thanksgiving inspiration


We have about 2 weeks until Thanksgiving to get it together.  All the meal planning, guest lists and logistics need to be addressed.  I didn't get around to making the stuffed portobellos like I had planned, but I will in the next day or 2.  I did make a great soup that has nothing to do with Thanksgiving though.





I have no idea who is coming or where we will eat, but since I love to put the cart before the horse, I went through my archives looking for some inspiration.   The above photo is my idea of heaven, for simplicity sake alone.









 I do love a good Pendleton blanket.














This was a lovely and quiet Thanksgiving, fingers are crossed for another one like that.
























Last year was crowded and rainy but one of the best in recent history so who knows what'll unfold around here.  Do you have a well-behaved family that all pitch in and act appropriately?  What is that like? lol  x








23 comments

  1. My family is as well behaved as 3 sons, 2 daughter in laws and 6 grandchildren can be. Add a few dogs and it's a fun, wild day. But I love every minute of it!
    Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving, Janet.
    Betty

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  2. I loved your outdoor setting and was so jealous that you and your family could enjoy the beautiful CA weather!!

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  3. You set a beautiful table...I particularly love that large matte white pottery piece in the centre of your table.
    It would be nice if the weather was warm enough for you all to dine outdoors under that lovely canopy of trees in your garden.
    I like to plan my menu ahead and a day or two before the event prepare a couple of dishes...as the table setting seems to take me a long time.

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  4. Your outdoor Thanksgiving was such a huge inspiration to me! Absolutely love it. My family does as they're told but make many passive aggressive remarks under their breath in passing and put up little bits of arbitrary resistance. It's the WASP way. I never know until about now if mine will be 8 or 24-27. Most of my extended family has annual trips they take but every so often everyone is home. This year it looks like mine will be 8, my favorite number. Could be 12 though which is just fine. I like one table if possible.

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  5. The outdoor table is fabulous and with the weather we are having it will probably be doable again this year. We always have our Thanksgiving dinner outside on my daughter's covered porch...it is quite magical.

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  6. We will be a party of three this year. In other years, I used to feel out of sorts to not be part of a big gathering but this year I think I'll just focus on being happy to have my son and bf (hate saying boyfriend at my age - lol) to spoil.

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  7. The one time the American half of our family travelled up here to Ontario for Thanksgiving it was a shitshow but super fun. There was lots of actual screaming about politics and my Grandma Jean was here yelling "stop pouring the wine!" Wish I could go back and live that day again.
    These images are beyond gorgeous I LOVE them. xox

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  8. Janet, such beautiful photos. Love the tartan plaid blanket.

    It seems like my son-in-law is better about chipping in with dishes at our house than my daughter. When we have attended a holiday dinner at his Grandmother's or Aunt's house, for some reason Tony & I end up being the main ones doing dishes while the rest of the 20+ guests sit on their behinds! Eventually Nick or one of his brothers will help, when we are almost finished lol.

    Laughing at Jamie's comment.

    Linda
    xo

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  9. My more recent Thanksgivings are very quiet. It's a lot different from when I was younger and I had a lot more people in my life. As I've aged, I've lost too many...they've passed...and I didn't replace them with enough new people. I sort of envy folks who do things in a natural order, where old people die, babies are born...endings and beginnings, loss and renewal. Not all of us have that continuity/perpetuity.

    If it's crazy and chaotic, I'd say just embrace it. I can recall family fights and big get-togethers...made me uneasy as a kid, with lots of adults arguing (sometimes family reunions aren't the greatest)...but everybody seemed to somehow get through it.

    I hope your upcoming holidays are lovely. Your vignettes/tablescapes fill me with the usual serenity. Sending you best wishes and peace. After all, a new year is right around the corner, full of all kinds of possibilities for love, happiness and opportunity...and I know you've said it's your favorite time. So, look forward to that and, until then, be well, dear Janet. Thanks for another post that inspires and speaks to my heart.

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  10. I love the outdoor setting with the Pendleton blanket, but the set up in your living room looks inviting as well. I'm sure it will be fabulous!
    Karen

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  11. I haven't recovered from last Saturday night's drama to even think about it.

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  12. I haven't recovered from last Saturday night's drama to even think about it.

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  13. What inspiration, Janet. We don't have Thanksgiving over here of course, though my birthday is close, but one thing's for sure ...we won't be celebrating my birthday outside! Our temperature has dropped 12-13 degrees and we have switched from endless Indian summer to bitter cold winter from one day to the next. In case we don't speak before, I wish you, your family and all your lovely readers a super thanksgiving with family and friends.

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  14. Thank you for these lovely images, Janet. It will just be my husband, son and me for Thanksgiving this year. I will make all the traditional foods we've always had and it will be okay, even though we will be missing the son/brother we lost. I think we can get through Thanksgiving easier than we will get through Christmas. All the first holidays and birthdays after a loss are difficult and bittersweet.

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  15. I would love to hear about vegetarian and vegan menu options. Please share your favorite healthy dishes!

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  16. I think we will be nine for thanksgiving this year. Small house, small yard, so we are making lasagne instead of turkey. Jeanine, we lost someone this year too, it will be tough going. Fingers crossed. Luckily we mostly get along very well.

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  17. I think we will be nine for thanksgiving this year. Small house, small yard, so we are making lasagne instead of turkey. Jeanine, we lost someone this year too, it will be tough going. Fingers crossed. Luckily we mostly get along very well.

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  18. What a beautiful and chic table setting. Herbs instead of a regular flower bouquet is such a nice touch. Just a few days ago I admired a friend's similar idea. She had arranged a big bouquet of sage and rosemary in an old vase in her powder room. The silvery green of the sage leaves and the rosemary are a lovely combination.

    Have a fine day, dear Janet!
    Tanja

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  19. Your photos are beautiful and inspiring.
    Looking forward to more inspiration.

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  20. "Do you have a well-behaved family that all pitch in and act appropriately?"
    Actually we do. It's a lot of fun and there isn't one normal person in the bunch. :)
    ~skye

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  21. Your photos are so beautiful, Janet. Simplicity at its best. This year will be different for us. My daughter in law is doing Thanksgiving and, can you believe, asked me permission to invite her sisters. Since my son has been married, we have hosted with basically my family. She didn't want to want to upset me by inviting others. She is a lovely, considerate girl and I was surprised that she didn't want to upset the applecart.
    Of course, I said it would be lovely. So it will be a different day for us, but one with new traditions.

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kindness is never out of style.

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