Christmas Tree Lighting - Havre, MT

I don't want to see another pumpkin recipe.

In the last few weeks I've seen recipes for pumpkin mousse, pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin bars, stuffed pumpkin, roasted pumpkin, baked pumpkin, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin chili, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin fudge, pumpkin pancakes and pumpkin soup.

Pumpkin is a weird word when you say it that many times.

I'm pumpkined out and as good as our Thanksgiving dinner was (and was, and was) I'm pretty much turkeyed out, too.

But the wind is blowing with gusto today, and although it's a very pleasant 56 degrees, the windy weather and overcast skies make me want to have soup.

And what do I have on hand?

Turkey.

On second thought, let's go to the Christmas Tree Lighting in the Town Square.

There were plenty of people - mostly kids. Some organization was selling chili. We got a cup and it was very good. It was spicy, tasty and had beans and sliced sausage, which my gardener thought was elk sausage. The chili was served piping HOT and it helped a little with the c-c-cold wind.

This morning I heard a review on the radio of the Tree Lighting. A woman said "The weather was good to us - it wasn't 40 degrees below zero like it's been the last few years."

Huh? 40 below? I'm glad, since this is my first winter here, that it wasn't 40 below zero last night.

Santa showed up and passed out candy canes to the kiddies. He didn't come in on his sleigh (probably because there was no snow). No problem, though... a kindly Border Patrol agent brought Santa to the town square in his BP vehicle, lights a-flashing.
The tree was very pretty all lit up.
It's snowing today and 25 degrees (but not below zero!) It'll be a good night for what else... turkey soup.