Monday, November 19, 2007


No matter where you are,

Or how far away from your home

- where ever home may be...

The heart flies home

For Thanksgiving


The holiday is fast approaching... don't know why but I seem to be anticipating it more than a kid can't wait for Christmas. I'm so excited to have family coming in from all over the place. I have a house full of some who are already arrived, one from as far away as London. We shall be hosting the BBQ for a crowd of 17 the night before, with all of my kids plus friends... then on the actual bird day I'll be serving 15 folks - other family and friends.


We usually celebrate the holiday up in the mountains, in a cabin with a bit more room to accomodate all the bodies. Not so this year - my house is filled nigh unto bursting, and people will be more cozy than usual :) There is no more room in my icebox as it is crammed with the 23 lb turkey, a 15 lb ham, and all the trimmings-yet-to-be. I believe the weather is going to cooperate with sunny skies, which is great for those folks sleeping out in the tents in the yard.

This is a short week! Safe journey to any of you who are traveling out there in the monster holiday traffic.

37 comments:

Ariel the Thief said...

I love to read how happy this holiday makes you, the people, the full icebox and the tents in the yard.

Please write the most interesting stories down so you won't forget them no matter how far the chaos is going! :-)

Tom & Icy said...

You can borrow my doghouse if you need more room.

photowannabe said...

Sounds like a wonderful time will be had by all. Enjoy your time and happy cooking.
Happy Thanksgiving.

Unknown said...

tents in the yard??? You must live somewhere down south like me.... there's no way you live in california!!! LOL

Autumn Storm said...

Sounds wonderful, Terry. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. :-)

RED MOJO said...

Sounds like you guys have a lot of fun and really enjoy each other. That's wonderful. Have a great holiday!

lime said...

have a wonderful holiday! so special to have family and friends joining you. :)

Nessa said...

Sounds like lots of fun. I don't have any sleepovers, but I'm having eleven for dinner.

tsduff said...

Ariel! What have you done to yourself? I scarcely recognized you. There will be plenty of stories, simply because there always are. Do Hungarians have an equivalent holiday similar to Thanksgiving?

Aw - Icy you are the kindest dog ever. That is the best offer I've had :D

Photowannabe - I know it can't help but to be a good time for all. The best part is, unless the dogs get out and eat it - or I burn it to a crisp - we shall have plenty of turkey leftovers for delicious, mayonaise-oozing-out-the-sides-turkey sandwiches!

~gkw - well, I'm no fair weather camper, so neither should my guests be LOL. I've camped in the snow and the rain with a tent, had it both good and bad. We should all be fine out in the yard... yes it gets chilly but we haven't had our first frost yet this year - it has only gotten down in the low 40s.

Autumn - So what is on the agenda these days? I looked at a bunch of the baby bear's piccies from London - nice memories again. It is good to have her home for a little while. Papa Bear is in 7th heaven all right :D Thanksgiving to be in full swing soon - and I know the time will fly by so fast. The City of Walnut Creek made an outdoor ice skating rink and I think we shall all go tomorrow night, even Hunter! Me on skates? HA HA Maybe I will be posting some broken arm pictures !

Red Mojo - I'm so blessed to have family who love one another - a family which was enlarged with the addition of my Sweetie's 3 girls and Mom. I give thanks for family. BTW, I really enjoyed your post today.

Lime - Thanks. Yes, so lucky to be able to see some of the family. There are still some key family members who couldn't come (like all my 3 sisters, my brother, my dad...) but maybe next year. Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday, exactly because of getting to see family. Happy Thanksgiving!

Nessa - Eleven! I hope you are feeling well enough that it will be a fun occasion rather than a draining one. I guess having that many will slow down the typing for just a wee bit of time ;)

david mcmahon said...

G'day from Australia. I came here from Nessa's blog. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Kelly said...

Terry, your feast sounds fabulous and I know you will all have a blast!!!!! Of course I'm cheating and running away to Dale & Richard's so I don't have to prepare much, just grabbed a ham & some home baked pies (created at our favorite farm bakery) to take along, so all I have to make is the green bean casserole!!! :D I hear we might even have nice weather for the ferry ride!! Can't wait! We'll wave at Lopez Ann. :D
Glad you're already enjoying yourself. I knew you would :D

Anonymous said...

ENJOY! I can't help but feel sorry for all those American Turkeys *sniff* I KNOW they are farmed for stuffing, consumption and entice everyone with saying *gobble gobble!* but ...

:)

Sally said...

Have a happy Thanksgiving Terry. :)

I thought about just buying one of those premade store Thanksgivings. Gasp! Horror. What kind of woman would not make a huge giant Thanksgiving dinner for her family? Well, the kids shot that idea down right away anyways. They always help me stuff one of those poor American turkeys. It has become a tradition and Jacob is so cute. He wrote a story about eating turkey wit his family and coming down for left overs in the morning. So I will make dinner on Thursday with turkey and Mashed potatoes. It will just be sad thinking about Joshua's empty seat. He hated turkey and mashed potatoes. Sorry so long on your blog! I am glad your children will all come. That is the best.

Sal

Kingcover said...

Have a great Thanksgiving Day season and don't feel too bad for the turkey because he has no friends to go back to anyway considering they all paid the ultimate sacrifice at the same time ;-)

dandjschoch said...

I'm so wishing I could be there. Sigh! At least you don't have to do the dirty deed to the turkey yourself. Been there done that. We'll be having turkey too, but I imagin our scrawny Albanian turkeys won't be quite the same. :) Kelly, I too am making green bean cassarole a la Albania (i.e. home made onion rings since we can't get the canned variety. Black Bottom pecan pie too. Woohoo! Someone sent us some pecans. Have a happy Thanksgiving everyone!

CozyMama said...

very sweet - thanks - happy turkey day.

got some pics posted.

tsduff said...

David - I love a visitor from that place where you all talk so cool. Nessa is a fabulous gal. Do you have any kind of Thanksgiving there? I think we should have it more often - there are things to be thankful for every day!

Kelly - give a hug to Dale and Richard, and Dad & Bev! I'm jealous - ferry ride and all, but hey, you just can't have everything all at once now can you? :)

Anonymous - now stop that! I love, adore and cherish birds. (but man alive, some of them just taste good!) I will eat my dark meat without any tears. GOBBLE!

Sally - you are funny! Heck, there's nothing wrong with storebought... in fact, it is sounding kind of good right this very moment....sigh. Jacob will help you stuff. I miss helping Mom stuff. I will think of Josh when I eat some ham (yes, we are having both). Love to you all.

Kingcover - Now go on with you too! Enough of those guilt trips about eating turkey - man alive, I'm crazy about birds and animals, but I do love a good turkey sandwich!

Jules - Hope you stretch those pecans... I'm only making one black bottom pie with my bagfull. Well, okay, maybe two. We shall see. Happy Thanksgiving across the oceans!

Jodes! So good to see you - thought you were gone with the wind ;) I'll be over to see your pictures!

Mo'a said...

Sounds like a good time ahead...a very Happy Thanksgiving to you and your friends and family.
Soon, very soon you will have to lock up the groceries, utensils and candles ;}

Anonymous said...

I think it's wonderful you are opening up your home to so many guests and I'm sure they are basking in the loving homeyness they are in.
ICEBOX????? girl that goes waaaaaaaaaay back.lol
tc

SoCal Sal said...

Have a great Thanksgiving dear. XO

Doug The Una said...

Happy thanksgiving, Terry, to you, the bear and all cubs and crows.

Dan said...

It'll be a Tofurky for me! Happy Thanksgiving Terry!

Ariel the Thief said...

Terry, we have Mikulás (Santa Claus) in the morning of the 6th of December. Mikulás means you put your clean shoes on the window before you go to sleep at night on the 5th of December, and expect it to be full of sweeties, fruits, nuts and other good stuff in the morning. Usually it is.

Valley Girl said...

Being with family is the best! Happy Turkey Day!

javajazz said...

happy Thanksgiving,
ms Hostess of the Universe.
i bet that house will be humming
and the smell of home cooking
will be everywhere..yummm!!
all the best to you and yours.
have a great holiday!
xoxo lisa

Ariel the Thief said...

Happy Thanksgiving! Need me to help to rebuild your house?

Anonymous said...

oh wow -- i thought i was doing well cooking dinner for four! (what can i say, we're not very sociable)

sounds to me as though your Thanksgiving will be filled with family and friends -- not to mention tons of great food! here's hoping it's as special and wonderful as YOU are, Terry! Happy Happy Turkey Day! ; ) xox

Agnes said...

Yay! Thanksgiving is at your house this year. I'm bringing my brood and we'll be by just about the time the turkey is done. :)

Great big hugs to you and yours. I do hope you have a beautiful holiday full of love and laughter!

Hugs to you.
Aggie

Anonymous said...

Have a goooooood one!:)
tc

Northern musings said...

Family, food and time off - nothing better. Have a very happy and safe thanksgiving

Sherri Sanders said...

I may be in the hospital right now, but my heart was definitely at home this holiday. :)

Happy Turkey Day Terry.

Outdoorsy Girl said...

Awwww, a crammed full of people house is a happy house! I am wishing you the best and happiest Thanksgiving holidays for you and the crowd! ;)

javajazz said...

hope you had a great gathering...
and now you can rest and relax
(and probably clean up!!)
xo

Doug The Una said...

Terry, I know stalking is a concern for us bloggers, but if Malibu is going to keep burning I'm going to need your dad's address so I can check up on him.

Minka said...

I hope you had a great feast, people survived and the stuffing did not lead to nay explosions. I made spaghetti :)

tsduff said...

Doug, Dad dodged the flaming bullet once more, by a few miles...south of the fire line. Your comment made my day.

G said...

That saying just made me tear up (well not taking much right about now) but so lovely and true.

Sounds like you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. thanks for your visits and kind words. they've meant a great deal. XOX