Did I really think it was necessary to do a whole post just to announce that I had changed the background here? Like wouldn’t it be patently obvious to the casual reader that something was different since last time? And if a first time visitor looked in, why would it matter that it had changed, the whole experience is new?
New background for the season. Or at least until I get tired of it.
1) Write a Will.
2) Buy your executor a heavy duty paper shredder.
I want my West Wing!
It was a nice enough day that we could ride around with the top down, but the cloudy skies and weather forecast got us to put the top up if we were away from the car for more than 2 minutes.
This morning I dropped one of Donna’s brothers at his big-rig at the interstate truck stop where he had parked it, so he could go back to work. From there, Donna’s sister rode with me to the Columbia airport where she was to board a flight back Orlando. Around noon the other two brothers and family hopped back into their rental car and drove to Atlanta to get on flights to points west.
Donna’s mom lived with us for the last 5-1/2 years and even though we were quite often in three different rooms doing three different things, it is strangely quiet here tonight without her.
While we were at the Blessing of the Hounds we had a stranger take a group picture of us.
Left to Right – Back Row: Me, Donna’s oldest brother Jim, her next older brother Steve. Front Row: Jim’s daughter Jennifer, Donna, Jim’s wife Linda, Donna’s younger sister Sandy and her youngest brother Scott.
To see how much we’ve changed since last year, go to the entry for 11/25/2004.
The blessing of the hounds is a hunting tradition that dates back to the 8th century, but here in Aiken since only 1914. We’ve lived here for 16 years and this is the first year we have attended the ceremony held annually on Thanksgiving day. One reason we finally went was our neighbor’s daughter was receiving her “colors” from the Aiken Hounds. Another was it gave the whole family something to do for a couple of hours at midday while we waited for the turkey to cook.
It was a mile or so walk from where we could park to the Memorial Gate in Hitchcock Woods where the festivities were to take place and we couldn’t have asked for a better day. The temperature was in the low 70s and the sun was shining brightly. There was even enough color left on some of the hardwoods to really enhance the setting. I think next year Donna and I will find a spot in the woods and wait for the post blessing hunt to come charging by.