Anatomy of Thanksgiving Dinner

Just for fun I chronicled our Thanksgiving dinner in just black and white.
Please forget the previous statement whilst you view the following picture of the fire.

Cozy crackling fire all day

Even though I feel like a little kid when I say it, I really don't like Brussel Sprouts...

Key part of Thanksgiving: dessert. This year we had chocolate cake with ganache frosting along with the Thanksgiving staple of pumpkin pie. Please take a moment to admire Emily's beautiful pie. Editor's note; the pie looks much better in color.

Standing rib roast, delicious oyster stuffing and sweet potato casserole. 

Though I'm not a huge fan of sweet potato, so I just eat the topping off, again like a little kid.

Mushroom wine sauce for the meat any edible thing to be found under the sun.

Also an important part, cranberry relish. My Nana always brings one with cranberries, apples, oranges and walnuts.  I eat by the bowl. Editor's note: literally by the bowl.

My darling Mumsie's handmade napkin rings.

And to end out the night we do the dishes. Then we stayed home and played cards, and did not go shopping, 'twas delightful. Editor's note; Emily creamed everyone in Dutch Blitz.

In case you haven't figured it out yet, Emily is the editor. : )

anthology of thanks from A to Z

Anna, me. God has given me an incredible life

Blogging, baking, beds (my bed is incredibly comfortable)

my trip to Congo, chocolate covered pomegranate

my amazing dad, my loving dog who shows me unconditional dog love

examples of people who live their life for Christ, exercise

fellowship with fellow believers, family, cozy fires in winter

grandparents: I'm thankful to have both sets still alive, Greek- taught to me by my grandpa

home, hair- specifically my long curly hair

inspiration that comes from many different sources: nature, people, Scripture

jasmine

kitties that sit in my lap and purr

laughter, learning about life

my most amazing mom, music- radio, playing the piano, singing, iPods

nature-made food

ocean

photography, pumpkin bread with chocolate chips

quiet

renewal, reading

simple pleasures in life, smiles

technology, it makes life much easier in many ways

unconditional love

vitality

warmth both figuratively and physically

that I'm not a xanthippe. (Emily said I had to use a word that actually started with the letter x and I couldn't come up with one, so I came up with a word that I'm thankful I'm not:  an ill-tempered woman)

yearning for a heavenly home

zeal for life

 

Today..

Today I'm...

I've been thinking how I should have take more pictures at the White Unto Harvest conference. I believe I took 3 the entire time. Talking just took up all my time. 

Still thinking what a wonderful Oyster Roast we had on Saturday. 

Tons of people + oysters + desserts + laughter = A fantastic party

Learning french. 

Learning a new language takes time, a lot of it. I just started French, so far I enjoy it, but then I've only been studying it for three weeks. Ask me in a month or two. 

What is it with girls and chocolate? 

I'm editing pictures from a photo shoot with this dear family. 

While listening to this beautiful song. I've listened to it over and over again. My favorite part starts at 2:15. I may or may not rewind that sections many times over... If you haven't listened to Piano Guys yet, do!

The sermon yesterday was on the importance of feasting with fellow believers. In the Old Testament the Jews feasted 22% of the year. Feasting is a time for building up the Body of Christ. Often it is hard to have fellowship when you leave church right after the service. I am thankful for the wonderful fellowship I enjoyed yesterday with fellow believers. The two hours we spent talking with believers was so refreshing.

I woke up to the soothing sound of rain pattering on my window this morning. Only problem is soothing sounds make you want to stay in bed rather then get up in the cold darkness of early mornings. 

I've been practicing this piano piece. I almost have it down and it's lots of fun to play. 

And last but not least my brother is home for Thanksgiving and we're very glad to have him back. 

Up North

After D.C. we headed to the not-so-cold north, Ontario, Canada to spend a few days at our cottage. I was hoping for nice chilly weather, but sadly it was not to happen...

Once we crossed the border we stopped for the night in Niagara-on-the-Lake, a very charming town (where my mom's cousin runs a B and B).  We arrived rather late and only caught the tail end of a fabulous sunset over Lake Ontario just down the street from the Inn.

We enjoyed beautiful colorful leaves around the cottage--somewhat lacking at the beach to say the least. 

Trees just off our deck overlooking the water

We spent our days by the cozy fire in our brand new woodstove

 We did lots of reading,

Some berries we picked down by the shoreline

Splendid landscapes from the cottage; this one very early one morning.

And pretty afternoons too looking out the other side of the deck.

We just never get tired of the view, no matter what time of day.

Early in the morning. 

The water was perfectly smooth, hardly a ripple to be seen

And as is my usual habit, I took portraits of my sisters. My sisters can never complain when they get older that they don't have any pictures of themselves when they were young. 

My wonderful parents

Continuing on with D.C.

Our second day in D.C. started out as our first one did; at Bread and Chocolate, a cafe and bakery just around the block from our hotel. They have the best oatmeal I've ever had. 

It is served cold and mixed with yogurt; every bit is loaded with fruit and nuts. 

Next we took the metro to Arlington Cemetery and wandered around for a while.

Lots of leading lines and repetition for photography

JFK and his wife's graves

This is the grave of the first person to be buried in the cemetery, she was the godmother of the woman who married Robert E. Lee

At the top of the hill is Arlington House, at one time a residence of Robert E. Lee

It has lovely gardens to explore. 

From the cemetery we walked across the Potomac River to the Lincoln Memorial. 

Here he is the man himself, or rather an image of himself

Like a good homeschool student Emily recited the Gettysburg Address... but halfway through her recitation it became evident that portions had slipped her mind...

After being on our feet all day we wanted to rest, which really means I make my sisters serve as photographic guinea pigs. 

After resting at the Lincoln Memorial, we walked 100 yards and decided to rest again and admire the Washington Monument. 

Right next to the Lincoln Memorial is the Korean War Memorial. 

There was a whole group of Veterans there as well. It was interesting as you walked by to hear snippets of their story. Our grandfather is also a Korean War Veteran.

Just in case you think I don't have any unposed pictures. 

Pirate

We strolled to the other end of the reflecting pool and admired the WWII Memorial. 

After way more miles than I felt like walking, we stopped for a nice healthy snack to give us energy; a cookie ice cream sandwich hit the spot.