"Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do...but how much love we put in that action." Mother Teresa
I don't know if I've ever explained, but since one of my brothers lives in Maryland, and my aunt and uncle (who are like my big brother and sister) live in Cincinnati, my home in Columbus is sort of the hub of the wheel. I have another brother in California, but he doesn't make the trip home. And even though another brother and my mother are in Columbus, my house is the only one that holds all the gang, so all holiday celebrations are at my house. I often, like yesterday, wish I didn't always have to host. I'd love to take a dish to someone else's house. But, that's not the way it is, so no point wishing.
And I could make life easy and serve on paper plates, but that's not me. If you come to my house, you get a dinner from scratch and a nice table setting. It's my love language.
This was the grown-up table, or maybe I should call it the parent table, since all but one child is technically a grown up. It's made up with my mother's china, my mother-in-law's silverware, and my linens. I have a sore throat and a cold right now (not great timing) so I opted out of setting the good crystal (because it all needed to be washed to put it out and I was still polishing silver Thanksgiving morning).
The centerpiece is my old cornucopia with new fresh fruit in it. The old one was looking pretty bedraggled, as my mom handed it down to me. So I pulled everything out and replaced it with fresh fruit and placed it on a silver platter.
The kids' table made up with my mixed-color Fiestaware, gold candles and Tom Turkey in the center. We had all the windows thrown wide open because it was so hot in the kitchen. About 15 degrees cooler outside would have been nice.
Because I'm always in the thick of things when we're getting ready to serve and everyone sits down to dinner, I borrowed someone else's phone pics for these memories.
My sister-in-law and I as I was ready to carve the turkey. Lest you think my turkey looks rather skeletal, I'll let you in on my secret (or not-so-secret trick) trick -- I roast it breast side down. It doesn't make for a beautiful presentation, but I don't present my turkey until it's carved and ready to eat. The breast stays so moist roasting it this way. I roasted another turkey in my electric roaster, so we had plenty of meat.
Faith and my nephew Sean.
The kids' table -- almost all really big kids now.
Today is a day of catch up and a little rest (and eating dinner out!). There are some more serving dishes to store away, and Thanksgiving decorations to take down. It's almost time for Advent! Tomorrow the gang will be back for more chow, and either a maudlin evening or one of celebration -- it's the day of the Ohio State vs Michigan game.
Happy Thanksgiving! I am fortunate in that this year I was a guest. I brought supplies to bake three pies, which I did on Wednesday night, but that awful hour in the kitchen when the cook is trying to coordinate all the dishes to be cooked, hot and ready to serve at the exact same time? I was at the playground with my 2 youngest kids. I did the bulk of the dish washing, though, especially since my family made up the majority of eaters, and had the kids take turns drying and putting away. One day, perhaps, you won't be doing all the work. Maybe you'll be at the playground with the grandbabies instead.
ReplyDeleteThat will be a happy day!
DeleteYour tables looked beautiful, Barbara! Hosting is a ton of work, but your kids will always have the happy memories of the celebrations being at your home. It's your love language, like you said.And people always remember food and the people connected to it. I always remember this Italian lady who brought a bunch of homemade cannoli shells , along with a huge bowl of cannoli filling with mini choc, chips in it. Oh my goodness, those were the BEST! Still lives in memory 25 years later!
ReplyDeleteI roast my turkey upside down, too. My husband was a cook in a diner years ago. Thats how they did it there. Moist!
Thank you, Gwen. I know my kids like being at home. If I could only get them to cook the meal! And another we have in common -- of all things. We roast our turkey the same way. ;-)
DeleteMay I just say, I think it's funny that you still have a kids' table, even without any kids! It hard to fit everyone into a formal dining room space in most homes, though, isn't it? I always found the dining rooms to be ridiculously tiny, at least. :-)
ReplyDeleteOur dining room is pretty roomy, but our chairs at the table are rather wide at the seat, so I can only fit eight there with both leaves in. I suppose we could bring another table in, but I think the kids like being together!
DeleteEverything is just lovely. I remember the days I would serve at least 20 at our table. It was all buffet style though. I couldn't do it today. My only job this year was the sweet potato casserole, and I left the marshmallow placement for the granddaughters. Why do you have ear buds on? Blessings!
ReplyDeleteHaha! I wish someone in my family had asked me that. I was alone during the afternoon and listening to a book while I peeled sweet potatoes, cut green beans, set the kids table, etc.. I just pulled the earbuds out and let them hang around my neck (they are wireless) when everyone came in. I completely forgot they were there until I took my apron off when it was time to sit down.
Deleteyou are blessed
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I missed this post Barbara...roasting the turkey upside down!! Genius
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