Three things from DAH.

DAH is me, David Anthony Hance. I pen, promote, and make change (not the coin kind). 

First up this week, Turkey …  
Yesterday we had a heritage turkey (or standard bred) for our feast. A Spanish Black from Grabishfarm in Dixon, California (the bird was raised near us). It cost more than an on-deal supermarket turkey, but, as Christine said, "We only cook a turkey once or twice a year. Why not try something special?" Our turkey, delivered to us by Amy Grabish the day before Thanksgiving, looked rather different from what we are used to. Longer legs and a smaller breast. Amy pointed us to an old Cook's Illustrated article about how to cook a heritage turkey. I read the article carefully and realized that I hadn't left myself enough time to cook it as advised. What to do? Well, I spatchcocked it (cut out the backbone with poultry shears and pushed on the breast to flatten the bird), then grilled it in a 400F Weber charcoal grill (indirect heat) for 90 minutes. The meat both dark and light was juicy and full of flavor. No dry turkey here! We've already asked to be on the Grabishfarm list in 2021.
Why a Heritage Turkey Is the Best Thanksgiving Bird

Second up this week, Tree …  
We woke this morning, the day after Thanksgiving, to be surprised by an arborist team on-site a day earlier than expected. The City of Woodland (where we live) had tagged us for having a tree with branches and foliage to low over the roadway and sidewalk pavement. As I write this, more daylight is falling in the window before me, as the grinding noise of a woodchipper makes me feel fidgety and vibrational. The tree in our front garden is rather grand, but it has a very low growth habit. It's a Southern Live Oak, with green leaves year-round and branches that like to linger lower and longer. Thus the issue with roadway obstruction. It's a magical tree, however, and we wouldn't trade it for anything. Our front garden is almost entirely shaded by the tree. In that shade ferns and sun-averse broadleaf plants thrive along the winding path to our front door. 
Southern Live Oak

Third up this week, Travel …  
After turkey and tree trimming comes travel, of course. Just a bit of a road trip this morning, into the El Dorado County foothills. It's perfect weather for a Sunday-drive-on-Friday. Each year we purchase a case of wine from Cedarville Vineyard, a tiny estate that we never would have stumbled upon. I discovered the wines at a trade tasting in Sacramento and pursued them because I thought they were the nicest I tasted that day, years ago. Normally, our road trip would include a tasty stop at Andrae's Bakery in Amador City. Alas, the COVID-Pandemic and its restrictions inspired the owners to retire and close their business. Will we ever make that turn off the main highway to visit Amador City again?
Cedarville Vineyard (Fair Play, Sierra Foothills)  

And a bit more, something to think about … a poem by Emily Dickinson: 
One day is there of the series
Termed "Thanksgiving Day"
Celebrated part at table
Part in memory -
Neither Ancestor nor Urchin
I review the Play -
Seems it to my Hooded thinking
Reflex Holiday
Had There been no sharp subtraction
From the early Sum -
Not an acre or a Caption
Where was once a Room
Not a mention whose small Pebble
Wrinkled any Sea,
Unto such, were such Assembly,
'Twere "Thanksgiving day"

And that's all for this week. 
From Mary Oliver's poem "Sometimes" …  

Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it. 

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