Mary, reading your message brought back similar experiences. Not always at Thanksgiving but times when 3-4 generations got together for whatever reason. No hunting in my family other than pheasants and such but not connected with the gatherings. The 2nd meal was usually a repeat of the first one and just as good. The desserts were plentiful, a variety and delicious. We would gather in the living room when it was all cleaned up, sitting on the floor and wherever we could find room. Not little groups but all together talking together. Thank you for that. Connie -----Original Message----- From: Mary Sayman <marysaerie@stny.rr.com> To: padutch-life@rootsweb.com Sent: Wed, Nov 25, 2009 4:38 pm Subject: [PD-LIFE] Happy Thanksgiving Dear List, I get nostalgic at this time of the year because as a child growing up on the farm, Thanksgiving was a fabulous family affair. My mother would start cooking a couple of days beforehand, except for the turkey which went into the oven in the wee hours of the morning to slow roast. We would have anywhere from 12 to 20 people for dinner. The families with hunters always arrived early to go hunting with my father, while the ladies oversaw the final preparations for the meal and we kids played games or did last minute chores like washing out used cookware and bowls so they could be re-used again, or setting more places at the table. The men always arrived at the appointed hour to sit down to a fabulous meal (every family brought something to share) set out on tables and card tables placed end to end in our big, eat-in country kitchen that had been covered with table cloths to make it look like one big table. Grace was said, food was passed, and conversations were held. When we were all satiated, we women and older children would clean the table of the dirty dishes and silverware while the men either went back out hunting again, or went in to watch the football games on TV. Once all the clean-up was done, we placed clean dessert plates and silverware on the table, then covered everything up with more table cloths until everyone was ready for either dessert or more food. It was always a good time. We had many Blessings for which to be thankful. I still do, even though my family - for the most part - is no longer with me. I pray that you will all have a lovely Thanksgiving. Enjoy the day. Hugs, Mary from her Aerie ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to PADUTCH-LIFE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message