Friday: I've spent part of this morning reading about Thanksgiving at other bloggers houses, so thought I'd add my two cents worth.
Ours was quiet for the most part. But we did FaceTime with our kids who were down in the hill country celebrating at our daughter's house. DH didn't want to drive on the roads during the holidays (and the weather was bad), so we decided to stay home.
But DH, grandson, and myself went out to a nice restaurant for dinner. And since it has been about 2 years since we've done this, we all really enjoyed it. We made reservations for 5 pm - thinking most will be there by 1 or 2:00, so maybe (just maybe) it wouldn't be terribly crowded. Well, we were right (and the bad weather helped - it was raining and cold so some may have cancelled) and although most tables were filled, it wasn't over crowded.
It was served family style: first was the entree and we had the option of choosing 2 from turkey & stuffing, ham, or Tilapia, then a choice of 2 pastas from a selection of 4 (and 2 could be gluten free), then a choice of 2 sides from garlic mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, creamed corn, parmesan broccoli, and sausage stuffing, and finally a choice of 2 desserts - Tiramisu, caramel apple crostata, and pumpkin cheesecake. And the chef also brought out his special bruschetta before the entree. It looked great and the boys ate it... since it wasn't gluten-free, I didn't try it. We forgot to take pics of the food, but remembered for the desserts.
 |
| Tiramisu and Caramel apple Crostata |
Now this morning (Friday) DH and I went and picked up our Christmas tree. It's not huge, but the one we found is probably 7-8 ft. We will bring it in tomorrow morning... and slowly decorate it between now and Christmas. Since I won't post this until tomorrow, I will take a pic when we get it in the house.
Saturday: Grandson helped DH get the tree into the house when he came home from work yesterday. So now it's inside and ready to begin the decorating process. First I have to 'find' the Christmas tree skirt... and where we've put all the decorations. You would think we'd put it all in one place... but of course we don't. And with our 'old age' memories, sometimes it takes a while.
.jpg) |
| tree with lights, but no ornaments yet |
We're getting there...
Hoping you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving... and wishing all the best for coming holidays. Stay warm, stay well, and stay safe!
Hugs (virtual),
Rian
Your tree is so pretty with the lights, when I have the lights on I always smile and said, let's not put on any ornaments, it is so pretty with just the lights. My sons and my pup will go to a Christmas tree farm next weekend and pick out a tree, about the size of yours. And yes, we do put on the ornaments.
ReplyDeleteLove your tree. I do (I think) know where our decorations are. But now you have me wondering...
ReplyDeleteIt is a very, very long time since we have eaten out. I hope we can again. Soon. Ish.
It was nice to eat out in a restaurant... after missing it for so long. And we were lucky that it wasn't too crowded at the time we selected. (We did wear our masks into the restaurant in case there was a crowd waiting to be seated - but we took them off once we were seated at our own table.
DeleteSo glad you had such a pleasant and safe Thanksgiving in spite of the weather. Your tree looks great with just the lights but you will have to post a picture when the ornaments are in place.
ReplyDeleteI will post a pic when the ornaments are on... (although it may not be soon). Hope you had a good Thanksgiving also, Patti.
DeleteYour tree is massive, and gorgeous, even without ornaments! We have different views on what "not huge" means. LOL. That wouldn't even stand up in my house and would take most the living area. :-P
ReplyDeleteYour Thanksgiving sounds like it was a lovely; it's a great idea to go out--no spending the day in the kitchen cooking and half the night cleaning up. Ha.
We always got huge trees... 10-12 ft so the cats couldn't pull them down. They liked to climb up in them. But I have to admit, we liked them big too. Now we've downsized, but not too terribly much... just enough that we can handle it if the kids aren't around.
DeleteAnd Thanksgiving was fun... not the same as having everyone over, but different and definitely less stressful.
Your Thanksgiving dinner sounded wonderful Rian! I'm surprised more people don't do that, my sister had 16 people in her house and swears never again, I hope she goes out next year too. Your tree is pretty dazzling!
ReplyDeleteThanksgiving dinner at the restaurant was nice... no cooking, no cleanup, etc. I've always had everyone home for Thanksgiving and Christmas both (and loved it), so this was definitely different. But after 50+ years, it does get to be a bit much... possibly time to pass the baton?
DeleteI have to say having someone else make and clean up any dinner is good in my books. Your Thanksgiving dinner sounds lovely with lots of options. Hope your weather improves soon.
ReplyDeleteThe Christmas tree is all aglow, very pretty.
Mae, I agree the part about someone else cooking (and cleaning up) for a change is great. We missed some of my mom's traditional dishes (bourbon sweet potatoes and her oyster stuffing recipe), but the food at the restaurant was good... so no complaints.
DeleteI LOVE tiramisu. I haven't had it in such a long time. That is a gorgeous Christmas tree. I can't think about decorating for Christmas right now. Sigh... I'm recuperating from Thanksgiving. I love the idea of going out for your feast. My friends pre-ordered a Thanksgiving feast because they didn't want to have to prepare all that food.
ReplyDeleteWe really like Tiramisu too... and haven't had it in a while. It was great! I usually don't mind preparing all that food usually, but it was a nice change.
DeleteYour tree is lovely, and we'll enjoy watching it decorated.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joanne. It will be a slow process... but I will post it as I go... if I can remember to take pics.
DeleteFinding the Christmas tree skirt has nothing to do with age. A couple of times my son and I "lost" the skirt. It gets thrown in a last-closing box of decorations, and we didn't always display all of the decorations, so the wayward skirt would be in a different box. Now it goes in a common box and labeled outside the box. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteThanks, good to know it isn't just me... losing things or forgetting where I put them. I know I HAVE them, just don't know where.
DeleteI agree: I'll enjoy seeing it come along. And so glad to hear you have a chance to relax!
ReplyDeleteYes, it was relaxing not to have to do all the things necessary when everyone comes to dinner... and always nice to have someone else cook for you. I hope you had some relaxing time too while visiting with your family in Florida.
DeleteWe got together with one family. Zoomed with the other. Oh boy, that turkey cartoon gives me the creeps!
ReplyDeleteHa! That turkey cartoon was the least creepy of all the ones I checked out...
Deletesounds wonderful...and pictures of desert is all that matters!! we got the house decorated inside and out with the help of my younger son, he's been home for a week!! your tree is beautiful, enjoy decorating it!!!
ReplyDeleteSo glad your son got to be home to help, Debbie... a blessing.
DeleteWe spent Thanksgiving Day with our "Friday NIght Dinners" group. And gathered again the next day to consume the leftovers. Very efficient!
ReplyDeleteSounds not only efficient, but fun!
DeleteIt sounds as though you had a lovely Thanksgiving. Your tree is pretty even without the decorations, I'm sure it will get more beautiful with time.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Olga. I've started on the tree...
DeleteThat tree looks beautiful just the way it is----doesn't need any decorations.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Victoria.
Delete