Bonfire night

Forewarning! No photos...
It's Bonfire Night here in the UK, so I am sitting and listening to fireworks going off all around me, peeking out into the night, smelling that gunpowdery smell. I see flashes of light all around and hear lots of pops and bangs. For my part, I lit a symbolic sparkler in the back garden, which I was able to purchase at my local Tesco, my food market, and may even light a few more before the night is out. Hopefully the house will not burn down - I just saw a streak of colored streaks overhead. Guy Fawkes Night, although I have not seen any burning effigies...
Saturday, I've been invited to a Bonfire Night Party - a few days late, but no work, school, etc. I'll try to take photos then.
Life has been a roller coaster ride here. That time of missing everyone back home has kicked in, along with a change of both the clocks and the weather, just as the Fulbright people warned us exchangees - how do they know these things? Must be experience... Had some blues, some low moments. Work is stressful, and then I have a good day and all is well. Just trying to find my "groove"...
Prague and Krakow were both amazing and I do promise wonderful photos to come. I'm just not up to it tonight - over the weekend.
I get to arrange a Thanksgiving assembly, so I'm trying to put together an entertaining and educational presentation for the school. There are a great many truly terrible versions of "Over the River and Through the Woods" online, so slogging through these has been a bit of a trial. How about the Alvin and the Chipmunks version? Ugh... still searching - if anyone knows of one that is not saccharine-sweet and is accessible, please let me know. A story. A skit. What we're grateful for... All within 15 minutes. Hmmm...
And, of course, I volunteered to make pie for the staff of about 50-70 and cannot find canned pumpkin anywhere in Cardiff. Bee, at school, has been helping me search, but unless I want to spend a fortune to order it online, it can't be found. I've decided on sweet potato pie, which I personally love and have eaten before for the holiday - definitely American. Any fabulous recipes that don't involve days and days of work?
Thanksgiving itself will be quite strange for me, honestly. I've always associated it with family, friends, loved ones. In this case, I think that I'll try to have a few people over for dinner here, but the actual day is a regular workday, so may have to push it to the weekend. Order a turkey from the local butcher, Mom's famous stuffing, see if I can find fresh cranberries...
I'm really happy that my next mini-trip is planned. I'll be meeting my friends, Lin and Jan, in Edinburgh the weekend before the holiday - which means even less prep time for the assembly, uh-oh - and I am so excited. I really am craving a friendly face from home! They are dear friends (I spent time with them last summer in Vancouver, where they now live after moving from L.A.) and as a bonus, are from Edinburgh, so I'll get a wonderful insider's view of what is supposed to be a great city. Can't wait. I've been reading the series 44 Scotland Street, which takes place in Edinburgh, so I'm ready.
Okay, I'm going to go light some more sparklers, drink a cup of tea in front of the fire, and get cozy.
More later... Happy Bonfire Night.