We Gather Together

Some of us are fortunate to be able to get together with loved ones in person this year. Others of us will be gathering memories of those Thanksgivings of the past that we hold dear and the people we shared them with. No matter, Thanksgiving is a time when we should feel the warmth of love even as we express gratitude for all we have and all we are able to share with others.  

A few weeks ago I was feeling very humbug about the holidays. That changed when I realized I could put together a Thanksgiving celebration for, as my cousin said, the "strays" in the family. In giving to others I am now finding my own joy. 

So today was get ready day. The table is set.

The  pies are baked and the cranberry sauce is made.

Pumpkin, of course, and wild huckleberry, from berries Jake picked this summer.

The pie crust has been sampled with pie cookies.

Tom has recovered the charcoal grill from the back of the shed and has his outdoor kitchen ready to smoke the turkey. He also now has a clean shed. 

All of the ingredients for the stuffing are prepared and are cooling out, to be combined this evening and refrigerated until it's time to stuff the bird tomorrow. 

Celery and onions, fresh herbs from the garden, mushrooms and sausage, turkey stock made from the giblets and more aromatics. 

And even though I get tired too fast these days, I still have a smile. I am looking forward to being able to give on Thanksgiving.

 I am so very thankful for my wonderful husband Tom, who is there to help when I need him, especially with the cleaning up. We are a team.

I am also thankful for you, my blogging family. Many of us have shared our lives for a long time now. You are important to me. I wish for you a day of love and fond memories.

Then to you who see me through Facebook, and for some of you good friends, who see me even in person now and then, I wish for you love and happiness and the joy of giving. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!