Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Happy Turkey Day


I hope that those of you preparing for Thanksgiving are taking time to enjoy the process of getting ready for the holiday.




I will be spending the next few days cooking, cleaning and getting ready to have a house full of people here on Thursday...13 to be exact!




I will finish cleaning tomorrow and then set my table, but the rest of my Thanksgiving decor is in place and ready to welcome friends and family.




Thanks to my friend Doug Vogel, I have a beautiful centerpiece...all I had to do was add the pumpkin and I was set!  I'll add some fresh flowers throughout my house, not so much for the guests, but because having fresh flowers around always makes me happy!





I've collected Thanksgiving decor ever since I was first married.  It was much harder to find turkey day decor 20 years ago!




And of course you have to have acorns to commemorate the holiday!




I gave my parents this turkey from Williams Sonoma about 8 years ago, my mom had an amber one like mine above, but wanted a red one too!




My parents were married on November 27, 1953, so every year they were busy preparing Thanksgiving for our family right around their anniversary.  We always managed to have a few close friends, or even some stray military folks join us who were too far from home to celebrate it with their own families. 

I think the largest crowd we had was 26 one year, and my mother always managed to cook WAY more than we could ever need, but oh the leftovers were wonderful!




Thursday will be a little reminiscent of those happy gatherings.  It will be the first time that all of us kids will be together again since my father's passing 3 years ago.  And today I received a crazy phone call, one of my sister's best friends accidentally called my phone number while trying to reach her realtor, who has the same first name.  When I asked what she and her husband had planned for Thanksgiving she said they were going to a little French restaurant near their home.  I asked if they wanted to make the drive to spend the day with us, and after calling her husband, she called back to say they would love to!  So it will be like old times in many ways!




But if I stay on here much longer, all of those people will arrive to a messy house!  Contrary to popular belief, dust bunnies are not edible!  And I'm thinking they might want some food while they are here.  Thankfully, everyone will be bringing something.  But after I finish cleaning, I still have to make a turkey, lots of corn pudding, candied sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, and peas...so I better quit procrastinating and get crackin'!!!

I know I'm crazy to host such a high work load holiday right after getting a tiny puppy, but hey no one ever accused me of being sane! ;-)  I'm just thankful that we will all be together again!

I hope each of you celebrating Turkey Day this Thursday will be surrounded by family, whether biological or chosen, and that you'll save room for dessert!

29 comments:

  1. Kat, you are busy like me. I have most of the cleaning done. I will start cooking some things tomorrow including a turkey so we will have some for sandwiches. We are eating at my sister's around one o'clock and that will mean we will be hungry for a good turkey sandwich that night. So I am going to get that ready tomorrow and make a pecan pie and then on Thursday morning make a broccoli casserole to carry to my sister's, oh and sweet tea. I don't think you are crazy at all doing this with a puppy under foot. We got Bailey on Dec. 7 and by Christmas I was exhausted from lack of sleep! Have a great Thanksgiving, my friend!!

    Kim

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  2. You jolted my memory...I have to clean, too! I finally got to the store {traffic was weird, people were weird} and got all my last minute things and now I have a whole day of cooking and no one to help me clean! I'm worthless in the evening!

    Your fall decor is very festive and pretty! And I am sure that you are going to have a wonderful day! Happy Thanksgiving, Kat!

    XO,
    Jane

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  3. Looks like you are
    ready, my friend!
    Loved your last post
    with Misty Belle.
    What a gorgeous girl!
    Happy, happy Thanksgiving,
    Kat!
    xx Suzanne

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  4. Enjoy your special Thanksgiving holiday! Ours will be quiet...but nice! Hugs! ♥

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  5. Have a wonderful day my friend. Do not over clean, feed them and they will be happy. Happy Thanksgiving. ♥O

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  6. Love all your turkey decor. I'm thinking a house full of people, just like old times, is just what the doctor ordered - puts one's priorities into perspective. Have a good turkey day.

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  7. You have a nice collection of turkeys...that red one is cool.
    Enjoy your houseful Thursday!

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  8. Your guests are sure to fell the beautiful and warm welcome you have created for them. I guess I missed those WS glass turkeys...they are beautiful and I can see why you mom wanted the red one. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

    ~jermaine

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  9. It sounds like a wonderful heart-warming chaotic Thanksgiving in the works Kat - perfect! and a bit of turkey for the dogs~

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  10. Hi Kat,
    Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

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  11. Happy Thanksgiving, dear Kat! Family and friends are what the holiday is all about, and it sounds like you will have an abundance of both.
    Connie

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  12. Kat, you have a lovely Thanksgiving! Give that cute little puppy a hug and kiss for me (of course the other pups too!). That was so nice of you to invite that couple to join in your celebration-you are carrying on a tradition your parents had! HUGS to you my friend!!

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  13. Happy Thanksgiving, Kat - your home decorations look wonderful. Love the centerpiece!

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  14. I love the flowers and your all your additions! Everything looks so perfect Kat! I am so happy that you will all be together and I hope that you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family!! Hugs to you my friend!!

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  15. Happy Thanksgiving, Kat! Enjoy your time with family and friends! XO

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  16. I forgot to tell you...your decorations are beautiful...love the turkeys!

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  17. Getting the puppy is the perfect time to have a big Thanksgiving. This will be the first holiday where Misty is at her tiniest and you will always remember it. Take some pictures, if you have the time. She will keep everyone busy.
    Have a wonderful day, Kat. I think it's serendipitous that you had that phone call.

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  18. Kat, you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your guests. The leftovers are always the best!
    Brenda

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  19. The more, the merrier - and your Thanksgiving table will certainly be merry! The same turkey bowl in your firt picture is on my kitchen counter filled with chocolates.
    Happy Thanksgiving!
    Cathy

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  20. Sounds like you're going to have a fun day tomorrow surrounded by friends, family, beautiful decor, and love! Enjoy! :)

    xoxo laurie

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  21. This has the makings of a very special Thanksgiving Kat, all of you kids together again, that phone call, your new little Misty Belle. Enjoy all of it Kat! xo ~Lili

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  22. Happy Thanksgiving Kat! I am a little closer to you - visiting family in Glenwood, MD.

    Have a great day!

    Rene

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  23. Kat,
    Coming by to wish you a HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! It has been so nice blogging with you since the first of the year...enjoy your day with all of your family and friends:)

    Blessings,
    Linda

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  24. I love that red turkey. Pretty!
    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  25. I hope your dinner turned out great.
    Happy Thanksgiving.
    Rhonda

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  26. I hope your big, old-fashioned feast was a lot of fun!....all the ingredients are there!

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  27. I sure hope you had a wonderful time!! Everything looked fabulous:)

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  28. Sounds like you were as busy as I was. Hope your day went off without a hitch. My day was lovely. I just love Thanksgiving!!

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