When I was growing up in Wisconsin we had huge family get-togethers during the holidays. The furniture was pushed back to the walls and card tables out everywhere because the dining table (plus more card tables) were covered with food. I had 11 aunts and uncles and each had at least 5 kids and some of them had kids. After eating, the adults settled down to drink too much beer and play Euchre except the kids who ran amuck from too much sugar and the teens who hid in the bedrooms smoking who knows what playing records. The late 60s and early 70s. What a time that was :o)


>>>>>Thanksgiving is always easy, head cold or no. It is the greatest American holiday and my favorite. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
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>>>>My favorite, too, but not easy. I've been making Thanksgiving dinner every year for nearly 30 years. I always try to make a few changes to the menu, and try some new stuff.
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>>>>I'll be headed to the kitchen very soon to start baking (and to make cranberry sauce). Tomorrow is for the main meal, mostly--stuffing, then turkey, then sweet potato casserole (trying a new recipe), then any other prep. If all goes well, I'll have 2 or 3 hours to relax mid-day before people start to arrive.
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>>>My biggest regret about divorce is that we are no longer Thanksgiving hosts. When Tricia and I were married we hosted the whole gang every year. Everyone else had local inlaws and did the Thanksgiving two step. My closest relatives live 1000 miles away. The main event was at our house, with waves of smart aleck remarks about coming into the city. Tricia's family consists entirely of crazed Lithuanians who make friends wherever they go and invite them to come over for dinner. Salud. We set the cobbled-together tables for 20 and sometimes had to run up and down the street looking for spare chairs or tables. I do miss that.
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>>We have 20-30 people several times every year and then cook for them all. It is always hard work, esp. in the kitchen, but also always a great time together. The kitchen is the most popular place. People want to help the cooks and wash the dishes while they continue to chat and discuss politics. And other times we go to others. Our houses and gardens are small compared to those in the U.S., but the small distances and the cosiness are real advantages. I can imagine that you miss that.
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>It was actually pretty easy hosting the group at Thanksgiving because everyone pitched in. My job was basically to clean up the house and grill a turkey.
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>The kitchen was always the congregating place for us, too. That must be universal.