Thanksgiving Memories

Okay, I've got to admit, Thanksgiving really isn't any different from most family dinners.  The only difference is that I get to spend nine hours washing pots and cooking.  What has been nice is that as my gang gets older, they get to take over some of the responsibilities of cooking the side dishes.

 For the last ten years or so, Matthew has been very insistent on being in charge of the potatoes. I peel them and he cooks and turns them into the most perfect mashed potatoes you could ever eat (I taught him well).  The Kitchen-aid mixer that he is using was given to me by Matthew's grandmother when I moved back to New York State 19 years ago.  She bought that beauty 48 years ago and it works perfectly, except for not having the highest speed.  

In addition to his mashed potato duty, for the last two years Matthew has been making a delicious crunchy sweet potato casserole that we discovered. I would show a photo but I forgot to take one and the casserole was gone before we knew it.  It is in the foreground of the next photo, though.

 This was our spread for dinner: turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole (no, not the Campbell's version), cranberry-orange relish, Spring salad, dinner rolls, cherry pie and pumpkin pie. Usually we  drink sparkling cider but the store was sold out.  Ironic, considering the store is almost around the corner from the Welch's plant. 

 My gang waiting patiently for Mom to stop taking photos.  

"Bring on the food!"

 I forgot to take the picture before we cut into it but William made the pumpkin pie at school and brought it home.  It was delicious!!!

 After a nine hour cooking spree, you didn't think I would be doing the cleaning did you? Each of my kids are assigned a night to do dishes.  Since this was too over-whelming for William I decided all of the older kids (minus my assistant chef) would help get the kitchen back to my standards.  I admit I stood by, chatting and telling them how to properly do the job.

 Our older book-ends.  Timothy, my blind Westie-Poo, who is always near his Mom (that be me) and Cassidy, our Pekinese, who we rescued from our animal shelter after she was found one winter day a mile in the woods, down a horse trail.  They never let us out of their range.

I never said my family was normal.

Jerome, kept himself busy while the rest of us hung out in the kitchen.  For those who have read my blog, you know that Jerome is playing Joint Ops.  This is how he spends almost every waking hour.  I've got to say, he's pretty good. 

Odd quote of the day - from Matthew

"There are people in third world countries who would love to have that ketchup." 

Thanksgiving Wishes!!!

May you and your families have the most loving and blessed Thanksgiving!


From my gang to yours...


(I hope you enjoy this little video featuring my men)

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Turkeys for the Community

Turkeys everywhere!

This is the second year that our church has held Adopt-A-Turkey Day.  The event was the brain-child of our outreach chairwoman.  The members of the congregation donated the money for the turkeys.  The turkeys were purchased from Walmart and then members filled their trucks and hauled them over to the church.  This year we had 703 turkey - plus 100 pounds of potatoes, which were donated by a member of our congregation.  Because we went over-budget Walmart of Harbor Creek, Pennsylvania donated the extra 38 turkeys, which they had already packaged for us.  

After the trucks began rolling into the parking lot, the unloading and lining up began.  Two rows per person was the idea, but this year we had more volunteers so it ended up being one row per person. 

Next the boxes had to be torn open and the turkeys moved into fewer boxes, for the convenience of the volunteers.  Andrew and Mandi helped us to open boxes.

Lots of boxes...

 Folks were so excited that they began lining up before the turkeys even arrived.  The line started forming over two hours before we began handing out the turkeys.

The next step was to tag the turkeys.  We attached tracts with a bible verse and Thanksgiving wishes to each turkey.

...all 703 turkeys...

We were scheduled to begin at 10am.  With volunteers working since 7:30am, we had some time to take a deep breath before the event actually started.  Andrew chatted with his friends...

India and Mandi relaxed on the stairs inside the church before their shift as advertising began.

William checked out the boxes.

Matthew held up the freezer.  Oops! My mistake.  Matthew made the coffee for the coffee bar in the Narthex.  We invited folks in and brought coffee out to those who preferred to stay in line. 

It was a chilly morning, after all.

And we're off!  

People were so happy.  There is nothing like helping out others.

I can't forget the advertisers. India stood in the park in downtown North East.  At first she didn't get much attention but after a while she took off her hood so her red hair was shining in the sun as she danced and sang.  India was even asked out by a boy in a passing car.  

(Not to worry, we know the boy from our volunteer work at the Thrift Shop:)

Mandi is a little less out-going.  I know! Weird, considering she is the cheerleader.  She was a bit uncomfortable with people looking at her.

Jerome wasn't really signed up for anything but he loves to volunteer.  Since I had signed Mandi up as advertising chairwoman, this is what Jerome chose to do to help.

The crowd making it's way through.  

I thought this photo was interesting because of it's angle.  I have a sneaking suspicion it was taken from atop the luggage rack of my van.

Once the walkers came through, we allowed people in cars to drive through as we placed their turkeys in their cars.

Behind-the-scenes view.  

This is how it looked from my perspective as we handed out turkeys to those in cars.

At first William didn't get it.  He couldn't understand why we were spending our Saturday morning giving turkeys to people.  (It's an Asperger's thing.)  Once he realized how happy it made people and how good it made us feel as a result, William was more than eager to start handing out turkeys himself.

With the turkeys all gone, the advertising crew returns.  

Last year we handed out around 653 turkeys and were stopping cars in the street to give them away. People thought "It's a church, there must be a catch".  There was no catch.  This was not based on income, if you needed a turkey - we had one for you.  

This year we were out in 55 minutes!!  55 minutes and 703 turkeys!  People heard the news and knew where to go.  I know we will be bigger next year.  

I know my church.

All that was left was to help Linda clean up the coffee bar, with help from Andrew, Matthew and India (Mandi helped too). Then home and to spend the rest of the day basking in the internal warmth we all felt.

Plus hanging out with Rachel and eating too much cake.  But that is for later blogs.