Life as I know It

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San Luis Obispo, California, and South Bristol, Maine, United States
Author ~ Illustrator ~ Lecturer

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Post Thanksgiving Tranquility


Post-Thanksgiving Kitchen

"Things taste better in small houses."
Queen Victoria (1819-1901)

Phew! The flour settled in drifts on the floor. Gravy splattered the wall behind the old stove. Dishes were stacked in haphazard piles on every flat surface in the kitchen. Leftovers filled all the refrigerator shelves, but the day was memorable and filled with love.

My husband Jeff and my brother and sister-in-law all pitched in to help cook our family's Thanksgiving meal, and although we were tired beyond belief at the end of the day, it was all worth it. The four of us crammed into my little kitchen, prepped, chopped, spiralized, tossed, whipped, sauteed, seared, baked, roasted, and finally, voila, a memorable family meal around the long farm table.

I loved it when my 7 year old granddaughter Sara said that she was "grateful that our family is together today." And I loved it when 2 1/2 year old Moses picked up his long stemmed water glass (yikes, was he going to spill it?) and clanked it into his Dad's glass and said, "Cheers." (Which we all did).

Today the house is empty. The flour dust is vanquished, the gravy scoured from the wall behind the stove, the dishes are back on their shelves (my Great Great Gran's gravy boat and blue willow platter made it safely through their 100th plus Thanksgiving), and the turkey soup simmers quietly, or as the French say, "smiles" in the pot.
I've been thinking a lot about the traditions that make Thanksgiving so meaningful for me and my family, but I'm also interested in what traditions are meaningful to others. I'd love to hear your stories, your traditions. Hopefully I will be able to incorporate you and yours into a holiday story for next year.
In this quiet time, I'm going out to harvest my 'Painted Lady' runner beans and take down their tepee. I'll plant my beloved California wildflowers, and read, read, read whenever I am indoors. Tonight will be turkey-alphabet soup, a fire, and yikes, I'll just have to admit it, I'm making lists for Christmas and wrapping stocking stuffer gifts.

Tranquil times to you!


12 comments:

Marcie said...

I adore the photo of your kitchen, with the sun spilling in warmly across the wooden floor boards. It seems to beckon me in. I also love the Queen Victoria quote. I should hang that somewhere in the kitchen of my little house!

Thank you for sharing your tranquility. It is a beautiful gift.

tamlovesran said...

Love the photos and your description of your Thanksgiving. Just beautiful!

Suzanne said...

Sharon, thank you for visiting my blog and your kind words. When I saw your the author of one of my daughter Lydia's favorite books I almost fainted! We just love Sunflower Houses here! I shall be back to visit you often:-)

Donna said...

Sharon, you are so kind to have left a comment on my recent post about losing Spotty. Your words mean so much.

Your blog is just beautiful.. You clearly live on a little piece of heaven. My mother always dreamed of a place overlooking the ocean in Maine.

Again, thank you so very much ...

All my best,
Donna

Dawn said...

That photo of your little kitchen belongs in the pages of Country Living. My goodness!
Sounds like you had a lovely Thanksgiving. We didn't celebrate it here in Austria this year after suffering a personal loss, but it was almost enough to read about everyone else's wonderful holiday.
Sending a bug hug,
Dawn

Dawn said...

Sharon, your note means so much to me, thank you for your kindness and compassion. I am a firm believer that God doesn't give us more than we can handle...still, it's not easy going. I am cheerful at times, trying to remember and recognize the good things in life, but mostly feel very lost. My blog and all of you wonderful people who write such sweet and heart-felt messages are rays of light in my life...so again, thank you!

Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooks said...

I just wrote a blog post today about all the work that goes into Christmas (not to mention, Thanksgiving).

But isn't it all worth it? I love the memories. Especially now that my daughter lives so far away.

She called yesterday to tell me her two year old was amazed at the Christmas tree and is telling everyone he has a KWISMAS TWEE... as if he alone in the universe has such a tree. :)

Courtney at SL's No Ennui said...

Tranquil times to you, too!

I LOVE that kitchen. Is that YOURS you lucky gal, you?!?!?!

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Love your kitchen. I found you through Lemon Verbena Lady's blog. I have been a fan of yours for many years and am glad to have found your blog. I look forward to visiting here and being inspired.

FlowerLady

MYstory of HIStory said...

Thank you for stopping in at my end. I think you will really like the movie. I hope so.

You wrote Sunflower Houses?! I LOVE sunflowers & from what I can tell from perusing the book on Amazon I think I'd really like your book too :) Interesting tidbit...William Wilburforce was interested in plants/botany as you will see when you watch Amazing Grace. I get the impression he sensed a closeness too & better understanding of God by observing/studying plants.

thatgirl said...

I can feel the warmth through the picture of you kitchen. Just beautiful!

Dee/reddirtramblings said...

In copying it, I lost part of the quote:
"Two things here on earth are essential: health and a friend. They are the two things most to be prayed for." St. Augustine