Early Merrill Thanksgiving

With a niece and a nephew both studying in upstate NY, it made sense for us to host an early Thanksgiving over the weekend as the Girard children made their way south for a week in Rye. So Mom and Dad drove Esme over, Max and Violet drove themselves to our place from Hamilton, and Sara and Peter came up from what my employer calls "downstate." We all convened in Niskayuna on Saturday and ate a non-traditional feast of beef tenderloin, roasted Brussels sprouts, carrots, and mashed potatoes on Sunday. To fill the time in between, a round of disc golf was played by the men and the women went consignment shopping. There was also a lot of board gameplay -- Wingspan and Roots, both with Byzantine rules that only Max and Violet know, so they won -- as well as a round of Taboo and few rounds of an old favorite Rummikub, which Violet picked up quite quickly, winning twice, but which Peter won once. Anyway, it was lovely to have everyone around for a minute. I don't know why we evolved as a society that too often breaks up family units geographically (present readers with the surname Gilmore and Steele excepted), but we did, and it does it make it all the more special when we find the time to hang out.

Taboo, 0.5x Zoom

My sister photographed well all weekend. Go figure.

Peter found this Television device fascinating.

No Lightroom required!

Roots. You play as Eagles or Moles or Cats or Woodland Creatures, oh what the hell, I have no idea...

Aunt Kathy came over for the day from Glens Falls on Sunday.

 

Props to Peter for grilling and carving "the bird." Props to everyone with two X chromosomes for prepping, cooking and baking the rest!