What's everyone doing for Thanksgiving? Staying home, going away? Do you have a special tradition that you do, something that you always have for dinner that you would like to share with us?

I know it's a tough time of year for a couple of our members...and maybe talking about it will help get them through this. If not, I am sorry to dredge this up.

I know when I lost my dad, getting through the holidays was a real hard time. It still is. I have memories of the things that we did together and they will always be in my heart and that keeps him alive in my heart. I love my dad very much and miss him every day, I now remember the good times we had and it makes getting through the tough times easier.

We are going to spend Thanksgiving with some friends who have a cabin up near McCall, ID. Not sure how many people will be there, it just sort of evolves into a large group. She cooks a turkey the regular way, and we do one in the deep fat turkey cooker and it turns out wonderful. I also help her with dessert - Gingerbread Pumpkin Trifle. Last year for Christmas she gave me a real trifle bowl to serve it in instead of my waterford bowl that I've been serving it in! (she's afraid that someone will break the waterford!).

We will go up Wednesday night and come back Saturday morning. Friday afternoon we will all gather at a neighbor's house to watch the last Boise State football game of the season - BSU vs. Hawaii. We are both undefeated in conference. It's in Hawaii....going to be a "real edge of the seat" game.

What are you all doing?

I will be going over to my daughter's house. There is only going to be about 5 of us this year. I seems each year it gets smaller. Years ago when the family was bigger, the guys would go out hunting in the morning and we would be home cooking like crazy. The afternoon was eating enjoying the talk and love that was there. Watch the football games on TV and more eating. The best time was when the great desserts started being served. We try to keep up the old traditions but with so many family gone and some live so far away now it is just not the same. This will be the second Thanksgiving without my husband and the wound is still so raw I really am not looking forward to the holidays like I used to. HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE

We are driving back to FLA. on Tuesday to be with my husband's family. This will be the first time going back since we've moved up here, so I'm just a TAD excited to visit with family and friends that I miss so much. We don't have a holiday at all that is similar to Thanksgiving in the UK, so it really doesn't mean that much to me, except that there is an array of very colourful food on the table, and there seems to be a ton of what you Americans call "Football" games on all day. I still can't become accustomed to calling that thing you call a football, a football is round to me!

We'll probably do a bunch of visiting, and I heard that my old office is open on Friday, so I'm going to try and visit with my co-workers. Michael keeps mumbling about driving back on Saturday to avoid the traffic, so it may be a very shory stay. I've started to do some Christmas shopping already. My Mum and some other family members are coming over from England to spend Christmas in the states. We are thinking of taking them up to Asheville to see the Biltmore Hotel. Has anyone here ever been there before? I was just online looking at prices and they are quite steep. I'm hoping we can find something a tad cheaper, but still in the area of the hotel so we can enjoy many of the sights of Asheville. If you have any suggestions, PLEASE do let me know, I'd more than appreciate it.

Have a lovely and safe holiday everyone. For those who have lost a loved one this year or who are having a rough go of it, please know I am thinking of you.

All the best,
Chris

Well, this is going to be the best TG ever! No turkey, no mob, no excess food to live on for an entire week. One brother, one dad, one me. We're grilling buffalo tenderloin, some baked potatoes, salad, wine, pie and evening brandy. Easy peasy.

Chris, I've seen the Biltmore, it's a big, pretentious house with ostentatious treatments and inordinate ornamentation. Woo hoo. The gardens are nice in the summer but I don't know about fall.

There is a lot in Asheville and the mansion is the least of it. All the little surrounding areas are very nice and much cheaper than in town. Hendersonville is close to the mansion, but it's much quieter.

Have a great holiday, everyone!

I'm not looking forward to the holidays either, Joyce. Seems like w/my parent's both gone now, there really isn't a "tradition" anymore. It will just be my DH, DS and me. But, that's OK.... I know I have alot to be thankful for. It's just gonna be extra hard w/o my Mom this yr.

I hope you all have a good one and that you get to spend it w/those you love.

DM - I know it's going to be tough for you. I am thinking of you

When DH was in the Navy, we never came home for Thanksgiving. He saved his leave for Christmas and hunting (with his family).

It was fun to be the hostess for the squadron bachelors and/or anyone else who didn't go home. Sometimes we would have 5 people for Thanksgiving and sometimes we would have 15. We would never know. But we would have a great time. Most times, it would be the bachelors and their idea of cooking was stopping at the grocery store and picking up beer and chips!

That was fine with me. I loved cooking. I had so much fun making the whole meal for everyone. I actually miss it. I would spend the week getting ready for the whole day. Now, every year is different. No tradition, no nothing. I have favorite foods I like, but others don't care for them, so sometimes I just fix them for me.

When he first retired from the Navy, the adjustment was tough. We were like fish out of water. We didn't know where we were going to live and we didn't have an instant family with the new company he went to work for...no comraderie at all. After 14 years of living here, we have friends, but it still isn't the same as when he was in the military. I don't like spending Thanksgiving with his family. They are too regimented...you do it this way, period. It's much more fun going to our friends' cabin and just winging it!

I understand how you feel DM, and Chris. We all have a lot to be thankful for - our health, our friends, and some of you have great family to be thankful for. Cherish what you have. You never know what's around the next corner. Live each moment for what it has to offer.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone....I truly mean that.