Thanksgiving to Xmas family

It seems that lately we have had the most wonderful of family gatherings.  Ken and Erin hosted both a Thanksgiving gathering and also a Christmas gift exchange, and there were numerous other occasions to celebrate all of our wonderful children and grandchildren.  There were the usual concerts with Westerly Chorus, Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, Second Parish in Hingham, and Old South's Christmas Eve service (Susan and I have sung at Old South Church in Weymouth for 48 years!) and January will be welcome with its slowing down.
Here is a collection to end the year's blogging.  I hope you enjoy them.
My very best wishes to you all for a rewarding and healthy 2020.

Jackson, Ken, Erin, Oliver

Thanksgiving

Erin and her third turkey, ever. 

Very successful!

Jackson

Out at Plum Island, about 0 degrees. 

But a great shot of a Northern Pintail!

At the movies

The annual trip down to Heritage Museum and Gardens for the light show. 

Alex and Carter

(barely containing their desire to get to the hot chocolate and toasting marshmallows)

The spectacular Merry-go-round

Susan, feeling especially the Christmas mood. 

First serious snow fall, exceptionally beautiful

Christmas at Ken's with the whole family

Jackson and Susan

Cheryl and Erin

Ken

Princess claiming the Christmas Tree

Alex and my creation for 2019.

The boys gave me a random collection of legos, and

the challenge is to use up every one in some construct. 

Alex astounded at his own genius.

At Barbara and Bill's, Christmas day

Leah

A really hard puzzle

Bill carving the Christmas Ham

la salad

Sam tasting Karl's wine, 

a Plum wine and a Apple wine.  

both were, hmmmmm, different. 

zee trifle

Susan, Barbara

Christmas day dinner. 

Clockwise from Bill, left.

Susan, Amy, Leah, Doug, Sam, Jeff, Barbara.

As rewarding a Christmas as I can remember. 

The fall, Oliver, Alex, Carter, migrating birds, Fuller Craft Museum, N.E. Wildlife Center

A lot has happened since my last visit.

A visit to Plymouth Airport by a B-17, B-24, B-25, P-51

Tragically, this B-17 crashed several weeks after these pictures were taken, 

resulting in the deaths of many crew and passengers.

B-24

A P-51 Mustang, configured as a trainer with a seat behind the pilot. 

The St. John's Prep Chorus, Oliver far left front row. 

A dune at Plum Island

Migrating Wilson's Plovers

A Ring-necked Pheasant!

This magnificent bird was on the edge of Rt. 105 just above Oak Point. 

It was probably released for hunting.

The Fall color was minimal, but once in a while.....

I wish I had captured this shot in the wild, but it was a captive bird, part of a display

put on as part of a Canon photo seminar.  This is a Screech-Owl

And this is a reticulated python. Alex and I visited the New England Wildlife Center in Weymouth, and we

were fortunate enough to find the local snake specialist at work, who showed Alex everything from a tiny newborn

snake to this King snake, which he courageously held.

At the Fuller Craft Museum, a little color on the grounds. 

And a few exhibits.

Tom Ferrero

"Collar of the Chancellor" 2008

Steve Cayard

"Traditional Maine Birchbark Canoe" 2019

Jun Kaneko

"Untitled 15-02-20, 2015

Jodi Colella

"Once Was (Remembrance) 2019

(detail)

Ted Noten

"Uzi Mon Amour" 2009

This and the next three are part of the gold-themed

Golden Anniversary of the Fuller Craft Museum.

Hew Locke

"Columbus, Central Park" 2018

Anthony Sonnenberg

"Character Study for King Midas" 2016

Olga de Amaral

"Montana 17" 2003

(detail of above)

More Fuller Museum environment. 

I took Carter back to the New England Wildlife Center, and wonderfully, he got the same

great show from Tigran Tadevosyan, the snake expert and biologist. 

Carter and the King snake. 

And we found Marco!

Former son-in-law of close friends Jane and Wynn Hallett.