It is that time of year again, time to give thanks and make
lists. I recently gathered up store ads and
started a grocery list. Melissa
mentioned that she had the menu from last year if I wanted it, and I promptly
received via e-mail about 8 pages, all of her lists from last year. There was the menu with who's bringing what
and what size bowl it needs. The list of
groceries needed, all typed up on spreadsheet - one in alphabetical order and
one in store department order (produce, canned goods… etc.), and then another
list with the order of cooking - Wednesday the cold stuff, Thursday's oven time
schedule, each casserole given its allotted time. Wow, talk about organized!
I have been hosting Thanksgiving dinner for many years, but I
didn't cook Thanksgiving dinner last year.
We were working away from home and only flew in on Wednesday like so
many other travelers, something we had never done before, traveled on
Thanksgiving. So I didn’t cook. You
never would have known it. The setting
was the same, the menu was the same, the family members around the table were
the same. Everything turned out the
same as always. The kids all pitched in
and made it happen (aka Melissa the first
born stepped up), they gathered my old gravy-stained recipes, did the
shopping and cooking and delegating, Carrie and Daniel helped with cleaning and
moving furniture and setting up. It was
like we had never been gone. It was
really nice, just walking in and eating dinner without all the work, I could get used to that! Something to look forward to when I am
retired, I can just sit back in my big chair and watch!
Back to normal this year, we are home. Buddy did his annual window cleaning which is
no small task since our A-frame windows are 30+ feet above the living room
floor on the inside and that far above the deck on the outside. While up there he also eradicated temporarily
the ever-present cobwebs and dust layer.
And checked out the Christmas lights which also follow the shape of the
house up to the apex. His to-do list is
laying here on his desk, this Tuesday morning before Thanksgiving, it is mostly
all crossed off.
I was just telling the girls about what I believe was the
first time I actually cooked Thanksgiving dinner, we were in Tampa in a 2
bedroom apartment, I don't remember much about that day except using my ironing
board for a buffet table (see picture below).
Buddy's parents were vacationing in Florida for their anniversary and my folks
had recently made the retirement move there also, so they all came over. Good memories.
An ironing board makes a great adjustable-height table, what
have you used your ironing board for (besides ironing)?
So make your lists and get out the old worn recipe cards and stand in line at the grocery store, it is worth all the time and work to get to sit down and look around at your whole extended family gathered around your table. I am thankful to be able to do this year after year.
Happy Thanksgiving!
