It's nearly Thanksgiving...

And the turkeys are getting big. We discoverd one female, at least, so we will keep her and Sulaymon of course. They are such funny creatures. their heads are so wierd and wrinkly and their snoods grow and shrink according to mood. Also we've noticed that their heads change color. If they are resting their heads are white. If they get excited they blush to red. When they are flirting and dancing and raking their wings gallently they turn various shades of blue with the most beautiful periwinkle purple around the eyes.

I have to agree with Ben Franklin--the turkey would have been a much nicer national bird. They are red, white and blue, after all:

"For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral Character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him.

"With all this Injustice, he is never in good Case but like those among Men who live by Sharping & Robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District. He is therefore by no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our Country . . .

"I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For the Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America . . . He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on."

They remind me of a dignified bunch of old-fashioned and stuffy men with sparse long beards and high collars. They have a clumsy dignity about them. They are also very funny. Whenever there is a loud noise they all gobble in unison.