A Thanksgiving Tradition

When I was growing up, my mother put two sets of turkey salt and pepper shakers on the Thanksgiving dinner table...  and I continue the tradition.

I think of Mom when I pull these out and remember all the wonderful Thanksgivings of years past.

The turkeys are ceramic and had corks in the bottom to keep the salt and pepper in.  Each year, there were discussions about which went where.... pepper in the tom and salt in the hen?  Or vice versa?

Two of the corks have gotten pushed inside the birds and two have disappeared over the years.... and I no longer use them as salt and pepper shakers....  just for decoration.

The grandchildren are as enthralled with the turkeys as I was a child and I let them play with them on the table.   I don't let them wander around with them because they are good at putting things in odd places and then can't remember where they are.  You'd be surprised where I've found things months later!

It's about time to get Mr. Turkey into the oven and otherwise prepare the feast.   I hope your Thanksgiving is a warm and happy time!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have so much to be thankful for in life... 

...it's hard to make a list!   I am grateful for all the wonderful people in my life and all the many blessings I have been given.

As always, I am particularly thankful to be able to spend time with my family over the Thanksgiving holiday...    I'm also grateful for my friends who, along with my family, make life worthwhile!

And so, to all my family and friends...

While all my relatives in the U.S. are enjoying the Thanksgiving day holidays, I am working in a gloomy atmosphere. In addition, some of them gave me some work to do and told me not to contact them till Monday morning.

Hmmm... what to do? However, I envy, I can't say 'no' to their requests. I prepared myself to face the dark clouds, wet roads and the non-cooperative car to complete the myriad tasks.

To make the matter worse, my husband took ill and demands my attention constantly. Misfortune doesn't come in singles-eh?

The only bright thing is my son will be here for the weekend.

BTW, why the Canadians celebrate the Thanksgiving Day on a different day?

The Day After

Thanksgiving was great. We a lot, but not really too much. I had my own little turkey trot. I won. :)

Here is the after shot. (Cute, right?!) It's cold in Fayetteville - I was hot, but my ears hurt from the cold. Such a strange feeling.

I ordered our Christmas card last night, and I am super excited about it. Shutterfly rocks.

The day after Thanksgiving we do not do the shopping thing. Never have. I would rather pay a little more than subject myself to any of that madness. Instead, I am spending the ENTIRE day making toffee with my mom. It's a tradition. They give a LOT of toffee away (like 175+ boxes) and sell a little bit.

Hope everyone has a good day after Thanksgiving - whatever it is you are doing today!

Turkey Time

We are driving to my parents house tonight in Fayetteville for Thanksgiving! I can't believe it is already here. I feel like Thanksgiving is much more laid back than Christmas. And I'm glad I get to relax and eat, eat, eat!

Tomorrow I will be helping my mom cook. The turkey is my responsibility each year. I was thinking about doing some thing along these tan lines:

THAT would be awesome.

The other night we were having a discussion about staple items at Thanksgiving dinner (and Christmas for that matter). I have spent several Thanksgivings with Kent's side of the family and I was surprised to find that they did not cook:

1. Mashed Potatoes

2. Gravy

3. Pumpkin Pie

4. Butternut Squash

ANDDDDDDD they cook their stuffing in a crock pot. We have ALWAYS stuffed ours in the turkey. (Isn't that why it is called "stuffing?!?!?)

We do this:

So it looks like this:

And tastes so amazing.

But other than cooking the turkey I will be helping my mom make hundreds of pounds of toffee. It is the most amazing thing you have ever put in your mouth. Ever.

It feels like the holidays have come extra early this year. We had Thanksgiving with the McClure's this last weekend. It was so yummy. I successfully ate zero desserts! Go me!

We got to play with our neices, here I am with Anders:

My mom was in Little Rock yesterday for surgery. It was a 6 hour infusion of Rituxan. She comes back in 15 days for another infusion. It went pretty well and she didn't have any reaction to the medicine.

She is going back to Fayetteville today and took Captain Jack so I don't have to hide him under my desk tomorrow at work!

Also.... KK made the Fayetteville soccer team. Like she needs another thing to add to her schedule!

AND... my buffet is done and looks fabulous, but my USB plug that transfers my pictures got given to Kent's boss lady. Arrgggg... Now I have to buy a new one.

P.S. I ran yesterday and had ZERO IT band pain. Of course it was on a treadmill and not outside, but I will take what I can get at this point! Thanks for all the advice!