Thanksgiving, at last...

We had a great Thanksgiving, in Bigfork! I've been trying to write this post for almost a week, getting all bogged down and overwhelmed with the magnitude of it; I get halfway through the train ride, quit writing because I have to do something silly like make dinner or shower or pick the child up off the bus, and I can't figure out where to pick it back up, so I trash it and start over....
But I want to do it!
SO.
To make it manageable, it's going to be a Top Ten post.  It won't be all-inclusive, but we'll just have to live with it and move on.
Without further ado:

Top Ten Great Things About Thanksgiving 2011

1. Riding the train with my family. We had a great time and the kids were unbelievably good!
2. Seeing the Nutcracker ballet in Bigfork...I can't begin to describe how magical it was.
3. Having everyone together for Thanksgiving for the first time. It was crowded, but we weren't missing anyone and THAT was a blessing.
4. The food.  (I know you were wondering when I'd get to that...) There was a LOT of food and it was all good.  Every day.  Except Frank took the gravy home (accidentally, he claims) leaving us with naked leftover mashed potatoes, but I'm not bitter or anything.
5. Shooting (at) clay pigeons on Thanksgiving morning with Wayland, Ivan and Jenny. I didn't hit many, but remembered that I like shooting!
6. Running in the mountains...it's just flat gorgeous, there. My runs were longer because of the scenery.
7. Morning coffee with Celestia, in our jammies.
8. Doing dishes after Thanksgiving dinner, all us "kids" laughing and visiting, Pink Martini playing in the background.
9. Cheesecake. 'Nuff said.
10. Making a new friend, a kindred spirit.

Top Ten Not-So-Great Things About Thanksgiving 2011

1. Delayed train...three hours delayed...for the return trip. We got home late and grumpy.
2. 14 bodies in an 8 body house. Everyone got along and it was cool, but it was FULL. It would be better in the summer, when we could all set up tents or something.
3. Did I tell you that Frank STOLE the gravy? (Now I'm just picking on him...) :)
4. Some varmint got into the pie and cheesecake, that we were storing outside since the fridge was too full. We're not pointing fingers and understand how a critter would not be able to stop eating that stuff.
5. We swapped germs and came home with colds. I have no idea what we shared with everyone else, but I'll just apologize right here.
6. Not enough time with each person I wanted to have time with...across the board.
7. I didn't take my big camera and I wish I had.  I felt handicapped, artistically speaking!

I really can't come up with any more things for that list; technically not a TRUE Top Ten list, but it'll have to do. I think I have about 4 photos that I'll attach here later!