Burr Oak

Burr Oak
Originally uploaded by linfrye

I hope everyone's thanksgiving was delicious and filled with family and friends.

We had a great time -- and like most others celebrating the holiday, overate! Sigh!

Mom fixed turkey, dressing, gravy, candied yams, stuffed mushrooms, artichokes, corn, asparagas, shrimp cocktail ... all of our favorites. We invited one of her neighbors who was going to be home alone to eat with us -- and she added pumpkin pie and ice cream to the bulging table. I ended the feast with a cannoli -- one of my favorite desserts -- and then did the dishes, cleaned the stove -- all in vain hope of working off a calorie or two! (didn't happen! LOL)

As we used to do aftter such a large meal, we sat around the table playing cards and cutting up ... and it felt like 'old times' -- even with a bit of rain outside. Mom, who'll be 85 in January and widowed for 15 years, said she really enjoyed having family to cook for again -- that THAT above all, was what she enjoyed most. Her comment, and the light in her eyes and broad smile on her face, made the holiday for us.

We head back to NC today ... rain is in the forecast and the trip promises to be long and heavy with traffic. I've got my sketchbook for those times I'm not driving ... and a few art books I haven't had a moment to read ...

I've been working on a few sketches from Savannah and will post those from home. Meantime, this burr oak was sketched from a photo as we drove here. I've seen so many beautifully painted leaves this month (Teri, Marie-Dom) and others, that I thought I would give one of my best-loved trees a try. The folding of the leaves, angles and shadows are a bit more difficult than they appear -- but fun! I haven't seen many acorns in my neck of the woods -- but Savannah was a squirrel's idea of heaven -- so much acorn for fodder! And here in Florida -- we saw more lemon, grapefruit and orange trees heavy with beautiful yellow and orange fruit.

According to the newspapers and TV commercials, today is the official 'start' of the holiday season when malls open early for bargains and sales. If you're a shopper, I hope you get that 'bargain' you're looking for ... and for those of us heading home ... safe journeys ....