11/27/2020, Friday

Quiet Thanksgiving here. We had one close friend join us. This was the first time in 25+ years I've cooked the whole meal. Like Devon, I had a difficult time finding an 8-10 pound turkey, and finally found an 11 pound bird we barely put a dent in. Healthy biscuits, substituting plain yogurt for sour cream, were the only casualty. DH was a great sous chef, serving as the chopper/masher/carver. NYC DD remained in Brooklyn and ordered out from a fabulous Thai place. DD in BC celebrated Thanksgiving on our Columbus Day, Canadian Thanksgiving. My siblings stayed put with their own immediate families, and my Mom remained at her retirement community. Residents were told that if they went off site, they would need three negative Covid tests over ten days in order to leave quarantine upon their return. The entire facility is locked down for two weeks, to shelter them from an anticipated surge due to large indoor gatherings for the holiday. I wonder what the history books will reflect ! Last night, I changed out our Thanksgiving/fall dining room décor for our Christmas theme.

So grateful for all of you !!

So grateful for you too Diane!

Thanksgiving was different here, but very nice. I am a bit worried about the people we have been close to in the area especially for DD. Luckily she has a couple of Covid tests scheduled upon her return and I think Mike and I may quarantine for the next couple of weeks, then test prior to leaving for Massachusetts and again once we are there.

We leave mid-day to drive to my place and DD flies home mid-day tomorrow.

Have a safe and healthy day!

Weight up a pound. Not surprised! But dinner was delicious and I think the best Thanksgiving one I've done. But back to eating healthy now. Thanksgiving is a day, not a week!

Ugh, it is so freaking dry here. 10% humidity this morning. My cuticles and face are mummified and my hair is floating on a halo of static electricity. I am the Goldilocks of humidity - too much, too little... hard to find just right!

As I mentally try on places to move, my thoughts are currently shifted to Fredericksburg in TX Hill Country. Thoughts on TX welcome! I know I couldn't handle summer there (humidity again), but I wouldn't be there in the summer.

I may think about getting a Christmas tree this afternoon. No doubt they are all drying out to tinder at the lots today. Best to get one inside and drinking water.

My brother in law lives near there, in Greune, Texas. I love Hill Country, very pretty. I've visited them in the fall and spring and it was gorgeous weather. My bil discourages us from visiting in the summer, he says it can be brown and miserable. It is more humid than Dallas Fort Worth area, because it's not arid, it's actually more sub tropical, not as much as Houston, but it gets more gulf air. I did not find it all humid in the spring, (March) or fall (October), maybe we lucked out, but the weather was awesome. I'm not sure if I would fit in there (we've talked about snowbirding near bil), because people, (who are lovely, such good manners and incredible hospitality) are generally more conservative than me. But lots of people are more conservative than me. :)

Thanks DD! That's really helpful!

Who loses weight on Thanksgiving Day????? Apparently I do!!!! Go figure. I'm down again today. But, I really didn't eat all that much yesterday. No snacking at all, actually. Go figure. I guess I was too busy cooking. Bird was a little dry, but oh well. At least it was cooked through with no undercooked brown meat!

Yesterday marked a week since I had gone to the dog show. Ron and I took rapid result in home Covid-19 tests. We were both negative, which made me happy. But, on my test, I showed positive for Covid-19 antibodies. Guess I really did have it back in March when I was so sick. Thank God above I had a "mild" case. That appearance of antibodies also explains the breathing stress I feel when I exercise strenuously. Just think, my case was "mild", but I have lingering effects. They are not debilitating, but I can and do notice that it is harder to get enough breath when doing the elliptical and I breathe harder when working out than I used to.

I also want to warn you all to NOT EVER use Bravecto on your dogs. I used to be a believer in it. It worked so well - until it didn't. Here's a link to the FDA fact sheet: https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy /fact-sheet-pet-owners-and-veterinarians-about-potential-adv erse-events-associated-isoxazoline-flea

Lucky had the second seizure last night since being dosed with it in October. It makes me very sad, but he recovered very quickly and is a okay this morning.

I may follow Diane Ocean's lead and get some Christmas festive going in the house. We did such a great job cleaning yesterday, the house is just primed and ready for some festive decorations!

Have a training session scheduled in 30 minutes so off I go.

Thanks for the warning! Ferg uses Advantix II, but I'll pass it along as I don't know what my dad uses for Barkley.

Woohoo for antibodies!

Ocean Diane, it's nice to hear you had a fine Thanksgiving, even though you are missing your daughters, and that you provided a holiday for your friend. Liz, I would think a Florida Thanksgiving without your extended family was different. It looks like a good time, even if it wasn't typical. Cecily, how did you return to healthy eating? Are the leftovers at your Dad's house. There is too much pie at this house. Peps, good to have confirmation about your antibodies. Although your case would be considered mild because you didn't need hospitalization, I remember you were quite sick and it dragged on forever. My daughter was super sick in February, and was tested for streph and influenza, both negative. Almost everyone in her office and her roommates had a similar bout of illness. Pretty sure she had it, but she hasn't done an antibody test. And how long do antibodies protect you? Some Doctors are saying about three months, but I'm not seeing reports on huge numbers of reinfected people, but there are some. So much yet to learn.

Our dinner went well, but like Diane Ocean, I haven't been in charge of orchestrating the whole show in some time.It's nice having my son and his girlfriend visit. She brought her dachshund, at our invitation. We were a little concerned about how this would go with the ancient cat, but cat and dog are co habitating just fine. Both girlfriend and puppy dog are excellent houseguests.

DH is at work, DS and girlfriend went to Starbucks, DD is napping, puppy dog is laying near my feet. When they return we will begin operation decorate the house.'ll make dinner and we will watch All is Calm on PBS tonight. If this is a national broadcast, I highly, highly recommend it. It is a taping of a play that originated in Minneapolis about the Christmas Eve truce during WW 1. The characters are based on real soldiers, English and German, who narrate the story by speaking lines that are from their actual letters. Beautiful and deeply moving.

PS, Diane S. your recommendation of Last Tango in Halifax is my newest obsession. I LOVE this series, almost done with season 2, Netflix has season 3, looks like I can buy season 4 on Amazon for $9.

I left the pie with the folks. And most of the leftovers. I brought home some turkey for sandwiches, a serving of dressing and one of carrots I like. Everything else stayed there!