Thank You for Thanksgiving!

What a great afternoon we all had! Six of us around A's dining room table: A and D and their son C, my husband and I, and our friend F. Such a great combination to begin with, then add food and a holiday flair, and you've got a wonderful Thanksgiving afternoon.

First of all, as soon as we walked into A's dining room, we were surrounded with the colors of autumn, with golden leaves as the theme. Beautiful amber and green leaves woven into the table linens, copper leaves holding the placecards and surrounded by chocolate turkeys and truffles.

Even the tableware is in sync with the season-- amber glassware and dinnerware decorated with autumn-y florals. In the center of the table, green and gold fruit-shaped candles surrounding a small green topiary studded with tiny fall fruits. Tied around the linen napkins for myself and F, an autumn leaf brooch as a Thanksgiving remembrance. Absolutely stunning!

And before I left our house this afternoon, I was looking in my jewelry box for a brooch for my jacket that would match the season. Everything I had was either too Spring-y or too Christmas-y. Now I have this beautiful autumn leaf brooch, and so does A. We can add that item to the "now we both have one" list.

Then, the bountiful buffet that A set up along her kitchen countertops. Her turkey and gravy, of course, surrounded by all of our Thanksgiving specialties: two kinds of stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, spinach souffle, green bean casserole, cranberry-pineapple sauce, hot biscuits, mandarin orange salad, wild rice, and I'm sure I'm forgetting something or other. All of us looked at that array of food and we said "How can we possibly..." But we did. Not once, but twice.

Then for dessert... coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Pumpkin pie with whipped cream. A's homemade brownies with ice cream. (Chocolate. Vanilla. Pistachio. Butter Pecan.) And, of course, those chocolate truffles that were still resting and tempting next to everyone's place setting. And we said "How can we possibly...." But of course we did.

Lots of good conversation at that Thanksgiving table. Lots of energy. Lots of laughs. We've all been so busy with everyday life around here that sometimes it gets to be too long a time inbetween good times.

As we all wrapped up leftovers for ourselves... I'll give you some sweet potatoes, you give me some spinach souffle.... we were surprised with even more surprises as we made our way to the door. A gave a pretty African Violet to both myself and F... the violets planted in a pretty pumpkin-shaped container. Perfect for this time of the year. Then, a pumpkin-colored gift bag filled with goodies. In mine, a book I've been wanting to read, a grand piano ornament for our Christmas tree, pictures of us at last week's Manilow concert, and a little birdhouse Christmas ornament. And more chocolates tucked into the bottom of the bag. For my husband, his favorite ground-coffee from the Nana's Attic shop, a golfing Mickey Mouse tree ornament, and a guy-size chocolate bar.

A lot to be thankful for on this Thanksgiving evening. Not just for the abundance of food. Not just for the thoughtful gifts. Not just for the well-planned and beautifully artistic table settings. But mainly that the six of us, on this third Thanksgiving that A and D and C have celebrated in Texas, can come together not just as good friends, but love one another as family.

Thank you, A, for a beautiful Thanksgiving afternoon.