With apologies to Laura Ingalls Wilder, I have dubbed my new home The Little House on the Retention Pond. This is the view from my back door. The previous owner graciously left her swing.
I use the word “home” guardedly. It isn’t home yet. But I am doing the first thing to make it a home: bubbling celery and onion in butter, and simmering giblets. Ah, stuffing.
When I first visited this place and saw the retention pond, my immediate thought was ICK. My second thought was MOSQUITOES! Third, maybe I should see the inside.
But once I’d been glared at by herons and snubbed by ducks, I began to feel I’d been hasty. And once I saw the reflections of the neighbors’ lights at night and the reflections of the day’s lights at dawn, I felt I owed the pond an apology. This little drop of water knows how to throw light around. And I’m a sucker for anything that sparkles.
I don’t know yet if my family will be here for Thanksgiving. What I do know is that I will have turkey and stuffing. And, if I can find the can opener (so far, no luck), I will have canned cranberry sauce. If my family comes, they will bring assorted side dishes which will be served atop festive packing boxes, artfully arranged. The shining water outside will be nicely echoed by the shining plastic drop cloths inside, the ultimate in gracious slip-and-trip living.
Meanwhile, I intend that reflecting is something we will do together, the pond and I.
Happy Thanksgiving, dear reader, from The Little House on The Retention Pond!
Oddments 
November 22, 2017 at 12:21 pm
Beautiful! It looks like you are going to have a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the meaning of life as you start this new chapter. 🙂 I can almost smell those onions and celery cooking. With or without visitors, here’s hoping you have a nice dinner and day in your new home.
November 22, 2017 at 12:41 pm
Thanks, Judy! I will indeed! We are promised sunshine, and that will make it a true holiday in these parts! And, yes, this is a new chapter of life and reflecting is in order; I’m glad I have you and other blog friends to reflect to.
November 22, 2017 at 12:52 pm
Beautiful. Happy Thanksgiving, hopefully with the family providing the side dishes.
November 22, 2017 at 1:52 pm
Thanks, Shirah! And a happy Thanksgiving to you too! I know Thanksgiving isn’t a global holiday, but giving thanks is in everyone’s tradition. I do wish the world had more to give thanks for right now. Well, in our own little corners we will try for good.
November 22, 2017 at 12:57 pm
I’m glad you gave the pond another chance and that you are making this house your home. I look forward to seeing the views from your back door as they change with the seasons. I wish I lived closer so I could run over with a pie and can opener, but I am sending lots of Happy Thanksgiving wishes, along with wishes for much happiness and peace in The Little House on the Retention Pond.
November 22, 2017 at 1:55 pm
Thank you, thank you! I very much appreciate the can opener and the pie — how neighborly of you! I also look forward to tracking the seasons with the pond. It’s amazing, isn’t it, how a small place can be a whole new world? Happy Thanksgiving, Bonny, to you and your family!
December 1, 2017 at 12:25 am
Ooh, I love herons. How wonderful to have one as a neighbour. It will be nice to imagine you out there, reflecting.
December 1, 2017 at 9:57 am
My heron seems to be a noble of some sort, with his long aristocratic neck and haughty bearing. He has no time for frivolity, either, with his whole focus on getting dinner. He is such a model of patience — I take note.
December 3, 2017 at 6:02 pm
He might be a very poor fisherman, so has to work hard not to let distractions like having a new neighbour get between him and his belly. We tend to take fishing for granted when it comes to herons, but I dare say some are better at it than others.