Southern Thanksgiving Inventory

As I have mentioned in previous posts, my family is coming here for Thanksgiving. I have not hosted Thanksgiving since 2000. Our circumstances have significantly changed since then but, what hasn’t changed is the love we have for our family. We have less now, but, we are even more thankful for what we do have. That may be a bit of metamorphosis in itself. It is not that we were not thankful before, we are just more thankful now for everything!

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
I Thessalonians 5:18

Metamorphosis Monday
Metamorphosis Monday with Between Naps on the Porch

Last week, I showed you the cute little Thanksgiving turkey made from a pinecone and an acorn for Metamorphosis Monday.

Pinecone Turkey
Pinecone Turkey

Today, I started taking inventory of what I have on hand to decorate for Thanksgiving. In the next couple of weeks, I will be really gearing up and transforming the entire house to welcome my family for Thanksgiving. I am really looking forward to seeing everyone. This metamorphosis will be ongoing. This week, it will start with seeing what I have to begin with.

Some of the things are general fall decorations and some are more geared to just Thanksgiving. You have seen a lot of the fall things already.

Some of the things that are general fall decorations include:

Lots of pumpkins
Lots of pumpkins
More pumpkins and some faux fall foliage.
More pumpkins and some faux fall foliage.

Then there are the Thanksgiving type things:

I love these little pilgrams
I love these little pilgrims
The Thanksgiving turkeys (the smaller ones are candle holders)
The Thanksgiving turkeys (the smaller ones are candle holders)
A cornucopia and even more pumpkins (can you tell which one has been sitting in a plant?)
A cornucopia and even more pumpkins (can you tell which one has been sitting in a plant?)

And then there are a couple more items:

Lots of these fall picks
Lots of these fall picks
Look at this tree outside the front window! No hope that it will last as long as Thanksgiving but itsn't it beautiful?
Look at this tree outside the front window! No hope that it will last as long as Thanksgiving but itsn't it beautiful?

Okay, that is part of what I’ve got to work with. Stay tuned these next couple of weeks to see what happens.

By the way, this coming Wednesday is Veteran’s Day! Don’t forget to see what you can do for Project Valour IT or for our brave men and women who were injured at Fort Hood this week.

Soldiers’ Angels is assessing the needs and with our founder currently residing in Texas, we will be standing by to offer physical and emotional support to our heroes and their families.

RIGHT NOW: Collecting encouraging cards and NEW stuffed animals for the families and children of the injured/killed. Please send cards and stuffed animals (and anything NEW that may brighten the life of a child) to:
Soldiers’ Angels
4408 PanAm Expressway
San Antonio, TX 78218

A Valour IT Update: Project Valour IT, so far, has raised over $72,000 to help wounded soldiers with technology to help them heal!

Project Valour IT is still going on (through November 11). Many of our military who are wounded receive comfort by way of technology. The Valour IT project is a fund raising effort to help provide the purchase and shipment of laptops and other technology for severely wounded service members. If you would like to donate to the help and comfort of our military, please go to the Wharton blog and click on the Valour IT link on the top right.

How else can you help? Join the effort yourself by posting about this on your blog. Help us get the word out. This fund raising effort runs from October 26 through Veterans Day, November 11!

Today’s Lagniappe: Caramel Corn
An easy, tasty snack for Thanksgiving munchies

* 7 quarts plain popped popcorn
* 2 cups dry roasted peanuts (optional)
* 2 cups brown sugar
* 1/2 cup light corn syrup
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup margarine
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Place the popped popcorn into two shallow greased baking pans. You may use roasting pans, jelly roll pans, or disposable roasting pans. Add the peanuts to the popped corn if using. Set aside.
2. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Combine the brown sugar, corn syrup, margarine and salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring enough to blend. Once the mixture begins to boil, boil for 5 minutes while stirring constantly.
3. Remove from the heat, and stir in the baking soda and vanilla. The mixture will be light and foamy. Immediately pour over the popcorn in the pans, and stir to coat. Don’t worry too much at this point about getting all of the corn coated.
4. Bake for 1 hour, removing the pans, and giving them each a good stir every 15 minutes. Line the counter top with waxed paper. Dump the corn out onto the waxed paper and separate the pieces. Allow to cool completely, then store in airtight containers or resealable bags.


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5 responses to “Southern Thanksgiving Inventory”

  1. Merrie Avatar

    Thanks for sharing your recipe, it looks really yummy. Too bad I just finished my last bag of popcorn right before reading your post, no joke. This just gives me a real good reason to go get some more.

    Good luck with your Thanksgiving preparations. Looks like you are off to a great start. All people will remember is the love and laughter from time spent in a welcoming home.

    One of my favorite traditions on Thanksgiving morning is a secret and I’m going to share it with you. When the meal is at my house I dont get up that morning stressing about all that I have to do and worrying about things being good enough. I start the day by going outside to pick the herbs for the turkey and as I work on getting that bird in the oven I go down the list of all our expected guests and pray for each and every one of them. By the time I am done the way my house looks doesnt matter one whit. It takes the focus off myself and makes for a wonderful start to a wonderful day.

  2. Dena Pickle Avatar

    Wonderful, I’ll be sure to check back often to see your progression!
    Dena
    sweetpicklesandchocolate

  3. Brenda Kula Avatar

    It’s amazing what we can do if we just look around our house at what we already have and work with it. It’s looking great at your house!
    Brenda

  4. Cheri Peoples Avatar

    I can’t wait to see what you come up with–it will be beautiful. In the end people won’t remember what was on the table but being together.

    I am adding you to my reader. Come on by for a visit.

    Cheri

  5. Rhonda Avatar

    How exciting to be hosting your family Thanksgiving Dinner! Hope all goes well! …and thanks for sharing the verse of scripture! 🙂 ~Rhonda

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