When I was
growing up, Thanksgiving Dinner might consist of a couple of
squirrels or a rabbit that Daddy brought home from his early morning
hunting excursion. Daddy rose early on Thanksgiving day, took his
rifle off the rack, and trekked through the woods with our trusty
dogs, Rex and Joe at his side.
These dogs were a funny-looking pair.
Rex was an Airedale mix while Joe was mostly Daschund. One small, one
large. “Mutt and Jeff,” we used to call them. It didn't bother them. They were best of buddies.
After Daddy
skinned the rabbit or squirrels, Mama did the cooking and made creamy
mouth-watering gravy to go with it. No matter what meal we shared on
Thanksgiving Day—turkey, squirrel, or rabbit, with mashed potatoes
and gravy, pinto beans, green beans, sweet potato pie, and banana
pudding--the best part was the conversation. And it flowed among our
large family gathered around the long table as we caught up on the
latest developments in each others' lives. Plenty of laughter filled
the air, good-natured teasing and such.
Only when the older kids went to work, did our family feast on
Butterball Turkey for Thanksgiving. Henry I. Siegel, where I worked,
gave one away to its employees at Christmas, while my brother got one from his factory for Thanksgiving.
When I was in
my teens, my two older brothers joined the service to fight in the
Vietnam conflict. They were sorely missed, more so during the
holidays. The empty chairs around the table spoke volumes. But,
although they were absent in body, they were still in our hearts and
in our prayers.
These
Thanksgiving memories dwell in my heart as proof that family ties,
love and laughter can still exist while conflict rages across the
ocean. I thank God for those special family get-togethers and for
bringing both my brothers safely home.
A Happy
Thanksgiving to all my friends. Enjoy these special holidays with your loved ones. But most of all make lasting memories while you can.
May God bless you all.
May God bless you all.
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When Josh Kramer picked up his aunt's house help at the depot, he had no idea she had actually ordered the young woman as a bride for him. The plot thickens. Carrie Franklin isn't even the young woman Josh's aunt ordered. She's an imposter, running from the law.
If you enjoy Western Romance with plenty of unexpected twists, you will love NOT WHAT HE ORDERED.
Hi, Lauren. It was not unusual for us to have beef or chicken on
ReplyDeleteThanksgiving since were farmers and we raised cattle and chickens. Only later, like you, did we buy a turkey. But oh, the wonderful meals we shared together. "Not What He Ordered" sounds like a terrific story. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you for commenting, Judy Ann Davis. We may not have always had turkey, but the best times were around the kitchen table. Being raised on a farm is special, I'm sure you would agree. You have a Happy Thanksgiving, too.
ReplyDeleteLaurie, I love it when you write about your traditions and your family. It was so interesting! And it gives a new insight for people who have never been to that part of the country before. Thank you! What a beautiful blog post. Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Gina. I try to write from the heart and the way I remember it. Farm life wasn't easy, but it was rewarding. It taught all of us kids good work ethics.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your special memories. Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping in and commenting, Gail Pallotta. May this be a blessed Thanksgiving for you.
ReplyDelete