Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Thanksgiving


Today I am thankful for the abundance of my life. I had to scrape pennies together - almost literally - to purchase the little odds and ends that I needed to complete my holiday meal. I felt overwhelmed with the bounty of my life even as I did so. I bypassed the sugary sodas and hoped that my family would not feel like our holiday meal was served without "special beverages" but I couldn't justify the expense of a non-nutritive food item. We'll have coffee and tea and hot chocolate as options, a pitcher of lemonade, and an endless supply of fresh water from the well. In all this world, how many people have so many options for refreshment?

I couldn't afford fancy gourmet items for the table. We'll make do with simple fare, much of it inspired by my southern-roots. Cornbread, green beans with sage and onion, Black eyed peas with greens... along with the usual mashed potatoes, acorn squash, and wild rice, and barley pilaf stuffed portabella mushrooms. We'll have pumpkin pie and apple cake and a cranberry relish loaded with other fruits; pineapple, apple, orange and ginger. This feast, while not as spectacular as some folks will have, is a wealth of sustenance. Sometimes we are too worried over financial troubles, the economic downturn, or work and school related stresses, to notice the riches that abound in our average American lives.


When I compare my home to some of the "cottages on the lake" that are built around here... I might notice that our house is smaller, shabbier, less showy... but instead I've noticed that ours is warm, and dry, and comfortable, and overflowing with the treasures that can't be bought.


Wherever you are, whatever the weather, I wish you the joy of being thankful for the blessings in your life.

19 comments:

Mandie said...

I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! Your feast sounds mouth watering and oh so yummy. The beverages you are offering will be fantastic. We are only having water and tea, tehe. Have a blessed day!!!!

Marcie said...

Mandie,
Thank you! I've already started preparing some food (the cranberry relish is better if it sits in the fridge over night.) Water and tea would be fine with me, but my gang likes "choices." *grin*

I wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving, as well!

Elizabeth-Plain and Simple said...

Many of the items you mentioned having for your meal will be on our table as well; by choice, also because of our southern roots. We live in Alabama. Each year we ask family members if there is anything special they would like and they always ask for the same thing. However, this year we are adding hash brown casserole to our menu because my son asked for it. Like you we are very thankful for the blessings in our life. Thank you for sharing this post and I hope you and your family have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Blessings,
Elizabeth

Dee/reddirtramblings said...

Happy Thanksgiving Aisling. Your feast sounds wonderful, and I'd be proud to share your table. Here's hoping things become less tight as the year moves onward.~~Dee

Sharon Lovejoy said...

Dear Friend,

I read and reread your entry for today and you're right. No frills, but the solidity of good, wholesome food, water fresh from your well (think of all the people in the world who don't have drinkable water), and the knowledge that your family is TOGETHER.

For beverages I am doing a big striped green pitcher (it belonged to my Grandmother Lovejoy) of water, sliced lemons that look like bits of stained glass, sprigs of mint, and a long twig of lemon verbena leaves. What could be better? Oh, and tonight my family is helping me bake my Grandmother's famous "Heavenly Pies.

Love and blessings,
Sharon

Marcie said...

Sharon, Thank you for visiting... for reading and reading again. I was thinking of those without potable drinking water when I wrote that "water from the well" phrase.

Your iced herbal water sounds heavenly. It makes me wonder if any lemon balm is still lively and fresh in my own garden. It would be wonderful with the lemonaid!

Again, Happy Thanksgiving!

Marcie said...

Dee,

And I would love to have you share my table! :)

With two of us in college (our oldest child and I) we are feeling the strain... but it is all for a good purpose and "this too shall pass."

A wonderful Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Marcie said...

Elizabeth, I'm way further north... but my father was born in Alabama and my mother's parents are from Tennessee. My parents are retired to Tennesseee... and the feeling of being rooted in those mountains is strong in me.

I wish you satisfaction at your bountiful table... and joy in having your family gathered together. Happy Thanksgiving!

Pom Pom said...

I'd rather stay at your warm house than the "cottages by the lake" any day because such a nice, big heart lives in the middle of it!
Your meal sounds like a wonderful celebration of bounty. Simplicity is the big secret, I think.
(BIG LOVE TO YOU!)

Marcie said...

Pom Pom,

You're right: Simplicity is an important ingredient!

Thank you for the kind words! I've already said it on your blog, but happy thanksgiving to you and yours!

Sending love right back atcha!

L'Adelaide said...

a beautiful post...have a wonderful and deeply meaning-full day, it sounds lovely...

many blessings....

Marcie said...

Linda,
Thank you for coming by and letting me know you were here. I think it's going to be an enjoyable day. We may venture out in the evening... My oldest daughter's boyfriend has invited us over... so the desserts will probably go along with us and be shared with a (young) crowd.

I wish you a day of happiness and well-being.

Everydaywoman said...

Happy Thanksgiving, Aisling! Your feast sounds scrumptious and I know your home is warmed by love; the kind that money can't buy!

I wish everyone "enough" . . . enough to get by comfortably, enough love, enough family, friends. Overabundunce is oversensationalized and in not needed.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Everydaywoman said...

P.S.

I LOVE the music you've added to your blog. Am I alone in just noticing this now? So many times, I have my "sound" turned off.

Marcie said...

Ruth, I agree with you about "enough."

I just added the music feature on Sunday. That day I had some "strolling" and walking music that suited my images (I thought.) Then when I did this post, I updated the music. Not sure how often I'll do that, but it is fun to play with.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Cloudhands said...

Blessing to you all. I will be missing each of my children and their crews, but I rest in the sweet understanding that you are each just where you are meant to be, giving and sharing love and simple pleasures. Love to each of you.

Marcie said...

Thanks Mom, We miss all of you as well. This was just a year to stay at home... just the six of us. Soon they will be scattering to the four winds. Senryu may be in another state at a University by next Thanksgiving, so perhaps this will be the last where it is just the six of us.

I hope you found a happy way to spend this day!

Susan Moorhead said...

Your feast sounds spectacular to me! I hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Marcie said...

Susan, It was fun! Thank you for the holiday wishes. I popped over to your blog to meet you, and really enjoyed reading there!