This morning, the littles were outside playing with the neighbor kids, first thing. I got started in the kitchen, our plan, for the first time in years, to have a proper Thanksgiving meal at home, just the nine of us. I started by baking the last of our garden pumpkins for pie. There weren’t many this year.
Jonny ended up milling lumber for our neighbor for an hour or so, and with all the kids outside, I had a completely quiet house. I prepped food, sipped tea, and knit a round on my legwarmer. I felt pretty thankful for that quiet, daylit hour.
In my mind, I thought we would probably eat an early dinner, maybe 4 p.m. or so. We did get an early start, after all. But as seems to often be the case on Thanksgiving, we ate about two and half hours later than that, typical dinner time. There just aren’t enough ovens. We were all starving by then, having neglected other meals, and several of us were guilty of putting more on our plates than we were actually able to eat. It’s nearly eight p.m. now, and most of us still don’t have room for pumpkin pie.
Sometimes, we drive to Georgia for Thanksgiving with our extended family, but not usually. We have packed a picnic and gone hiking on more than one Thanksgiving, I think in some ways, running from the fact that we didn’t have any friends or extended family to celebrate with. But this year, it felt best to stay home and celebrate with only each other. Jonny noted that we were probably preparing as much food just to feed our family as many people would to feed extended family. It’s true, we made a lot of food! I guess we went a little overboard, because there will be leftovers for the next couple of days. That’s pretty rare at our house.
I’m very thankful for my “little” family. I’m also thankful for all of you, and the many ways you encourage and support us. Thank you!
The material for that tablecloth is heart-stopping!!!!! So beautiful! Love the simple, cozy beauty of your holiday.
You, Ginny, your family, this blog, your photos and this wonderful “blog family” are on my long list of thank yous!
God bless all of you
I’m really thankful for you and your blog, Ginny! You’ve inspired me in many ways. Hope you enjoyed those leftovers and have a restful weekend!
I took a break from the internet for the last couple of days, but I just wanted to let you know (somewhat belatedly) that one of the things I’m thankful for is your blog! 🙂
Your Thanksgiving sounded and looked wonderfully cozy. Hope you’re well!
Ginny, I’m thankful that you take the time to share in this space, it always inspires me.
Beautiful Ginny. I enjoy my time at home and that sounds heavenly. Plus the leftovers always taste better than the actual dinner!!
I love your blog Ginny & am thankful that you are brave enough to share your life here! Thanksgiving with your family sounds lovely & while I’m sure you miss your extended family, your children will always enjoy memories of Thanksgiving at home!
Blessings
Renata:)
Ginny, your photos are simply beautiful! I know I’ve said it before, but each time I come back I just love them even more. Your Thanksgiving sounded lovely, hope you’re still eating pie!
Love your blog! And all of your beautiful pictures! Have a happy weekend!
wonderful memories added into each of the memory banks!
Your Thanksgiving sounds wonderful. It is just the way I would like to be able to celebrate this particular holiday. Instead, I always end up either hosting extended family (I have the largest house, so usually this is the case), or driving to either my parents’ or my in-laws. I would much prefer to spend the day quietly, in enjoyable endeavors, rather than a rush and noisy crowd.
Absolutely wonderful! A cozy little family meal. Love the cat pic! Blessing to you all. Thank you for always making me smile.
We’re not American but since we lived in the U.S. for six years and started the tradition, we continue it up here in the great white north with some friends. We had a wonderful turkey dinner together, and the children made dry soup and bread mixes in mason jars to give as Christmas gifts. Thanks for the celebration! And Happy Thanksgiving to all our American friends.
Happy Thanksgiving. All that extra food just means you get to knit more over the next few days and enjoy more family time! We live away from family and friends too; it can be hard especially around the holidays. Although often I find just spending time with immediate family is better. xx
Happy thanksgiving to all of you!
Happy Thanksgiving, Ginny. 🙂
That sounds like a nice thanksgiving day. My children visit their dad during this time so every thanksgiving its just Bob and I. He putters around chopping firewood and caring for animals…I had time to knit some on holiday gifts. We had a delicious thanksgiving dinner with the kids before they left. I do miss not having big gatherings with laughter and family and friends. Neither of us have extended family to speak of. But I’m grateful for my brood and what we do have. I got loving texts and calls from them…the oldest already on his own took time to thank me and love me. good things…grateful hearts. Happy Thanksgiving to your lovely family from ours.
Be grateful for your little family! We were just the three of us today and the food I cooked will last us for a while, let me tell you…..I really don’t like to cook such a big meal for three people…but that is, tradition. In less than a month though, my son and I will celebrate Christmas in Italy with my family and that will be so special( first time since Christmas 2009)! Happy Thanksgiving!
Happens to the best of us! We started a new to us tradition a few years ago- eat the pie for breakfast! No one ever has room after the yummy stuff yourself dinner so, why not, enjoy the feast all day long!
Hi Ginny,
We had the same thing happen to us today. Hoping for a 4/430 dinner- we had to wait until 6! The turkey my husband smoked had to finish in the oven and it took twice as long as we thought and then we had to reheat the potatoes and stuffing in the oven. The tapas we had for lunch but other children neglected became not enough. So we had cider/eggnog and had a slice of pie before dinner! We also live with no family in driving distance so we end up having holidays just us. I miss the larger gatherings I grew up with but it is intimate being just us. Thx for the towels btw, they arrived safely yesterday!
I love our Thanksgiving at home with “just” the 9 of us. Yes we make too much and yes we have left overs and yes that’s rare around here too…a good rare.
Happy Thanksgiving! I adore that photo of your cat!
Happy Thanksgiving to you all
We stayed at home, just the four of us. After a long day of cooking, I just kept telling myself I won’t have to cook now for sometime while we eat leftovers!
we have always lived away from family and therefore not celebrated with them, but in a way it is awfully nice to not have to worry about cleaning the house (more) and having things be perfect!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!