Thanksgiving with Kinfolks in Alabama

It is not very often that I get a chance to spend a holiday with family in my homestate of Alabama. This year I was determined that I would do just that and enjoy every minute of it.My oldest paternal first cousin passed away about two months ago in Cullman. I have become very close to her many children and especially the oldest first cousin-once removed named Martha (named after her grandmother). Martha and her husband live on a family owned farm between Cullman and Arab, Alabama. William, a third generation farmer, plants and harvests a wide variety of vegetables such as corn, turnip & collard greens, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, tomatoes, okra, and blackeyed peas. They also have a variety of fruit trees and grape vines for jellies & preserves.This year their farm yielded a host of good things due to good rain and good weather. So, we have so much to be thankful for while visiting. Today Cousin Martha and I went to her garden and pulled some greens and some turnips for dinner. From her freezer she brought out some frozen okra and butterbeans. Our dinner today will be so yummy.Early today Cousin Martha's two grandchildren launched into a baking frenzy. She has shown her grandchildren (a girl age 5 and a boy age 8) how to bake so today they gathered in Cousin Martha's kitchen and baked two pecan pies. Of course, I did not dare take a slice but the aroma was so wonderful. I am going to show pictures of the baking and the end results. Tomorrow another first cousin-once removed (who lives next door and is married to the brother of William, the farmer) is going to join us to go out for a family dinner at a local family style restaurant in the town of Holly Pond. It is indescribable how pleasant it is to sit around this gigantic table hosting about 12 members of my extended family and hearing all the laughing and comments about what we have to be thankful for.Now for the sad part...we have to leave on Sunday to drive back to Florida. We will be taking with us about 3 bushels of yummy Alabama sweet potatoes just harvested, cleaned, and boxed. Life is good!!!!