It is Thanksgiving weekend in Canada. Take some inspiration from my Thanksgiving festivities last year. Because this year? It ain't happening.
Last year I had weeks to plan and get ready for Thanksgiving dinner at my house. This year? This year there is no dinner. Coronavirus cases are rising faster than sourdough starter at a homesteading convention.
A week ago the Ontario government shut down any hopes of a big Thanksgiving dinner. You're allowed to haveeee Thanksgiving, you just can't have anyone into your house who doesn't already live there.
Except maybe you can. But you shouldn't. But maybe outside? But stay 6' apart. Forget it. Our family is taking a holiday from the holiday. Our individual families are staying separate with some of us ordering in Thanksgiving dinner, some of us making a small dinner just for the family and some of us are smarter than everyone else and plan to eat the cases of mini chocolate bars we thought we might need but probably won't for Halloween.
So this year it's me, my cat Ernie and Halloween candy. Ernie is antisocial and an introvert and rarely leaves her room unless it's to come downstairs for a glass of whiskey. So really it's just me and the Snickers.
The photos throughout this post are from last Thanksgiving. I didn't share them at the time because I took them on the day I had Thanksgiving dinner *just* before everyone showed up. And then promptly forgot all about them.
As it turns out, that was serendipitous because even though I'm not having Thanksgiving this year I still have lots of new photos to share.
Thanksgiving 2019
As soon as everyone entered my property they were greeted by these individual harvest baskets they got to take home. Only what they didn't know is they were just there for a pretty picture and they weren't actually allowed to take them.
Just kidding.
They got to take them.
Each basket had a mason jar of cut flowers from the garden and then a variety of things from the vegetable garden like squash, some carrots, peppers and potatoes.
A couple of urns with a pyramid of white pumpkins flanked the stairs to my back door.
Because I don't have a ton of room leftover in the dining room once the extensions are in the table, and the kitchen becomes a gong show the minute the first person arrives, I set up a couple of cake stands in the front foyer to put the pies on, along with mismatched flow blue and transferware plates and cutlery.
Every year I host Thanksgiving dinner. Each family member has an assigned holiday dinner and Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve are mine. I try to make Thanksgiving feel ... Thanksgivingy? In Canada, Thanksgiving really revolves around the end of the harvest so I went without putting down any tablecloth or even place mats so the actual harvest table could be seen.
Napkins were folded in half and set under everyone's plates. None of the plates match, but they're all either ironstone or flow blue and so are all the serving pieces. Nothing matches but it all goes together.
I like Thanksgiving to feel homey and comfortable, you know? Not overly fancy. At the same time I want it to look pretty and feel special.
So the butter is on a slightly chipped dish, but I took a toothpick and carved a little wheat field into it.
Carving butter like this is FUN. Just chill the butter and draw on it with a toothpick.
Obviously if you have butter out you're going to need a big whack of freshly baked bread. THIS is the first loaf of bread I made with the wheat that I grew, threshed, winnowed and ground myself.
That was back in the olden days, a year ago, when baking your own bread was for fun, not a compulsive reaction to to the end of civilization.
The table setting was adorned with this a single casual jug of dahlias and amaranth.
This year the table is adorned with a couple of loads of laundry in need of folding. The wood underneath glows with the shine of a thousand tears.
Oh wait, no, I think that's just whiskey.
Em D
Holy crap, I will never host another holiday after reading this post.
Take home baskets of home-harvested goods, wheat you threshed yourself, butter art...
Most of the time I get to Thanksgiving only to discover that all of my forks are missing, and if it’s a presidential election year, I might hit the wine well before the divergent opinions arrive.
Your holiday looks elegant and beautiful and warm and lovely ...and your guests better darn well appreciate all the love you put into a memorable day.
Next year, when I will be thankful for the ability to hug the people I love once again, I will absolutely take inspiration from all of your charming deets... But I have to say, I can’t wait to draw in my butter. Right now, that’s seems like it would be highly cathartic.
Truly. Lovely. Post. You are the queen!
Karen
:) Thanks Em. I love doing it all so don't measure yourself against me. I'd also be completely happy going to someone's house where everything was on paper plates and aluminum containers. As long as there's a flower arrangement. ;) ~ karen!
Deb
Karen
Thank you for all you do for us, testing products and ideas. BTW, I ordered your recommended strawberries this spring. Just picked my, probably last litre yesterday, heavy frost this morning, delicious. As for thanksgiving here, might be cooking a homegrown 30lb turkey and delivering the turkey, dressing and gravy to family. They can do the rest. Anyhow, enjoy your weekend, whatever you are doing, probably in the garden doing cleanup. D
Karen
I'm redoing my entire garden! So it's going to be a major clean up! And yeah, I actually would like the full weekend to do it, lol. ~ karen!
Dorothy McCaleb
Is Your mom going to be able to come at least???!!!
Karen
It's still all under discussion. I mean, she's the one who is the most susceptible. But I see her regularly so ... ~ karen!
Gail Dedrick
No one should have large Thanksgiving if they live anywhere, not just Toronto. I give thanks for you not being a crank who denies science and believes in our social contract to keep each other safe.
And I give thanks for everything you do. Seriously. I. Have. Learned. So. Much.
Karen
That's where all the confusion is though. I think people would have preferred a steady government hand saying an absolute NOPE. NO celebrations. Period. And yes I'm a big old believer in science, lol. :) ~ karen!
Sharon Dore
Sharon Wasaga Beach ON
We are blessed with a few days of warm and sunny weather -possibly still shorts weather - before the onset of the chill. Staying with in house family is great and relaxing -there is always Zoom or Facetime - love the flowers Karen - stay well
Karen
Sharon! Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and glad you're together at the cottage. ~ karen!
Beth L Bilous
I just love reading your posts. Everything here is SO lovely. I would be so comfortable at this table. I really really would. That is saying something.
Karen
Thank you! That was my goal. :) ~ karen!
Karen
Here in Maine we, too, are past prime for foliage as the drought took its toll on color. Thanks to COVID-19 our Canadian friends cannot cross the border, nor can we cross either. While our Thanksgiving is over a month away, Karen, I look at your pics and envision the wonderful Thanksgivings past as well. What I wouldn’t give for all the noise and mess that comes with preparing for a family gathering that includes more than my husband and Sheltie (who prefers my coffee over whiskey!). I have been enjoying your blog for about a year and have to say I have laughed lots and have been inspired to try new things around the house. Oh, and if they ever open the border, again? We have Wickles ;^) Thank you so much for The Art of Doing Stuff! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Karen
Just last week my niece asked me if I could please ask one of my readers in the US to mail me a case of Wickles 😂 ~ karen!
Karen
Done! We can trade - there is a teacher’s day planner refill that my husband can’t get here because a Canadian company bought out that part of a much larger US company. When he finally reached the new owners, they told him they couldn’t sell it to him in the States! The day planner itself has sentimental value and given how stupidly awful this year has been, I am bound and determined to do something really special for him. Truly, if interested in a trade of Wickles for this day planner, let me know!
Karen
Oh, I am! ~ karen
Heather
Love that butter! And those baskets! And your energy and enthusiasm and sense of humour! I've been following your blog for years, and I love pretty much everything you share with us. Truly thankful for it, Karen. Happy Thanksgiving!
Karen
Thanks so much for saying that Heather! :) ~ karen
Jenny W
I bought a huge turkey in hopes that the weather here in Atlantic Canada would play nice for ThanksGiving and I could carry on as usual will a dinner in the backyard for 15. No such luck.
So that turkey is in the freezer and I picked up a smaller one. It looks like this year instead of buffet style, I get to set a pretty table for 3. Could be worse, could be better, but I will definitely be drinking wine, lots of wine!
Karen
Just yesterday I bought a turkey thinking .. well ... maybe it'll be O.K., maybe we can all have it outside. But I will certainly be eating an entire turkey myself. ` karen!
Lillian Sarnosky
Your decorations are beautiful. Grow and grind your own wheat? Wow...I am so impressed. God for you. I LOVE your home. I know what you mean about this darn virus. Stay safe and Happy Thanksgiving.
Karen
Thanks Lillian! ~ karen
Vicki
This year is one of the few in recent memory when we will actually be at home and not being feted in someone else’s home. We ARE having the feast with mostly family and a couple of friends. The meal will be served on rented tables with rented chairs out on the porch. I have plenty of time to get ready but I will undoubtedly be scurrying around up to the moment the guests arrive. When it’s all over but the leftovers, I will be exhausted but happy1/
Katie Webb
We don't do Thanksgiving here in the UK. Instead, a couple of elderly people attend a church service and school children bring past-their-sell-by-date tins of baked beans or peaches up to the front and then someone leads a donkey in and it poops on the ancient ledgerstones. Or that might be Christmas.
Karen
LOLOL! ~ karen!
Kathryn Mary Vezerian
Love this! Can just picture it.
Grammy
Thanks for the giggle, Katie. It adds to the smile I got from reading Karen's post.
This is a year of trials for all of us everywhere, and the fact that anybody is able to find something nice to think about is wonderful. My personal silver lining is not to have to sit through an entire day of listening to some blowhard relatives' political views on Thanksgiving Day. The folks who don't make me sick will be contacted by phone and video chats and we'll all be better for it. And I'm hoping that here in the 'States we'll all have something to really, really be thankful for when our Thanksgiving comes in late November. You know what I mean.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone here. Be kind to one another. And, for goodness sake -- draw something on your butter! I'm going to go experiment with that right now.
Susan in Florida
Ah, y’all Canadians. There’s a surge of Covid cases locally so your government issues an edict that you should not have big family gatherings at Thanksgiving so y’all are like, “ok, cool, I’ve got my Snickers bars, that’ll do.” Meanwhile here in the US, the seat of government is overrun with Covid and the president, newly discharged from the hospital and coughing heartily on Fox News, declares he’s going to do a live superspreader rally on Saturday (in Florida, oh joy) because he’s cured. I think I want to be Canadian. Thank you for being civilized. I truly admire y’all. And I love your blog. Your library / dining room is just amazing. And I adore your flow blue collection. Keep up the good work because you are a delight in these dark times.
Karen
I have American friends and they all say the same thing. It's odd as a Canadian to watch the American news and see the difference in how the situations are handled by both the governments and the public. Good luck, wear your mask! ~ karen
Octavia Randolph
This is completely wonderful. It brings tears to my eyes. Thank you, Karen.
Petra Accipiter
Jeez I'd be so depressed if it weren't for the last of the dahlias (the rainstorm coming is going to turn the rest to mush) and the 20 lbs of apples I'm peeling, processing and dehydrating. Hubby's happy, though, cuz he got an apple pie out of the deal today. Thank you for your recipe BTW. It's the right one.
Daughter and family can't come because they couldn't get a ferry reservation and besides it's a big hassle travelling. Normally we'd be dining with neighbours as well but since we're all ' gray hairs', an abundance of caution makes us abstain.
Nothin' to look forward to but Zoom visits, flu vaccine clinics and a stupid provincial election. Just a second...reading some of the comments preceeding...I oughta be extremely thankful to be here. Safe, warm, and too well-fed.
And I do love your blog.
Jacque
Love the mismatching but matching plates. Thanks for the post and beautiful pictures!
Darcy
Oh, Karen! I am thankful for you and your posts.
Karen
:) And I'm thankful for you and all of my readers. Without you - there is no Art of Doing Stuff. ~ karen!
Bev, Vancouver Island
Isolating out on the west coast, by choice. Nice favours for your guests in 2019! I might pinch the idea, roam my garden to fill a favour basket for one.
Happy Thanksgiving anyway, Karen!
Karen
Thanks Bev! ~ karen
Patti
Oh those baskets are adorable! And so thoughtful! Better than the hacked off turkey legs and pumpkin pie I usually send home with my family! As a fellow Canadian I feel your nostalgia for Thanksgivings gone by. Who would have thought that we wouldn’t be able to celebrate the harvest with extended family around the big table? I’m in Muskoka and the leaves have already turned brown and falling off the trees and it’s only October 9th! Here’s to 2021 - let it be like the olden days!
Vicky Radley
Just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy reading “The Art of Doing Stuff”. I get this on the west coast near Maple Bay in the Cowichan Valley just before going to bed around 9 PM ish. I love your sense of humour and your brilliant ideas and it gives me a smile. I also
know where to look if something needs done around the house or yard. We sailed for a lot of years so gardening was really only a dream. Now I mostly enjoy yours - and your beautiful house.
Karen
Thanks for that Vicky! My house is nice, but I'm sure it's not as beautiful as your surroundings in the Cowichan Valley. ~ karen!
Vanessa
What kind of whiskey?
Sandi Remedios
Good Comment!!!LOL
Eileen
Priorities, right?!?
My dad just gave me another bottle (the previous somehow evaporated or something over the last few weeks) and I'm wondering if this one is big enough to get me through the beginning of November.
Depending on what happens then, all bets are off....