blessed

The kitchen is quiet now.  The morning was spent with the sounds of chopping and dirty measuring cups being washed so they could be used again. The afternoon brought the aromas of roasting turkey and fresh sage in the dressing.  The evening was filled with the sounds of leftovers being put in the refrigerator, and Mike loading the dishwasher.  (hurray!)

Thanksgiving to me is all about memories.  As I sauteed the onions and celery for the stuffing, I had a vision of my mom doing the very same thing.  I would be home from college, and couldn't wait to taste her cooking.

 As I whipped potatoes and added the cream cheese, I thought of the time I met Susan Branch, whose recipe I use every single year.  When I put the lefse in foil to warm it in the oven, I thought of my grandma doing the same thing, for so many years.

As I cut into the pecan pie, I thought of being with my sister last year, and how we made my mom's pecan pie together.  And when I pulled the turkey out of the oven, I thought of the year my father-in-law was getting ready to carve the turkey and it slid onto the floor.

Thanksgiving is about being grateful, but it is also ripe with wonderful memories.  And that is just another reason it is one of my favorite holidays.

This year we made a new memory, hosting our friends Jed and Tracy and their sweet girls.  It was a true delight.

And after they had gone home to put tired girls to bed, we were able to Video Kinect with my family in Bemidji.  What a treat!  Memories were made, and a new tradition has begun.

Here's hoping you had a wonderful turkey day too!