Traditional Thanksgiving Procession at Wekiva Presbyterian Church

 In the photo, church member Martha Newhart, dressed as the famous Pilgrim, Priscilla Mullins

On Sunday November 23, the members of Wekiva Presbyterian Church will mark Thanksgiving by a visit from Governor Bradford of the Plymouth Bay Colony, inviting worshipers to gather in the spirit of the first thanksgiving. 

The procession of Pilgrims and Native Americans is led by Don Blackadar, dressed as and portraying the Pilgrim leader, William Bradford.  He will deliver the Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, and then welcome a procession of people dressed in Pilgrim and Native American costume.

“The celebration evokes the earliest days of our nation”, says John Dalles, the church’s pastor.  “We look to those first 51 Pilgrims and their Native American friends who gathered in 1621, and remind ourselves that we have been richly blessed following their example.”

The Thanksgiving celebration is open to all who wish to attend, and will be presented at 8:30 and 11 a.m. in the Sanctuary of the church which is located at 211 Wekiva Springs Lane in Longwood.

Boo!

Halloween is a favorite at our house, as we make it a family get together for supper night, and then we watch the little costumed trick or treat crowd as they visit our doorstep.

This year John had to work, but we managed to have everyone else for at least part of the evening.  Tara and Taylor came by, Taylor dressed as a little giraffe and Tara as the zookeeper!  Annie and Steven were with us, and Anne made the apple crisp to go with the main dish.

The main dish was requested by Papa -- Judy's famous maxed-out baked beans.  Yum!  Papa was feeling well enough to come over and have supper with us.  This is only his fourth or fifth outing out of the house since he got home from the hospital mid month in September.  Mimi and Papa both had a good time.  Mimi and Tara and Taylor did some "walking" exercises (no she is not walking yet but can she move when you have her hold your fingers--those toes were made for walking!),  Oh, I mean Taylor of course...

And Papa enjoyed having a bit of quality time with Brantley, here decked out in his Halloween collar!

Watson, the bulldog, is discovering what Brantley the yochon has known all along, that Halloween is a dog's favorite holiday.  They were sure that all of the little Frozen princesses, ghosts, goblins and  pirates were there just to see them!