The stitch group was back in a 'normal' mode today. No party! It sure felt different. Our hostess tried to make up for it, though. She had a jello salad; two different kinds of scones with strawberry jelly to go with them; two kinds of cheese and assorted crackers; and two different kinds of nuts [one seasoned with herbs and the other with garlic and both from Estonia. And that was before dessert ... she had a fabulous pound cake with raspberry ice cream to top it, three or four kinds of candy including a very dark chocolate from Estonia  I am still full. Poor Bill, he may have to have pbj for dinner.

Kaethe brought the last of my ornaments today. As always, they are beautifully done. The little girl with the baton is for Becca, in honor of all her first place finishes at the Nationals. (I had originally stitched it in a very pale but very pink ... her mom saw it and suggested any color but that pink would be better because Becca currently 'hates' that shade. Oh, well, it was smallish. It is now a deep raspberry.) The Karate Kid is for Xander. He earned his Blue Belt this fall.

Thanksgiving is looming. The kids from Long Island are traveling down to Ocracoke by way of Centreville. A bit of a detour, but we will take care of their dogs while they are gone. They have to come back early this year because Barb has to be home to work Friday night. So they will spend Thanksgiving day traveling back here. If they make it early enough in the day, they will head on over to my sister-in-law's for dinner. She is the hostess this year. She has given out assignments. None of this pot luck business. She knows what she wants each of us to bring... I was assigned an appetizer and a salad. For some reason she thinks I make good salads. They tend to be a challenge because of all of the food allergies in the family ... fresh fruits, most nuts, mushrooms, some vinegars ... does make a selection hard, but I think I will go with a broccoli salad with sunflower seeds for the salad, and probably a brie with almonds and cherries that is not heated, but served chilly - not terrifically cold but colder than room temperature.