Zinnia and I went over to the Mansion on Thursday to visit the residents who didn’t go visit their families, or whose families couldn’t come. There was a fine Thanksgiving lunch, but I also fed there might be some loneliness and sadness.

Holidays are complex for the residents, so is the holiday season, there is also a sense of loss.

There were some lonely people. Nancy, in the photo,)  had hoped to visit a friend for dinner, but it didn’t work out. The Secret Garden was empty.

I brought a big box of cookies from the Round House Cafe. Zinnia and I went room to room seeing who wanted to see a puppy – everybody did. We sat with Georgine in the Great, she asked me to get some books for her.

Everybody loved Zinnia, who was calm and adored. She’s a natural therapy dog, I think, she loves going into the Mansion, she loves Summer, the Mansion cat, she hasn’t jumped on anyone or chewed much on a hand.

We have work to do, of course, but I’m feeling good about our first goal – for Zinnia to feel at home at the Mansion and around the different kinds of people she runs into there.

She is not fazed by people touching her, petting her, sitting with her. She loves people and is delighted to interact with them.

I very much loved being at the Mansion today, I felt needed, appreciated, and valuable.  I think the residents were glad I was there, I was kissed and hugged and called a “blessing.” If so I’m a blessing with a very good army behind me.

We had our friend Jackie over for Thanksgiving dinner. Maria’s Turkey Meatballs and vegetable soup were both wonderful, and the conversation flowed warmly and easily through the afternoon.

I did give thanks today, for what I have – Maria, my daughter and granddaughter, for Bud, Fate, and Zinnia, for the donkeys, the sheep, the barn cats, my blog, my photos, my new computer, my health, my new nurse practitioner, my sister, and for all the good people who follow my life and work.

Many blessings to you. Tomorrow, a quiet day, breakfast at Jean’s Place, a trip to Bennington to see the new Martin Scorcese movie, “The Irishmen,” and yes I imagine I will review it.

And as you can see, I’m digging into my new photo editing software.