Thankful tidings
Thanksgiving is two days away, and I, for one, am feeling thankful—for my home, my family, my friends, the season, you name it. I know every year Christmas encroaches further and further into November’s territory, but I’ve always found it special that there’s a time and place dedicated, really, to the idea of gratitude, and I think that moment deserves its due appreciation. When we view the world with gratitude, we are able to understand the bounty we have before us, in the form of our loved ones, our connections, the people and places whose presence lends our lives shape. There’s a lot of joy to be found in this time of the year (even if Target has had the Christmas trees displayed since mid-October).
In our house, we take our Thanksgiving—and especially our Thanksgiving dinner—pretty seriously. Preparations are already underway. We’re creatures of habit over here, so our yearly menu is set, and very classical: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes (regular and sweet), green beans, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, and a couple of pies, probably pecan and apple, for dessert. In the days leading up to the main event, we’re usually freshening up the dining room, figuring out our tablecloths and centerpieces, and sometimes even pre-baking those pies. The work of a hearty meal is, to be, the best kind of labor—real and present and satisfying, and with lovely results to boot. Our home already smells like cinnamon and pie crust, and the maple outside the window is still clinging to a few brightly-colored autumn leaves.
Starting with Thanksgiving, and moving all the way through the rest of the late fall and winter holidays, our homes begin to reveal not only their comfort, but their utility. We’re in our spaces with more intensity—moving dishes, taking down the spare glasses, standing over the stovetop or the counter, adjusting our dining chairs. Now our home becomes both a place of refuge and a workspace, ready to lend that much-needed extra seat or swath of counter space.
In this, we might begin to find those places where our home just doesn’t quite meet up with our needs. Maybe our dining set can’t quite fit all our incoming relatives—maybe our living room sectional isn’t as comfy-cozy as we want for our post-dinner TV watching. This is a great test of our home’s capabilities and flexibility, and it’ll reveal both its strengths and its weaknesses.
If you’re finding gaps in your home’s readiness, I’m here to help. Drop me a line and let’s get your home the best space of comfort, and of use, that it can be.
For now, though, our minds are turned mostly to the people we love and how we can show that love—here, through a good meal and good company. I think we’ll start with the pecan pie today.
I hope your holiday is full of family, friends, food, and peace. Happy Thanksgiving!