Thanks Giving
November is a long month in our household—anniversaries of the death of two parents and our son, Brian; the usual dreariness and storminess of the weather here in the northern hemisphere; and the end of flowers and vegetables in the garden. So, it is a good thing we have holiday lights and a day to gather with friends and family to count the considerable blessings we do have.
Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday—not the false narration of early European settlers living peacefully with Native Americans—but the holiday of good food, friends, and family gathering specifically to be thankful.
My mom’s handwritten wild rice stuffing recipe with my added notes.
Mom’s Giblet Gravy recipe
I love pulling out my mom’s handwritten recipe cards for giblet gravy and wild rice stuffing. When she was still alive, I cherished calling her up and asking for subtle directions like, “How do you keep the rice from getting mushy?”
Wearing the apron her Grandma Vendla made over 50 years ago, Ann chops celery for her mom’s wild rice stuffing.
I wear the apron my Grandma Vendla made for me over a half century ago. At this point I only dare to hand wash it because it probably would not survive a machine wash.
The last few years we have purchased our turkey from farmer friends Kevin and Jenny. A whole crew helps them harvest their birds on Monday morning before the traditional American Thanksgiving, which is always the last Thursday of November. Jenny has written a wonderful, beautifully illustrated children’s book this year: Thankful Harvest: which introduces young readers to the concept of regenerative farming and ethical harvesting of animals.
Thankful Harvest, a beautifully illustrated children’s book by our friend Jenny Goff
Traditional foods and non-traditional foods will be welcome at our table tomorrow. Longstanding friends and some new friends will be joining us. Our daughter always works retail over the holiday and has established her own traditions far away in southern California. This year our son-in-law, Joe, is going to cook the turkey. “I am a visual learner,” said Joe. “I have been studying UTube videos and I think I’ve got it figured out.”
While her son-in-law will watch UTube videos for directions on cooking his turkey, Ann will dutifully be following directions on p. 279 of her old Betty Crocker cookbook.
We will gather midafternoon around the wood stove to share one thing in the year past that we are particularly grateful for. Then a flurry of activity will unfold, and the magnificence of the potluck begins—the turkey, gravy, and mashed potatoes; the vegetarian tempeh turkey with miso gravy and stuffed squash; apple/pecan/cranberry green salad; Mexican rice; cranberry sauce; desserts ranging from pumpkin pie to apple/hazelnut pie to crème Brule; and various libations.
Whether or not you celebrate any formal Thanksgiving in your life or in your country, never forget the power of gratitude—whether that be a kind statement to a clerk or a neighbor or a family member. Or whether it be sharing a meal. This moment now is all we know for sure. May we each find ways to offer gratitude as long as we may ever be blessed to live.
Our other Thanksgiving eve tradition—Christina puts up the holiday lights.
At 4:22 p.m.PST the sun set tonight far to the south. One more month of earlier and earlier sunsets further and further to the south.
Happy Thanksgiving Ann! Thank you for the reminder of memories and simple pleasures bringing family and friends together. Sending love and so much gratitude for all the blessings I have so generously received from you and Christina over the years.
Wonderful to hear from you, Sharon! The appreciation and gratitude return fully back to you. Ann
Happy Thanksgiving, dear one. We are so thankful to have you both in our lives. Sending love and good wishes to you and all who are gathering with you in person or from afar. ❤️
And, dear one, blessings back to you and your whole dear family! Ann
Have a happy Thanksgiving. Our Thanksgiving is pretty much like yours except we have changed our wood fireplace for a propane one. It is not quite the same. I still will have a fire outside for those who like the smell of smoke and the crackle of wood burning. It is overcast, wet and dreary here right now, but smiles and laughter later on today will brighten things up. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday for so many reasons. There is just so much to be thankful for. After 78 years of living, no matter what the hardships, I am greatly thankful.
Hello Steve! With appreciation for the description of your own Thanksgiving. As long as we are able to split and dry the wood, we will continue to use our airtight stove. Yet, some traditions will, of course, change over time. Blessings on your gathering today and lovely to know I have a kindred spirit in loving this holiday. Ann
Thank you for this, Ann. I was so interested to read Heather Cox Richardson’s history of Thanksgiving today. Did I even know that it began, not with the pilgrims and Natives (which I knew), but with Lincoln and the Civil War? And here we are again. Honoring our considerable blessings, even in challenging times. Love to you and Christina, two of my considerable blessings.
Yes, I always appreciate Heather’s reminders to us of where things really come from. And I always appreciate our friendship. Blessings, Ann
I love this, Ann. The old recipes, the cookbook, the melancholy memories mashed up with never-ending gratitude. I’ve always loved November too. I suppose it is inevitable that it would hold loss as well as thanks as time ambles on. My wife has done most of the cooking for Thanksgiving for many years. She graciously uses my grandmother’s recipe for stuffing and I am always flooded with the kind of memory only a big whiff of sage can bring. This year it is also my birthday and the joy and gratitude are multiplied. Happy Thanks Giving to you and yours 🧡
Good morning and Happy Birthday! Glad to see this note from you and so very sorry for the loss of your dear Yoda. Yup, melancholy memories mashed up with never ending gratitude. Blessings, Ann
Thank you so much for sharing today. Have a joyous and happy day.
Happy Thanksgiving to you in Austin, Larry! Ann
Thank you for this sweet and poignant message. I have that same cookbook and just 5 minutes before I opened your email I was mentioning to my daughter how much I appreciated the simple tried-and-true recipes. I loved seeing your mother’s handwritten recipes, too. I am so very thankful for open-hearted friends like you and Christina in my life. Regardless of all the craziness and chaos in the world, I feel truly blessed. Happy Thanksgiving Dear Ones!
Good morning, Glenda. We extend the gratitude right back to you for friendship. So glad you are gathering with your family today. Love, Ann
Happy Thanksgiving and lots of love to you and Christina.
And the same back to you and Sam! Whether in this country or your new abode, may you both be healthy and well. Ann
wondering if i could have the recipe for the wild rice stuffing?
happy thanksgiving!
Yes! I will send it off to you in the next few days. Ann
Thanks so much, Ann, for sharing a bit of your holiday with us here! I especially liked seeing your Mom’s writing on the recipe cards (so grateful that I met your Mom and your aunt so many years ago – that was special for me – they both left a positive impression of how I wanted to age when I got there – and now here I am!! I appreciate, too, your careful carrying of your family’s tradition – using the very same recipes – the link that keeps us “remembering.” How meaningful. And nice to see your photo as well – looking happy to be creating another Thanksgiving meal for those you love and cherish. Lastly, I do so appreciate your apron and all the meaning it holds in those threads! What a rich life we enjoy thanks to those that came before us and who spent part of their precious life to nurture us along. So much to be grateful for indeed! Lots of love to you and Christina as November soon will give way to December! xxx
Thank you, Jeanne, I love your remembrance of meeting my mother and Aunt Helen at that writing workshop so long ago. I recall walking behind Mom and Helen and overhearing their conversation, “These ladies think we are wise. Can you believe that?” said my Aunt Helen to Mom. Loved that you helped me pull that scene back. And, yes, to “What a rich life we enjoy thanks to those that came before us and who spent part of their precious life to nurture us along.” The circle of life is so very rich if we can just step back from the dailiness of things and see the whole picture. Love, Ann
Dear Ann,
I have this exact Betty Crocker cookbook! The pages are stained with butter, oil, etc, the spine has been relieved of it’s covering. This book is so valuable to me for it’s connection to hearth and home; nourishment and feeding people I love. Thank you for this sweet memory. I hope to hand it down to granddaughters someday. I am thankful for you and Christina on this journey of elderhood teachings that sustain me. I finally adopted “Sammy” my foster Great Dane Bull mix that has lived with me for 8 months! He is a big sweet couch potato! An 85 lb gift!! Love all around, Cougar
Hello Cougar!
Always a pleasure to hear from you and just love that we share that same cookbook! Ah, yes, a dog to share life with_it’s the best! Blessings, Ann