Thanksgiving 2012

In the past we have spent our Gehring Thanksgivings in Palm Springs, CA. This year with Gerald and Becky away on a mission, the holiday happened for us in McCall, ID. McCall is a year round resort town about 100 miles north of Boise. A good portion of the drive from Boise  follows the Payette River Scenic Byway. It is surprisingly beautiful. Surprising because the drive is so dry and barren, then suddenly the river appears with it all its accompanying grandeur. It is this hidden treasure smack in the middle of what is a typically boring, forsaken, Idaho. 

Many years ago, Jake, I and the Frehner family attended a family reunion in Garden Valley, ID. We actually even rafted the North Fork of the Payette River. I remember thinking the same thing then that I did this time, WOW!

This trip we followed the Payette north along the byway. It was hard not be distracted by the beauty and awe of this river. There are giant boulders that seem to be characters in a storybook, they take on a life of their own. The winding through the narrow passageways is often times frightening. There are so many death markers along the way. I would refuse to drive that byway at night or in a storm, what a horrifying gamble that would be. Looking past the danger of the roadway to the glimpses of the powerful river itself is something I am thrilled to have experienced. 

On to Thanksgiving...

Dinner preparations on the way. Gretchen is making biscuits. Paula is making mashed potatoes. Molly is whipping up something yummy....

I had the responsibility for the turkey this year! For some reason Gretchen and Laura had thought that I had done it before. Now that I think about it, it was probably because Becky always cooked it at our condo in Palm Springs. Well, since I am not one to turn down a new cooking challenge, I dove right in and brined, rubbed and injected that bird. Wrapped it in an oven bag and popped it in the oven for a few hours, praying the whole time that it would turn out. It was fine, just upstaged by Laura's brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes! 

 Thanksgiving bingo.

Dani and Mary chilling. 

Skyping Gramma and Grampa.

Dinner...

The poster on the door behind Gabi is a list of things all the kids wrote that they are thankful for.

We are so thankful that we were together this year. Since Gerald and Becky are absent, it may not have happened. We love this family. We love hanging out with them, playing games, cooking, eating, recreating, it is all a blast. We thank Molly for finding the lodge, it was a perfect fit for all of us.