Thanksgiving Remembered

While cleaning through some old boxes that I had stored, I ran across this old die cut. It of course, brought back memories of when we really only decorated with a few chipboard die cuts and maybe a bouquet of fall leaves for Thanksgiving Day. Now I have out all kinds of pumpkins and fragranced candles in assorted glass containers for my decorations. While it looks festive, it does not stir me as emotionally as this picture of pilgrims hunting wild turkeys for dinner. As a society we have moved a long way from the days of either hunting for wild turkey or chasing the turkeys around the farmyard until we caught one that we thought was just right. My mother, grandmother and aunts would spend hours in the kitchen cleaning the turkey and plucking it's feathers. When they were through with all of that then they would make the bread dressing, stuff the turkey, the place it in the oven of the old coal stove and then the rest of the story is about the wonderful smell of herbs roasting with that old turkey. There was a lot of time and effort sacrifices that took place to fix Thanksgiving dinner for all of my relatives. Everything had to be just right from the fresh bread, the steamed pudding, the mincemeat and pumpkin pies. My favorite was my grandmothers homemade egg noodles. I always thought my grandma made her broth for her noodles from chickens but my mother tells me the broth was from duck, however the broth was always so rich and savory, it was always my favorite dish on the table. Every recipe used by those wonderful women were an heirloom. Most passed down for generations. I know every family has their own traditions that are as priceless to them as mine are to me.
All I do now is go to my local grocery store and pick my favorite brand of turkey from big mounds of frozen birds. Life has changed a great deal. There will be some of you who can relate to this post and then there will be those of you who haven't a clue what I am talking about. You are all my friends and I would love to have you all over for Thanksgiving dinner. While that is not possible, of course, please know that I certainly feel a great deal of gratitude for those of you who stop by, read my posts and then leave me comments on what I have written.
I do have lots of guests coming so I need to take a few days to cook and clean before they all arrive. I will take the next few days off. So I will see you all next Friday. Remember to keep an attitude of gratitude and then give thanks for all that you enjoy. Deb