THANKSGIVING!!

Thanksgiving is November 24, on Thursday. I don't know if ya'll are familiar with Thanksgiving, but it harkens back to the Pilgrims (from England) having a meal with Indians, giving thanks for their home in the new world and the autumn harvest. According to tradition, it was quite the feast, back in 1621. President Abraham Lincoln made it a national holiday in 1863, during the Civil War. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the last Thursday in November.

We always have a big family gathering on Thanksgiving. We moved 2 years ago to be closer to our daughter and her family. We have 3 precious grand daughters to be thankful for. So while we are so happy to be here, we miss the big gathering.
We are hosting Thanksgiving at our house. It would be us, our daughter and family, seven people. So, we invited neighbors that have practically no family here, they have 3 boys and her sister lives with them, maybe his Dad will come too. Count is up to 13, possibly 14. Our daughter has neighbors with no family here, they have 2 girls, count is up to 17, if other neighbor's Dad comes, 18. Invited a friend that just moved to Texas from Colorado. Add one more! Then today our son-in-law told us that his sister and 2 of her 3 children are coming too. She lives in Houston, a 4-5 hour trip, one way. Glad she's coming! count is up to 22, maybe 23!

Our dining area barely holds a small breakfast table. Living room is small too. Good thing we added that big porch! Last fall we hired a contractor to add a 12'x54' screened in porch, we love it! We have an outdoor table that seats 6 and today we set up 2 folding tables that will seat 12, using a church pew on one side. There is a small picnic table under trees in front of the house, figure kids might want to eat there. So it looks like we'll be able to seat everybody. It is supposed to be sunny with temps in the mid 60's F. It's been hot until now, cold front blew in and we got a freeze last night. If I have to, I'll wrap the porch in plastic to keep the wind off.

I'm cooking a ham from our pig, gonna glaze it with maple syrup. Also cooking a hash brown casserole, sweet potato casserole, carrot salad, deviled eggs, pumpkin pies, couple of pound cakes and I'll have blueberry topping in the crock pot, think I'll make home made rolls. I made a fruit cake too. Our daughter and her husband are cooking the turkey and dressing. Don't expect our neighbors to bring anything, she just had kidney stone surgery and she is spending her days in her recliner. Daughter's neighbors are bringing snacks for grazing on before the meal. I'm going to make home made eggnog, using my Great Grandmother's recipe. since we just got 4 more people, I think I'll make a corn casserole from the cream corn I put in the freezer.

Yesterday my husband and I did some clean up, bagged up feed sacks, trash and general crap. We did a lot of straightening up and getting ready for company. This is going to be fun!

My husband and I talked about hitching up the flatbed trailer, lining it with square bales of hay and having a hay ride after we eat.

We are thankful that God cleared the way for us to find this place. We are thankful that God provided us with cash buyers for our previous home and land. We are thankful to be so close to our daughter and her family. We are thankful for our 3 grand daughters and we have so much fun with them. We are thankful for our health that allows us to be active, outside working on our little farm. We are thankful to have such wonderful friends and neighbors and to live in such a friendly community. And most of all, we are thankful that God is in our life.

 

Thank you for taking the time to type out the history of Thanksgiving and for sharing your plans with us, Bay. It sounds a tasty feast that you have planned.

On my way ...

 

Snag a plane ride to Dallas, we'll pick you up!!

 

It sounds like you're all going to have a whale of a time Bay! Enjoy yourselves.

 

Cheers Bay, I have managed to get another 19 GC'ers and a charter flight,
18 want Turkey with all the trimmings and two veggies want a nut roast see ya
Our flight is to Houston so hope that is not a problem :-) for pick up

Jack McH

 

Houston is 4 or 5 hours away. Dallas is only 1 1/2 hours away, sure you can't fly into Dallas? We are going to put on the feed bag, there will be plenty, so ya'll come on!!

 

@Baymule For the GC visit, could you organise a trip to Mac & Ernies as a treat? Oh, and a trip up to 405?????

 

Sounds awesome Baymule.. one hell of a feast! Hope the guests will help with the dishes afterwards!

 

@Baymule, sound like you'll be busy (understatement) and busy with a camera (we hope) so we can see some of your Thanksgiving celebration.

 

We will not be able to help with the dishes, as we need to take off in the Admin balloon to catch the wind

 

Husband and I have reservations at a nice restaurant for our Thanksgiving meal. No fuss, no muss.

Have a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving.