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.
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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.
Laura Hernández
Karen hace muy poco que te encontré en la red, a principios de año y te transformaste en mi inspiración y fuente de consulta en temas de huerta, cocina y decoración; amo tus fotos pero especialmente tu sentido del humor y energía positiva. Soy de Argentina, del Gran Buenos Aires y me gustaría que aquí tuvieran el mismo criterio que allí con respecto al coronavirus, pero ahora que aumentan los casos espantosamente quieren reabrir actividades luego de estar confinados desde el 19 de Marzo por cuestionamientos políticos internos. Pero en realidad comencé a escribirte no para hablarte de la pandemia sino para desearte un Día de Acción de Gracias lleno de luz a pesas de la falta de seres queridos a tu mesa, tus post son rayitos de luz llenos de positividad. Ahhhh, ¡ me encantó tu manteca decorada!!!!!
Karen
Thank you Laura!! ~ karen
Mary Edmondson
I would love to know the names of the particular dahlias in your beautiful bouquet. I think it’s time for me to go out and buy a bunch of them - assorted. Thanks.
Dougal
//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.
Me. too. But bourbon sours beside the laundry hamper.At least it's sunny!
By posting these photos, I feel like you threw a party and invited me.
"release the doves!"
Monica
Happy Thanksgiving!
nancy
You are so funny and have some fantastic posts. I really enjoy reading them and have found them very useful. Thanks so much!
Vikki
That was a beautiful Thanksgiving! Thanks for the memories to brighten our day. 🦃
Leslie
Believe me, many Americans are just a flummoxed by the White House as the rest o' the world is!
(meanwhile, what are Winkles? I live in the Midwest)
Do your smaller dahlias stand up straight like that all by themselves? Or do you have to wire them somehow?
Thanks! Beautiful table.
Mary W
Wonderful inspiration for our imaginary Thanksgiving table! We usually have my son and family down to visit for 5 days and they provide labor to put up our Christmas lights outside. Family traditions end hard! No son, no grandsons, no DIL, and a small light display outside, but we will have sweet potato casserole! Martha can only wish she was like you - LOL. I was wondering how the bread turned out and it looks great.
Shannon Ross Watson
Lovely pics, love the idea for the baskets. Here in the west, we too have decided to simply stay home and stay safe. I am hoping one of my kids will drop off some turkey( because I am home alone) and perhaps a bit of gravy so I can have a sandwich later. When rubbing alcohol became one of the scarcer items during the early days of the pandemic I resorted to buying 90 vodka to make some wipes(because these also became scarce). I used a tiny bit of the vodka but the rest stay in my cupboard until this week and I decided to make limonchello . Guess what everyone is getting for Christmas!! Cheers
Mary W
I love limonchello - how do you make it? I had some in bread pudding (I think instead of milk) and it was beyond delicious.
Shannon Ross Watson
Check online, there are a variety of versions depending on how sweet you might like it. Most important is to have the 90 proof vodka, not the lighter stuff we mix in our drinks. Other than that, it is just lemon peel soaked in the vodka for a few weeks in cupboard, mixed with a simple syrup(sugar and water) put in storage again and then strained and bottled. I will keep mine in the freezer(it does not freeze) until Christmas.....ok I do admit I have had a couple of sips but of course that was for testing purposes only.
Theresa Clarkson-Farrell
I use grain alcohol - well above the 90 proof lol - can't imagine actually drinking as it literally smells and acts like rubbing alcohol - not what ye old moonshiners imagine it would be used for
Nan
I have two Meyer lemon trees and have attempted to make limoncello 2 or 3 times. It certainly does not turn out as good as the store bought. I’ve decided not to waste the lemons this year and will freeze most of the lemons in slices, wedges, zest and juice to be used in cooking and cocktails till the next harvest. Another great use for limoncello is to add it to fruit salad...so yummy! Happy thanksgiving to our Canadian neighbors!
Megan Campbell
Well, darn this was a truly lovely tablescape and event. The harvest baskets for everyone are so thoughtful - plus you get to get rid of more of the inevitable surfeit of vegetables! Hang in there.
Debbie
You are so very talented - in so many ways. Love the table setting and your fabulous sense of humor. Today you gave me eye candy and a good chuckle. Thanks!
Lynda
I'm having my bubble for dinner, plus a social orphan who got dumped over a week ago and who's family lives in another country. Lots of culinary spoiling will be happening. And quite a bit of showing off. But no garden flowers for the table. -3° heavy frost last night. Only what I brought indoors remains
Librarian Nancy
I love the decorated butter - I am SO stealing that idea! I used mismatched plates too, but mine don't coordinate as well as yours. They are just pretty plates that I found at the thrift store or yard sales. Instead of a whole turkey since I may be celebrating the holiday alone, I ordered a stuffed rolled boneless turkey breast, ready to throw in the oven. Thanksgiving in the U.S. doesn't happen until late November and I would really prefer we had our Thanksgiving when Canada has theirs. Love your blog! It always gives me a lift.
Karen
Thanks Nancy! Yes, I'm really happy we have it at the beginning of October when it's still kind of nice out and all the coloured leaves are on the trees. ~ karen!
Diana
You are SO TALENTED!! Here in New York my table is always my late Mother-in-Law's gold Carnival Ware on the table with the 'company' flatware, and appetizers and desserts go on another table in the push out. Same ol', same ol'. I was raised on the West Coast where Thanksgiving Dinner was all the family (including cousins) come early, scarf appetizers, then gorge on the meal. A couple of hours later pig out on desserts - an all day fun affaid! Here, relatives arrive at the last second possible, tell me how stupid I am for making relish trays and fancy cheese platters, eat dinner while whining about how it's too much food and isn't like THEY would make it (you never see any of them offering to host the dinner). Then they ALWAYS want the type of pie I DIDN'T make for dessert and leave right after eating what I did make. No socializing, no fun stories. It is just the two of us this year (YAY), so trying some of your ideas. How big an area of wheat did you grow to get enough flour for a loaf of bread? We have room in our garden so I would like to try that. Oh, and last year my husband decided the world was ending so I got a jump start of the 'end of civilization'. I noticed it involved ME doing all the work...
Karen
Hi Diana. You can do it with just a 4x4 plot because what you end up with is whole wheat flour once its ground and generally speaking I only use a bit of that in my bread. Maybe 1/2 cup. You can read everything about how to grow wheat and how much room you need here .. https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/im-growing-wheat-this-year-and-you-can-too/ ~ karen!
Diana
Thanks Karen! I tried a planting oats (got a 1/2 cup) and barley (got 2 tablespoons), but not wheat. I plan on going bigger this next year. I found your site several months ago and your posts always give me a lift! Thanks for all you do and share!!!
Colleen D Cailes
Hmmm, I bet you would like some of those mason jars now. I think I got the last case on southern Vancouver Island yesterday. Of course I thought I had enough to can some of my bumper crop apples but, NO! So I frantically searched online and found 2 cases of 1 quart wide mouth. I raced of to Canadian Tire and when I got there I got the last one. So today my day will be filled with apple peels and water bath canning. Happy Thanksgiving,
Diana
Are you making apple cider vinegar with the peels? I did that this year.
Karen
Oh! I've never canned apples. That sounds fun. I got a bunch of jars and lids this summer at Dollarama if you can believe it! ~ karen
CAROLYN m BUCK
I so love your sense of humor. Beautiful photos. Happy Thanksgiving 🍁🍽🦃
Tarso Infirma
My plan this year is to cook the dinner on Saturday and then deliver plates of "leftovers" to the older relatives on Sunday so they can enjoy the dinner, alone and safe.
Curbside leftovers !
Anne
Beautiful pictures Karen. This Thanksgiving it will just be hubby and me and a 9lb Turkey but that means lots of leftovers to make your Turkey Pot Pie. We did get to see our kids last month a (we hadn't seen them since March) as we realised there might be a shutdown of sorts coming and decided to visit them just in case as I needed to see them in person. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
Karen
Thanks Anne. You too! ~ karen
Jody
The decorated butter is THE BEST. You and Ernie, and all your family, have a wonderful and safe Th'giving.
Karen
Thanks Jody!! You too. ~ karen
danni
My son and daughter-in-law bought a house in the spring... a four hour flight away. He is devastated that we can't come out to be with him Thanksgiving.... (and that I won't be cooking the meal!)
There will be much facetiming I'm sure to discuss the stuffing prep, etc...
Good thing I'm not very sentimental, I'll be fine, but I know we are now entering a really tough stretch to be without family.....
Karen
The whole year has been surreal. ~ karen!
Ellen Janik
I used your pie crust recipe yesterday, best pie crust ever! Thanks for sharing it. Enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend!
Karen
That's great Ellen! If you haven't, and you get the chance please give it a starred review. It helps others know whether it's a good recipe or not. ~ karen!
Brenda Ann McMillen
I also used your pie crust recipe, best I've ever made. I do not use any other anymore. I am in Tn. we are not shutdown, so will be having just small family gathering for Thanksgiving. It is usually at least 30 people but this year only 8 of us. These are the ones, including myself that live close and have already had the corvid-19... This has been such a sad year but hoping for a better 2021.... I love your tablesettings, I have so many of the Blue Willow dishes, some match, some don't but I mix and match. I have enjoyed your post for so long... you brighten my day... Thanks so much...
Karen
Hi Brenda! Enjoy your upcoming Thanksgiving and I'm glad you tried and liked the crust recipe! ~ karen!