Four pictures from Thanksgiving

the gang at my brother's house, after dinner.



my brother takes out his mate gourd and explains the tradition. (it's pronounced mah-tay, and it's an argentinian tea.) you make the mate in the gourd, which is decorated with silver, and sip it through an infuser. then you add water again, and pass it to the next person. it's a social tradition. my brother has spent quite a bit of time in argentina, visiting the argentinian branch of the family. (truly--we aren't argentinian; they are germans from russia who went to south america while another branch came to north america.)


my Iowa niece gives mate a go. not bad, she says.


i give mate a go. not bad, i say. it tastes like extremely strong green tea.


our mother gives mate a go. auuuggghhhhh blleeccchhhh!, she says.