This may go down in history as the very worst post I've ever written.
Which actually makes it kind of exciting. Historic in a way really.
But nonetheless ... a terrible post in terms of writing. Mainly because there isn't going to be any. This is going to be a pretty picture post. You see, it's Sunday night and I've just spent the past 3 days cooking, preparing, serving and cleaning. I said my last entertaining word around 1 hour ago when our last guests left.
Then I fell into a heap on the floor.
Oh ... you know what ... I think I actually got the timeline wrong. The heaping happened around 3 hours before the guests left. It was an unfortunate incident which you will see more of in a moment.
O.K. Onto the Thanksgiving dinner inspiration photos 'cause I know you like those.
No more writing.
At all.
None.
Start looking at the pictures now.
The meal began early in the day gathering tomatoes from the garden for the Caprese salad.
It already sounds idyllic doesn't it? I mean come on. Gathering tomatoes from the garden for God's sake?
I D Y L L I C
The front porch was swept ...
... and the planters planted.
The table.
This is what last years table and outdoor festivities looked like, with mismatched antique plates.
This year I went all white rectangular. Snazzy.
I gathered all of the moss around the table at the cottage last year and this year.
Again with the idyllic.
You know this whole idyllic thing is going to end soon, right?
Because nobody lives their lives this way.
My Thanksgiving is no different than yours.
It's a shit show.
The kids table.
Maple Sugar suckers to make 'em happy,
and personalized chalkboards to keep 'em busy.
Shockingly ... this little plan actually worked.
The kids stayed and ate at their own table without wandering into the grown up room where the stripper was performing.
The meal ended with SEVERAL pies including apple, cherry cheese pie and the star of the show,
Pumpkin Pie made with real pumpkin
Then it was just a matter of the Great Gobble Off and shoving everyone out the door.
(video to follow in the next week or so) (of the gobble off, not shoving everyone out the door)
Everyone left out the back door as well.
Luckily I anticipated this and did planters by the back door as well.
Seems nice doesn't it?
A lovely Thanksgiving.
And it was.
For everyone who managed to squeeze into the dining room.
Seems I underestimated how big 15 people are.
Me, one of my sisters and my niece quietly ate in the kitchen.
We had no cutlery.
Or chairs.
The cutlery was on the dining room table at our place settings which were taken over by my apparently enormous family and we felt stupid going to get it.
I found 3 teaspoons which we all ate our Thanksgiving dinner with.
See? Even if someone's life looks idyllic, it probably isn't. Which is not to say it isn't fun. Or enjoyable. Or hilarious. My non idyllic evening was all of those things.
Or so I thought as I sat, in a heap on the floor.
→Follow me on Instagram where I often make a fool of myself←
It's so great to read each of your posts, but it's just priceless when I think I'm reading about Thanksgiving and discover along the way, a subtext about self-acceptance when things don't go as planned. You SO rolled with it.
Oh, and I did a search on your site but could not find out where you got that great dining room table. Did you make it?
Hi Melissa - Thanks very much. I try to throw in a life lesson every once in a while. :) My dining room table was a bit of a splurge. I had it custom made out of antique barn board by Gregory Brand ~ karen!
Karen, where did you find the broom. I want one!
Paul - I got it at a thrift store actually. $2.50! I love it too. One of my better thrift finds. Sorry I can't head you to an actual store. ~ karen
A curious mind wants to know...did you pull off this impressive Thanksgiving feast without a full-size refrigerator?
See!?!?!
I'm not the only one DYING to know what you opted for in the way of a fridge.
Eating in the kitchen! That's happened to me few times and nobody ever noticed I wasn't sitting at the table...
I chose to take it as a huge compliment to my cooking! ;-)
Did your guests notice you weren't there, or were they too busy stuffing their faces???
Well, at least you had company on the kitchen floor!
P.S: Your decorations are gorgeous!!!
Thanks Raymonde. I have no idea if anyone noticed we weren't there. I did hear everyone at the table give the fella a Hip, Hip, Hurray, 3 cheers for the fella for preparing this delicious meal, LOL. As if. ~ karen!
I started reading your blog a couple weeks ago after finding it through your garden light globes on Pinterest. I've been going back through the archives and I just want to say that I LOVE your blog. It's a perfect mix of humor, food, and DIY projects. And chickens. Love the chickens.
Also, I had the day off from work today, so I'm trying your pumpkin pie recipe. The pumpkin is straining in the fridge at this very moment! See what you've started?
Anyhow, just wanted to say hi!
Hi Jackie! Hope you like the pie and I'm very glad you found my site AND you stuck around. :) ~ karen!
Thanks! Just put the pie in the oven. Can't wait to taste it!
Slacker. You could at least have put a *little* effort into it. ~ karen
Hahaha! Well, that's what happens when you give an art teacher kitchen tools.
Idyllic indeed..
I'm glad you didn't make the White Trash Salad.
Have I told you about the nightmare that White Trash Salad post caused me??
I shall tell you sometime. It isn't idyllic at all..
Happy Thanksgiving Karen. Yours is exactly like mine: 18-20 people or more, all squeezed into two mix-match tables and chairs. Talking about chaos, chatter, food, desserts and fun time with family and friends. I totally love Thanksgiving, it's my most favorite holiday!
Also, your table is freaking gorgeous! And an inspiration to my table this year. The kitchen is always tons of fun!
Pushing the 'like' button now;)
I got a rock! Oops, wrong October holiday. I've been all lonesome after a week in bed (at times) with a nasty gastro-bug.
Your table looks splendid and I'm glad your family was around to fill the spaces for you. The floor looks nice too. Very cute story.
Happy Thanksgiving Karen and thanks for keeping it real.
That last shit show photo is priceless! Seems like a great time was had by all especially those in the kitchen.
Yet another difference between you and Martha Stewart - who I adore, don't get me wrong. But while Martha would have totally eaten her dinner on the kitchen floor with a spoon rather than disturb her guests, she would never have shared the experience with her public. Thank you for being a regular person like me.
you are my inspiration Karen... loved the white and table settings, and I am so envious of your tomatoes, why is it that those dam worms find mine before they even get a friggin chance... lol
I would have loved enjoying your company and feast.
Great job and a really nice post.
Beautiful day in our little town. Walk on the Rail Trail and now leftover turkey. Today it is sandwiches but tomorrow I am considering The Best Chicken Curry Salad recipe. Have you made it with leftover turkey?
FLP - I haven't, but I'm sure it would be great. Didn't even think of it! I may just put that recipe to use myself. ~ karen!
See? IDYLLIC. That cracked me up. I love the menu. What a celebration of the harvest! I am off to the store to get me some of those pepper plant dealies you have in your planter. I saw them the other day and I love how you paired them with the cabbages. Beautiful ideas and awesome post Karen!
wow... this was a great post to return to, and I laughed out loud... been gone, too busy for too long but arrived home to make a dinner for my beautiful family blend, sadly pissed off my sister cause i chose to stay home _ wouldn't go to her house and loved every minute of the sentiments and food I lovingly prepared... nothing surprising or particularly delightful, except that we gave extraordinary thanks for being together. Thank you for the laugh this morning - Your posts always make me want to be better, but I for one would not have enjoyed the floor. I would have noted your beautiful decorating and been so grateful for your attention to detail. Have a restful day!
Brilliant. I think every single second of this experience sounds like perfection.
Where did you get your plates?
The Dollar Store!! (Dollarama in Canada) ~ karen
I'm going to get me some;).
This was the best post EVER! Well, maybe not EVER but it was great!
Not Barbaea BARBARA!