Childhood Thanksgiving Memories

This old photo reminds me of our house when I was a kid!  My scanner was broken so I couldn’t use one of my family.

I was thinking back to all of the Thanksgivings over the years and remembering the traditions that have come and gone through out the years. 

It was an exciting time of year because my Granny and Grandpa would drive all the way from Salem, Oregon and they would stay for two weeks.  My Aunt Merle (my Mom’s sis) would come from California.  And as a kid, you knew that Christmas was just around the corner!  Yippee!

The day before my Mom would make all of the pies, at least 6 Pumpkin Pies and sometimes a Mincemeat Pie, not one of my favorites, but I would occasionally have a bite.  She would make the crust from scratch and use plain canned pumpkin and add all of the spices.  They were so delicious!  That night after making all of the pies my Mom would prepare the Turkey for tomorrow.  She would cook all of the giblets for the stuffing.

The next morning she would get up early make the stuffing.  There would be some to go inside the bird and some to bake in a dish in the oven, my favorite because the stuffing would get brown and crunchy on top.  She would cook the turkey in a roasting oven that set on the counter.  She would get it in early around 9 or 10 in the morning.  Nothing like the smell of my Mom’s turkey cooking.  She would baste it all day long.

My Dad and Grandpa would get all of the extra chairs, and table leaves set up and then they would watch football.  And to keep us kids occupied, we had the assignment of cracking the walnuts for the Ambrosia salad, yum! 

Our menu was pretty simple but very special to us.  Turkey with Stuffing and the best homemade gravy ever!   Canned Sweet Potato’s with mini marshmellows on top baked in the oven until nice and brown.

And of course we had these…

So that we could do this…

and this …

And Veggies like this

or this

yum and these

I am grateful that my Mom took the time to make this a wonderful day for our family.  Great memories! 

Wishing You and Your Family A Happy Thanksgiving!