The weather cooperated and we stayed dry. It was also pretty warm so we could stroll through the rows of dealers at Scott’s Antique Market. One fellow came up to me and wanted to know if I had been there since early that morning. When I answered no, he went on to tell me that a group of photographers from Martha Stewart’s Living magazine had been there earlier taking photos. Guess we can look for photos of Scott’s to end up in one of her upcoming magazines. “No,” I answered him. “I’m just taking photos for my blog.”

The above photograph is of an old sign that we no longer see any more thanks to cell phones, pages, and computers. But isn’t it easy to think back about five years when you would see them in office buildings or outside along busy streets?

Have you ever thought about where all your “marbles” go when you lose them? You got it: an antique market!

And all the “key” and vital information that you thought you had stored in a safe place; guess what? It’s at the same place. Prices marked do not reflect the final offer from the dealer either.

One lady begged me to take this Victorian doll home for $150. She had been asking $350. The baby carriage was marked down half price. She wanted $699 for it! Thank goodness that I’m only interested in dog stuff and old English china.

We have started this tradition of getting together for breakfast the Saturday before Christmas, and Johanna made sure her Mom and Dad could join us. We had coffee and bagels and eggs and lots of good things.

Because Cocoa Joy could not be with us, she sent a gift—a little stuff Cocoa Joy. (See the photo below.) “Can I take her home,” Johanna asked. “Yes,” said her Mom, “You can even sleep with her. “Ahhh — the perfect gift, Cocoa Joy!”

Once the gifts were opened, Johanna was ready to check out other things.

Taking a quick moment to fuel up with Dad

In the beginning, Cocoa did not know who was coming or how they would get here. She just knew lots of people were about to descend on her house. And whatever happened next was going to be really big! So big that she’s already gotten the lecture: “If you can’t behave, you’ll have to wear your gentle leader.”

Pretty soon Grand Daddy arrived for Thanksgiving dinner.

Grand Bettie (Grandmother) and her sister and husband (Uncle Dixon and Aunt Eloise) enjoyed talking in the living room. Lots of other people came but no one wanted to have their photos made. The “old” folks couldn’t run too fast so they were easy targets for the camera.

Pat and Jay and best friends Bertrhude and Ashley were not camera shy.

Matt and Megan hung out in the living room and talked after lunch.

And after all was said and done, Cocoa was pooped and ready for a long nap. She had a good day. And she only sent everyone into a frenzy one time—when she got caught eating a corner of the Thanksgiving ham, which had been left waaaaay too close to the edge of the kitchen counter. Seems like life always has some rough moments for a puppy dog.

In this photo, Johanna, a friend’s daughter, considers taking a train to her Grandmother’s for Thanksgiving.  But since she lives so close, she probably can just pack up the goodies and simply walk! Have a Happy Thanksgiving Johanna . . . and family.

Several years ago, Opal my beloved neighbor gave me a Japanese Maple tree. I accepted it on one condition—that she would help me plant it. She did; and so far, it has grown to be about eight feet tall. I could not resist taking photos in front of it this year.