Thanksgiving at the bottom of the world

Happy Thanksgiving from the South Pole!  We had a really lovely holiday dinner yesterday... linens and table runners, candlelight, and wine served by good friends.  On the menu:  turkey, gravy, real mashed potatoes (we usually only have instant), roasted root vegetables, sweet potato and green bean casseroles, two kinds of stuffing, rolls, baby greens salad with cucumbers and cherry tomatoes (!), and three kinds of pie: apple, pumpkin, and pecan, topped of with fresh whipped cream.  No, we don't go hungry down here!  And that whole dinner was preceeded by a lovely appetizer session in the hallway outside of the galley, with baked brie, celery and carrot sticks with dip, shrimp and coctail sauce, artichoke tarts, a cheese plate, and sangria to wash it all down.  There were three dinner seating to accommodate the station population (at 232 or so right now) and I was a the third.  It was a stretch to get up and participate in the dance party that started up shortly after we were finished...

The tables were really nicely set, all with volunteer labor to polish glasses, fold napkins, lay out the settings, etc.  It's all about everyone helping out to get things done here. 

There was some dressing up that happened, a nice time to get out of Carhartts and into something from life back in the states... or just something fun like Ashley... 

Here's the dish pit, where the magic happens after every meal... again with volunteer labor during the holiday and usually you can find a volunteer helping out in there during regular days too... it's one of the toughest jobs on station.
Today, just rest and relaxation, reveling in the luxury of two days off.  Now that I've got this thing created, I hope to leave you all a more regular insight into life and times down here.  It's flat and white, but that doesn't mean boring.

ttfn and just know that even though I'm WAY behind in responding to emails, I'm thinking of all of the dear people in my life and very thankful for you and all of the experiences we've shared together.  I really am such a lucky person, not a day goes by that I'm not smiling about one thing or another in my memories.

Love and hugs,
:) jos