Thanksgiving at Home with Toys and Turkey

Thanksgiving at home in Walnut Creek this year, no driving anywhere, which meant the morning went slow. Our daughter stayed in her Elf on the Shelf pajamas half the day, building on the living room floor — a peg-board contraption with spools and cubes and star pieces that kept growing until it needed two bases and a bridge between them.

The turkey got its attention in the kitchen corner by the sliding door, football playing on the tablet propped against the glass, the dog nosing in for a look. Cloves and oil out on the counter, an orange being peeled while the bird sat waiting in its tub. Leaves all over the patio outside.

Then the bird went on the rotisserie out back — trussed up tight, spinning on the Weber all afternoon until the skin went dark and blistered. By the time it came off she'd changed into the red Christmas tree shirt and a white bow headband, one holiday ending and the next one apparently already starting as far as her wardrobe was concerned.