Sitting in a field near the intersection of Lisbon and Jordan
Bridge roads in Sabattus is a family of turkeys. They’re quite a bit bigger
and not as tasty as the real thing, but much more fun for kids to play
on, and they don’t run away. 

It started 21 years ago when Donna Castonguay and her husband were
having 27 people over for Thanksgiving. She wanted something to “make a
big impact,” she said.

“We were living down the street just around the corner. We
decorated a big bush in front of the old house. My husband is in the
construction business, so we always have a lot of scrap wood hanging
around. I found a piece laying around and traced out the head of a
turkey. We cut it and my oldest grandson painted it. We dressed up the
bush and stuck on the head. It was awesome.”

Two decades later, both the Castonguay family and the turkey family
have grown and moved. Instead of a bush, their neighbor, Dan Curran,
who hays the field across the street, leaves a couple of rolls of hay for
the torso of the birds. A few tablecloths and some tent spikes are all
that is needed to complete the look. Last year they added Mrs. and the
baby. This year, Celina Turkey was added for her neighbor’s daughter,
Celina.

“They are the best neighbors, and that is just
what this is all about,” Castonguay said. “Taking time to be thankful for even just the
simple things. Like good health, friends, family and having the boy
down the road home safe from Afghanistan.

“I want people to not
forget about Thanksgiving and to make people smile when they drive past
the house.”

Donna Castonguay, center, is flanked by her neighbors, Marie Curran and her 2-year-old daughter, Celina. Above Castonguay is her grandson Nicholas Aripez, 11.

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