Thanksgiving Memories – Comment For A Chance To Win A Huge Hillbilly Housewife Collection
Posted on Saturday, November 19th, 2011
Congratulations, Jessica Griepenstroh. You won! Your comment has been randomly chosen to receive a copy of the Hillbilly Housewife Thanksgiving Thank You collection of ebooks and bonuses. I know you’ll enjoy this huge bundle of goodies. Thank you so much for sharing your memories here with us at Remarkable Wrinklies.
And, thank you, to everyone who took the time to visit with me here to share memories of Thanksgiving times spent with your loved ones. I am Thankful for You! Please stop back often. I love the company here in the blogsphere! Again, Thank You!
If you stop by occasionally here at Remarkable Wrinklies, you know a couple things about me: 1) I tend to wax nostalgic from time to time, and 2) I have a fondness for old fashioned cooking. Both are evident in my cookbook Memory Lane Meals.
I’m putting those two things together today for a little Thanksgiving fun. My friend Susanne Myers of HillbillyHousewife.com is having a giveaway as a way to say Thank You to her readers. You can meet Susanne in one of her interviews with me by clicking on here: Old Fashioned Cooking – An Interview With The Hillbilly Housewife
When Susanne told me about her giveaway she said; “Why don’t you do the same thing?” And, I thought; “Why not?”
So, how would you like to join in a little Thanksgiving fun AND have a chance to win the Hillbilly Housewife Thanksgiving Thank You Collection of ebooks?
Okay, here’s what I’m doing. From now through November 24, share your memories about the food or fun that you enjoyed during your lifetime right in the comment box you see at the bottom of this post. Then, I will randomly choose one comment and send that person this huge Hillbilly Housewife ebook collection as my gift to you!
Sound fun? It will be!
So, let’s have some fun. Gather your thoughts (and your memories) and scroll down to the comment box. Be sure to enter your email so I can find you if you win. Then, share your favorite Thanksgiving memories about food, decorations, family, travel, or anything you cherish about this holiday. And, if your favorite memory happens to be about a dish that failed, or a crazy relative, or anything that makes you chuckle, smile, shake your head, or even tear up a bit, go ahead and share it. Just be sure to comment by midnight on November 24th.
Okay, I’ll start the fun off right here with one of my favorite Thanksgiving memories.
I have a lot of good Thanksgiving memories. Since Fall is my favorite time of year, it’s only natural to love everything about Thanksgiving. My birthday also falls around Thanksgiving, so that’s cool. AND hunting season is during the week of Thanksgiving. So most of my memories around Thanksgiving have somewhat of a blaze orange tint to them, highlighted with rows of snow covered boots, leaves blowing around the hallway, the Packer game playing in the background, and finally, a table full of food. We had the dining room table and the kitchen table. With 11 kids in the family, we didn’t all fit at one table, so we had to split up. The kitchen table was referred to as the “girls’ table.” This was because the “girls” – me and two of my sisters – sat at that table with the current baby. I have fond memories of that table, but especially at Thanksgiving. Even though the turkey and side dishes went to the dining room, Mom would also put small serving dishes on the kitchen table for us so it looked like a fancy table. Once we ate that up, we could take our plates and go to the dining room table where Dad would dish us up seconds. It felt funny to be served like that. Anyway, that’s one of my favorite memories.
So, now it’s your turn. Scroll down and share something about the food or fun you cherish about Thanksgiving. This can be an old memory or a new tradition. Then, I’ll randomly pick a winner from the comments. Have fun and good luck to you all!
Happy Thanksgiving!
p.s. You can check out Susanne’s giveaway by clicking on this link: Thanksgiving Thank Your Giveaway And be sure to comment when you’re there!
p.p.s. This collection of ebooks and bonuses is being offered right now at a very low price, so even if you don’t win a free copy, you may want to still click on and buy.
From now through November 24th you can order this collection, a $225 value if sold separately, for ONLY $34!
Click on and check out this collection and order today: Hillbilly Housewife Thank Your Collection
PLEASE NOTE: This is a collection of ebooks, which means “electronic books”, not physical books. They are instantly downloadable to your computer and may be saved or printed or both.
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My favorite Thanksgiving memory was just a couple years ago. I am known for being a bit sappy, so when my family and friends showed up for Thanksgiving dinner and saw a basket of little notebooks and pens– one for each guest that said “I am thankful for ______”, they groaned and walked away. I said just add any thoughts you may have. Well, much to my surprise the two young men in the group, one was a 19 yo and the other a 28 yo, took it the most seriously and they were seen off by themselves writing something they admired or were grateful for on each of the notebooks for everyone that was present. I was hoping some would add a message on maybe 1 or 2 notebooks but they added something nice about each person present! So that got the rest of the groaners motivated. When my guests left, they left with their own little notebooks filled with nice thoughts others had said about them. I’ve had some of them say that the little books are one of their treasured keepsakes. So the moral is –sappy can work out for the best!
Thanks OSS! That is a wonderful idea and how refreshing to see how the ‘youngsters’ took real interest. Glad the moaners got on board to create these now precious keepsakes. I’m thinking this will be perfect at my house this year. My first note will say “I am thankful for my dear OSS!”
I loved last Thanksgiving. We called it the California Exiles’ Thanksgiving. We hosted another local family, also transplants from CA, as well as my nieces who both attend Harvard (and yes, are from CA!).
We complained about the weather, ate tons, and played Pictionary after dinner.
Very fun! 🙂
Awesome, Lain! And very funny. 😉 Thanks for stopping by to comment. I always love seeing your smiling face!
My favorite Thanksgiving memory is from when I was little, little girl. My mom’s younger sister was in nurses training at Georgia Baptist Hospital. Lots of the trainees, including my lovely Aunt Mary, dated Georgia Tech Football players.
There was a tradition then that the GT Yellow Jackets J.V. team played the University of Georgia J.V. Bulldogs on Thanksgiving day with all the moneys collected going to the March of Dimes (Big guys run so that little guys can walk).
Anyway, since the players had to be suited up and ready to go late in the afternoon of Thanksgiving, they couldn’t go home like all the other students. My mom cooked for 30 Tech boys that year and my sister and I in little matching dresses wandered around the living room, dining room and kitchen picking up napkins, discarded cups and being amazed at these giant, food guzzling boys.
Even now, 40+ years later, when I see some of these same guys at my Aunt Mary’s (yes, she married not one but TWO of those players!), they comment on how wonderful it was to come to a real house, where someone had cooked the turkeys (5, my mama claims!), and two beautiful little girls sashayed around in their pink twirl dresses.
Wonderful memory, Sylvia! So festive and genuine. I love the variety of memories of Thanksgiving. It’s such a mix of events and traditions. Very fun. Thank you for stopping by and commenting. And good luck on the drawing!
Congratulations on completing your book. I’m totally impressed when anyone can actually finish such a huge undertaking.
Thank you, BB! It was quite a chore in the end, getting the formatting figured out. That’s the hard part for me. I love collecting recipes, so that part was easy. And I love waxing nostalgic so the trip down Memory Lane part was a cinch. 😉
Thanks again!
My favorite memories span many T’givings over the years. The very sweetest times were watching my mom and dad in the kitchen together. She was a great cook but he was the one standing ready, willing and able to be her lifter, runner or tester. He was whatever she needed him to be. There was so much love between them and it came thru to all of us waiting to share the day. I miss the antics but be assured there are plenty of good times still to come in my own bunch of dysfunctional goofs! Happy Thanksgiving to all.
awww…. Carole, that brought a tear to my eye. But, you are right… there are sure to be good times to come! I miss you, Dear One, and wish you and your ‘goofs’ a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Wouldn’t it be great to spend T’givings together someday? But then somebody would probably get hurt. Too many cooks and all. You have a wonderful day as well. BTW. Happy b’day a day late. I didn’t forget, I just have the 22nd stuck, and I do mean stuck in my head. Anyway Love keep smiling and know that I love you so. Maybe I’ll be lucky emuf to call you on T’day aftery “3”;). Love to you and all your guys. Carole
Thanks, Carole, for the B’day greetings. And, yes, it would be funny to get us all together in one kitchen on Thanksgiving. Ha! Food would fly! 😀 Hope your day is wonderful and I’d love to hear your little voice on T’day if possible. Enjoy your day and your big Family! Love you so, Patti
My favorite food at Thanksgiving is the pumpkin pie, my aunt always makes me an extra one to take home. I am very thankful for my family and that we can all be together on thanksgiving.
Thank you, Katherine for stopping by and commenting. I’m glad you can spend Thanksgiving with your family.
Your website looks interesting.
Thanks, Ai. Stop by again sometime!
I enjoy reading your website postings when Hillbilly Housewives refers me to them. Thank you for your postings and work.
Thank you, Mary. I’m glad you found me via HBHW! Susanne is great and so generous letting me do these fun things with her. 😀 Thanks again!
My favorite Thanksgiving food is the stuffing from the Turkey. (not the make believe dressing that you make on the side, but the good old fashioned kind you stuff the turkey with). MMMMmmmm, delicious.
I agree, Wanda. Love the stuffing IN the bird, made with real ingredients. Yum! Thanks for stopping by. Come back and visit again soon!
I have memories of huge family Thanksgivings – Grandparents, Great Aunts & Uncles, Cousins…every relative you could imagine! Times have changed and most of those precious people are gone. My four young children and I have our own little Thanksgiving these days. They love to hear the stories I remember hearing as a girl!
My favorite Thanksgiving memory is all the wonderful smells of the food cooking, knowing that a feast is on its way. Now I do the cooking and still love all those wonderful smells as the turkey cooks, the yams cook, pies cook, etc. It is with much love that I put this together for my family now, just as my mom has done (and still does at 86) for us in the past. Happy Thanksgiving to one and all!!!!
My childhood memories include bright orange piles of clothes and the Packers playing also. We don’t have as many hunters anymore but we’ll still have the game.
When newly married, we decided to host my in-laws for Thanksgiving. Everyone was having a grand time, but getting very hungry. The turkey was taking an extremely long time to cook. We had planned to eat around 3 and at 7 it was still not done! It must have been on the Friday or Saturday of that weekend, because I do remember we finally went to KFC for a bucket of chicken. The heating element had gone out of our stove that day. I’d never had that happened before or since, but it’s still a funny story we remember each year.
We had a large extended family at the house each year ~ four generations. Two of those generations are gone now, but two more have been added to the family tree.
The memory that stands out most is the year my dad’s mom went to lift the turkey out of the oven…and broke 4 ribs. Heckuva way to hear the word “Osteoporosis” for the first time.
Her sausage stuffing is always on our Thanksgiving table.
My favorite Thanksgiving memories were from when I was younger. You see when I was younger we hosted Thanksgiving. Hosting meant no travel, full bellies and lots of leftovers! Plus this was before people grew up and moved so far away! Oh and I had NO responibilities.
Thanksgiving Memories and What Thanksgiving Means to Me
Thanksgiving is a special day to spend with family and friends and to count our many blessings. Although I am thankful every day of the year for my wonderful family, for God allowing me to be born in the United States and to the parents I was born to, for my home, my retirement, my vehicle, all the Military members and their families who have given so much for my freedom and to keep us safe in the USA, and for all the blessings God has given me, I appreciate being able to have the opportunity for us all to be able to come together as a whole in thankfulness for this great nation we live in on Thanksgiving day. Thanksgiving brings back memories of when my parents were alive, my Mother was the glue that held our family together and always cooked a big Thanksgiving dinner and invited each of their six children and their families for Thanksgiving dinner. We all enjoyed ourselves and talked about when we were young. We laughed until there were tears in our eyes. Mom would make a special dish for each of her six children if she knew what their favorite dish was that she cooked. That was along with the turkey, ham, and all the regular Thanksgiving fixings. The last Thanksgiving Mom was with us, she fixed her regular Thanksgiving meal and fixed an extra pan of her homemade macaroni & cheese for my brother to take home with him. That was his favorite dish she fixed, she put it in the freezer. Mom took ill and had to be taken to the hospital. I found the dish of macaroni & cheese in Mom & Dad’s freezer about four months after Mom passed away. I heated it up for Dad and we had a little peace of Mom and Thanksgiving even though it wasn’t November. That was one of my favorite dishes also, Mom learned how to make that dish in Home Ec. when she was in high school.
Thank you, Benita, for sharing your memories with us. We also had huge Thanksgiving meals, especially as we grew up and got married and started having kids. Those are such wonderful memories – we really packed a lot of people in that house! After Mom and Dad got older, we started taking turns hosting the Thanksgiving meal. Those were also some good times!
I had a similar thing happen with food after my Mom died. My Mom had ordered and shipped me a ‘turducken’ the Christmas before she died (she loved her food catalog shopping!) When I came across it again, I didn’t have the heart to cook it. It sat in the freezer for YEARS. When I finally decided it was time to cook it, I shared it with my daughter and grand-daughter. Well, we each took a tiny bite to honor Mom, but the poor turducken had seen its better days. I think Mom would have laughed at my silly notion that I couldn’t cook it for all that time. I’m glad you got to enjoy your Mom’s macaroni and cheese. And, I’m also enjoying the thought of your Mom learning to cook that dish in Home Ec. Wow. Do they even teach that any more? They probably should if they don’t.
Thanks again for visiting me here and for sharing your story. And, yes, I am thankful every day for the privileges I enjoy, many of them due to the sacrifices made by men and women who serve this country.
My favorite Thanksgiving memory goes back to when I was around 8 years-old. Mom had been up all night roasting and basting the turkey, and taking care of all the side dishes. In the ensuing chaos of planning for a crowded house, she had forgot to pick up cranberry sauce at the grocery store and had enlisted my dad and I at the last minute to pick up a can at the local gas station. To our luck, the gas station had a can of cranberry sauce still available. Dad paid for it and I carried it, brown paper sack and all, out to the truck. Note: We had a very old pick-up truck where the floor had rusted out a few holes in places! Halfway home, the small paper sack had toppled over in the truck seat causing the can of cranberry sauce to tumble to the floorboard. Within in no time at all, that can rolled through a hole in the floorboard, and I watched in horror through the back window as the can bounced off the pavement to the side of the road! Dad had decided that we tell Mom that the store had just ran out of cranberry sauce, and that we would tell her the truth on another day besides that day. It’s kind of been a Thanksgiving joke ever since.
That is hilarious, Jessica! Sorry! But, that’s what memories are made of.
That’s hilarious! Thanks, Jessica, for sharing your story with us. Have you ever fessed up to your Mom?
We had a big ol’ station wagon when we were kids and it had rusted through on the floor, so I have many fond memories of dropping stuff through that hole and turning around quick to watch as it disappeared down the road. sheesh! But, accidentally losing the beloved can of Thanksgiving cranberries? Never! Thanks so much for the chuckle!
I would have to say my most memorableThanksgiving was probably when I announced that I was pregnant with my last daughter.
I had tried so hard to get the whole family together, but my mom being the control freak that she is refused to come to dinner at my house because she cooks dinner. My in-laws came however my sister-in-law had recently broke up with her then boyfriend. So not wanting to make her feel bad, my husband ended up telling his parents as they got of the car. And I ended up having to call my parents later. Not quite the announcement
we had planned.
Ah, Georgina… things don’t always go as planned, do they. So sorry. Thanksgiving expectations with the whole family gathered together sounded so perfect. I hope the Thanksgiving gatherings after that went better for you.
My favorite holiday memories are of the entire family together. We were always together, no matter what. It was always several generations, in the kitchen, cooking the same tried and true recipes. Today, two of the generations have passed away, but the rest of us continue to be together, and we still cook the same ol recipes!
i love making pies from scratch with my mom’s secret recipes that i not share with my children
My memory isn’t a happy one, but it is the one that has impacted my life the most.
In the summer of 1998 my grandma was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I was in college and had gone across the country, away from everyone I knew.
Two days before Thanksgiving I got the call that she had an infection. Instead of fighting igot t my family decided to just keep her comfortable. Being very close to her I was devastated.
But my roommate and her boyfriend got me a flight and drove me to the airport and saw me off. When I arrived a distant cousin picked me up and brought me the 2.5 hour trip to her hospital. Other relatives did the same for my sister and cousins.
I spent the next 24 hours in the hospital with her and the rest of my family. The staff was very nice and never once made a deal of the fact that we were breaking the “rules” for visiting.
My last cousin arrived on Thanksgiving. Thirty minutes after she arrived, my grandma took her last breath, surrounded by those who loved her. She had held on long enough for us all to get there and say goodbye.
I have no recollection of what we had for Thanksgiving dinner, but I remember all the kindness shown by people who went far beyond any basic decency to make that difficult time a bit easier. I got to say goodbye to her and be with my family. To this day I am thankful for the people who made that possible, including my grandma who managed to hold on long enough to see us all together for one last Thanksgiving.
Thank you for sharing your story with us, Heather. Yes, I understand. Thanksgiving is about the time we have with our family – and that time is sometimes way too short and way too sad. But, you were given a wonderful gift through those sad days. You know how kind and giving people can be when you need them the most. And, you got to be with your grandma and see her surrounded by the family you share with her. That, my dear, is a real blessed Thanksgiving indeed.
My favorite memory of Thanksgiving is visiting family I didn’t see very often & spending time with my grandparents.
Thanks for stopping by, Joyce. Yes, the Thanksgivings I love the most are the ones where everyone is home. We don’t get those often anymore, so now those time are even more precious.