24 Comments

Jan, thank you for the early morning laugh. I am grateful for the life I have had and to continue to have. Couldn’t ask for more! I can remember ironing sheets and pillowcases, along with tablecloths, dishcloths and handkerchiefs?? That stopped a long time ago now. Happy Thanksgiving and many more to come. Xoxo.

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I can't even find my iron. ha ha! There are definitely some good things with the changing of times... Happy Thanksgiving, Rita! xoxo

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I was with both of my daughters this year on Thanksgiving day for the first time in over 30 years. It was wonderful, my oldest grandson and his wife hosted Both sets of families. My grandson is a plumber by day, but he is a marvelous cook. We all took a dish but we had A lovely meal. My heart was full, and it still remains that way. Almost a week later. But one year when I hosted The Thanksgiving meal, I too, made macaroni and cheese from scratch, because of a couple of grand children requests. Another fun story, Jan, thank you for sharing. Blessings my friend.

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Oh, Mary -- what a blessing to be with both your daughters and all the families. Thank heavens for these young men in our lives. Happy Holidays! xoxo

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Hi Jan I just love your stories of olden days. My mom told me one time when my dad and her first got married , she put beans in a pressure cooker. She had beans all over the walls the floor, the ceiling. Needless to say she never made beans that way again . On that note during Thanksgiving while my mom was making turkey and dressing with all the trimmings my brother and I am my two sisters would get out in the backyard and play football, now it was snowing and we had a fantastic time. My mom would call us in to get cleaned up and have Thanksgiving dinner. It was at that time that all of us had our orders to do as far as cleaning up the kitchen. My younger sister cleared the tableand wiped it off. My brother would wash the dishes. I would dry and put away my middle sister would wipe off the counters and sweep the floor. This was all done while my mom and my dad relaxed in the living room, reading a newspaper or watching television we still get together and still help with setting the table and cleaning up. but we visit every year in Kentucky. All of us try to come but it’s hard to get together nowadays, we all have our own lives and even though we’re apart we still call each other on the phone or FaceTime to see how they are doing. I give thanks every day for the time I can share with my family. That’s what I am thankful for this Thanksgiving.

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Thanks so much for sharing, Shari -- you made my afternoon! Those pressure cookers were something... and your family memories were so heartwarming. Like you I hate that my family can't all get together anymore, but we can remember the good times always. Happy Thanksgiving. xoxo

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My daughter is a fabulous cook. My late husband did all of ours. One night at our VFW here in Michigan, I said, "Frank does all our cooking and I do a mean cleanup. " A woman said that is stupid. I asked if she did both. She said yes. I said who is ______?

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Wow, you've got that right, Kathy!!! I used to give my hubby money secretly when we went out to eat (since the food was my responsibility) 'cause I didn't want people to know I was paying. How dumb was that?! Certainly glad times have changed... xoxo

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Well I had a good laugh as I too tried cooking and almost had our apartment on fire 😂🤣 he was determined that one day I can cook . 9 years later he send me to culinary arts school and I learned so much but never like pastry until I got sick I learned to bake all kinds and now I feed my community with tons of sweets. I am thankful for the gift of life, my family, health, peace laughter, my intuition, my shelter, my ambition, my self- awareness, my favorite little humans, natures serenity, growth I could go on 😂🤣. I’m grateful for all that has come and thankful for all that has left.

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Oh, Lucy -- you are a great example how things can change & become beautiful. I love seeing pictures of your bake goods. They always look so tasty. Happy Thanksgiving! xoxo

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I loved your post and have seen myself reflected in it. I'm a disaster in the kitchen, but I have to say that despite being one, my family has survived....Hugs 🤗

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Who has time to cook when you're teaching a whole bunch of kids, right?! Ha! {{Hugs}}

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Jan , I have to say, if I'm being honest, that I've never cooked a turkey on my own. The one time I remember attempting to, I was with husband John, nephew John and his girlfriend, and neice Betsy. I'd often made the gravey for John's extended family previously, and that was a big hit, so when I was asked to help with the turkey and make my "award winning gravey", I felt ok about it. The 5 of us were camping out at the family cabin up at Camano, and were happily waiting for the turkey to cook under Betsy's supervision, when suddenly there was a loud hissing noise as the turkey burst into flames! Betsy and I jumped into action, waving pot holders to and fro, as the poor bird became increasingly charred. It was then that I realized that not only has iur joint attempt at cooking a turkey failed, but there would be no juices left to use for part of the gravey! As we all sat grimly staring at what was to have been a 4 star meal 🤣 I realized that I had a lot to learn about the art of turkey cooking and vowed never to attempt it again.

To this day, I avoid cooking a turkey, and in fact now John and I spend Thanksgiving with relatives who are vegan, so there is no turkey to be concerned about!

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Oh, Pam, thanks so much for the laugh. Loved it! xoxo

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Glad you got a laugh out of this, Jan! I actually had to laugh, myself, remembering . 🤣 🐓🦃🔥❤️❤️

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Enjoyed your blog, can relate to some. I always had trouble getting my cranberry jello mold to be solid! Still tasted pretty good though. I’m so thankful my kids like taking turns hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas. All we have to do is show up with a bottle of wine!

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Thank heavens for our kids, right?! Happy Thanksgiving, Diane!!! xoxo

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You too Jan and Stoney! Our Thanksgiving is tomorrow in Cleveland. Excited to see the college kids.

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Flooded with gratitude and this is like “icing on the cake”!

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Thanks, Vicki! xoxo

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I've never been a great cook even when I follow the recipe. I'm very thankful Keith always cooked all the big holiday meals and I'm pretty sure our kids are thankful, too. Now he just cooks all the meals and I am happy to just do the cleanup. Glad you had a great Thanksgiving with your family!

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If I could just get Stoney to cook. His speciality, I'm afraid, is fried bologna & rice. Uck! Keith just went up a lot of notches in my book. Happy Thanksgiving to you both. xoxo

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Thank you for sharing . I depended on my mother to do the main cooking. My wish I watched her do some of the cooking. I am thankful for my family 3 children 7 grands. Husband 60 years together. All of my siblings (5) still living. So many more blessings to even count. Blessings to you

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So awesome, Susie! OMG you are blessed with a wonderful family!!! Happy Thanksgiving! xoxo

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