Thanksgiving on the Cutoff; an exercise in orderly chaos. It is a holiday that comes on the fourth Thursday of every November, is almost always cold, but not frigidly so, starts with viewing the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, is followed by endless football (and equally endless Hallmark Channel runs and reruns when I can wrestle control of the remote). It is a day of thankfulness, interspersed with dicing and slicing, basting and mixing, and the ultimate touchdown of getting the entire meal on table with everything warm! Order, then chaos . . .
. . . and it is my favorite holiday. What’s not to like? The menu is set. The entertainment, as well.
Of course, the clean up is, well, like I said, orderly chaos.
This little fellow, now walking and exploring, brought constant smiles to our faces,
while this young miss was quite the conversationalist at the dinner table.
There was much to be thankful for around our table, dear reader. Among the many things I am grateful for is each and every one of you.
I hope you had an enjoyable weekend.
We did indeed have a wonderful, thankful weekend. We had two celebrations of Thanksgiving. One of them with step daughter Beth at her house. She cooks completely chemical free. Things are delicious and interesting there. She manages all this with two sons, a 4 and 5 year old. Then we had what we always call Thanksmas when James and family and Jennifer and family come over for a more casual meal with sandwiches, chili and whatever anyone brings. That is fun with six adults and six children with two of them under a year old. What fun and chaos! toys everywhere.
LikeLike
Fun, chaos, and toys everywhere! I can’t think of a better scenario for being thankful. Your meal at Beth’s house sounds equal wonderful, Janet, and chemical free – a most perfect way to eat. The important thing is gathering together over a meal in thankfulness. Glad it was so wonderful for you – and I’m so thankful to have had you for a friend for so very, very long.
LikeLike
Penny, how wonderful to celebrate thanksgiving in the company of your precious little ones. They are growing up in a loving extended family and what could be richer than that?
You are mentioned in my latest post, so do come and visit when you have a moment amidst the happy orderly chaos:
http://seasonalinspiration.blogspot.co.nz/2013/11/tomatoes-across-world.html
LikeLike
It was wonderful, Juliet, and such a renewal of life to be able to share old and new traditions with our little ones.
I saw in an email that you had a new post up. I’m intrigued and will visit as soon as I can. Thank you, thank you, thank, Juliet.
LikeLike
What cuties, Penny. I hope you have fully recovered from the cooking and the clean up, and of course, the eating.
LikeLike
All recovered, Andra, and starting on Christmas. The last of the turkey is done, with several frozen containers of soup for the long winter ahead. Your posts have been fascinating and your photos as well.
Thank you.
LikeLike
I wondered if you were going to be with your little darlings, Penny. I thought perhaps the timing wasn’t going to be just right, so it’s wonderful to see those little faces and know you were around one table. What a joy it is to be with loved ones and to celebrate the art of being thankful. For every face around our table, I, too, said a prayer of gratitude and thanksgiving. And I do relate to orderly chaos…and some that wasn’t too orderly. 🙂
LikeLike
Originally, the timing wasn’t going to work, but, when the surgery was postponed, a window opened, and the MN clan made the long drive down to join in, much to our delight. Jennifer, Jason, and Jason’s dad were also with us, tripling the pleasure. The art of being thankful. I like that, Debra.
LikeLike
All the love at your home and around the table with the “grands” came through to me. Am so happy for you and your family as it turned out to be a very special day of Thanksgiving indeed.
LikeLike
Thank you, Marilyn. It was a touch and go getting the bird and the fixings onto the table, but, all worked out well in the end. How was your meal at one of my favorite stops?
LikeLike
Oh Penny—there was no meal at the C.Barrel or anywhere else. The thermostat on the downstairs heater went blooey at 7:30 am. By 8 it was 80 degrees in the living room. And naturally we didn’t want to call our friend the repairman. But we did! Mr. R followed his directions so we wouldn’t freeze or melt and he came out first thing Friday morning and replaced it at no charge. You better believe we were thankful for that as well as some homemade soup I had. Maybe next year!
LikeLike
Sorry to hear that your heater went blooey, Marilyn. These sorts of things never happen at a convenient time it seems. I’m glad all is fixed and that you are not too hot and not too cold, but, just right. Homemade soup! Yes! Always the “cure” for everything and anything, isn’t it? Thankfulness indeed.
LikeLike
Hello Penny
It is the record we all play every year with our precious grandkids around us with their parents who such a short short time ago were the same age. Grateful for all, but just not sure why time passes so quickly.
God bless you Penny as we enter still another Christmas season.
Mary Anne
Robins Egg Blue
LikeLike
Dear, dear Mary Anne, how thankful and delighted I am to see your comment today. I’m grinning from ear to ear, so pleased to hear from you.
I know. Time seems to pass more and more quickly. I guess we just have to grab unto its tail and gather the moments we can.
Bless you as well, Mary Anne, and enjoy this Christmas season. Penny
LikeLike
You do indeed have a lot to be thankful for, Penny. Your grandchildren are truly adorable. Over here the run-up to Christmas is well underway. Our entertainment may be different, but as with your Thanksgiving celebration, the menu will be very traditional. 😉
LikeLike
I thank you, Perpetua. We do dote on them, and they give us joy, but, you, my dear, know how that goes. I think, wherever we live in this world, their are some sort of celebrations, and I hope that, like you and yours, wherever one lives, they keep their traditions alive while forming new ones. Mincemeat pies yet?
LikeLike
Yes, indeed, Penny. We had our Mothers’ Union (church women’s group) Christmas lunch on Thursday and I made both ordinary and mini mince pies for that. DH and I are now happily nibbling on the leftovers. 🙂
LikeLike
Wonderful to hear, Perpetua, both in the making, the sharing, and the leftovers you are enjoying this Advent season. Thanks for coming back and letting me know.
LikeLike