What Are Your Thanksgiving Plans?
 

What are you and your family's Thanksgiving Plans?

Mr. GoTravel and I are going camping by ourselves.

I'm going to France for 10 days.

Can't wait!

I will be spending Thanksgiving in Dusseldorf, then catching an early morning flight on Friday to Chicago (to attend a medical convention). I'll be eating Thanksgiving dinner alone at the Schlosser Alt brewery/restaurant near Dusseldorf's old town and maybe taking in the Christmas market.

Annual reunion of extended family at my house has been traditional for about the last 15 years. I love to cook, love the crowd- and enjoy it all tremendously. I've got it down to a science and did cook for about 20 on a weekly basis for years.

This year there will be about 45 to 55 attending, but possibly not all at the same time. I have two seatings and the first is around 1pm. I have lots of room for entertaining- wish I had more time to do so. We play team trivia and word games until late that night. This year, the person coming the farthest is from Ohio. Lots of the younger generations are back in Illinois now, so I think I will not have as many people staying overnight as in past years. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Best thanks this year is that both my parents are once again with us. At 86 and 84- I do know how lucky I am. And Thanksgiving day is my mom's birthday too.

The week after Thanksgiving I may take some time off and shop/ stay downtown Chicago. Marshall Field's State Street windows/motif is Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs this year, and I heard it is the most superlative ever. Also will probably hit Machu Picchu at the Field Museum. I saw Jackie in the originals so I don't need to seem them again without her.

Indy, will you be going to Lyon? If so, please have a salad lyonnaise for me! I can't find a decent one anywhere in the US.

Thanksgiving at my s-i-l's and then off to NYC with my sister, niece and daughters for a girls weekend.

Wont know exactly until this weekend.BUT, hopefully heading to Texas to spend some quality bonding time with our "adopted" soldier who fought bravely albeit savagely in Fallujah.He is scheduled to arrive Saturday for 2 week RR.

Our family will come here since I have the biggest house this year :)
GoTravel, if you get rained out or the turkey is stolen by a bear, you can come here :D

I'm cooking the turkey!!! Brown paper bag, 20 min per pound. Nice & brown with no basting.

Last year I tried popcorn stuffing but was told NO! for this year. It was a real mess when the a$$ end of the turkey blew open the stove door. ((a)) ((b))

This is my first Thanksgiving holiday without my Mom. (Thanksgiving was always huge at my house.) In fact, a year ago on Friday was my Mom's 70th birthday. We threw a huge party for her, she grinned all day. Sigh. After a valiant struggle with recurrent breast cancer, Mom lost her battle last January 16th. So, we are traveling this year. We are leaving this Sunday for a weeks cruise around the Caribbean. My first cruise! There will be eight of us and we are all looking forward to some R&R.

Budman......How many Buds per pound!!!

off to rochester, ny to see the in-laws. haven't been in a year, so it's time.

Paris! Thanksgiving Day lunch at Taillevent!

Everyone in the family will be around this year as parents will be celebrating their 50th anniversary on Sat. Parents have rented a house nearby to accomodate visitors. We'll get to stay in our own home and not have half the visitors staying with us. Thanksgiving dinner will be a group effort with 14 adults (one grandchild is almost 23 so you really can't include her with the kids)and 11 kids age 6 to 14. Yeow, it's gonna be loud.

I also plan to be jealous of the fodorites partying in nearby Yountville at their GTG. Grrrrr.

jersey, sorry to hear about your Mom. The holidays can be a little tough when you've recently lost a loved one.

Hope everyone stays safe and you have a great cruise!! ((b))

Sorry about your loss too jersey. It's never easy at the holidays.

Hi Grasshopper. No Lyon for me this time. I'll try to find a reasonable facsimile of a salade lyonnaise in Bordeaux. :-)

We are hosting some family and friends at our house this year.

Having dinner with mom and dad who are visiting from Madrid. Haven't had Thanksgiving with them since they moved back to Spain 8 years ago! Very excited to have mom cook!!

Looking forward to our first trip to Hawaii..10days on Big Is. The best thing is that there's no turkey to cook but hey maybe next year I just need Budman's recipe for popcorn stuffing (plenty of bang for your buck? )...hilarious story I hope it's true!
Happy Holidays!

Cooking Thanksgiving dinner for eight at my sister's place in the mountains, since she is still recovering from knee replacement. Traditional roast turkey with oyster stuffing, fresh cranberry-orange relish, giblet gravy, sweet potato casserole with Bourbon and raisins, sauerkrat, mashed potatoes, pumpkin and pecan pies, with lots of good Riesling!!! Yum-yum, can hardly wait! :-) Be there for three nights, also take goodies to Mom's nursing home......

I made the mistake of taking my wife to Ocean City Maryland 4 years ago for Thanksgiving and she loved not having to cook and clean so much that we go away every year now. This year it's our first trip to Hawaii!! Eleven days on Maui.

Costa Rica for our first trip to Central America!

Visting mr_go's family on Amelia Island. No extra vacation days this year, so it will be a quick trip.

Driving from NC to Sarasota (hi, AAFF) for mini-reunion with family and to close up mother's condo, now that she's in assisted living.

Would look forward to it except for possible bottlenecks on I-85 in SC and Ga.

Yountville - Bay Area fodorites get together.

Gonna behave myself around the little ones during the day. Watch my language, and some football. Then, when the stiffs are all gone, I'm gonna enjoy some ggod wine, maybe even put a little 'shine' on, and then play hide the vienna with Mrs. Pappy. (Shhh, don't spill the beans).


Take care,

--Pappy

jersey-sorry about your mom, I've missed mine for 3 years. I think your trip is a very nice idea.
@};-
Budman-remind me to never let you near our turkey!
:-O
Well, the R5'sscrumptous feast will be provided
courtesy of Whole Foods Market (who I discovered one year at a friends house who got tired of the cooking).
Winemakers and vintners are bringing
the wine, so it all should be swell.

Friday we're off to Younville with Budman's wine in tow! It looks to be
a marvelous GTG! If Saturday morning finds us able, we hope to wander
Yountville have lunch at Jeanty or Bouchon, and then are considering
a exploration of Napa's revitilized
downtown-supposed to be quite nifty!

Sunday would be well spent on a forced march up a tall peak to burn off all the we have consumed !

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!
R5

Boca Raton with Mother & Step-f. Haven't decided whether to eat out or whether DH will whip up his famous English Turkey dinner. jersy, I send my best wishes for a peaceful holiday. GoTravel, can't wait for the next camping trip report.

Jersey, I understand your pain. I lost my twenty-nine year old sister, suddenly and unexpectedly Thanksgiving week (five years ago). The holidays are just not the same for us but we do our very best anyway and keep her lovingly in our thoughts.

I will keep busy making all of my son's favorite dishes and my inlaws will spend the day with us before they go off on holiday in December.

I wish everyone a very peaceful Thanksgiving!

Jersey, my thoughts are with you, at this time of year, especially. I no longer have one of my sisters, and you always think of them. I do understand.....

jersey, so sorry for your loss.

I hope your family can make some wonderful new Thanksgiving traditions and the cruise doesn't sound like a bad way to start!

I think we're camping come rain or shine.

Went home for lunch today and Mr. GoTravel went out and bought a pair of (I kid you not) giant lion head slippers. He said they are for the camping trip. Huh???

Thank you all for your kind remarks. As always the lesson is to live each day like its your last. We are taking the opportunity to make new memories. I also wish everyone an early happy holiday and take a moment to really be thankful for those around you.

(Hey Budman, I know there will be good drinks at your party. LOL Cheers!)

Budman, just curious, did you put unpopped kernels inside that turkey? LOL :)

"take a moment to really be thankful for those around you."

Jersey...I'll drink to that! (and have an enjoyable cruise)

Jersey--Sorry to hear about your loss...but I agree that the trip sounds like it will be a nice thing.

GoTravel--I am one who likes to camp in the rain...course I live in the PNW so I better like it! lol!

Our plans...family from CA are coming up to our place here in OR, and family from the area...so we are hosting it and I will do most of the cooking.

Then we are headed to Seattle for the marathon on Sunday!

Dear Jersey--Sorry to hear about your mom but although you must be sad, it sounds like you have found some peace. Enjoy your trip.

My husband and I are going to my closest friend's for Thanksgiving, just a half hour north of us...It will be a quiet holiday but that's ok. Maybe next year we'll fly to NY to spend the holiday w/my loud, crazy family and adorable niece and nephew (and next year we'll have two more-- my brother's twins who are due early Jan. :-)

OWJ

OWJ

Jersey, I am so sorry for your loss.

Budmad, perhaps your fatal error came from using Jiffy Pop--you were supposed to hold the laced turkey over high heat and shake vigorously until done :-D

We always go to a friend's family's house. One year she had 32 casseroles on the table. It is a huge bash and lots of fun. It's rare that I get to spend it with family of my own, but jersey I always think about them.

Here's a thought -- this year let's think about what MrGT has in mind with those lions head slippers for the campout. That's a cheery thought!

Hey Budman -- do you make beercan turkey on Thanksgiving?

Wow TG, nothing says comfort food like 32 casseroles!

GT, looking forward to your trip report. Your DH sounds like a hoot :)

Myself, husband,and mother taking a road trip, Savannah, Charleston, St. Augustine. Food, Wine, Shopping....No one has to cook or clean...just enjoy.
Happy Thanksgiving to All!

Dear Jersey, I'm so sorry and my deepest sympathies for your loss. I recently took my first cruise too, and it was also after a devastating loss in March. It helped me, and I hope it helps you too. Went to GC and Cozumel. The beautiful sites were a terrific distraction. The days at sea were incredibly peaceful and rejeuvenating. There's nothing like looking out and seeing nothing but gorgeous blue water around you. I came back able to breathe deeply again and felt like my batteries were recharged a bit to go on. It is true that you just have to take it one day at a time. The cruise will be great for you. Hope that you have a wonderful time.