Friday, November 28, 2008

Thanksgiving Gatherings November 27, 2008

Seems as though we always gather first in the kitchen, eating area and then spread to the family room at my parent's house. They are both 86 years old and still wanted everyone in the family that could to gather at their house for this special Thanksgiving Day. We are so very blest and have so much to be thankful for. Our families, good health and all that love the Lord. Here is Sylvia, maker of the famous carrot cake, Nikki, Trey, who had just run a half marathon earlier in the day and Andrew.
Here is Mama and Penie, enjoying a nice visit in the eating area. Mama taught all of her family how to cook and so everyone brings a dish or two and we have a fabulous meal!

Edgar is lifting Brock up from the chair.
Daddy and I are overlooking the food and having a little visit as we get ready to eat.

Nikki and Brock.....look at the pretty blondish red hair he has!
Brendan and Bonnie are always full of smiles for everyone! Steve is in the background.
Nikki with her oldest, Brett.......looks like he's ready for some football!
Sylvia, always with a beautiful smile and uplifting words.
Here's Penie, Ryan and Asher is explaining something to us.
Beth, not ready for the photo, but with a beautiful smile anyway!
Wes and Mama at the dinner table sharing the delicious meal!
Ava is peaking through the spindles on the staircase. She loved posing for pictures.
Wayne is intent on listening at the table.
Doug and Dora joined us Thursday evening for a nice visit and some delicious leftovers!
Sondra and Rich having their Thanksgiving dinner in Lacey, Washington, near Olympia and south of Seattle. A long distance away but close in heart. We conversed during the day as we had our turkeys cooking in the oven at the same time.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Poke Salad


I have some trees with purple berries that just arose out of the ground behind the eating area window this year? Well, I have finally discovered what they are.........the freeze has finally gotten to them though.

A sweet little lady came to pick up a quilt Saturday morning, headed for Mississippi to visit her family for Thanksgiving. She was standing in the kitchen area and looked out and all of a sudden said, "Judy, you've got poke salad growing out there, don't you?" I'm like, do I? I have no idea what it is, the birds (especially my hummingbirds) just liked the trees and I've been wondering what it is. She says, I believe it is poke salad.

Okay, so what is poke salad I wonder? And then by Sunday I can't even remember what she called it, but it was an unusual name and not what you would think of as a plant. All of a sudden it hit me this morning and I looked it up on the internet..........yes, it is poke salad, or also known as "poke salit".

And, you guessed it, the berries are sometimes considered poisonous to humans (no, I did not eat any), but not to birds. Many people gather the leaves and cook them with lard and these trees can grow much larger than mine.

Well, just thought you might like to know about my little trees! And the birds have taken a few berries and scattered them on the white chairs on the porch so I have some cleaning to do now. The berries have also been used as dye...........maybe I could dye some fabric and call the color poke salad purple.
Have a beautiful Thanksgiving this week. We are so blest and have so much to be thankful for in this wonderful country of ours!!