An Early Thanksgiving

Generally, my extended family gathers 
on Thanksgiving at one of three residences.

 This year, because of conflicting schedules, 
we met this past weekend at the
"party barn" belonging 

to my brother's sister-in-law. 

All together, there were about twenty-four 
adults and children milling about in the heated 

confines of the old, re-purposed barn, 
just on the other side of walls that house 

a dark brown donkey, several pregnant goats,

and a flock of chickens.

The kids, all ten and under, took over one
of the tables for their activities.
These involved a vast array of colorful markers,
glitter, and cut paper.

My nephew Cyril, checks his messages 

while his youngest daughter, Maggie,

munches a marshmallow.

Here my brother, Doug, and sister-in-law, 

Fran, watch the proceedings 

with their granddaughter, Tallulah. 

We were preparing for our annual

holiday picture, taken with each of

us wearing a silly Christmas hat.

Afterwards, one of my grandnieces,

Kinley, made a project of stacking as many

of the hats as she could on her uncle Joseph.

The result is shown in the first picture.

It reminds me of artist Nick Cave's

Sound Suits.