Like most of America yesterday, our day started veeerrry early in the morning. Of course our days always start early, but generally the first few hours of the day are spent sitting comfortably and caffeinating thoroughly. There's not usually so much vegetable peeling, furniture moving and floor mopping. Not before 9, anyway.
And you know what? Scratch that first statement. Really, our day started several days before! Multiple shopping trips - last minute shopping trips! - cleaning, planning, cooking, etc. But the holidays are just the best and despite the serious lack of sitting and caffeine (two things of which I am especially fond) I am so so grateful for every bit of it!
So what follows is a brief(ish) recap of our day ... :)
As the first strains of the Macy's Parade began in the other room, my mum sat down to tackle the mounds of autumn flowers we purchased for today's centerpieces. She has a great eye, and her arrangements, whether done in flora or oil paints, are always beautiful. The boys offered to help add a bit of "punch" to the bouquets (small jolts of color, as Nana explained). (You can see the final results in the following pictures, particularly the sixth one down.)
Understandably I didn't do much photographing while I was elbow deep in cranberries and sweet potatoes, but I did snap this shot of my Bookworm's most favorite and requested casserole just after it went into the oven ...
Just before dinnertime, things calmed down a bit, and I reached for my camera. The sun was just coming out! It was a strange weather day - mild and wet for the most part but a weak sun managed to break through.
Brief as it was, the sunlight highlighted the tables just as we sat down to dinner. Here's our dining room set up to seat 14 ...
And the living room sat six. The keyboard might look a bit strange at the head of the table, but when you're hosting a large party, all kinds of household items are pressed into service for seating ~ hope chests, folding chairs and even keyboard benches!
This may sound trivial, but one of the reasons I love Thanksgiving, is I just love all the autumn colors! Set against linens of auburn, sage and plum, the flowers and candles were placed in glass or crystal. They caught the sunlight and candle-glow so nicely.
The below shot might seem an odd thing to share with you, but I share it for two reason. First of all, it's my trusty clipboard in action! It did me proud yesterday - holding recipes and keeping the day's timetable at my fingertips. But the other thing is this ~ do you see all that writing there? Most of it's mine but some of it is my mum's. I enjoyed looking back over it last evening and remembering all the planning we did together this past week. This sheet will be saved in my journal. I think it will be fun to look back at (not to mention practical at the holidays) years later.
After Bookworm said grace, we all dug into our dinner. In the blink of an eye it seemed it was time to start the coffee and set out desserts!
Oh, I didn't share our menu with you yet, did I? Well, then, here it is:
Before Dinner ...
- veggies and dip, cheese and crackers, hot pepper-jelly over cream cheese
- this year's cocktail: Amaretto-Cranberry Kiss
Dinner ...
- roast turkey and gravy (natch)
- stuffing (homemade, cornbread)
- mashed (Yukon) potatoes
- butternut squash
- peas
- corn
- sugar glazed pearl onions
- sweet potato bake
- homemade cranberry relish - plus canned for the purists ;)
- soft white and oatmeal rolls
- Asti Spumante
Dessert ...
- blueberry pie
- rhubarb cream pie
- apple crumb pie
- pumpkin pie
- cherry jubilee pie
- marshmallow & nut chocolate fudge
- Cranberry Bog Frogs
- apple strudel
- chocolate-peppermint cake
- vanilla ice cream and homemade whipped cream
- coffee, eggnog, mulled cider (which btw, I did in the crockpot - so easy!)
It was such a very good day, and not just because of all that food. Oh, the meal was delicious to be sure! But the best part of all was visiting with my family. And that my grandmother was able to be with us (after a scare last month) was a the best blessing of the day ...
My dearest wish for next year (you get wishes at Thanksgiving, don't you?) is that we'll all be together again. Remember those "acorn blessings" we made for our windows? It's no surprise most of them say "family." Each year (each day!) we have together is a gift.
Wel, I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, and I wish you a Friday filled with the remains of The Day ~ yummy leftovers, fond memories, and not too many dishes to clean! Are you heading out to shop Black Friday specials - or resolutely staying home on Buy Nothing Day? ;)
As for me, well, a little of both! Right after I finish this vat cup of coffee, I'm heading over to the craft store to stock up on some Christmas supplies. I'll be back before long to report on all that. :)
Happy Friday!
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