Thanksgiving, It's Not My Favorite

     I could write a lengthy blog post about why I've never been a fan of Thanksgiving.  But, to keep your from clicking away due to too much text, I will bullet point it.

• Parades on TV are boring. When I was a kid, we only had a few channels, so Macy's was it
• Growing up with all brothers, any TV past 11 a.m. was all about football
• Went to gramma's where there were no other girls
• My mom didn't like to cook, so I was not encouraged to come help in the little galley kitchen
• Dressed like a girlie girl, my tights always were pretty, but also always slid down uncomfortably
• As a young woman my mom died on Thanksgiving
• I feel like we have no established traditions from before then or after--though I suppose if I buy the canned cranberry thing and serve it, all will be well.
• Waa waa waa, right?

     So when Brad and I hosted our first Thanksgiving in 2007, I looked to him to be expert, only to find out (that morning) he had never made a turkey either.  All things turned out well that year nonetheless.  A true reason to be thankful.  Last year, my friend Jenn and brother Jim came over and helped with things.  To save the day they decided to make a rue for the gravy.  I thought rue was French for street, I still have no idea of what it has to do with cooking.
     This year there will only be five of us here for turkey, so cooking should be easy, right?  My brother is bringing stuffing and pie, so as always I have less to do than most hostesses.  Mac wants cheese filled crescents, so he's being assigned that gourmet rolling.  But still I angst.  This will be the first time I've mashed potatoes for Pete's sake.  I'm 52 and I've never mashed a tater!  I'm more of a graze on appetizers all party hostess, so the idea of having a meal ready all at once is overwhelming me.
  The best thing about Thanksgiving is I have a week off of school.  I am going to go grocery shopping today, something else that makes me anxious,  so I opted to write a blog post instead in effort to avoid it.  Martha Stewart I am not.  Meijer is open and here I sit.
     I am a mess.
     Here are my feeble attempts at decorating so far:

You've seen my tree of thanks, but I've added some festive twine to the vase.

Inspired, no?

     Bad blogger that I am, I found this printable on line, but can't recall the source.

The owl was Mom's, so it is a little tribute to her.

The "THANKFUL" banner was also a free on line find.  

I used, twine, grocery bags, and clothespins to hang it.

Note the twine on the candles.

It's a theme people!

This will be added to the buffet that day.

Be sure it will hold cookies (not a banana, turkey, garlic, or bread) AND be festooned with twine.

Impressed yet?

Until then I grabbed a textured platter to balance things out.

I don't think it's working.

     Shucks.  I'm done.  I have to shower and shop.  I have to buy a turkey.  I have to select potatoes.  I have to exchange a tablecloth...at least I hope to.  Wish me well.  

     Seriously, complaining aside, we have an incredible amount of blessings to be thankful for--and as I age, that awareness is precious to me.  Also, I plan on wearing a dress with tights that day, so I have no doubt it will REALLY feel like Thanksgiving no matter how the meal turns out.

     If you have gotten to this point, I am thankful for you.