I am changing my usual blog format today because I want to talk about Thanksgiving.  I recently read an editor's page in a shelter magazine about the editor's experience hosting Thanksgiving dinner.  She noted that in the past she tried going all out: silver, crystal, china, fresh flowers, real linens, and it was just too much work.  As a result, she says from now on it is paper plates and napkins for her.  This depresses me! I know many of us don't have the option to pull out the family silver, the wedding china and the linen tablecloth because we aren't lucky enough to have them.  As one of the lucky ones, I ALWAYS host my family for Thanksgiving dinner and I always use the "good stuff" I am fortunate to have.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday celebration.  Yes, you can argue that there are other holidays that are more important and I don't disagree, but I love Thanksgiving.  The reasons are simple, turkey day is all about being with family and friends, sharing good food and expressing gratitude for all the many blessings we have.  I love having one day a year that is focused on gratitude and in my house, the Thanksgiving prayer is just as important as the turkey.

Thanksgiving Past

I spend much of Thanksgiving week, preparing for the big event.  Monday, I do the grocery shopping and polish the silver pieces I intend to use.  Tuesday, I plan seating charts, set up extra tables as needed and move out furniture that may be in the way if I am having a large group.  (In a good year, I host 25 - 30 family members and friends).  I also plan each table setting. Wednesday is a big day.   I bake the pies from scratch, purchase flowers at the local wholesaler and put them in vases to condition them. I put the linens on the table, doing last minute touch ups with the iron. I set the tables and place serving pieces on the buffet.  On Thanksgiving day,  I arrange the flowers, prep the turkey and peel the potatoes early in the day.  Because we have dinner around 6:00 p.m. I have all afternoon to cook.  My one concession to the amount of work a huge dinner takes and to the limitations of my kitchen is that many of my guests bring side dishes to share. I am responsible for the turkey and stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, and the aforementioned pies. (I know it would be easy to have someone else bake the pies, but I LOVE pumpkin pie and to me having a good pie is just as important as a good turkey.) After the main event, someone usually offers to help clean up.  Yes, by then I am pretty tired, but it is a good tired.  The leftovers are put away, the silver, china and crystal get hand-washed and the dishwasher loaded.  Once the dishwasher is full, I call it a night and go to bed. Friday is clean up day and the table linens are washed as well as any dishes left from the night before.  The silver, china and crystal are put away and the furniture set to rights. (I will admit that I don't feel at all guilty if I spend most of the weekend on the couch!)

Reading this list, even I am somewhat overwhelmed by how much work it is!  Why do I do it?  Why do I look forward to doing it? The answer is simple.  I want everyone who shares this meal with me to feel special, welcome and appreciated.  Giving the ones I love those few hours at the table with family and friends, sharing a good meal at a table set with beautiful things (many of them family heirlooms) is my way of saying I am thankful for each one of them.  I do all this because I love them and they are worth it.

Wishing you many things to be grateful for this Thanksgiving.