Tag: Thanksgiving 2024

Happy, Tasty Thanksgiving!

Dear Liza,

Our Thanksgiving was busy and full of food and family.

It started quietly, with Auntie Bridgett and I watching the Macy’s Parade. We enjoy the floats, musical numbers, and the marching bands. But the special thing about the Macy’s parade is the giant balloons. This one, being a minion, is particularly adorable.

We got the appetizers set out for when Auntie Katie, the cousins, and Douglas came over. It’s it a pretty spread?

Once the company arrived, we chatted, and then the ukuleles came out. Katie and Douglas practice a lot, and they sing well together. Cousin Jasper brought his drumsticks and played a nice accompaniment on Kestrel’s heavy leather purse.

Once the dinner was ready (thanks to Bridgett’s good help!) we all settled down and ate ourselves silly. Of course, we kept an eye on the desserts waiting for us!

But first, a walk. Grandpa Nelson was worn out, but the rest of us layered up and made a pleasant round of Laurelhurst Park.The sun was going down as we visited with the ducks and wished them a happy turkey day. They were not amused….

Back to the house for dessert! Auntie Katie had brought a pumpkin and apple pie and tiny breads shaped like turkeys. These, along with the pinwheels and mince tarts I made, filled us right up to the top.

In fact, we all realized that if we sat down, we’d all fall asleep! And since Katie had work to do at her bookshop to get ready for Black Friday’s big sale, we all said goodnight, packed up the leftovers to share, and sent them on their way.
Happy Thanksgiving!!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Gearing Up for Thanksgiving

Dear Liza,

I remember my Momma, your great grandma Billie, making wonderful Thanksgiving feasts for family and friends. It seemed to me that it all happened effortlessly, but I was a pretty clueless child. I now realize how many shopping trips and hours of preparation went into those feasts.

It has taken me many years to realize that as delicious as the feasts were, it was not just the food that made them special. It was the being together and the feeling of being completely surrounded by fun and love. And cousins…. Lots and lots of cousins.

And I love Great Grandma Billie’s turkey platter more than I love roasting the turkey that goes on it!

I have figured out that a giant bird on the table is a Norman Rockwell image, not my ideal dinner.

So my Thanksgiving dinner this year, though still special, looks different than my Momma’s. I will making turkey, but just the thighs, because that’s the part we like, and the proteins will include bratwurst sausage for Kestrel and roasted tofu for Douglas. I have mixed sweet apple-y mincemeat and gluten free walnut shelled tarts for Auntie Bridgett as well as pinwheel cookies for Grandpa Nelson.

Auntie Katie has promised bread (she and Cousin Kestrel do a fabulous job!) and pies.

One thing I am following Momma in, though, is advance prep. One small chore a day in the week before Thanksgiving makes that day a lot more pleasant. I started Sunday with the cranberry sauce, so the flavors will be all melded together. Monday, the pinwheel dough got mixed up, rolled, and frozen. And today I make the mincemeat and walnut tart shells.

Slowly, slowly, catchy holiday.

Love,

Grandma Judy