So much to be Thankful for

Twice a year, I am banished

from the kitchen.

Today was one of those days.

Dennis and the girls take care

of Thanksgiving dinner

from soup to nuts.

They start mid morning

making the "Lawrence " stuffing.

Then the bird is "dressed"

and put in the oven for about 5 hours.

This year we tried our first fresh turkey.

It was absolutely delicious.

The table is set with care

using Dennis' grandmother's antique dishes.

The aroma of the turkey baking

permeates throughout the house

all day, until it finally comes out of the oven

golden, juicy and so appetizing..

By the time we sit at the table

there is enough food for about 20 people.....

peas, carrots, corn, asparagus,

two kind of mashed potatoes,

rolls, cranberries, stuffing and of course turkey.

Wine and Sparkling Apple Cider are also served.

Since , of course, we are still hungry after all this (!)

dinner is followed by blueberry and pecan pies.

After dinner we write on the the table cloth

the things we are most thankful for

for this year.

We have been doing this since 2000.

It's fun to revisit the entries every year.

Seeing the names of friends and teachers past,

remembering pets, come and gone,

braces, come and gone,

moves to new states and trips to far away places.

And when everything is said and done

one of the things I'm most grateful for

is that the girls clean everything up........

If that doesn't put a smile on your face

nothing will..........