Closer view of a young wild turkey

The new flock -- Eastern wild turkeys

We are starting to catch site of some young turkeys.  Aren't they great?

Mid December day

The cat continues to adore her sunny spot in the dining room near the slider that looks out onto the backyard. This morning there was quite a show back there. We had the most turkeys I've seen out there yet. I counted at least 23 of them -- they were having a real party! There was feasting and gobbling, males were mingling with females... why, I just imagine that they planned the whole thing in advance and sent out e-vites to all their neighboring turkeys. "Come on over to Shari's backyard, we're having a hoe-down!". Things got a little crazy when one of the turkeys jumped onto the roof of the little shed. I could almost hear the other turkeys cheering him on "Jump! Jump! Jump!" like some drunk teenager about to jump off a roof into the pool at some house party. Well, that is what I was imagining anyway.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The turkeys in our back woods have made it out alive.  I made a green bean casserole to bring to Thanksgiving dinner this year instead.
Oops, dinner is about to start.  I gotta make this quick.  Just wanted to show the huge oak tree in the woods behind the house.  Mom is in the picture to show the size of the tree.  Awesome, isn't it?

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Odd happenings

This first photo is from Friday.  That group of turkeys came up closer to house.  I rarely get to see turkeys that close.  It was pretty cool.
On Saturday the weather got really warm.  When it wasn't raining and thundering it was foggy.
Most of the snow on the ground melted and many rivers are flooding.  The entire field behind us has standing water on it.  Today it got very windy and cold again.  

So, things have been a little odd around here.  Today was my last day of vacation and I am quite sad.  At least I feel refreshed and ready to tackle the new year.  

Merry Christmas!

This will probably be my last blog before Christmas so I wanted to wish everyone who reads my blog a "Merry Christmas!!!".

I also wanted to add one photo for the day (because a blog posting just doesn't feel complete without a photo).  I was looking out our side window to check on the conditions of the driveway and I noticed a large flock of turkeys (Is a group of turkeys considered a flock?  A herd?  A school?  Does anybody know?).  I have been seeing this group of turkeys way back at the edge of the field but couldn't see how many there were.  I count almost two dozen in the photo!  "Back in the day" one would have made a nice Christmas dinner... Luckily for them, we are having quiche instead (my family likes to do a big Christmas brunch and then just nibble on cheese and crackers and sweets for the rest of the day).

Speaking of my family... I have to give them a call when I am done blogging.  We are trying to figure out if the roads are going to be OK for them to travel out here.  This is my first year hosting our Christmas gathering and I will be sad if it gets cancelled.  Charlie has already assured me that if they don't come this way that we will drive to them (he's a professional you know -- still scared me half to death last night driving to the grocery store ).  In either case, we are praying for safe travels.  

I would love to hear from any of my readers -- are you traveling this Christmas?  Are you going to see all your loved ones?  Oh, and what's for Christmas dinner?  

: )