This may go down in history as the very worst post I've ever written.
Which actually makes it kind of exciting. Historic in a way really.
But nonetheless ... a terrible post in terms of writing. Mainly because there isn't going to be any. This is going to be a pretty picture post. You see, it's Sunday night and I've just spent the past 3 days cooking, preparing, serving and cleaning. I said my last entertaining word around 1 hour ago when our last guests left.
Then I fell into a heap on the floor.
Oh ... you know what ... I think I actually got the timeline wrong. The heaping happened around 3 hours before the guests left. It was an unfortunate incident which you will see more of in a moment.
O.K. Onto the Thanksgiving dinner inspiration photos 'cause I know you like those.
No more writing.
At all.
None.
Start looking at the pictures now.
The meal began early in the day gathering tomatoes from the garden for the Caprese salad.
It already sounds idyllic doesn't it? I mean come on. Gathering tomatoes from the garden for God's sake?
I D Y L L I C
The front porch was swept ...
... and the planters planted.
The table.
This is what last years table and outdoor festivities looked like, with mismatched antique plates.
This year I went all white rectangular. Snazzy.
I gathered all of the moss around the table at the cottage last year and this year.
Again with the idyllic.
You know this whole idyllic thing is going to end soon, right?
Because nobody lives their lives this way.
My Thanksgiving is no different than yours.
It's a shit show.
The kids table.
Maple Sugar suckers to make 'em happy,
and personalized chalkboards to keep 'em busy.
Shockingly ... this little plan actually worked.
The kids stayed and ate at their own table without wandering into the grown up room where the stripper was performing.
The meal ended with SEVERAL pies including apple, cherry cheese pie and the star of the show,
Pumpkin Pie made with real pumpkin
Then it was just a matter of the Great Gobble Off and shoving everyone out the door.
(video to follow in the next week or so) (of the gobble off, not shoving everyone out the door)
Everyone left out the back door as well.
Luckily I anticipated this and did planters by the back door as well.
Seems nice doesn't it?
A lovely Thanksgiving.
And it was.
For everyone who managed to squeeze into the dining room.
Seems I underestimated how big 15 people are.
Me, one of my sisters and my niece quietly ate in the kitchen.
We had no cutlery.
Or chairs.
The cutlery was on the dining room table at our place settings which were taken over by my apparently enormous family and we felt stupid going to get it.
I found 3 teaspoons which we all ate our Thanksgiving dinner with.
See? Even if someone's life looks idyllic, it probably isn't. Which is not to say it isn't fun. Or enjoyable. Or hilarious. My non idyllic evening was all of those things.
Or so I thought as I sat, in a heap on the floor.
→Follow me on Instagram where I often make a fool of myself←
dmarie
It's good to know that idyllic doesn't mean "unrealistic"....I prefer the sitting on the floor eating with spoons-- Looked like a lot of laughs....On a completely off note, I want your shoes in the picture of you on the floor...Could you possibly clue me in on the them???
Karen
dmarie - Oh! Thank you. They're deerskin moccasins. You can get them on the native reserves around here or at touristy sort of spots around cottage country in Ontario. Softest, most comfortable footwear ever made. ~ karen!
Cindy Marlow
It was beautiful (at least what you chose to share in photos) and I hope you know it was time well spent in giving your family the kind of Thanksgiving they deserve. Can't wait for the gobble off. Watching last year's video cracked up my entire family. This year WE have a new tradition!
Amie Mason
Did you paint those pumpkins white? I've never seen a white pumpkin.... until now!
Karen
Amie - Half of the pumpkins are fake and half are real. (the big ones fake ... the little ones are real) But I often buy real large white pumpkins. They started selling them around these parts a few years ago. Love the white pumpkins. ~ karen!
Karol
Wonderful! Makes me excited about my Thanksgiving plans. But is it just me, or at first glance do those white dining chairs look like a toilet from behind. What a concept!
Alicia Herron
oh... also.. are the plants in your arrangements edible?(they look it) and if so... will you eat them <-- said like Harry Caray of Saturday night live.
Alicia Herron
Usually (I believe) we are already a little overwhelmed by our family (when they arrive) by the time dinner rolls around... hence eating in another room is sometimes better! Plus... usually that's where you can eat out of the pans that were used to cook in <--- a weird love of mine.
Your pictures are gorgeous and I hope your family helped clean up!!!
Barbara
Best post ever! the first one that I have ever forwarded...thanks for being so "real"....I mean the decorating and plans are perfect but rarely is life "perfect"! Thanks Karen---Happy Canadian Thanksgiving! Barbara
Karen
Thank you Barbara! ~ karen
Rebecca
Wonderful! My parents had seven daughters, and with seven daughters came seven son-in-laws and with these couplings, 30 grandchildren. Our Thanksgiving was as well "idyllic", but we surrendered to our large gatherings a long time ago. We focus on fab food, big laughs and lots of full bellies leaving my parent (back) door...That's when you know you're family! Happy Thanksgiving!
Susan Whelan
Funny how memories are made and the things that make something memorable. Of all the wonderful family meals we had over the years, the one that is unforgettable is the one that my mother ended up eating in the kitchen because there was no room for her at the table. Sound familiar?
Your table is lovely and I like the kid's table best. Inquiring minds want to know...how many people said afterwards, "it was absolutely wonderful but it would have been just perfect with the white trash salad."?
mimiindublin
Kitchen is always the best place, and the kitchen floor must be even better! Apart from the kids' table, that is!
Happy Thanksgiving Karen!
Jen
Oh Karen...your dining room table looks so lovely....too bad you didn't get to sit at it! Seriously it's probably one of the prettiest I've ever seen, and has me contemplating going out in a rainstorm to try and dig up some moss for today. ;) I hope you enjoy today....maybe hanging out in your PJ's and fuzzy socks with a plate of leftovers. Happy Thanksgiving to you and the Fella!
Sue T.
Happy Canadian Thanksgiving Day Karen ! You look so happy just to be finally sitting down , even if it is on the floor !!
This was a wonderful (wordless) post, and I sure hope your family knows how lucky they are to have you knocking yourself out for them.
Maggie
Absolutely the best post ever - perfectly posed piccies (as always), witty wondrous writing (as always), a hard to beat delicious dining denouement at the end (totally worth the anticipation).
Happy Thanksgiving wishes from the Rhineland Pfalz, Germany - we are just in the process of giving thanks for all the new wine that is now available - which can put you on the floor in the kitchen as well, but you certainly get all of the style and composition 'heaping' points :)
Tricia Rose
The meal looks absolutely fabulous, I have just Pinned the planters and I feel sad that I don't have MY sister and niece with me to eat and giggle on the floor. You went to a lot of trouble, but just rewrote Memorable!
Elle
I love your Thanksgiving decor - the tomatoes, the framed chalkboard menu (must have!), the planters, the broom and those amazing white pumpkins!
I'm sure you, your sister and your niece had a really fun meal in the kitchen - talking and laughing.
rktrixy
Oh, you made my day. I'm planning a dinner party for two couples, haven't cooked in ages, have both a front and back door that people never know where to head to which.... so now after reading about your Thanksgiving, I'm looking forward to it even more. Mayhem and chaos - it's great!
Gotta say, I loved the table, and the kids table, and I GOTTA know what white trash salad is!
Karen
rktrixy - Here you go .... https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/white-trash-salad/! ~ karen
Claudine
I love all of it! Missed planters, new menu, eating with spoons sitting on the floor. Memories.
Kat
OMG!!! That is too funny! Did anyone from the dining room even miss you? I recognize those Salt and Pepper shakers with the bigger holes drilled into them! Stunning table but I really love the mismatched plates. Reminds me of the first time I ever seen something like that was about 30 years ago in Toronto at a Brit pub called Pimbletts. Changed my whole attitude on home decor for the rest of my life. But that being said Happy Thanksgiving Karen!
Aimee
Happy Thanksgiving, and everything looks lovely. But what great memories for those lucky enough to eat in the kitchen, with the tablespoons! :)
Diane
Best post ever!