Last year we were not together for dinner so this year felt magical to me.
The whole wonderful part of Thanksgiving is that my entire house smells like childhood.
And it is warm and cozy - all cold and lights twinkling outside with pies and cookies and turkey and all the food we love inside.
Here is a peek into our Thanksgiving:
I have a binder I keep for Holidays - one just for Thanksgiving actually.
It has my timeline all written out, all of the recipes, and notes on what worked/didn't work in previous years.
Pecan pie is always the day before. And really, that sliding out of the oven I S Thanksgiving to me.
While I am busy doing that, my girls use the Christmas Cookie dough I made on Sunday before to roll and cut out snowflake cookies. (and three cheers for Anna home!)
Thanksgiving morning early, early, I start on the apple pie.
The dough rising on dining room chairs (the dough I make on the weekend before) ready to slide in the oven for our rolls A N D
I save extra dough and that morning I make homemade cinnamon rolls - we have those with tea. It is divine.
We eat in the family room with the tree all lit up and the Parade on of course. This is the girls breakfast every Thanksgiving and my mid morning snack. So so gooooood
Meanwhile I keep working on that apple pie
And done rolls slide out of the oven.
Abigail in her nightgown still - helps me with the final touches on the center piece.
... adding berries from our backyard.
A few family photos before dinner was ready
and a few first gifts too!
One of my favorite Thanksgiving centerpieces ever.
I used real cedar garland and candles -
I dried cut oranges and lemons and tied them with satin ribbons and chose green napkins to Christmas is all up!
I put cloves in oranges for a touch of color -
Here is that picture she took:
One last baste of the turkey
and now we're done!
Making the gravy
and me trying to capture the warmth inside
This year I bought a sweet Christmas puzzle and had it all set up in the family room ready to relax. Uncle Tommy (my brother) jumped in with my girls.
Family gathered round - after last year when it was just the four of us this felt so wonderful.
After dishes there was dessert - pumpkin pie, pecan pie, apple pie, and sugar cookies! Yum!
And the best, most fun night with both of my brothers doing the puzzle (and finishing), lots of talking, and just having a holiday!
Finally - a holiday with cousins!
They were so happy together!
I am grateful for this one day when my whole house smells like childhood with food that I've had on Thanksgiving since I was born,
for time with Anna home,
for health and so much to look forward to.
And so it was.
Old Recipes,
Old traditions
in this old house.
And I loved every minute.
