gold today..

red tomorrow.

2011

Here goes.. One of my favorite things to do Thanksgiving eve (or morn) is to search out pictures of the President pardoning that year's turkey.  Can't tell you why, at least not in a sentence or two.  They are fun.  It is a strange custom and a LOT more complicated than I ever thought.  I was happy enough with the pictures.. but when I started looking into what goes into such an affair, it is mind boggling.  We are a silly people.

 

Wild Turkey Bourbon offered this year's winner a job as mascot.  They should stick with wild turkeys.  (He is handsome.)

I'd like to see a wild turkey win.  They are so much more colorful, and interesting, if a turkey can be described that way.

I never knew that the turkey spent the night before in a hotel.  Or how it was chosen, or schooled.  See this from Obama Foodarama

The National Turkey–who is always male–will weigh about 45 pounds by the time he meets President Obama. Huisinga will select the official turkey and his feathery stunt double on Nov. 18th, the day before they are driven to Washington for their moment in the Presidential spotlight, according to Wilmar spokesman Jenn Baumgartner. A second turkey is always chosen in case the first gets ill, or can't "perform his duties."

Last year, President Obama likened the selection process to a popular reality TV series, noting that the wannabe National Turkeys had to "strut their stuff for a panel of judges."

"It’s kind of like a turkey version of “Dancing With the Stars," except the stakes for the contestants was much higher," President Obama said, to laughter. "Only one pair would survive and win the big prize: Life –and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington."

…

… with the Presidential Flock, exposing the toms to plenty of flash cameras, and plenty of noise–in the form of rock & roll music. The birds have also been taught to stand on a table, to replicate what goes on at the pardon ceremony, when the National Turkey is placed on a table for easy presidential access. 

"They're getting a lot of hands-on attention," Rosenblatt said.

The turkeys will travel to Washington in the back of a van that has been designed to replicate their pen on the farm. Once in DC, the turkeys will be staying at a five-star hotel, which has requested anonymity to protect the birds.         BY EDDIE GEHMAN KOHAN  

 

THis is what an educated turkey llooks like. What a great picture.. my favorite this year.  Hats off to the photographer, Pablo Martinez Monsivais.

 

Want to know more? Check out some of past year's on this site.  There are things that I didn't know.  ouch!

 

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

What a strange autumn.  Gorgeous warm days. A snowstorm. More gorgeous warm days. Sunday was one of the later.  All week the predictions were for a day in the 50's, maybe higher, and sunny.  I needed an afternoon off before the holiday push. Armed with sandwiches, nuts, and a thermos of tea, we headed for one of my favorite spots.  

 

Until several years ago, the bluff was covered in an impenetrable thicket.  Less than half remains.  I argue with the wisdom of the decision to cut it down, partly because there are now so many fewer birds and because I love the look of the brush that makes up the thicket.

There are bittersweet vines and wild rose.

And trees shaped by the winds.  The deer still find spots to shelter in.  We saw a buck several times during the day.  Between stands of thicket, the grasses are shoulder high and we'd see only his antlered head moving across the field. 

There are rocks..

(you know where this is going.. )   and more rocks..

 

We went prepared.  What could be better than sitting on a rocky beach, just at water's edge, soaking up the late autumn sun, gathering beach stones.  

 

Almost perfect.