Saturday Meanderings

Welcome to the last Saturday Meanderings of November! Yikes—where did the year go? It’s hard to believe December begins on Monday. Yet here we are, easing into the Christmas season and wrapping up a truly joyful week. I’m excited to share all the good things that helped us close out November on such a high note.

Friendsgiving Dinner

As I mentioned last week, our Thanksgiving plans took an atypical turn this year. So, embracing the change, we hosted a Friendsgiving dinner last Sunday for 14. Fortunately, our youngest was able to join us, making it a lovely blend of friends and family.

The table came together beautifully thanks to some of my favorite Hester & Cook pieces. A classic plaid table runner set the stage for rich autumn tones, while cheerful “Give Thanks” placemats marked each setting. On top, I added a sweet “Thankful for You” banner and a stunning hand-decorated cookie from Sweet B’s Baked Love to welcome each guest.

To seat all 14, we combined two tables, and with a cozy fire crackling nearby, the evening felt warm, intimate, and wonderfully festive.

We enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving feast, complete with two turkeys—spatchcocked and dry-brined for two days beforehand. If you’ve never tried this method, it’s a game changer: the dry brine infuses incredible flavor, the spatchcocking ensures wonderfully moist breast meat, and the overall cooking time is dramatically reduced.

Instead of our usual Brussels sprouts, I made a vibrant winter salad (recipe linked here). Not only is it beautiful on the plate, but it’s truly delicious—and, in my opinion, even better the next day as the flavors mingle.

Our favorite side dishes made their usual appearance—sage sausage stuffing, bourbon sweet potatoes, and a new addition: puréed carrots with a raspberry balsamic swirl. Not only was this dish delicious, but the vibrant color made it especially attractive. For dessert, we served homemade apple and pumpkin pies, the perfect sweet finish to our autumn meal.

At one point during the evening, I looked around the table and saw everyone talking, laughing, and simply enjoying one another. It warmed my heart to witness people we love gathered together. After two full days of food preparation and countless chores, that single moment made every bit of effort completely worthwhile.

Relaxing on Thanksgiving Day

As we promised ourselves, the morning started with a fine cup of coffee in our jammy pants. For the first time in history, I watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade from start to finish. Inspired by our two children (Benjamin and Delaney did a 5K in chilly Chicago; and Julianna completed a 5k Turkey Trot in the mountains), I managed to squeeze in a brisk 5K walk in the afternoon.

After dinner, we all settled in to watch a rom-com—Champagne Problems on Netflix. It follows the familiar “boy meets girl, complications arise, boy dumps girl, problems get solved, and love wins in the end” formula, but it’s entertaining nonetheless. The Paris scenes are especially lovely, and it even earned a respectable 69% on Rotten Tomatoes.

With plenty of good leftovers and a cozy movie to end the night, it was truly a day filled with appreciation, relaxation, and the simple joys of being together.

Christmas Decorating

Are you someone who already has your home fully decorated for Christmas, or are you more like me—just easing into the season? We’re still hosting out-of-town guests, so it’s hard to dive into bins of decorations and turn the house upside down. I plan to officially begin tomorrow, but I have a feeling this will be a “less is more” year when it comes to holiday décor.

If you have favorite decorating strategies or traditions that help you stay organized (and sane!) during this busy season, I’d love for you to share them!

Mary’s Must Haves

I know it is the beginning of a huge shopping season and many of us are taking advantage of the seasonal sales. Here are a few items that really came in handy this past week and I know I will be using them heavily in December.

This Apple Peeler and Corer is a must have if you cook with apples. I am able to quickly peel 8 pounds of apples for the Thanksgiving pie. Invented in the 1800s, it’s a tool that doesn’t take up much space but is a lifesaver if you need to peel and core apples. Currently it’s 20% on Amazon for $17.56. Apparently it peels potatoes (never considered that) and other fruits and vegetables. I have owned this device for decades and it doesn’t disappoint!

I LOVE these pie plates and you can see I have a few. Made by Pyrex, this 9.5″ size, is so perfect for any pie you want to make. I’ve used it for quiches, sweet and savory pies and it’s sturdy, cooks well and is for use in the oven. Made of sturdy Pyrex, they clean up beautifully and look new after many years of use. Not on sale, but a good value at $25.99. It appears that shipping may be up to two weeks from Amazon, so order them soon.

My husband purchased this compact vacuum sealer this summer to freeze the lake trout he caught. This handheld vacuum sealing is a reasonable size (compared to the large sealing machines) and is working hard this week to preserve any left over turkey and stuffing. We highly recommend this powerful and easy to use rechargeable vacuum sealer. Currently it is 20% on Amazon at $79.20 here.

I am on the hunt for a new set of cookie sheets. This one looks promising with a 4.6 rating from over 41,000 reviews. With galvanized steel rims, these cookie sheets will not warp. The two-pack is on sale with a 7% discount at $28.00. You can find them here.

Our guests are very impressed with the clear balls of ice in their drinks this week. This ice ball maker mold makes 2 large (2.4″) perfectly round clear ice balls~ideal in a whiskey cocktail. Currently 20% at Amazon for $21.40 here. This would also be the perfect gift to a whiskey drinker.

What a Week with Finn

Earlier this week, Finn decided to make a grand escape. He darted out the gate just as someone was leaving our property, sprinted across the busy street in front of our home, and—by some miracle—managed to avoid the passing cars. And that’s when the real fun began. Every time I got close, he’d glance back over his shoulder with that mischievous look and then take off again.

Eventually, we managed to herd him onto a neighbor’s property, where he was finally cornered in their backyard. I’m convinced I ran a full mile chasing that dog down the road. Needless to say, Finn is now officially under house arrest. Darn dog.

Well, that’s a wrap. It’s been such a great week visiting with so many friends, who are visiting from out of town. Sorry for the late posting but I am so happy to get a few moments here and there to complete this.

I hope you had a fabulous Thanksgiving week and I will see you in December! Be safe out there.