This year we packed up the family and headed to Toledo Bend for Thanksgiving, renting a couple of cabins right on the lake. They were beautiful—cozy wood, great views, peaceful surroundings… and enough cobwebs to qualify as an abandoned set from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Nope.
Fun fact:
Cobwebs are technically old, abandoned spiderwebs left behind by “cob” spiders.
Yes—actual cob spiders.
Yes—I Googled it from inside the cabin.
Yes—I regret knowing this now.
Between bravely battling the arachnid architecture, I did manage to sneak in some lakeside relaxation. I read by the water, enjoyed the crisp late-November breeze, and soaked in a few sunsets. It was peaceful and quiet… for the full 10 minutes before the kids tracked me down like bloodhounds trained to detect snacks and parental serenity.
One of our days was spent at North Toledo Bend State Park, where Levi and Chris joined uncles and cousins for a round of frisbee golf (or frolf, if you speak fluent teenage). Meanwhile, I gave Molly, Max, and Jack a hands-on demonstration of both the proper and improper ways to enter and exit a canoe.
On a totally unrelated note:
The lake was cold.
VERY cold.
Also, wet shoes do not dry quickly in late November.
Of course, no Thanksgiving trip is complete without the grand finale: eating way too much food with the people you love. We enjoyed smoked turkey, ham, rice dressing, mac ‘n’ cheese, green bean casserole, rolls, and the time-honored tradition of pretending to watch football while quietly napping.
But the week wasn’t over yet! Before unpacking, Molly and the boys and I headed to a tree farm—armed with only a dollar store handsaw and blind optimism. We came home with a 12-foot Leland Cypress Christmas tree, which looks fantastic under our 8-foot ceiling. Truly a Griswold Christmas miracle.
Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Now onward to Christmas—may your lights untangle easily and your trees fit inside your house! 🎄✨
Ramblings from That Guy 