How is your Thanksgiving going today? I saw this pillow above and I had to get it for my entry as this is our year in a nutshell isn’t it? Making the best of it right? I didn’t know what to write about at the beginning of this pandemic. I never thought we could still be living with Covid at the end of the year, but November has finally brought us some happy news. The vaccines coming are hugely effective. There is a light at the end of the dark tunnel we’ve been living in all year! I am feeling especially thankful right now for that and the election and frankly 2020 being almost over.
We were so busy this week getting things ready for Thanksgiving and having Griffin home now for two months (yay) from University. I have just finished The Queen’s Gambit which was fantastic acting and of course I loved the clothes and the sets. I loved the vintage Kentucky home the main character lived in. I’m now into The Crown, also a good diversion, but being a hard core Diana fan, not sure how much I like some of the acting and Charles and Camilla are getting me angry all over again. I have come around to liking Charles again the last decade, but boy did he mess things up. I know the family (or the firm as they say in England), had some hand in that too.
One other show Americans may not have watched, but I am now recording on PBS is Escape to the Chateau. I man obsessed. An English couple sell their two bedroom flat in Essex and buy a 19th century French chateau that they renovate and fix with a limited budget, but a loads of talent and creativity. Dick the husband is a Lt. Col. and handy with everything and Angel is just the most creative designer whether it’s interiors or events that they host. I love their darling children and the last episode I watched Angel had created the most beautiful Christmas table I have ever seen. A fun an inspiring show with just lovely people!! Any other good recommendations for shows you all are watching?
Are you celebrating Thanksgiving with family? Are you doing small? A young guy who helped me at the store told me he ordered his own Safeway dinner because he didn’t want to endanger his mom, as he works with the public. I thought what a loving son. So many are doing the right thing this year and it seems easier now knowing this might be over sooner than we thought. Last year we had thirteen people for dinner, but this year just five, us plus my dad. This will be the year we did what we all had to. It’s not going to be much longer friends. WE CAN DO THIS!
I made a quick trip to Crate & Barrel on Monday to check things out and get some table ideas. I am always inspired by their beautiful store and how they have Thanksgiving and the holidays set out. I came home with this runner and this long wooden centerpiece bowl.
I foraged in the yard for olive branches and leaves and added my small pumpkins from Halloween. These vintage napkins rings from an estate sale, kind of work with this mod runner, the black plates and white napkins. I will add some votives to the table and blankets to everyone’s chair as we will be outdoors.It’s going to be a little chilly, but we will make it fun I hope!
Max and I did a lot of prep today…
We made ahead the sweet potato casserole, the cranberry sauce, the pies (one pumpkin and one pecan), a new recipe of California inspired Artichoke Parmesan Sourdough Stuffing from Sunset magazine, and Ina Garten’s version of Chez Panisse’s spiced nuts for the appetizer. Tomorrow we will do the mashed potatoes, Brussels sprouts and the bird on the grill. The challenge is figuring how to get it all heated and cooked at the same time isn’t it??
I’m so glad Max like doing the pies and is a great help in the kitchen! I could not do this without his help.
I hope you all are hanging in there this year. It hasn’t been an easy one for so many. I am thankful to all of you for your kind and thoughtful comments all year…
I wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving.
Kim
P.S. I’ll be back this weekend with some Black Friday deals and ideas to help with your holiday shopping.
KIm, Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! Your table looks lovely. I have made that Artichoke Sourdough Stuffing since it first cam out in the Sunset magazine in 1994! I still have the original recipe. My kids insist that Thanksgiving isn’t Thanksgiving without it! It’s the only stuffing they like. It will definitely be a different Thanksgiving this year, but we are thankful that we are healthy. xox
Hi Lisa! Thank you. Wow I am glad to hear the raves about this about the stuffing as it’s our first time trying it. I know Sunset said it was one of the most requested recipes. I wish you and your family a good Thanksgiving too. I agree we are thankful for simply being healthy and together too! xx
Thanks for the sneak peak at your Thanksgiving decor..love everything..especially that table runner😍. We celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday in conjunction with my daughter’s 50th birthday 😍. She chose ribs for the main entree and we were happy to oblige as we are all rib lovers! Just 6 of us that are in our pod..now I can relax today with leftovers😁
Have a great day with your family Kim❤️
Linda
Linda that sounds like a great way to celebrate. Happy Birthday to her! I o=love the day after feeling- that you’re done and have three days to eat leftovers and chill. Hope it’s a good weekend! xoxo
MAX LOOKS LIKE A KID!
WHAT A GORGEOUS HUSBAND!!!
I MUST WATCH THE QUEENS GAMBIT!AND THAT FAMILY RENOVATING A CHATEAU RIGHT UP MY ALLEY………….I WAS SUPPOSE TO BE THAT WOMAN WHO RENOVATED AN OLD ITALIAN FARMHOUSE!DREAMS DIE……………REALITY SETS IN AND YOU KNOW THE BODY CAN NOT HANDLE IT ANYMORE!ONE RANCHER HOUSE DID ME IN………….
YOUR DINNER LOOKS DELICIOUS…………..HAPPY TO HEAR YOUR DAD GOT TO JOIN YOU!
2020………as good as it sounds to say cannot come to an end FAST ENOUGH for me!
BE WELL
XOXOX
Elizabeth you’re sweet. Yes The Queen’s Gambit you will love! You should not feel bad you’ve made your rancher look like an Italian villa- including the gardens. You and Giampi should be proud. Hope your Thanksgiving was nice… I agree looking forward to 2021! xo
Kim, your table is lovely … Crate and Barrel is a favorite of mine too. So happy your dad could join you and both boys home. Timing is everything, right? Trying to get all the Thanksgiving dishes on the table at once … and all warm! Even when cooking for a smaller crowd it’s still a challenge. I’ve been recording Escape to the Chateau. The Crown has been my favorite show and I’m usually chomping at the bit to watch. But, this season I’m ambivalent. I’ve read so many dreadful comments online about Charles and Camilla. I think it’s unfair. As a life long Royal fan and follower … my mother steeped me in it but I didn’t go all in until Diana came on the scene. I loved her too. That said, she had a very damaging upbringing and had issues of her own that contributed to the disaster that ensued. Not that I excuse Charles … but I think there is blame to go around. I don’t believe the affair with Camilla continued during the courtship and early years of the marriage and I do believe he loved her. Of course, they were two such different people, plus the age difference, plus the difficult upbringings that each endured. Ah … I could talk of it forever … and I”d love to with you some day. True Royal fans are hard to come by! And, now I’m off to read your Black Friday post … even though its come and gone you always have wonderful recommendations. Can you believe it’s December?! xo
Juliet I love Crate and all the things they do for the holidays. Escape too the Chateau has been my escape! I have been rationing The Crown so I don’t finish it too fast. I agree I think Diana was clearly a person with a lot of issues and a family that wasn’t supportive. How they felt they could take a 19 year old girl and make her marry the 33 year old heir to the throne with no problems was crazy. It was also wrong- they used her in a way. Of course she lost it, had bulimia, had jealousy and was crying for help. I think most 20-21 year olds would have fallen apart in that situation. Charles has been a good guy in his later years and spoken out on so many important things. I do think he is a good person, but screwed up majorly by continuing his affair and knowing he didn’t love her…and the family had a hand in it all. Yes we will have to hash it all out when we meet up! xoxo