THANKSGIVING

One of the many things that I appreciated about my mother-in-law, Memaw, was that she never cared nor made big demands on when we celebrated Christmas.  She didn't care when we celebrated it just as long as we were all together.  My mother insisted that we celebrate on Christmas Eve in the evening and my SisterIL's mom insisted they celebrate on Christmas Day.  So, the Warren Christmas was always worked in but it was always fun and very relaxed.  What does Christmas have to do with Thanksgiving?  Well, since Memaw was so flexible about Christmas, she made a big deal about all of us being together for Thanksgiving.  Since my sisters lived away most of their adult lives, they would come home for Christmas but not for Thanksgiving. So, the time spent with Mr. W's family on Thanksgiving made for some great memories and became a special time of year for me.

This year Mr. W and I spent Thanksgiving with Daughter and her family.  She and I spent a lot of the day on Wednesday making cornbread for the dressing, chopping broccoli and onions for a broccoli salad, boiling eggs to devil, and putting the sweet potato casserole together.  Thanksgiving day proved to be a pretty stress free day with all that preparation.  And we had fun cooking and spending time together. It was very relaxed.

Memaw made the BEST dressing I have ever had.  She never used a recipe and SisterIL and I always told her that she needed to teach one of us how to make it because one day she would not be around.  Luckily she honored that request and taught Daughter how to make it.  Daughter was a very picky eater growing up, but she loved Memaw's dressing and I think that's why Memaw picked her to teach how to make it.  Daughter and I put the dressing together and I must say, we ROCKED the dressing. Memaw would have been proud.  We had turkey breast cooked with a cranberry glaze, sweet potato casserole, green beans, dressing, gravy, broccoli salad, and deviled eggs. 

Since it was just us, Daughter decided to use her china.  When Daughter and SonIL got married, she inherited SonIL's grandmother's china.  She, just like most everyone else I know, doesn't use her china often but this was a great opportunity.  She also got out her crystal and used that too.

We had a great visit and I am very thankful that I was able to spend this time with Daughter and her family.  But, the time goes by much too quickly and it's always hard to say good-bye.  I'm hoping to make a trip back in the spring.  So, all the kisses and hugs that I got from Curly and Popcorn will have to last me until then.

Daughter and I cooking in her kitchen

The table set and ready to chow down

Me with 2 of my precious granddaughters.

The sister squeeze

Curly's birthday is Sunday.  So, on Wednesday, I took her to shop for her presents from me and Pops.  She wore her crown and those crazy glasses to do the shopping! She will be 7 years old.  Where has the time gone?