Thanksgiving Chez Burke

The holiday of Thanksgiving in the US is much like boxing day in the UK, without the wrapping paper and turkey curry. A lot of our friends have spent the month thinking of things for which they are thankful every day. I have very much enjoyed joining in with the tradition, and like many, spread my thanks throughout my network through the medium of Facebook. It's either sappy or fortifying, depending on which side of the fence you stand. Personally, I think it's great.

Dean and Heidi invited us to hang out with them and the boys for Thanksgiving . It is generally a time that people spend with their family and loved ones. Since out family is in the UK and most of theirs is in Texas, we said, 'Agreed' (check out KungFU Panda for the quote).



We started the festivities at 12pm with some witty conversation and a great game called 'Apples for apples' where you are given a set of word cards. Another card is drawn with a different word and you have to choose the one of yours that most fits eg. Dangerous might be met with Gym Lockers, Guns, Mussolini... much fun.



Heidi had worked until midnight the previous evening and somehow still managed to whip up the most amazing spread. She had also spent the last 3 weeks scouring the superkmarkets and tv shows for suitable gluten-free products and recipes! Thanks Heidi! So we had Turkey, cranberry sauce, gravy, Heidi's Grandmother's stuffing, wild rice stuffing, sundried tomato corn bread, southern green beans, biscuits (scones) made by Talon, carrots, sweet potatoes and apple, wine....three servings, and a tight stomach skin. I was in a food coma by the second mouthful.

Boo, the cat, had to stay outside.



After a short walk, some staring into space, video game playing and viola recital, we were ready to move again. Talon, Logan and I played a favorite of mine, numbers. SOmeone calls out a number and you have to put that many body parts on the floor. Glad I'd had time to digest.

Logan got hold of the camera and decided to document the world from his view point. These were some of the results:





The star of the evening was Talon. After seeing me play, he reluctantly decided to have a go. Now most kids, after say 3 minutes and some less than committed attempts, hand the thing back, say thank you, and return to the video games (For those who know, that is a 16 1/2" viola). Talon did not. He was an absolute natural and covered about 3 months worth of bow technique in 10 minutes with no instruction. I think I have a new convert. Go Talon!

November 1st 2009

Today has been a great day. It started with the fog rolling in over the Puget Sound, shrouding Vashon Island in a suitably mysterious veil for the day after Halloween.

We had a party last night with some of our best friends here in Tacoma. It was a wonderful opportunity to share fun with them and let them know how grateful we are to know them and benefit from their kindness. We love you guys, you know who you are! Trick or Treating on North Yakima is something akin to taking a stroll through a movie set. Shoals of eager faces caked in face paint and fake blood move up and down the street visiting neighbours and gathering candy. The eager participants decorate their front yards with all manner of ghoulish acessories and allow the passing spry to wander on their property and take their goods. The grown ups join in too, ofcourse. Now as you all know, the Corkes are never ones to turn down the chance of a fancy dress (this turn of phrase caused much confusion. Fancy dress here = black tie. Costume is the correct word). So in we dove. As did the Burkes. Thankfully, little to no photographic evidence exists of the evening and I feel that this is best to preserve the dignity of all concerned. Lets just say the words flannel onesie and speedskating lycra and leave it at that.

Sunday brought the joys of tidying up, de-spidering the living room, discovering drinking glasses in unusual places and general homeliness. Then we talked with Rachel on Skype and got ready to experience a more well-rounded cultural event relating to those passed - Dia de los Muertos. This is the Mexican tradition of the 'Day of the Dead' where friends and relatives and remembered and celebrated. The event was at the local art museum. It is fascinating to have what is as close to an authentic experience of this culture as we're going to get here in Tacoma. The art, music and dance was mesmorizing, as was the people watching. We stood for a good 30 minutes simply observing the crowds unfold below us. All this set to the backdrop of a glorious autumn day with Mt. Rainier clear as it ever has been, proud and majestic with its fresh snow fall.

Next on the agenda was a visit to the local second hand shop Urban Exchange in search of cowboy boots for me. My feet are wide. Very wide. I searched two and a half years for my last pair of boots. The chances of ever finding a pair of pinch-toed cowboy boots that I could tolerate were slim. And then....Bam. There they were! I am now the proud owner of a pair of dark brown boots that will grace the floor of Heathrow airport.

Finally to top it all off I have just been for a walk to the water for my daily commune with nature. I was standing on the pier soaking up the purples, pinks, oranges, browns...the whole gamut of fall colours, silently discussing life, the universe and everything with a seagull and hearing the full moon sending its beam of light across the water to me. And then up popped a harbor seal. Perfect.

I returned home to find Tony engrossed in a whole nother level of hummus making. He has found the zen of chickpeas. Diners, prepare thyselves.