A Thanksgiving Carol

Dicken's gave us a Scrooge for Christmas. I now give you a Scrooge for Thanksgiving - me. Now who wouldn't love a holiday filled with food, family, parades, and football all gearing up for the Black Friday sales? Me. I've prepared more than my share of traditional Thanksgiving meals which I don't really like. I have no interest in sports. While I love my family, there are better ways of showing it than spending 6 hours in the kitchen for 20 minutes of dining time. Oh and then there are the dirty dishes. And I won't be going near a shopping center on Friday - been there, done that, too.

Now I do like the sentiment. I just think it needs to be practiced far more often than once a year. My journal entries all start with "What I'm grateful for" and I list 5 things. They might be huge crucial things like my husband's love and my parents good health or trivial things like a favorite TV show. Sometimes I really want to skip this. I'm wound up and I want to let it all out in my journal, but I make myself list the first 5 things I'm thankful for that come to mind. Usually I unwind a little and gain some perspective.

So while it is important to be thankful and having a holiday is always nice, I'm going the mostly non-traditional route this year. I did bake a pumpkin pie this morning for my husband. I made sweet potato pie last year and he felt cheated so I owed him. I do have to admit that pumpkin is one of the easiest homemade pies to make. I follow Martha's and my dear late friend, Jane's, pastry recipe. I thought of Jane this morning while I rolled out the dough using my sister-in-law's method of placing the pastry between two pieces of plastic wrap. I did get a great crust. I'm grateful to all these talented ladies for sharing their expertise.

The rest of the weekend is gearing up for Christmas. You won't find me being Scrooge at Christmas time. I love it! Tomorrow afternoon while my husband naps off the non-traditional lunch I'm making (I let him choose the menu), I'll be raiding the attic for garland and boxes of ornaments. Later in the evening, my parents will be by to sample pumpkin pie. (Shh! Don't tell Lenny I've already invited them to share. He thinks he is getting this pie to himself :-)

I'm still working on cards as seen in the photo above. All the coloring is done, it is down to assembly. I feel like one of Santa's elves. Better than a turkey any day!