This is such an American holiday, and yet it's one for the world. Everyone has reasons to be thankful, even if they're not always obvious. And a holiday that revolves around family and a chance to be thankful is a great blessing.
Growing up in Ireland, we always relished Christmas. That was a time for families to get together and enjoy the long break from work, good food and tall tales from our past.
In our case it was horror stories. Like the time my Mum was making fondue for a dinner party and I handed her bread soda instead of cornstarch. I remember the pot of fondue boiling over on the stove and the smell of burning cheese.
So it wasn't the best of dinner parties. But it did make for a great Christmas story.
We had a stove called an Aga. As you can see from the picture it was like a range and not really a traditional way of cooking. In our kitchen we had a stool to the right of the stove where you could sit by it in the winter time and be nicely warmed.
It was definitely the focal point of our kitchen and so the kitchen was the focus of the house.
Another random Farrell story, maybe even a bit of family legend. When my sister heard that we had chickens, she reminded me of an aunt of my mothers.
This aunt was a wonderfully colorful woman who owned a small farm on the northside of Dublin. She was a heavy smoker and when we visited her we'd often find her sitting in the kitchen beside her Aga with a cigarette in her hand.
And on her lap would be a big red hen. As she talked she'd stroke the hen, who was clearly used to this treatment.
This is not a family tradition we've carried over here with us. Though our Aunt Betsy certainly seemed to find it relaxing, I'm not sure whether it was the cigarette or the hen relaxing on her lap.
I wish you all safe travels for Thanksgiving and much to be thankful for.
Not a huge number, a la Martha Stewart. But something between 4 and 6 depending on whether some have been taken by critters, or just passed on.
Early the other morning as I went get something from the garage I spotted the chickens already out for the day. It was bitterly cold, so their feathers are all fluffed up for extra insulation. And it was too dark to start picking around for food.
Yet they're still out there, instead of being a little warmer inside the enclosed part of our home-made coop.
If you're wondering why, then you clearly don't know chickens.
In the five years since we started keeping chickens I've learned a lot about them, and a little more about myself. Chickens are just plain stupid. They can't figure out even the simplest of things.
Thankfully we don't keep them for their brains. Initially we wanted them for their eggs and to teach the children about where some of their food comes from.
But over time I've learned that chickens are just a delight to have. They don't need much care and feeding. They'll eat table scraps, so we're not throwing out as much food.
And they make me laugh. Big belly laughs when I watch them run around the yard.
So in a way having chickens is also good for my diabetes. Because anything that gives you healthy fresh eggs and makes you laugh can't possibly be bad for you.
Oh, and they've also trained me very well. If I look at the coop and the chickens see me, they crowd at the door. Most of the time this is enough to get me to go out there and feed them some cracked corn.
Diabetes365 day 7 Oct. 14th 2007 - Low carb breakfast
One of the problems with having diabetes is that carbohydrates taste way too good.
But there are great-tasting low carb alternatives to a breakfast of bagels, or fruit, or name your carb challenge.
We have chickens in our backyard and they give us wonderful eggs. The egg on the top is from one of our chickens, the other is store bought. Look at the difference in color and the height of the yolk.
And I was able to have a great breakfast with these eggs, a little ham and cheese. Less than 5 minutes to a yummy omelette.
If you've got diabetes, you may want to keep chickens. They give you better and healthier eggs. You get to appreciate chicken cliches in a whole new way. And they're hilarious to watch and laughing is good for your health.
There is no cure for diabetes at present. But comedy makes the time go by faster!
The Diabetes Technology Blog is focused on using technology to life better with diabetes. I review: blood glucose monitors; continuous glucose monitor; blood sugar meters; diabetes software and living with diabetes.
About Me
Name: Bernard Farrell
Location: Massachusetts, United States
I was born in Ireland and now live in the US.
I have had Type 1 diabetes for over 35 years. I struggle with my blood sugar, the same as most people with diabetes.
I wear a Cozmo 1800 insulin pump and a Dexcom SEVEN CGM to track my blood glucose levels. I also take Symlin to help control my post-meal blood sugars.
I'm blessed by God, and every day brings the possibility of a cure.
This aunt was a wonderfully colorful woman who owned a small farm on the northside of Dublin. She was a heavy smoker and when we visited her we'd often find her sitting in the kitchen beside her Aga with a cigarette in her hand. 
