Caitlins Thanksgiving Visit

We had a jam packed Thanksgiving day and I was not sure if Suzanne and Heath's hosting skills were going to be able to match the level of hospitality that I had set.  I need not have worried though.  They were more than up for the task of entertaining their friend Caitlin, who was visiting from Dallas Texas.  

The theme of Caitlin's visit became Christmas lights.  As it turned out, on Thanksgiving night, Caitlin's visit to our local Woburn lights was only the first of her three nights of lights.  On Friday, she, Laura, Suzanne and Heath drove through Winter Wonderland lights at Tilles Park in St. Louis.  And on Saturday night, the same group drove through the Way of Lights Display at Our Lady of the Snows Shrine in Belleville Illinois.  

They also kept busy during the day.  On Friday, Caitlin, Suzanne and Heath continued our Christmas baking.  They made peanut blossom cookies and Pecan Pretzel Treats.  Of course, they had to stop and fortify themselves with Thanksgiving leftovers.  

And then on Saturday, Suzanne reserved a table at a Gingerbread House Workshop at Eckerts Country Store and Farm in Belleville.  The goal of the workshop is to create a beautiful holiday display.  Fortunately, because of COVID, Suzanne, Heath, Laura and Caitlin not only had their own table but the only table for their designated time of 50 minutes.  That turned out to be a very good thing.  

This group of four indulged their creative side while designing their gingerbread house.  After they were done, they decided to give it to me to display.  I now have it on my kitchen counter.  One side is very charming.  It has a wreath, trees and a decorated roof line.  That is the side that is facing my kitchen table.

The other side, upon close inspection, although full of candy decorations that show a lot of thought, is a bit disturbing.  There are footprints in the snow that lead up to a gingerbread person who is in a gruesome predicament.  This side of the gingerbread house is facing my kitchen backsplash.  

I am thinking of recommending that this group watch a few more Hallmark Christmas movies and less NCIS.  However, I have to say it looks like they had a good time at Eckerts Gingerbread House Decorating Workshop.  

We were all glad of a chance to spend time with Caitlin over the Thanksgiving holidays.  She is welcome to be a part of the Peterson Thanksgiving holiday anytime.