A Thanksgiving Dinner That Couldn't Be Beat

Thanksgiving Day was as beautiful and perfect a day as you can have in Arkansas in November. The temperature was almost 70 degrees with clear skies. I started the day by listening to Alice's Restaurant by Arlo Guthrie. Listening to Alice's Restaurant is a Thanksgiving tradition for me. If you have ever heard the song, you know that Arlo's troubles began on Thanksgiving. You can get anything you want at Alice's Restaurant.


After everyone got up and had breakfast, Autumn wanted to go outside and play. I took her and her dog Sally down to the creek behind the house. Autumn had a great time throwing rocks into the creek, and Sally spent her time splashing through the creek until she found a swimming hole. She spent a half hour or more just swimming, then getting out and shaking on Autumn and I, and then swimming again.


AUTUMN AT THE CREEK


SALLY SWIMMING

The day was spent cooking and cleaning up the kitchen. Our kitchen is small, so we have to keep things washed so there is room to cook. It is agreed that I should not do any cooking, so I try to keep the dishes washed as the cooking progresses. There were pies being baked, and a turkey in the oven. On Thanksgiving Day, Gina is thankful for our double ovens. There was stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, Gina's awesome homemade cranberry sauce, and Christmas jello salad. Cynda loves the Christmas salad so much, that it has become a Thanksgiving tradition also.

While we were waiting for the turkey to finish, The girls wanted to play outside. Cynda raked leaves into a pile so they could jump in them. Everyone had so much fun raking and jumping.


AUTUMN RAKING


AUTUMN JUMPING IN THE LEAVES


COVERED IN LEAVES

Rebekah liked being outside, but she didn't understand jumping in the leaves. she was content play with the rake, or just watch. "Why would you want to jump in a pile of leaves"


REBEKAH ON THE STEPS

It was great to have everyone here for Thanksgiving. My folks came over and enjoyed visiting with the kids. Daddy brought his 1950 Ford, and we took it for a drive. Rebekah liked pretending that she was driving.


REBEKAH DRIVES GRANDPA GREATS CAR

When the turkey was done, we all sat down to a marvelous meal. The table was decorated with pilgrims that Autumn had made out of toilet paper rolls. We decided that one of the things we were thankful for was toilet paper. At each place setting there were five kernels of corn. Each person took the kernels in their hand, and with each kernel told of something they were thankful for. Thanks Pastor Dan for the idea. I'm sure it will become a Thanksgiving tradition for us.

There were so many leftovers that I know we will have another Thanksgiving dinner that couldn't be beat. I'm looking forward to it.


THE GRANT FAMILY