A Handsewn Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has turned into the event of the season in our home, particularly now that this time of year, we're surrounded by harvest, fall colours and a plethora of leaves. It's also a time for me to shed the vestiges of city life and prove to myself that country is as country does. And what country does, around here each year, is to make a Thanksgiving dinner that was more home made than the year before and by George, this year was a smashing success.

 

By the way, these photos have nothing really to do with Thanksgiving but I tagged along with my mom to my first quilt show on the weekend and I was amazed.

Our fresh turkey was stuffed with homemade bread and seasoned with herbs, including, for the first year, sage from my herb garden. 

These dresses aren't really my thing but I loved the red and white in this quilt.

We had colourful heirloom carrots and acorn squash seasoned with the Artist's first edition maple syrup. We soaked up my first solo attempt of my mom's gravy recipe with homemade rolls.

 This jacket was quilted entirely using men's neckties.

And since we had a bumper crop of pie pumpkins and I passed pastry 101 this summer, we stuffed ourselves, just a little silly, on my new pumpkin pie recipe with, of course,  homemade whipped cream.

A woman made this quilt using nine shirts belonging to her late son. Her plan is to give it to his best friend. This teared me up and reminded me, once again, of how much I have to be thankful for. 

And it goes without saying, that what wasn't homegrown was local. All of it. A 50lb bag of spuds from our local potato farmer to see us through the winter and cider from another local farm seasoned with spices and kept warm in the crock pot with apple and lemon slices.

 

 These trees were only attached at the top and bottom. For a modern design, I liked it but I could see a certain cat having just too much fun with something like this. 

And everything else we needed, was provided by our local farmers market, including yummy handmade holiday spice toffees, for that melt in your mouth pumpkin pie taste when it's needed in a jiffy. 

And so with Thanksgiving only a day behind us, we're already planning for next year. Raising our own turkey is at the top of our wish list. We may be setting our sites a little high, time will tell. 

But I also learned a thing or two when the weekend was said and done. 

First, I need to learn how to sew. Really sew because I fell in love with this quilt. I see lessons in my immediate future.

Secondly, it's really fun to stalk a stalker.

And thirdly, taking the day off after a holiday to rest and tidy up the house while everyone else is back to work or school, is the perfect way to enjoy a piece of pie for breakfast.

 ~Be well friends~