Thanksgiving, 2013…

Thanksgiving Thursday As is our family tradition by now, my sister Vivian and her husband Jeff opened their home and their hearts to a number of us for Thanksgiving this year. Bob and Joe came along with me, and we joined, in addition to Vivian and Jeff, my parents, Jeff’s sister and brother-in-law, and a family friend of Vivian and Jeff.

It’s always fun determining what Vivian’s decorating theme is, at both Thanksgiving and Christmas, and this holiday was no exception:

A hint as early as in the driveway.

Followed by a wall hanging.

Reinforced over the fireplace.

And one standing nearby on the hearth.

By george, I think you’ve got it!

More decorations and shots of the tables:

Full mantel shot.

A horn of plenty.

A fall flower basket.

Dining room side table.

Dining room table from the hallway.

Dining room table from the kitchen.

Kitchen table (sorry about the bleed out)

And now what we’ve all been waiting for… the food!

First let me say that I missed (at least) the green beans and the mashed potatoes on the stove. There may have been one more dish on the stove, as well.

I also didn’t get any pictures of the appetizers, which consisted of a pumpkin cream cheese dip with ginger snaps and wheat thins, cheese straws, a pepper jelly cream cheese dip, some Saltine-cracker-caramel-chocolate bars, among various nuts and such.

Turkey and chourico (Portuguese sausage), stuffing, and sweet potato casserole.

Corn pudding.

Ham, cranberry sauce, broccoli salad, rolls, and deviled eggs.
(That’s bright light coming in that kitchen window!)

I didn’t get any pictures of dessert of which there was a choice of pumpkin pie or pecan pie.

A family portrait

I officially regret not getting a picture of the other people there: Bob, Joe, JoAnne, Larry, and Richard.