Blessings be
A while back I learned something from Lisa W. (then at Curves, now at Quarry Hill where mom lives, first in assisted living and now in the memory loss unit…mom lives there that is, not Lisa…she works there!): every day say what was a good thing or the best thing that happened to you that day. And nothing backhanded (saying that the best thing was that the day wasn’t any worse than it was doesn’t quite cut it). So I try (but don’t always remember) to give thanks daily.
![2010.11.Blog.Thanksgiving005](https://www.sarahannsmith.com/weblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/2010.11.Blog_.Thanksgiving005.jpg)
At our local quilt chapter auction this past month I bought the adorable felted wool mat and --for the first time in memory-- remembered to bring out my Thanksgiving candles, which I have had since I was about 6! I believe these are now beyond "vintage" and headed towards "antique." And that is my October Angel (my birth month) in the background, a gift from gramma about 50 years ago!
But today is the annual U.S. feast and giving of thanks. This year, I am so glad that despite our very small numbers, the four of us are here, happy, healthy and together. As you can see from the photo, my pleas to “wait for the Thanksgiving photo” were this year greeted with “heck no I’m eating!” <grin!>
![2010.11.Blog.Thanksgiving003](https://www.sarahannsmith.com/weblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/2010.11.Blog_.Thanksgiving003.jpg)
Wait for the photo? Apparently not this year LOL! PS--notice Joshua, on the right, wearing Elmo pants! Love 'em!
Here’s the repast in preparation….I try to clean as I go, otherwise it would be impossible in our no-counter-space kitchen! After breakfast I started with the pie crust, then the cranberry sauce, then the pie filling, then the stuffing, then putting the hot pie filling into the just-baked crust (A recipe from The Cook’s Bible, where you bake the crust separately as if making a banana cream pie, cook the pumpkin pie filling on the stovetop, then combine and finish in the over for about 25 minutes. Helps avoid soggy crust.) Anyway, once I get that done, I clear out and hubby does the turkey. I do NOT “do” raw birds or large meat…they need to be mostly cooked before I get near them! Then I do the potatoes, veggies and gravy.
As far as I am concerned, the best reason for roasting a turkey is to make the gravy that goes on the potatoes. Half the pan of potatoes is for me (ditto with the gravy, tho I usually get a fight on that one) and half for everyone else. Can you tell I’m Irish? Life is GOOD!
I hope whether you are in the United States celebrating also or elsewhere in the world that your lives are filled with goodness, love and light. And thread and fabric and time to create! Blessings be, Sarah
November 25th, 2010 at 9:35 pm
I used to have some of those candles as a kid and loved them so much. Thanks for the peek at yours.
November 26th, 2010 at 8:57 am
I have some Christmas versions of those candles as well. And, other figures in that angel set. I guess mine are antiques too. Your Thanksgiving dinner looked great. I agree with you that the gravy for the potatoes is a stellar reason for roasting a turkey. We are down to two in our house – both kids are now grown – so we had a roast chicken. It creates great gravy as well and less leftovers for us.
November 26th, 2010 at 9:21 am
We all have so much to be thankful for! Thank you for your friendship!
November 26th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
I hope you didn’t eat too many potatoes and gravy. Yum! And even though we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Australia, I am pleased to receive your blessings. Regards, Dorothy.
November 27th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
It would not be good for you and I to be at a turkey dinner together. The gravy is my favorite thing and if that were my plate you’d see gravy over everything! The rest of the food is just a place to pour the gravy over! Can you tell I love the gravy! Yours looked so good!
November 27th, 2010 at 7:41 pm
We do the “best thing today” with the grandkids everytime they join us for dinner. 3 year old granddaughter doesn’t even let everyone get seated before she starts asking “what’s your best?” It’s cute.