For this very special Thursday I offer you thirteen things about our Thanksgiving celebration. Some will be memories and others will be insight into the quirkiness of my family. So, in no particular order…
1.
Caramel cake. My absolute favorite. Now, it can’t be just ANY caramel or just ANY consistency. I require my caramel to be simply made and then poured over the top of each layer of the cake where it will harden into a solid shell. It is perfect with a side of vanilla ice cream. Every birthday and every holiday Gran made this for me. One of the things I truly miss b/c no one makes it like Gran.
2.
Pumpkin pie. Love it. Jem is currently making pies for tomorrow and upon special request he is making my pumpkin pie. The rest of the family doesn’t enjoy it like I do, but hey…I’m special so I get the special request. 
3.
Backyard ball. Every Thanksgiving the cousins would go out back for a insanely competitive exciting game of football. I learned at a very early age to either run fast or enjoy the taste of dirt. Just because I am considerably smaller than them, my cousins had NO mercy. That’s a group of boys for you. There was one time my accident prone thrill seeking cousin decided to hand off. It was prefect…other than part of his front tooth was stuck in my head. Didn’t hurt until I saw the blood.
4
I’m thankful for the fact that Mr. Thrill seeker has managed the last several holiday’s without injury. As a child he spent most holiday’s in the emergency room. Happy Holidays. :-/
5.
The chaos. It is a love-hate relationship here. My family is a little on the large side.
6.
The first Thanksgiving with my husband. It was actually just after Thanksgiving. We were not married yet. (Totally crazy, but I had only known him a month.) I travelled with him out of state to visit his family for a birthday/Thanksgiving celebration. You really get to know someone during a 5 hour road trip.
7.
My family’s cooking. Everyone is used to what they are used to and they like what they like. I like my family’s cooking. I don’t want gourmet…I want Southern. If you haven’t had it then you just don’t know what I mean.
8.
On that note, I hate celery.
9.
I prefer Thanksgiving to be a cool sunny day. I do not enjoy wearing shorts or T-shirts on Thanksgiving or Christmas. Here in the South, that is a distinct possibility. Tomorrow- Sunny and 66.
10.
I like the music. Currently I am listening to Canadian Brass Christmas. (If you know me, you know I like to keep it instrumental.) Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday season. Most of the time I really enjoy the atmosphere between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
11.
The Salvation Army bellringers have GOT to go. I don’t like that part. I don’t mind donating…just stop ringing the $%#& bell!
12.
Back to the family. I love the fact that we are completely open. You never know who is going to be there. If there are a few extras no one notices. It doesn’t matter what race, religion, or level of strangeness you are…welcome aboard. The last time all of the cousins were present it was a little eclectic. My oldest cousin and her Middle Eastern husband are B’hai. The next to oldest is a complete goofball and worse than all the kids combined. Just get them together. The next…well…let’s just call him confused. His friend was a psychology student. Oh did she have a lot to analyze. The youngest of that group was Vegan at the time. Now he’s just weird. Another friend of the family, who has since been sent home due to an expired visa, is from India. Being Muslim he lost out on the delicious ham. Then the kids…all except for the confused one has two or more kids. Let me not forget my Aunt and Uncle…the pleaser and the agnostic. At the dinner table we stay away from religion and politics. College football is off limits too… War Eagle!
13
As I mentioned Djembe has been making pies. Watching him work with the girls by his side…he is so good with them. I hope they will look back on our holidays together and fondly remember the craziness that is our family. They will not know their real grandparents like I wish they would…but I hope that we have done a good job of making holidays a time of joy for them.
To the Americans reading…Happy Thanksgiving…to everyone else I hope you are having a wonderful day and thank you for indulging me in my rambling. I would love to know if you stopped by so feel free to say hi even if you aren’t participating this week. If you are a Thirteener, leave your link.
November 22nd, 2006 at 9:40 pm
Would you be willing to share that caramel cake recipe? Sounds AMAZING.
Happy Thanksgiving! Hope it’s not too warm for you; here at West of Mars, we’re expecting sun and mid-fifties. I’ll take it over snow any day!
November 22nd, 2006 at 9:47 pm
I am so looking forward to the pumpkin pie! This will be my daughter’s first thanksgiving and I know she’s looking forward to diving into the piles of mashed potatoes and squash
November 22nd, 2006 at 9:51 pm
“I want Southern. If you haven’t had it then you just don’t know what I mean.”
Boy, you said a mouthful there!
Great list! And I’ll echo the “War Eagle!” as long as my Vols aren’t involved. hee! Happy Thanksgiving, and thanks for visiting my TT!
November 22nd, 2006 at 9:54 pm
Thursday Thirteen: Thanksgiving Quotes…
#68
“Thank God every day when you get up that you have something to do that day which must be done whether you like it or not. Being forced to work and forced to do your best will breed in you temperance and self-control, diligence and strengt…
November 22nd, 2006 at 10:05 pm
The tooth in the head didn’t hurt?
Happy TT and Thanksgiving.
November 22nd, 2006 at 10:06 pm
You made me hungry. Wahhh!
November 22nd, 2006 at 10:45 pm
Even tho I’m a northern girl born and bred…I dated a southern guy for a few years and learned to LOVE southern cooking! YUM! Have a great Thanksgiving
November 22nd, 2006 at 10:58 pm
The caramel cake you described sounds yummo! I’ve never eaten pumpkin pie, but I’m sure I’d love it
You have a beautiful family - lovely memories. Happy Thanksgiving. God bless you & yours.
November 22nd, 2006 at 11:36 pm
Terrific list! I just took my pumpkin pies out of the oven. I’ve never had Caramel Cake, but it sounds decadent! Hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving - sounds like you’ve got yourself a good family to share it with!
November 22nd, 2006 at 11:50 pm
That caramel cake sounds wonderful!!!!
November 22nd, 2006 at 11:58 pm
Oooo, caramel cake with vanilla ice-cream ~ yum! Happy Thanksgiving I hope you enjoy your family holiday :o)
November 23rd, 2006 at 12:04 am
I’m right there with ya on the Southern Thanksgiving!
November 23rd, 2006 at 1:48 am
Kind of hard to get away from celery on Thanksgiving. Good luck.
November 23rd, 2006 at 2:05 am
Ah..yes….I love watching the parade, and everyone is bundle up in their warm clothing….then I walk outside in shorts and and sandals! lol Just a southern thing!
Great list…Happy Thanksgiving!
November 23rd, 2006 at 5:01 am
Happy Thanksgiving! Your list gives me a peek into the celebrations.
Thanks for visiting my TT.
November 23rd, 2006 at 7:24 am
Happy Thanksgiving! I’m sure this year’s would be another memorable one for you and the family.
November 23rd, 2006 at 8:31 am
Number 1 on your list sounds very yummy!
Happy TT and Happy Thanksgiving/Gluttony Day!
November 23rd, 2006 at 9:30 am
Your camamel cake sounds really yummy! And I’m with you on #9–do not like spending Thanksgiving in shorts! Sounds like you have really interesting holidays–that’s the best kind!
Thanks for stopping by my TT and Happy Thanksgiving!
Alyssa
November 23rd, 2006 at 10:19 am
I was laughing so hard at the stories about your family, as well as the one about the football game. Heh..it sounds like your family is wonderful!
Happy TT. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
November 23rd, 2006 at 10:46 am
happppy thanksgiving!
November 23rd, 2006 at 12:12 pm
May I get one (two, three,… twelve) piece of the caramel cake you mentioned, please =)
Fits perfectly to my coffee…
*yummy*
.•:*¨¨*:•Happy Thanksgiving•:*¨¨*:•.
from Germany,
S.
November 23rd, 2006 at 1:08 pm
I hate celery, too! LOL! I hope you have a very merry holiday!
November 23rd, 2006 at 1:36 pm
Great list!
Great stories about your family. The caramel cake sounds delicious, and I don’t like celery either!
Although I celebrated Thanksgiving last month (Canadian Thanksgiving is in October) I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving.
November 23rd, 2006 at 2:08 pm
You have some great memories and things to be thankful for.
Happy TT!
November 23rd, 2006 at 2:56 pm
I’m drooling over the description of the caramel cake. Yummy…
Hve a wonderful Thanksgiving!
November 23rd, 2006 at 5:07 pm
I don’t ever recall a Thanksgiving that was warm enough for a t-shirt. But then again, I’ve lived in only New England and the northern Rockies.
Happy Thanksgiving and T13!
November 23rd, 2006 at 7:43 pm
Great list. I think carmel cake would be yummy. I also live in an area where its not warm. Today we have 34 and rain!
November 23rd, 2006 at 10:12 pm
Girl, you are right on about Southern food; if you’ve never had it, you have no idea. And it’s even better at Thanksgiving.
Happy Turkey Day!
November 23rd, 2006 at 11:50 pm
Great list. I love pumpkin pie, too, but sweet potato is better. I cooked four this Thanksgiving. One of my grandsons can eat a whole one! LOL!
Check out my TT.
November 24th, 2006 at 10:37 am
A nice list, only thing I really wish was added to my memory banks was some sort of family football game. Not enough people to have one when I was a kid. Hope your day went great!
November 24th, 2006 at 11:13 am
I love coffee by the way. Great list! Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving.
November 24th, 2006 at 8:07 pm
Ugh! I hate celery too….unless it’s cream of celery soup and it’s embedded in something. People mess up so many dishes with celery and then I spend a good part of the meal pushing it aside.
Haven’t visited in awhile. I love what you’ve done with the site.
November 26th, 2006 at 6:21 am
Thought I’d said hello already but it seems not…. that cake sounds amazing!! I’m making xmas cake today (after teaching) - it’s a bit late but I usually make one as a present for my Ma.