Happy Thanksgiving to those of you on the north side of the world. 

While I am and always have been a great promoter of the turkey-laden holiday, today we are not celebrating nor is it likely that we will be doing so on fourth-Thursdays-in-November to come. Do not get me wrong, I am a stickler for traditions what with their obscure dates and at times ridiculous rules. In essence, holidays and traditions are nothing more than repeating firmly established protocols. This repetition, in turn, gives us solace and time for reflection. When one knows the hardship of winter, there is nothing more comforting than sharing a filling meal whose menu has been predetermined. 

But, alas, today marks the day that I and my household break from tradition, not to forsake it, but rather to establish a new one. From this year forth and those that come hereafter, as long as we live in the southern hemisphere, we will celebrate a Day of Thanks in May, as it should be, according to the seasons. Because, I must tell you that 14 hours of sunlight, spring greens, strawberries, and miniskirts do not a Thanksgiving make. In fact, Thanksgiving is perhaps my favorite holiday due precisely to the fact that it is a reflection of the season's bounties. A coming together in appreciation before times get tougher. It is thus, just not possible, to celebrate such a day at the end of Spring when it seems that the world can hardly get more beautiful, the days are ever longer, and pumpkins and apples won't be ripe for months.

Therefore, friends and family, do not pity me when I tell you that this Thursday was like any other beautiful Spring day. There was no pie, there was no turkey, there was no celebration, but those things will come. Perhaps, like this past Day of Thanks in May we, with close friends, will feast on rabbit in addition to stuffing and potatoes and all of the other goodies. Perhaps we will create a song, or choose not the fourth, but the third week of the month. That is the beauty. At this point, while we are still cultivating our routines, traditions, and protocols, anything is possible. 

This weekend has been rainy and dark

... which reminds me exactly of when we went to find the tree right before I left Indiana! Summer rain in Chile is not quite the same as winter rain in Indiana, but both recent experiences have been torrential downpours. This weekend I have enjoyed hearing the pitter-patter on the roof from the safety of my cozy home, tree hunting in the rain was somewhat less enjoyable. But on the day after Thanksgiving, the show must go on! Tis' tree hunting day.

a tree farm like no other

drying off in the wreath barn!

despite the rain, the place was packed! lines of trees being wheeled up for wrapping

I think Happy found a good one.

Let us not forget the joy of tying the tree to the car. In the rain. 

I know I'm really behind here, heck we're already a fourth of the way through December, but here's a little recap of Thanksgiving in Indiana... my first since 2007!

After two weeks of pies, and pies, and more pies, stuffing, bird, 'taters, and so much else, I must say I am happy to be back home in Chile where summer abounds, radishes can be pulled from the garden, and long sunny days keep us active. It was, however, wonderful to spend time with my family and friends, I miss you all already!

I must say that I think I know my way around a pie. 

What's your net weight in beans? 

Only way to make a moist bird is to get up close and personal.

pumpkin is really the easiest of pies and with Libby's its fail proof

so much relish tray...

few problems G&Ts can't solve... 

happy holidays :)

Adding extra lights to your house makes a whole lot more sense when the sun isn't shining for 15 hours a day.  

On Tuesday, I returned to the northern hemisphere.  Here, the week before Christmas is as it should be.  Its cold.  As in less than zero.  Its dark.  Almost all day.  All of the houses in my neighborhood seem to be trying to outshine one another.  And everyone has lost their minds buying presents, baking dozens of cookies, sending silly cards, and watching White Christmas yet again.  Its great.  I can't wait for Pablo to get here.

feast

The birds were ravished.  Two tiny seven-pounders did not last long in this crowd of voracious turkey hunters, but luckily we had eleventy-hundred side dishes to induce a tryptophan coma.  There were Polish pies and sage stuffing, Mexican mashed-potatoes, Arkansawer cranberry dressing and biscuits, olives and asparagus, Brussel sprouts Floridian, mashed yams with 'mallows, Greek salad made by a Greek man, and Canadians-who-stole-Thanksgiving gravy.  It was an epic feast shared by friends from a small world.

The day started at 2pm.  Which is mere blasphemy considering years past.  I was a cool, calm and collected cook who damn well knew what she was doing with a turkey and could make pumpkin pie in her sleep.  I prepared pie crusts ahead of time and had six loaves of bread ready to be converted into stuffing.  But mostly, over these past years of hosting, I have learned the value of putting my trust in others.  To bring what they will.  To bring their own taste.  Even if that means the potatoes arrive half and hour late.  As do all things Mexican.

When the bellies were full and no one could move, we sat and we talked.  The same people who see each other six times a day, at work, at the store, at the movies, at lunch.  In our small funny town we're actually quite quaint no matter if we come from all sides of the planet.  When the Norwegian professor gets up to sing us a song, and the Chinese man smiles along with the Swiss, the Greek gives a smirk, and the Latina does something silly, we all are just one big family feasting together.

amazing illustrations by the great Manalle

Since Thursday is a workday in these parts, we will be celebrating on Friday (which technically will still be Thursday in some parts of the USofA).  Thirty some Turkey Hunters will be gathering to feast on the illusive Arabian bird and no doubt mountains of 'taters, stuffin', sweet yams, cranberry sauce, beans, and corn will also go down the gullet.  We will have pies-galore with cream on the side, and whatever other mystery delectables our strange crowd might bring... mangoes, konafa, pierogi, hibiscus tea?  It will be a Saudi Celebration.

oh, hey there

and a belated Happy Independence Day to you too.  It was seriously, the most uneventful United Statesian Day yet.  We were moving.  Again.  Long story, but after work on the 4th of July, we spent the next six hours moving stuff, lots of stuff.  

In the last few weeks, though, we have had some sweet adventures around the great land that is Saudi.  We had a Caveman Party (hence the excessive facial hair) and then the next day we got the great idea to go for a sunset hike.  We somehow forgot that it is 100+ degrees outside (45+ celsius) until after the sun goes down.  It was a sweaty affair.  Good times with good friends doing crazy things.

I am still working on finishing posts on Istanbul, so stay tuned, more to come on that trip and other adventures!