It's one week ago this morning that I had the rectocele repair surgery. All week I kept saying "maybe tomorrow I'll feel like blogging." Finally my head is clearer and my body is not so "attention getting." That is to say, I THINK I can write with some clarity and some joy! Before, I just couldn't get up for it. Frankly, I think I defined the recuperative time as a week and so that's what it took! What a powerful thing is the mind.

The ducks are dancing on the Pond this morning. I think they love the cold weather. The goose is just sort of watching from the sidelines. The mist has lifted and the sun is shining making all the trees double up by reflecting in the Pond. There is gray over toward the town of Ninety Six behind the old fire tower that is long out of use. I wonder when someone last climbed it. Maybe they still do occasionally, but I think the SC Forestry Commission now relies on air surveillance for fire lookouts.

Thanksgiving was a joyous occasion with all ten of us here together. Tate's family arrived from Florida to enjoy the bonfire and s'mores following our hot dog cookout Wednesday evening. I had precooked sweet potato souffle, Clemson blue cheese potatoes, and macaroni & cheese. The guys fried a turkey and roasted lamb. Girls made cherry-o-cheese pies and the boys whipped cream. I put together the dressing, pumpkin pie and pecan pie and at the last minute Luke remembered the collards so those got done while the turkey fried. Sons were kept busy all the while helping the grandsons fish - from the canoe and the pedal boat this time. Everyone managed to stay dry except Luke - which added a bit of excitement when he tipped over in the canoe.

While I escaped to the hospital for my surgery the Friday after, the dutiful daughters (in-law) changed sheets and cleaned up the cottage and the Yogatorium and handled the left-over food. Meanwhile the five grandchildren decorated my wire Christmas tree with hand-made things using construction paper, markers, clothespins, and glue-ons from the crafts box. The clothespins were actually bought to make rubber-band guns with paint stirrers but turned out to be useful clips for the tree too. The children have learned to sign and date each of their beautiful creations so we can all enjoy reminiscing each year. The oldest item is a pineapple Kelsey made in '05. (The fresh pineapple was a real hit this year.) From now on, I'll keep all the items with the tree and we can keep adding to it each Thanksgiving. The kids can hardly imagine how valuable each item is to me. Each day I touch each one and thank God for the beautiful Kelsey and Sydney and handsome Walker, Jack and Sam. My perfect sons, Tate and Luke, and their perfect wives, Wendy and Susan, have created two perfect families For this, I am so GRATEFUL. No greater gift can there be.

Since there is a remote possibility we'll get a dusting of snow tomorrow, I've chosen a photo of the labyrinth I took last year when it snowed a bit. The labyrinth is clearly visible from my chair by the window and even though I don't walk it every day, I draw strength from seeing it!