Our Thanksgiving was mellow, homey, delicious, and well worth being thankful for. Michal and Helen came with delicious food... I love that for Thanksgiving people want to share their favorite dishes, because it means there will be plenty, and everything will taste wonderful!
I forgot to make a salad! We had a scrumptious roast turkey, which was kindly cooked in Helen's oven. We tried our first Tofurky, which was declared: Eh. We had green beans cooked with yams and chestnuts, which I declare: Yum! I made red cabbage, and two dressings/stuffings. I baked two apple pies and two pumpkin pies, and of course there was cranberry sauce! Mine, Helen's, and Alex's favorite can-molded variety! Michal and Helen brought mashed potatoes, a favorite with everyone, especially William, and they brought two more pumpkin pies and fresh whipped cream... which reminds me... breakfast!
Max refreshed our message board:
I love that Thanksgiving is so dear to people, that it can be celebrated in so many ways, and that each of us has specific, treasured memories, and ideas of what makes Thanksgiving special. This morning my cousin, Ashlie, shared Katalina's thoughts on enjoying a spectacular Thanksgiving:
"You can have a spectacular Thanksgiving in three glorious steps. First, go to your cabin in the mountains. Bring skis or snowshoes. Play on the zipline and on the rope in the cabin. Play in the fort. The zipline goes about three meters! Eat turkey and pumpkin pie. The turkey will not be smoked and the pumpkin pie will be just right! Having a spectacular Turk Day is a breeze!" by Katalina
Katalina, I am ready to reserve a spot in that cabin for next year! You know how to celebrate!
Max and I watched Alton Brown bake pies a few nights ago, and as Mr. Brown is a highly respected Geek cook, Max insisted we follow Mr. Brown's exact directions. So, now we have a pie bird. Two, actually. I found the traditional black bird, and this little chica! And yes, it worked! Since moving to this kitchen, I have had multiple pie blow-outs, but the pie-chica kept everything intact.
Apples set one by one, in a circle, and baked in a tart pan... just like Alton's.
It's funny... I never take enough pictures during Thanksgiving. It was the most gorgeous day here. The cloudless sky was jewel blue. We were all home, and with our friends. The house was fairly-nearly-practically clean! So, many wonderful opportunities for photo memories. Maybe I just, for once, focus on the moment, and leave the camera on the counter.
Maria, on the other hand, is developing quite the blogger's eye for artistry and documentation. Lately she insists on having her snacks photographed for posterity. This pear, for example, was so cute, and small that she could not possibly eat it until I snapped a picture.
Well, here is one picture from Thanksgiving day, when Maria was sharing her phonograph with Michal.
Alex, Maria, and I made two red wagon trips down the street to bring over the dishes that Michal and Helen were sharing. Later, after we feasted all we could hold, we took a leisurely walk down our street. We saw a hot air balloon, found a penny, noted the pretty houses, and the fragrance of cedar and pine trees. And we anticipated those pies. Pie.
Where did I recently read someone's favorite statement: "Hold on to your forks, there is pie." It's sheer poetry. (*Found it! Thank you Jane's Apron!)
Maria opened up the barn doors! Two by two, she thoughtfully posed our farm animals all the way to the top of the stairs.
With a bit of domestic shame, I reminded Maria: Please do not give tours of mommy and daddy's bedroom, or mommy's office. They are the two most neglected spaces in the house. Maria loves giving home tours, which can be quite thorough, and thoroughly embarrassing. (Of course, I have just managed to reveal my embarrassing *secret* on a very public scale!) So, true to her promise to respect my mess, she gave a tour announcing, "We are not going in there, or there... mommy says they are too messy."
Hmmmm... I suppose it wouldn't hurt to clean my office, as long as I am home, in my pajamas anyway. Well, it might hurt a little. But first, I will need something to fuel me, maybe, I dunno... pie?!