Giving Thanks

Normally I grease a brown paper grocery sack and cook up a nice golden turkey in an hour and a half. This year, there were no sacks to be found, so I had to use one of those plastic roasting bags, and I had this nagging fear that we were eating toxic plastic particles along with the drumsticks. But alas, we braved my fears and enjoyed a nice meal despite my paranoia. Kids were great to help. Natalie peeled a whole sack of potatoes and helped me with the rolls while the boys washed windows, swiffered floors and swept patios. (It wasn't the 30 below, picking up frozen rocks from the field chores that mom imposed on us before we feasted, but it was work nonetheless)

The Guidara family came to experience their first Thanksgiving. Emanuele, the father, was pretty brave and tried cranberry juice and even put fresh cranberry sauce on his turkey and gravy on his potatoes. His kids just looked on in terror. Silvia is expecting a baby and was in the throes of morning sickness but still managed to get down the basics--stuffing, rolls and mashed potatoes.

The sweet potatoes looked disgusting to them, but they really enjoyed the struesel topped pumpkin pie (the most important dish in the meal in my opinion)

Michelle, their boy asked when leaving how often Thanksgiving comes each year so they could come back. After three full days of cooking and cleaning, I'm giving thanks it only comes once a year.