Thanksgiving Eve...are you cooking or traveling?

When I was growing up early on I remember traveling in the VW Bug in the kangaroo seat in the very back (and later the station wagon with a bed made up) for Thanksgiving. We'd alternate heading to my Hilton grandparents who lived in Bristol Tennessee (of Nascar fame) or my Reasor grandparents who lived on a farm near Big Stone Gap, Virginia. The grands were close enough we could travel back and forth between town or country over the long weekend. It was worth getting woken at the crack of dawn to make the nine hour trip from DC.  Traveling mercies if you are headed out on the road or to the airport.

See that space behind the window? We'd fight to travel in that pocket.

When we were older, we stayed home. Thanksgiving Eve was a chopping, prepping, cooking day. Entire bunches of celery gave their lives to season the stuffing. There was no such thing as mild onions and tears were shed while we chopped them. Strawberry jello salad was put together. So was green bean casserole.  I remember stuff being put out in the garage if it was cold enough and also sneaking out into the garage to get into the canisters of date nut pinwheels and fudge my Nanny had sent through the mail. Cooking mercies if you are trying to find a special ingredient at the grocery store or just get everything in the oven.

Mom loved to cook with her grandchildren.

We are doing both cooking and traveling this year.  I've already cooked a back-up turkey to use for casseroles after Thanksgiving so I just get to watch ManO cut up five pounds of carrots for his famous baked carrots. And then on Thursday we'll head over to my son's house for dinner with the grandkids, in laws, daughter and boyfriend and ManO's parents. With three grandkidlets, it will be crazy and fun.

Whether I'm in the car or in my kitchen chopping, Thanksgiving Eve gives me plenty of time to reflect on the past year with gratitude, ponder Thanksgivings past, and remember those who aren't at the table this year. I pray a good bit for those of my friends who face the first Thankgiving without a loved one at the table and pray for those who have been missing loved ones for quite a while.

So, is your Thanksgiving Eve spent cooking or traveling? Do you go the same place each year? Do you spend most of your time cooking the entire meal or just a special dish? Blessings no matter how you spend the day before Thanksgiving.

Welcome Home

This week, my daughter spent the Fourth of July climbing the 528 stairs of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. Why you ask? This is why:

She reached the top and got a wonderful view - without keeling over. 528 stairs! She is young, you know. Dear Daughter had to do something to mark the specialness of the day. She adores London but the English don’t celebrate Independence Day with fireworks or hot dog eating contests. Not sure why. She thinks it is a bit weird to be on foreign soil, going through a day so special at home and so ignored elsewhere.

We have those special days here in the States, the days ignored by others and celebrated by a very few. We call them Homecomings.  Newborns come home from the hospital where they were born every day.  Doesn't matter if they are coming home to a castle or their great-grandmama is the Queen...ahem.

Sorry, we are on Royal Baby watch at our house.  I already have a baby grandprincess born three months ago.  But my daughter and I really, really really want Kate Middleton to have her baby this week so she can purchase commemorative tea cups and tea towels while she is there.  I just checked and the press has set up camp in front of the hospital. Let's hope.  

Now where were we? Oh, homecomings. It isn't limited to new babies.

A child raised in Maryland comes home from their first year at college in California.  A North Carolina couple returns from a mission trip abroad in Russia.  Soldiers and sailors return from the danger in the Middle East.  It doesn’t have to be a national holiday to be the most special day of the year for families and friends who are reunited. Even Mondays are celebrated!

Stop what you are doing right now and watch the ESPN SportCenter video story, Going Home. Watch this video right now. WITH TISSUES.

Our reunion may not be quite as emotional but I am already planning our welcome home dinner for the dear daughter. Ham, macaroni and cheese and Man O’s carrots (see recipe below).  No special Steele family dinner is without these orange veggies cooked to death in butter and sugar. Yes, it is the middle of summer and requires the oven being on for an hour but it’s tradition!  And our daughter's coming home.  

ManO’s Carrots

5 medium carrots, cut into thin strips

2 tablespoons butter

4 tablespoons sugar

2-3 tablespoons water

pinch salt

Place carrots in a 1 QT casserole. Add rest. Cover tightly with foil. Cook 1 hr at 400 degrees.   

What is a dish that is a traditional part of homecomings in your family? What dish makes you feel like you are home, even when you aren't?