in from the lake to spend a night with my grandparents, wherein Iggy somehow received even more attention than he does when we’re with my parents. (“Very reluctantly” because the lake is just so perfect and so peaceful, not because I don’t love my grandparents endless amounts.)
Aside: Iggy literally looked out the back window at my mom and yelped and yelped as we were driving away, that’s how much he loves her. He also succeeded in making my mom cry. I may or may not have been laughing, only because it’s endlessly amusing to me that I ended up with a dog sappier than I am.
Home, and promptly so exhausted; can someone please bring Iggy a San Pellegrino?
I hope you all had a great! Thanksgiving holiday (or non-holiday for all you foreigners* out there).
*I am unable to write, think or say “foreigner” without getting Juke Box Hero stuck in my head.
[Post title from one of my favorite holiday movies of all-time, Elf.]
I just watched Elf the other day. YES.
That photo of your grandma with Iggy is PRECIOUS. It reminds me of my great-grandmother who had a black mini-poodle named Hoppy. She would always feed him extras from her meals-on-wheels so he got kind of fat. Hee.
Congrats on the car! I think you are right, your parents really are gunning for Parents of the Year Award. That is truly spectacular.
I love this post, and I love Iggy, and I love you, too! :D
Cousin,
Love the photos.
Will you be in Spo-town at all for Christmas?
Because I miss your face.
Love,
Frances Elizabeth
I need to watch Elf again.
Love the recap, and the photos, and the NEW CAR. Hopefully no rats take up residence under the hood…
Looks like a a lovely weekend, Kerri. And the car? AWESOME! I used to own a Ford Focus (together with my sister) in my early twenties! I loved it!
P.S. Did you get my email about the Christmas Cards?
Making the drive with you was an absolute pleasure. I still cannot believe how quickly it went, due to not just my magical car, but also to your endlessly entertaining conversational skills. I heart you, my Frans. And I’m thrilled we get to do it all over again in less than a month.
Ah Spokane. So glad we share that and so many other (vampires) bonds.:)
I’ve never had sweet potato pie but it sounds yummy! Love all the photos, as always. Makes me miss shooting Polaroid.
Awesome car! My last car was a silver Focus. It was my first new car and I still miss it. Your parents rule. As do you.
It’s high time I watch Elf for the first time (THIS YEAR). Also, when are you going to take me for a ride!?
<3 i like your smile, too!
That’s one of my favorite lines from Elf. :-)
Your Gran is so cute! I want to hitch a ride with you to the lake. It looks like bliss. And stew sounds yummy. And I like hanging out with you cuz you’re cool and stuff. Hee.
It looks like it was a perfect trip. Great pictures, as always. :)
Sounds like a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Aw, the pic of your grandma and your dog is great!
Awesome recap!
Oh, how I’ve always wanted to get a car with a bow attached. Damn you Lexus and your unrealistic dream creation!
Yay for surprise new cars!
Also, now I want Ali’s sweet potato pie. It’s that good people!
LOVE the photos!…The husband’s oven did multi-tasking too…and the toaster oven even got some action..
You have beautiful photos!