I learned a very important Thanksgiving lesson this year. A wonderful meal and a memorable day have absolutely nothing to do with table decorations or a fully equipped kitchen. It's not as much about total organization as it is about total devotion. I had the rare opportunity to watch a perfect meal unfold in a setting that would have sent a seasoned, more mature couple into therapy. A perfectly choreographed dance couldn't have been more beautiful to watch. A meal to remember. An unforgettable day. Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Davis for inviting us to share in your first Thanksgiving dinner in your first home. Love you both!

Indian summer has come to the creek. A beautiful day to throw open the windows and soak in the sunshine. A day not so conducive to deer hunting, I'm told. The deer prefer the cooler weather and evidently the hunters prefer sitting in their stands shivering in layers of cammo waiting for that elusive trophy buck to show himself. I have a theory that as hunting has evolved and the need to hunt for food has made way for the need to hunt for sport, that the deer have done their own study of the hunter. In this age of technology, with automatic feeders and motion activated cameras to track the movement of the prey, the deer are becoming more intelligent. My reasoning behind this theory? I'm 99% sure that I saw the beautiful 12 point buck in the photograph winking and sticking his tongue out at the camera. While the hunters are sitting in their tree stands waiting for him to show up, I really think he's sitting behind them, just out of their line of sight, snickering a little bit. I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see another picture of him at 2AM, looking at the camera winking and sticking his tongue out. "C'mon Mr. Hunter, roll on out of bed at 5AM, climb up into that contraption you have hanging in the tree. I'll be watching, waiting and occasionally napping until you're gone!" But, just in case that elusive buck slips up and walks into the path of my hunters, I've cleared out a spot in the freezer!

My man and my man child are sharing in this experience. I'm enjoying seeing them bond. I'm enjoying spending time with my soldier. I'm savoring this time, hoping to tuck enough memories away to keep me going while he's gone.

Blessings from the creek, y'all!