Thanksgiving Tree

I’ve kind of become obsessed with trees over the years. I think Christmas got me started. I don’t know what it is, but nothing makes me happier then staring at a beautifully composed Christmas tree all lit up, with a cup of cocoa in my hand and a kitty on my lap. When I married Bear and saw how crazy his parents go for Christmas, I knew I had to jump in, but they rely mainly on dolls, which just creep me right out. I knew that my festivities would involve trees as far as the eye could see.

Maybe it’s a subconscious thing – my friends and family do call me Tree after all.

Anyway, when it was time to decorate for Thanksgiving I knew there was only one way to go. This time it would be a gratitude tree.

I made up a bowl full of little paper ornaments, and I make everyone who enters my home contribute. I’ve got friends from school, my young women from church, Atti’s therapists, and of course my dinner guests.

The rules are simple: Write something you’re grateful for, but it can’t be something everyone is grateful for. You can’t write “My Family” or “My Job” or “My House.” You can write something about those things, but it has to be specific.

Some of my favorites:

The cool side of the pillow
stand up comedy
A crisp night and an open window
the DVR
fuzz
a hug from my baby after a long day of work (guess who wrote that one)
that tart frozen yogurt
my fancy chef’s knife
the back of a baby neck

I have a ton of work ahead of me – getting the house ready for much beloved guests, dealing with a cranky teether, starting all the cooking. I’m pretty much following my typical menu (along with time-tested battle plan you can see here)except this year I’m going to add a side of corn with bacon, and instead of whipped sweet potatoes, I’m going to do the traditional baked with little marshmallows. Then at the grocery store last night I got one of my wild hairs and decided that I absolutely could not go another year without making a homemade cranberry sauce. So I just grabbed a couple things I thought would work and I’m going to make it up as I go along. Also, in the time since that post Bear has become a fabulous pastry chef, so instead of my trifle, I’m going to turn the second dessert over to him and let him make a pumpkin chocolate swirl cheesecake.

Cooking a big dinner for guests is one of my purest joys in life. I’m a little stressed today, but to me, it’s like the feeling you get waiting in line for a roller coaster. I was so torn about this dinner because part of me wanted to invite everyone we knew, and the other part wanted to hog The Good Twin and her family all to myself. I just need to throw dinner parties more often.