Time for Thankfulness

Oh my friends,
I must share this was one of the best Thanksgiving feasts I've had in years.  Our friends came over along with my husbands father.  We had shared the cost of a pre-cooked meal and added in our favorites  to it.
I was so busy re-warming food, and putting it out, I forgot to take any pictures of the people or the table setting.
First formal meal in our new home. A lovely relaxed Thanksgiving dinner with no dysfunctional family happenings.  No one arrive wasted or drunk, no arguments, no fighting. Our only disruption was the little dog we were house sitting. She stayed in her kennel while we were eating, and behaved quite well.
We had some Bordeaux wine my husband brought back from his recent travels to France, as well as some Sparkling wine we picked up at Trevari this summer.  Another bottle of wine and some espresso and pie ended our relaxed meal.  It  was so nice to take our time eating, and enjoying the meal, without the stress of a big crowd.  I love my family and our get togethers are interesting for sure, but also stressful for whoever is hosting.  This was simple and lovely and easy to clean up. With leftovers for all who wanted them.
Delightful!
ThankYou to my friends who will always be my family! (even if our kids don't get married and make us inlaws) ; )

Thanksgiving nears

Well it is indeed the night before Thanksgiving. Unlike Christmas or a birthday it doesn't have the wonder and excitement that those days hold.  However, I look forward this year to enjoying the company of friends, as our family is off doing other things.  My brothers and their families live in California, along with numerous cousins and the few remaining aunt and uncles on my dad sides.  My favorite aunt is off in Hawaii, I wish that the funds were available, I would be on a plane last week to be there and share the holiday.  Once my daughter finishes school, I will be taking far more trips to visit family.

I keep seeing where people are posting that they have set their tables and are ready for the big day tomorrow.
I'm still unpacking boxes to locate my china.  Haha.  I don't have enough storage space. arg  I found a lovely little pillow someone posted on their blog.  choose joy

It says Choose JOY!  Love it!  It can be so hard sometimes to concentrate on the things that irritate us, like kids who don't call home, or places I would like to be at or do.  But rather than focus on that, choosing Joy to focus on, what makes you happy, even if you don't have those things.

  I'm hoping that my daughter enjoys her turkey sandwich at school tomorrow.  London doesn't have Thanksgiving. On the other hand she has the joy of going to school in England, following her own dreams.

I'm hoping that all my other family enjoy their day, what ever they may be doing.  Although family can be a nuisance sometimes, its nice to know you have some.   I always kind of wished I lived in a giant clan inside a castle. That's until you get there, and think what was I thinking.