"In November, people are good to each other. They carry pies to each other's homes and talk by crackling woodstoves, sipping mellow cider. They travel very far on a special November day just to share a meal with one another and to give thanks for their many blessings - for the food on their tables and the babies in their arms." ~ from In November, by Cynthia Rylant
I am in love with November.
It seems we were just saying
Hello November, and now Thanksgiving is nearly here and the month is ebbing away and another autumn is coming to a close. Such is life. The older I get, the more I realize that there really aren't that many autumns.
Just the other day, I was that little school girl who was thrilled to be wearing a brown dress with a white collar and
(this was the thrilling part) brown knee socks. Up until then, I had worn my short white socks but now it was officially fall because Mom let me wear my knee socks. I was coloring pictures of the Mayflower and learning about the Pilgrims and Indians.
And it was just the other day that I was the little girl at her grandmother's table, enjoying the Thanksgiving feast with lots of giblet gravy and wondering what a giblet was. And then there was the year that our family went to the big city to have Thanksgiving dinner with cousins who had no children and they treated Linda and me like very special guests.
Just the other day, I was the young mama of littles who came home for Thanksgiving dinner. A few days later, the family grew and Thanksgiving moved to The Farmhouse. And now, Pineapple House is the home for gathering and singing and turkey and mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie.
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| 2016, one long table at Pineapple House |
Thanksgiving is my favorite day of the year, this day set aside for counting our blessings and giving thanks and gathering with my family and feasting! Indeed, we have so much to be thankful for!
All year long I think about Thanksgiving and who will come and how we can make the tables beautiful and festive. Yes, I am that person. I will not judge you if you are a paper plate and Solo cup kind of person because truly the giving of thanks is what the holiday is all about. However, I love to celebrate with a pretty table! Yesterday, Bekah and I went in a gazillion stores looking for ribbon and candles in just the right color for the tables we are seeing in our minds' eyes. (We do not mind doing this. It is the thrill of the hunt.) And we already have plans for next year's tables!
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| 2009, iced gingerbread place cards, made by Kati |
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| 2008 |
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| 2011, children's table |
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| 2007 |
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| 2015, children's table |
A blessed Thanksgiving to you and yours! May you day be filled with grateful praise to the Giver of all good things!
Oh Cheryl, "just the other day"---is exactly how I feel about how really quickly our lives pass. I can completely understand how Thanksgiving is your favorite day of the year. Reading your thoughts for several years now, it is evident you have a thankful heart.
ReplyDeleteYour beautiful Thanksgiving tables are lovely to see through the years. Your attention to detail is a joy to view. Many continued blessings to you and yours, my friend. ♥
As the Bible says (James 4:14), life is "like a vapor." As a young person, I didn't quite get that, but now it makes total sense.
DeleteMartha Ellen, your comments are always so kind and gracious. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!
I notice the passage of time more at this time of year than any other!
ReplyDeleteI feel that way too, Brenda! Is it because there are so many specific memories related to the holiday season? I wonder . . .
DeleteI love Thanksgiving and I so enjoyed your post filled with your preparations and inspirations and love of it, too. May your Thanksgiving day in 2017 be filled with all good things flowing from above down to you and yours!
ReplyDeleteHi Ellen! There’s more than one way to say hello.
Delete(By way of explanation, Wordpress is preventing me from commenting at Ellen’s these days. I hope that they fix that!)
Isn't Thanksgiving the best?! Hope yours is full of blessing too!
DeleteThe comment nabber got me yesterday so I was happy when your post
ReplyDeletearrived in my inbox. I’m copying and pasting today!
It was quite inspirational to see the tablescapes through the years. You have
always have a creative gal! I was going to tell you my favorite, but I can’t decide.
Have a blessed day with your family tomorrow... Thanksgiving is my favorite
holiday, too.
What is up with that comment nabber?! (I wish I knew how to fix it. I hate to think of stress involved with commenting here. Life is too short for that kind of thing.)
DeleteThank you for your kind words! I love Thanksgiving and tables, so I am thinking and gathering inspiration all year long.
Thanksgiving blessings to you and yours!
I don’t know, Cheryl. It’s difficult to understand my comments lately. (You have always been a creative girl.)
DeleteLovely table settings. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteMay you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving day tomorrow.
FlowerLady
Thank so much, Lorraine! Thanksgiving blessings to you too! We all have so much to be grateful for!
DeleteCheryl...what a sweet post filled with Thanksgiving memories that warm the heart. I have to agree with you that not only do I love the month of November but also Thanksgiving being my favorite holiday as well! Your tables through the years are so lovely, each one bringing such warmth and comfort that this season brings. Some of my favorite family memories also revolve around this special day. I hope you and your family have a most blessed Thanksgiving tomorrow! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteHugs back, Debby!! Our Thanksgiving Day was lovely, and I hope yours was as well! Enjoy these last few days of November, friend!
DeleteBeautiful tables, my friend. You are very thoughtful in how you prepare and plan, and it is a gift to your family and those who share meals at your table.
ReplyDeleteHappy, Happy Thanksgiving friend!
Thank you, Deanna! Your kind words mean so much! I know that your family also had a meaningful time of celebration!
DeleteYour Thanksgiving tables look wonderful and made with much love. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! I'm typing this real quick before the comment grabber takes it away :).
ReplyDeleteSuccess, Rosella! No comment grabber! :)
DeleteThank you for your sweet comment and I hope that your Thanksgiving was as lovely as ours was!
I am so thankful for memories of a pleasant childhood and how in my mind I can go back to my mother's Thanksgiving tables … I enjoyed seeing yours through the years. I love using "historical" things on the table to bring more memories. Hope you all are having a wonderful Thanksgiving tougether today!
ReplyDeleteOh, Dotsie . . . pleasant childhood memories are a true blessing. I love that you use "historical" things on your table!
DeleteYes, our Thanksgiving was wonderful and I hope that yours was too!
Oh, what a beautiful parade of Thanksgiving table settings! I'll just close my eyes and pretend I'm there :) I pray blessing on all who gather with you at Pineapple House this year - 'specially the host and hostess. ♥
ReplyDeleteYour sweet comment warms my heart! I pray that your Thanksgiving weekend celebrations have been full of good things!
DeleteYou've set many a beautiful table, Cheryl! Your home is always so lovely. Hope you and your family had a nice day...Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cheryl! Tables are so much fun! :)
DeleteI hope that your Thanksgiving weekend has been lovely too!
Beautiful post. I can't see the pic's for some reason, but in my mind i see the warmth of praising God together as your family gathers over the years! That's a good picture!! Cynthia Rylant is one of my favorite children's authors and i do not have this lovely November book!!! Thank you for the link!! Lord Bless you and yours Cheryl! ~tammy
ReplyDeleteTammy, you always leave such sweet comments! Thank you!
DeleteI love Cynthia Rylant too! Mr. Putter and Tabby . . . Henry and Mudge . . . Poppleton . . . So many warm and cozy memories of reading these gems to my children! (One of the bittersweet things about children growing up is the end of these cozy reading times.)
May God continue to bless all of you too!
What a lovely table...setting is so beautiful.
ReplyDelete