I wanted to take a step back before we are fully immersed in the magical season of Christmas...because Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays and holds special meaning for my family...
The Thanksgiving holiday is always celebrated on the last Thursday in November...some years this day is also my parents' wedding anniversary and sometimes it falls on my birthday.
It is always a day, however, that our family members gather together to cook our traditional and favorite family recipes, enjoy each others comfortable and accepting company, eat way too much wonderful food and remember all that we are thankful for.
Our family is not perfect, but we love each other; we are not always all together, but we seek each other out to share dinner and time together...sometimes in two or three homes spread across the country.
We are truly blessed to have family members who support and encourage each other. We don't always understand one another, we sometimes disagree but we are there for one another when needed.
Remembering Thanksgivings past...those at my grandparents' farmhouse with my great aunts and uncle, cousins and siblings all gathered around the big table in the dining room...
...the few at my home where the table stretched from the dining room through to the living room with hardly any room to walk...
...to recent years at my sister Mary Beth's home...where her friends and church members with no family close by, join our family around their ping pong table turned dining room table...
It is a time when all generations come together in gratitude for the many blessings bestowed on us...we often go around the table, each naming something that we are particularly thankful for.
Thanksgiving is much less stressful than other holidays...no required gifts and everyone shares in the preparation...
...and even in the cleanup!
On this day, washing dishes is enjoyable...we are together.
Some of us take a long walk after dinner....some watch football...some take a nap!
We are grateful for each other, for our family, our blessings and for Thanksgiving joys...
I hope that you are looking forward to a special day with your family this Thanksgiving!
P.S. Don't you think yellow and gray make a great color combination?! :)
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30 comments:
I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a LOVELY birthday (whenever that may be). I would say at a minimum that if the tablescape is up to you, it will be gorgeous!
What a beautiful "Step Back" to remind us of what's important and reflect on family and thankfulness. Sometimes those things just slip through our fingers in the midst of our busy lives...so sad to say that, but it's true.
I'm wishing you a very Happy Birthday and Holiday Season Laura!! I want to thank you for adding yourself as a follower to my blog. I have long been a follower here as I find we have so much in common and I love coming to visit.
Yes...yellow and gray are beautiful together~
everything vintage
Laura your tableware and flatware are just gorgeous. I collect vintage holiday postcards and your's are just lovely. Have a wonderful Birthday and a Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy your family time.
Blessings,
Debra
Hi Laura:
I really enjoyed all your images today, but I am especially coveting your sweet bird dishes! They're beautiful.
Take care.
xoxo
Donna
thank you Laura, you have stated thanksgiving just as it should be and exactly what we also do, right down to the naps. we have for years now after the meal, we play bingo with whoever wants to. we wrap up little gifts and those are our prizes. the grandchildren love this,well.....i do too. prizes can useful,silly or even just a pack of gum. yes, Happy Thanksgiving and a blessed birthday to you. Bestest,Denise
What a wonderful, beautiful post! And as always, your gorgeous images complement your words just perfectly.
Ya know, I never noticed, but yellow and gray IS a smashing color combo!
Hugs,
Anne
Such a beautiful post Laura and gorgeous images. Yes, yellow and gray and a perfect match!
Thank you Laura for the reminder to slow our step. The timing is perfect. The reminder to sit in moments of pure thanks. Many blessings to you and your family. And....I hope all your Birthdays wishes come true!
Joy..............always
Mellow yellow and gray...soothing colors. I will be thinking of you and your family on that day. I'm happy that it holds such special memories for you. The table will surely be set beautifully!!!
xxx...C
Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Birthday too. Some lovely thoughts here. It is really all about people and LOVE! Enjoy lots of both.
xo Terri
Hello Laura
I hope you have a nice thanksgivingsday whit the people who loves you !
I`m looking forward too that day and sitting around the christmas three whit some gifts .
And have a nice birthday !!
Lots of love from Holland
Peet
We don't have Thanksgiving here in the U.K. as it is pertinent to the U.S but I think that it is a wonderful celebration.
I love the fact that your sister not only has family and friends, but most of all,the fact that she has people without family. What a great gesture.I wish you and your family a happy Thanksgiving, Laura. XXXX
Love your comforting display! I particular love the little vintage Thanksgiving cards. Thanks for sharing these sweet thoughts about Thanksgiving. I love Christmas but don't want to give Thanksgiving the "bum's rush" so I wait until after Turkey day to get started with the Christmas decor! Have a blessed day!
I realised how valuable that family time at Thanksgiving is when I spoke to one of my pupils yesterday. We are in France, but her dad works elsewhere for an American organisation and she hasn't seen him for THREE MONTHS! This is obviously really beginning to get to her, but thanks to Thanksgiving, he comes home this weekend. The joy of an otherwise cynical teenager was really wonderful to behold.
I love the idea of gathering around a ping pong table for a gathering of loved ones. What wonderful memories the kids will have of that! What a delightful post. Yellow and grey are perfect together. I've bought several old primitives over the years where yellow is peeking out behind grey and have always loved the duet of colors.
Debbie
Being your neighbour from the north our celebration was last month but all the gathering and the sharing is important here as well.
It is the only holiday without religion, country of origin or political views that unites us as a people to share the bounty of the Harvest around the table and simply be thankful...
May you enjoy yours and the family and friends it gathers.
Susan
Yay Laura,
I'm glad someone else is into Thanksgiving like I am. I love all of the food, cooking, family and lovely fall decor.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos with us.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Rosemary
Everything about this post is wonderful ~ the sentiment, the setting and the spirit. This is a beautiful reminder to all of us what this holiday is all about. And I could not part without telling you how beautiful the elements you selected for your table setting are! So very untypical ~ soft butter yellow and a smooth gray~ and so very perfect for setting a welcoming table. I think it is the contrast of the warm butter color with the coolness of the gray...it speaks to Art and to the heart. Thanks for this lovely post and I hope your birthday and your family gathering is wonderful!!!
~Jermaine~
Lovely post, yes I agree Thanksgiving is such a special time of year filled with memories & wonderful smells. My b-day is the 25th, Thanksgiving will be on my b-day next year..yeah!!!:)
Laura,
I think this post is so very special...yes, we all need to occasionally "Step Back" and not get so caught up in what really doesn't matter...but to remember our family and good friends and time spent, not dollar spent. Thank you for such a lovely post
Gale
Laura, your yellow and grey tableware is beautiful. But what most struck me is the tenderness of your writing. Have a fabuleux birthday! Today, the third Thursday in November is the Nouveau Beaujolais so I will raise a glass to your health, that of your family, to celebrate your birthday and to all the wonderful things that we can all give thanks to... Love
I loved your post & all your pictures. Thanksgiving so often gets lost in getting ready for Christmas and it shouldn't. I love those bird dishes...the little bird tracks are so cute! :)
Thanks for helping to slow us down! I heard my first Christmas song on the radio today!!! My favorite part of Thanksgiving is the nap and/or walk after the big, wonderful meal. XO Trish
This is a beautiful post, thank you! I will definitely be spending some much needed time with my family - who I don't see too often. Have a happy birthday also!
I just discovered your blog and I must say that it is a lovely place to visit. This Thanksgiving post is not only beautiful visually, it is also very meaningful. Thank you.
Hello ~ Yes, I am trying hard to just focus on this Thanksgiving holiday before going to the next, even in my mind. Our day is pretty much like yours - quite mellow and lovely. This year will be quite different and very difficult I'm sure because my mother and brother both went to heaven within 7 weeks of each other. My sister and two other brothers will have to carry on and be grateful for what we had and have. I don't really think anyone can be happy if there is not thankfulness in their heart.
I appreciate your beautiful blog and I just signed up as a follower so that I don't miss a thing...
Cynthia K. Beauty and Blessings
Happiness to you! Happy holidays! This is a beautiful post.
Such a beautiful, soothing post! Love every photo.
Those plates my dear...those plates are a balm for the eyes. I love anything with birds...and the prints...oh beautiful.
Food tastes even better when served with these wonderful things!
beautiful post, Thanksgiving is special for us too :) Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with the love of family, good friends and amazing food! Besos, Rose
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