I love the Fall and everything about it: football, raking leaves, warm hoodies, spiced apple cider, purple & orange skies, a fire burning in the fireplace, and my favorite, Thanksgiving.

We now have another special day to celebrate in November, Tuco’s birthday! He really didn’t know it was his birthday on the 22nd, but this year he turned two. Thanksgiving landed on the 23rd, so he got to open presents and pig-out for two days in a row. Most of his presents didn’t last long though. He thinks all his toys are edible. He’s such a beast!

My warmest memories of Thanksgiving growing up are those at my grandparents’ house in New Jersey. All my aunts, uncles, and cousins would be there. They would wait for me to come home from cheerleading at the highschool football game before sitting down to eat. I remember feeling all dressed up with the big orange corsage we girls were given to wear on our uniforms for this special game day. And when I was finally old enough to sit at the grown up table with the adults, that was pretty awesome, too. My grandpop made the best mashed potatoes I’ve ever eaten. I can still taste them to this day, yet I have no idea how he made them. And grandmom made the best pies. Yum! In the evening, my family was big on playing card games. The adults played poker and the cousins played canasta. Ah, the good ‘ol days.

I had my whole Thanksgiving agenda planned for a month. I had been to the store early and bought everything I needed for a big feast. The week before turkey day, I started to thaw out the bird. On Monday, I made my pies; apple pear and of course the traditional pumpkin. Tuesday I made my side dishes; the stuffing, vegetables, and mashed potatoes. Wednesday, I made my homemade rolls and what my grandmom always made for us kids, Rice Krispie Treats. That left the big day for roasting the turkey, making gravy, and warming up what I made the days before. That’s a lot of work for one gal! Whew!

For us, we don’t mind being alone on the holidays. My husband gets to rest from his busy hectic work weeks and stay off the unsafe crowded highways. It’s a day for us to spend together whether it’s watching the famous Macy’s Day Parade, watching the Packers play football, playing with Tuco, or eating dinner whenever we want. No timeline here.

The hubs and I always say we wish we had a big farmhouse with a big kitchen and a big dining room with a fireplace to have friends and family over to share a holiday meal. It would be fun to laugh and tell stories of bygone times, maybe start some new traditions. But we don’t. Our house is small. We don’t even have a dining room. But it’s cozy and filled with love and lots of memories. Family and friends are always welcome here.

I have some framed pictures in my small red room, I call it my Colonial room, of family that did get to spend Thanksgiving with us throughout the years. There aren’t many, but they all mean the world to us.

One year, my cousin Shiela and her family came from Mississippi to spend a week here in Utah. When I look at that picture, I can’t believe how little her boys were. Now, one is attending Princeton University in New Jersey and the older one just got out of the US Air Force. It doesn’t seem possible.

After my Uncle Ricky passed away, we had my Aunt Peggy from Cedar City, Utah come and spend a week with us for Thanksgiving. That was such a special time with her. She is the only one on my side of the family that lives the closest to us, and that is five hours away. The rest are all on the East Coast.

It doesn’t need to be Thanksgiving to give thanks for what we have. I am grateful everyday for the blessings the Lord has given us. We should all be kind and generous with our good fortunes all year long.

If you’re lucky to have dinner at our home, we will put together our wooden table that’s stored in the shed and bring out the wooden bench and chairs that match. We’ll spread the holiday tablecloth and set out our best chipped plates and my mom’s sterling silverware that only get used for special occasions. Along with our Pier One stemware and bottles of wine, flowers and candles will adorn the center. One thing I can guarantee is that you will have a great meal with good friends, lots of laughs, and new shared memories.

Looking back through the years that my husband and I have been together, we’ve been fortunate to have some of our families here around the dinner table with us. The pictures we took back then bring so many happy and precious memories, ones that ask, “Remember when?” Our hope is that we can make everyone who comes to our home feel welcomed, comfortable, and loved. And we wish you all cherished memories of your own.

Until next time:

God bless, stay safe, and be thankful.

Skip’s mom, Cb