Still full … of gratitude

I always love Thanksgiving leftovers – turkey sandwiches, dressing with gravy, and dabs of cranberry relish. But what I love best are the long-lasting feelings of warmth and comfort. I am still savoring the conversations of the day (along with my sandwich).

Our youngest son and his wife came up to our house for the feast. Our oldest son reported that he had been roller skating with his grandson and then celebrated the day with his cousin Kenneth’s family in Santa Rosa.

It was a good thing Davis arrived at our place early Thursday because extra help was needed in the kitchen. On Wednesday, Robert had rescued our old cat, Aucuba, from an imminent fall off the back porch. He grabbed her quickly and pulled her back to safety at the last moment but his fast action apparently cracked his rib on the left side. This hampered Robert’s Thanksgiving preparations. Luckily, Davis enjoys cooking so the two men worked as a team.

Toni brought several yards of flannel to rotary cut into squares for the Linus Project quilts she is making. I was at the sewing machine finishing hemming the napkins so my large cutting board was free for her use.

Another thing I love about Thanksgiving is using family heirlooms on the table. The charm of Robert’s grandmother’s maroon Bauer bowl filled to the brim, and the blue Fiesta Ware gravy pitcher bring back memories. My favorite plates are Syracuse China “Nature Study Poppies.” We have a set of eight which my mother must have received as a wedding present in the early 1930s.

This plate is hand-painted by Harry Aitken -- Nature Study Poppies, number "5" of 40.

Here is serendipity. I bought some quilting fabric several years ago called “tres joli” from the Alexander Henry Fabrics Collection. The fabric looks as if it was inspired by the old Syracuse China Poppy plates. I had some gold striped canvas hidden away under our bed. The gold of the canvas matched the gold color in the fabric. So, I whipped up some napkins to decorate the Thanksgiving table this year.