Another successful, happy holiday

Like the quiet after the storm, I like the reflective part of a holiday get together when I am alone with my thoughts and replay conversations that took place, look at photos that were taken and make mental notes of what to repeat or delete knowing full well if I don't write the thoughts down, I will forget them by the next event.

Chuck and Kim hosted 25 people to dinner today, almost an even blend of Kim's family and ours. If her uncle that lives in Michigan had been available along with two of our MI nieces, the count would have been 31. Yikes!

Folding 8' tables made their way to the basement along with stacking chairs that used to belong to my husband's company. I bought Christmas print fabric at Joann's on Monday and hemmed it to make three table cloths and two bread basket liners. A busy print doesn't just look festive, it hides stains if they don't come out in the wash.

My Christmas dishes, a Corelle pattern, mixed with Kim's grandmother's china and my and my mother's silverware to set the table.

My mother-in-law's electric roaster is still going strong even though it looks ancient. My sister-in-law and I guess that it is from the late 1940s or early 50s.

Using these items keeps the generation that has passed with us at current and future holidays.

And the one little one who shares DNA from both family trees was someone we are all thankful for. Here is Colton from this afternoon. You might think the lower half of the photo is out of focus. I'm here to tell you that his feet never stopped moving!

I hope everyone had as nice a holiday as I did, with full bellies and full hearts.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I am going to bed with the intention of sleeping for 10 hours but I will settle for seven. Call me when the coffee is ready.

Let's talk turkey...

'Tis the season for turkeys and pilgrims, right?  How many turkeys are hiding out at your house?

Do you have any furry ones?

Calico printed ones?

How about a musical one that sings Turkey in the Straw?

One that is camera shy and turns his head away?

One with such skinny drumsticks, you definitely wouldn't want to roast him?

How about a small one that gobbles REALLY LOUDLY?

A demure one, embarrassed to be among the noisy ones?

One that is a sun catcher?

One that sits on a kitchen window sill issuing a reminder?

Maybe yours is a place mat, made by a friend?

Did Jim Shore make one you simply had to have?

Or did a Beanie Baby catch your eye?

How about a rustic one?

Or a turkey with a sassy attitude?

Ever see one try to hide his hand in the sand when there isn't any sand?

Here is another one with lousy drumsticks

And the skin on this one would probably hurt the roof of your mouth

This one is stuffed, but not with anything tasty, he's 100% fiberfill 

This pair isn't protesting Wall Street, but they are picketing with a sign

As is this one who appeals to teenagers

Let's not forget the people who brought us the first Thanksgiving feast, and no, I don't mean Mr Butterball and Sara Lee. I'm talking pilgrims now. 

There are young pilgrims bringing food to the harvest table

Innocent looking, nose-less pilgrims

Happy pilgrims with enough nose for the pair above as well as themselves

And smart turkeys disguised as pilgrims so that they stay seated at the table rather than plated!

Even one of the bears at my house gets festive for Thanksgiving. The other two are jealous. Or maybe they are cold because they don't have sweaters. Here they are cuddled together in a basket wondering if they'll be safe until the next visit by my grandson.

This has nothing to do with turkeys or pilgrims, but it was a new purchase this year. 

A little bling tied onto a shelving unit.

And lastly, sometimes my favorite Thanksgiving decoration of all, taken from a 

Mary Engelbreit Home Companion magazine

If you're shopping this weekend for Thursday's feast, cleaning like mad in case a relative decides to look behind the entertainment for cobwebs and dropped Easter candy, dieting to fit into your skinny jeans or binge eating to stretch your stomach so you'll have room for seconds of everything...whatever the heck you're doing, have fun with it!

Food+holidays: fun or headaches?

 

Ahhh, the holidays....the Norman Rockwell picture of the loving family gathered around the table, giving thanks for all they have. How many women feel part of that picture if they're hosting dinner for 25 relatives, some of whom don't get along, one family who is always late, and one insists on bringing their dog even though you've specifically told them not to do this?

That second scenario is not mine (thank goodness!) but is a compilation of problems that I hear from some who no longer enjoy hosting or even attending holiday dinners with family. I think it is a shame that we can't be closer to the Norman Rockwell version, but I understand the angst and anger some women feel.

My Michigan sister-in-law and I have traded off Thanksgiving and Christmas for over 30 years. Last year my single son hosted Thanksgiving and this year my married son and dear daughter-in-law are hosting it. Last year Bill and I hauled dishes, pans, table cloths and folding tables not just to our son's house but down to his basement. All 327 steps. What? You never noticed that the number of steps increases with each trip?

We'll be helping again this year, but my married son and his wife have more experience with cooking and entertaining. This will be their first turkey and their first meal for 26 people. Our youngest niece will be out of town and the middle one is hosting her husband's family. Their will be 14 diners who share my married surname, 11 with Kim's maiden name and one friend of the family who has had Thanksgiving with us for years. There will be 8 young children (ages from 20 months to 9 years) which is the most I can remember at any holiday meal.

I don't know yet who will be making desserts this year. I love to make them, but will make whatever is needed. Except gravy. I make lousy gravy. Regardless of who gets the joy of desserts, I plan to bring these, at least enough for the 8 kids, but more likely, enough for everyone.

Are they cornball or cute? Whatever you think, they are soooooo me.   The directions are here.

Are you hosting or attending? Will people bring a dish to the meal? Are holiday dinners a joy or something to be endured?

Our extended family doesn't quite look like Norman Rockwell's family, but we do pull together and enjoy our meals together. I am very thankful not only for my sister-in-law and nieces who help clean up when they are here, but for my husband who starts prepping whenever I do, and is by my side throughout the entire process. My married son is following suit and that makes us both happy. Our single son is great with helping to clean up, and if you need someone to make Kraft macaroni and cheese...he's your man!

I'll let you in on a secret. My sis-in-law discovered that after the turkey is in the oven or roaster, the side dishes are cooking or chilling and ready to be finished just before everything goes to the table, it helps if you have a glass of wine. Or two. Honest.  

Happy Thanksgiving!

This is from an email, author unknown: TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING, BUT I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP. I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS, I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP. THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED - THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE, BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT. TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION, THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION. SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN, FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR, AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE, FULL OF GOODIES GALORE. GOBBLED UP TURKEY AND BUTTERED POTATOES, PICKLES AND CARROTS, BEANS AND TOMATOES. I FELT MYSELF SWELLING SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND, 'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN, I ROSE OFF THE GROUND. I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING, FLOATING INTO THE SKY, WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING AND A HANDFUL OF PIE. BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL AS I SOARED PAST THE TREES.... HAPPY EATING TO ALL - PASS THE CRANBERRIES, PLEASE. MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY, MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP. MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP. MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS. MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE, MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS!! HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

Click here for a Thanksgiving greeting from Jacquie Lawson.

Turkeys before Santas

I admit to having the urge to start decorating for Christmas, especially after seeing so many lovely displays in blogland, but I can't possibly bring out Santas and trees until after Thanksgiving. My turkeys and pilgrims would be incensed! If you move your cursor over the slideshow, you can stop it and advance pictures one by one.

*Note* I have changed the template to my blog since originally posting this slideshow. To view the pictures in their full width, please click on View All Images.

The glass shelves are in a niche between my living room and kitchen. The buildings on them are from Brandywine . The majority of wood, resin or ceramic turkeys are a piece of furniture that was my mom's, something we have always called the room divider. The base is a cabinet that holds (hides?) stuff, and the shelves display cobalt glassware, framed photos, or holiday items depending on the season or my whim. The stuffed (non edible stuffing!) turkeys are in the two bay windows of our family room. Little kids (and me!) love to squeeze the small turkey that gobbles or the one in the straw hat that sings Turkey in the Straw over and over. And over.

The best turkey of all will be the one at my sister-in-law's house this year because I WON'T BE COOKING IT!