Something weird and new (part one) :: Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a pretty nice holiday – why didn’t anybody tell me? Maybe they did and I was too busy thinking “Gah! Turkey day! I can’t possibly cook a turkey… I am too terrified to even think about it!”… but when I decided once and for all that turkey was not going to be on the menu this year, mainly due to aforementioned fear but also due to our oven deciding that it has a habit of turning itself off at any unexpected time, it all started looking rosy. My dad fixed the oven on Sunday morning so we were able to have roast veg and Jamie’s awesome and easy bbq chicken, but we also had bbq corn and fresh and crispy salads and delicious pumpkin pie. I think Thanksgiving is almost as good as Christmas – a little less magic but there is also a lot less consumerism and crazy stress. Over the weekend there was popcorn and boardgames, crackling fires, and good coffee (but unfortunately terrible terrible apple cider — what I did wrong, I am not sure, but it was undrinkable). Everyone had a go at the enormous Edward Gorey jigsaw puzzle
I love the work of Blanca Gómez, an illustrator and designer living and working in Madrid. Her work is remeniscent of mid century illustrators but with a sparkly modern take. Makes me want to break out the gocco, and the photoshop textures.
This lovely, moving (moving) post captures the essence of what I love about Soulemama. Perfect. I am having new-home envy just glancing at her site.
Just came across this Flickr set via Ravelry last night – LCW Wool Project — makes me want to spin (and dye roving with kids + food colouring). What a great project.
One of my TV favourites is back; Bored to Death – Jonathan Ames, the creator and writer has episode footnotes for added enjoyment.
I went from an uneventful Canadian Thanksgivings to all out turkey and mayhem in the USA! Seen nothing like it! But 20 odd years later, it is still a little wierd…
So glad you enjoyed your first Canadian Thanksgiving. Sounds like it was a lovely long weekend.
That looks like a fabulous jigsaw, I can never seem to find ones that I like, perhaps I am looking in all the wrong places. Glad to hear that you are settling in waaaay over there on the other side of the world. Say hi to your mum and dad from me 🙂 xx
Hah, I just noticed two Tara comments in a row, it’s a Tarafest 🙂
looks like a fab puzzle. We have an off season christmas with friends I made when I had my first baby. Funnily I, the vegetarian am the only one who doesn’t have the same turkey thing as you – so I cook it each year!
That is the coolest sugar bowl! May I ask where you got it?
Yes! It came from Anthropologie in Palo Alto earlier this year. Ain’t it cute?
nice to hear about your 1st thanksgiving & must say how much I always enjoy your extra things!Your house is looking very much like a home 🙂
Hey, that red starry rug is pretty special. Is that a Melbourne number or did you get it over there? Hard to find nice ones around!
Hi Alice — the rug is a Melbourne one, from local designer Nicola Cerini — you can find them herehttp://www.nicolacerini.com/rugs
So glad you had a fantastic weekend :)I used to be terrified of making turkeys, mainly because my mom was Queen of Burnt-Food, so I assumed that I would ascend the thrown. Not at all. My turkeys are alwaysALWAYSheralded. It’s so unbelievably simple. And because you’re a newbie, if you are interested, I will offer you my secret recipe. Once I went without it, and royal yuckiness. I could barely finish it. But I promise you, it is mouth-watering!
Cheers!!
Yay! Canadian Thanksgiving is definitely one of my favourite holidays, it is just so perfect. The leaves are turning, the pumpkins are ripe, the harvest is bountiful – I can’t imagine celebrating it at any other time of year (Unlike those weird-o Americans – ha, ha).But turkeys aren’t that bad, really! I made one all by myself last year, and I used Nigella’s amazing brining recipe (you can find if on the food network website here: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/nigella-lawson/spiced-and-super-juicy-roast-turkey-recipe/index.html – but I think it’s also in her Christmas cookbook – which I highly recommend). I think I used a cheap Ikea garbage bucket to brine it in, which was pretty easy, and I used whatever spices I had around.
A roasting turkey in the oven brings a smell to the house that is unmistakeably of the holidays. I couldn’t imagine Thanksgiving (or Christmas) without it. I even have been known to ask for a roast turkey for my birthday in February.
It is so, so worth trying, not near as difficult as it sounds (so long as you give yourself lots of time, and have a meat thermometer around) and once you’re done, and that golden beast is out of the oven you feel incredibly accomplished and proud.
Thanks for the Nicola Cerini tip. I knew that pattern looked familiar. Have a lovely day.x
Happy belated Thanksgiving 🙂 I agree that it is just about as good as Christmas and I absolutely love that there is no need for excessive gifts *grin*. Sounds like you all had a wonderful time! LOVE the yard dying project you linked to. I’ve actually been thinking of spinning lately as the kids and I had my lazy kate out the other day to use some brown yarn I had spun a while back and it is such a relaxing hobby that I think I may have to spend a little time doing it again, maybe teach the children how to 🙂 Have a fabulous weekend!
Happy Thanksgiving!I had to leave a comment instead of just lurking because I LOVE the Edward Gorey puzzle! I’m so glad you have a link, because I will be getting one of those for sure for our next holiday get-together.
lol. I totally just ordered the sugar bowl, it’s perfect. thank you. 🙂
Wow. I’ve been reading Loobylu since Amelia was born, when I was reading it in the library at my high school instead of working on papers. I can’t believe it’s been eight years! She’s all grown up, I’ve got three books out in the world, and I’m still reading your blog! I love it. 🙂