Colette's Vintage Dress

Using a pattern from the early-1960's, Colette was very busy for a few days making herself a new dress.  If it looks like Audrey, Grace, or Jackie would wear it, she loves it!



The cap-type sleeves have these fun little crossover flaps that secure with a chunky button.



Simple.  Classic.  Beautiful.

Thanksgiving Day

“Inasmuch as the great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, peas, beans, squashes, and garden vegetables, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as He has protected us from the ravages of the savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience.

Now I, your magistrate, do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and ye littles ones, do gather at ye meeting house, on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the daytime, on Thursday, November 29th, of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and twenty three and the third year since ye Pilgrims landed on ye Pilgrim Rock, there to listen to ye pastor and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings.”

–Plymouth Governor William Bradford’s first Thanksgiving Proclamation

Our day began with worship at church, giving praise to God for the many blessings He gave us, in His great merciful benevolence this year.

The table was set.  Two of our hand-dipped beeswax candles stood in the pewter candlesticks.



Between a couple of turkey bastings, Technohubby and I took the dog for a walk.  Fresh air on such a food-laden day is always refreshing.  And brisk air it was!  A high of 39 degrees was reached at our house today.



Walter and Felicity spent the late afternoon and evening with us.  She starting to look adorably pregnant.  A new son-in-law and a grandchild on the way are among the many blessings we're counting this year.



-Thanksgiving Menu-

Our Traditional Cheeseball

Maple-Cranberry Cheeseball

Assorted Crackers

Eggnog

Green Salads with Dried Cranberries and Pecans

Vermont Turkey (dry-brined)

"The Good" Mashed Potatoes

Gravy

Stuffing

Green Beans with Onions (from this summer's garden)

Cranberry Sauce

Caramelized Pearl Onions

Spiced Peaches

Dinner Rolls

Sparkling Cider and Sparkling Pear Juice

Pumpkin Pie with Whipped Cream

Chocolate-Pumpkin Cheesecake

Moscato

Ahhh...a clean kitchen at the end of Thanksgiving Day is a beautiful sight, isn't it?

I hope your day was lovely.

Thanksgiving Preparations

Technohubby took the day off of work, and we spent the morning running some last minute errands together.  Bought a fresh Christmas wreath, bought the all-important-to-Max Triscuit crackers, without which "it just wouldn't be Thanksgiving!"

Colette and I finished the last of the do-ahead Thanksgiving preparations.  I cubed the homemade foccacia bread and spread it out to dry for stuffing.

Colette made my mom's cranberry sauce recipe, with just a bit of raspberry jam canned from the summer's goodness at a local u-pick farm.



I made pumpkin pie.  Colette's chocolate-pumpkin cheesecake was made yesterday.



I gathered enough place settings from my grandmother's colonial-patterned set of dishes for us tomorrow.  I never recall her using them, nor my mother.  But I love the look they give to the Thanksgiving table, especially when paired with pewter.



We finished up a bit of schoolwork.  Then the house was tidied, received a light dusting, and floors were cleanly swept.  I guided Colette through the last of her sewing for a dress she's planning on wearing to church tomorrow.

A full day, but I'm grateful to the Lord for the blessings of food to eat, a home to clean, and family to enjoy it with.  

Leaves, Leaves, and More Leaves

We did some of the raking today.  There are at least three billion leaves on our grass, so we'll be busy next weekend too, weather permitting.  We finished the afternoon's work just as the sun was setting.



Then it was time for autumn fun.



The simple joys are always best.