| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| LouisvilleMom |
Posted - Nov 26 2008 : 07:53:38 AM
So our family lives 700+ miles away and we never see them on Thanksgiving but we have always had wonderful friends who basically opened their home to us and tons of other people. For the past six years that we have lived in KY we have never had to be alone----which is awful to me at the holidays. I grew up with lots of family and chaos...wonderful. Our friends moved to Boise a couple months ago and for the first time we are solo. I pouted for awhile and then decided to start a new family tradition. I would let each child choose one food that they wanted for Thanksgiving. We ended up with baby back ribs, ham, cheese pizza, chicken nuggets, donuts, green bean casserole and a few other items. So great we are going to have a great holiday. Two days ago our over of only 5 years died. We have not been able to fix it. To just top it off our grill also decided to give up the ghost. We have no way to cook. Is the universe working against me? I have tried to be positive but I think I have run out of positive thinking. Most of our friends are going out of state or have family here. This just may not be a salvageable holiday.
I am going to see if my neighbor who is leaving town will let us use her over. 
I am just going to spend an hour feeling sorry for myself and then hopefully I will get over it.
Thanks for listening ladies. Boy I have missed this site.
SAHM mom to four great boys.
http://ksfarnsworth.blogspot.com/ |
| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| happymama58 |
Posted - Dec 01 2008 : 3:42:00 PM
Jessie, after reading what has happened when you have Thanksgiving at your mom's vs what didn't happen when it was at your house, I think somebody is trying to tell you something -- and I bet your mom would agree with me! 
Seriously, though, your poor mom -- dealing with something every year!
Some people search for happiness; others create it.
Please email me for all your BeautiControl needs! |
| JessieMae |
Posted - Dec 01 2008 : 11:20:49 AM
Kathryn,
Just so you keep things in perspective:
Last year: My mom's neighborhood lost power due to a blown transformer. We were able to run the roaster to cook the turkey and the fridge on the generator, but nothing else. The rest we cooked in chafing dishes and her neighbor's canning stove (which, fortunately, is gas).
2006: Thanksgiving was at my house and was trouble-free.
2005: My mother's brand-new dishwasher backed up, flooding the kitchen floor with hot, dirty, soapy water.
2004: The heating element in the oven shattered, breaking the oven and sending bits of hot metal into all the dishes.
And this year, the fridge broke. We had to squirrel the leftovers away in two little "dorm" fridges my sister and I had in college and two big ice chests.
My mom SWEARS this is the last year she's doing Thanksgiving at her house! |
| happymama58 |
Posted - Nov 30 2008 : 12:46:22 PM
I didn't post this before because it didn't sound like it was the time, but you said in your first post that in the past, while living away from family, some "wonderful friends" who opened their home to you and other people. Maybe next year, you could become one of those "wonderful friends" by opening your home to those people who used to be with you on Thanksgiving who are still in the area or to people you meet and feel safe with. Maybe a couple from your dh's job or from your church?
The first Thanksgiving after dh & I were married, he was in the Air Force, in pilot training in a very small Texas town. Only a few of the guys in his flight (class) of over 50 were married, and some were from foreign countries. The "native" wives divided up the guys in the flight and each had a group at their own home. We had 16 young men at our house and I was newly-pregnant, had never baked a turkey or fixed a dinner for more than 4 people! It was a day I'll never forget -- absolutely fabulous in every way -- fellowship, laughter, and so much thankfulness to be together. We still get cards the week before Thanksgiving and 2 phone calls every Thanksgiving Day, from some of the guys who were there that check in every year.
My point in sharing is to let you know you don't have to know what you're doing or have matching plates or anything. You know from your own experience what's important. Maybe your family can provide for others what your "wonderful" friends provided for you until this year.
Some people search for happiness; others create it.
Please email me for all your BeautiControl needs! |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Nov 30 2008 : 12:07:15 PM
Kathryn, how was your Thanksgiving? Tell us all about it. I'm anxious to hear. I do hope ya'll had a great day.
Kris |
| Amie C. |
Posted - Nov 26 2008 : 12:49:39 PM
Good luck, Kathryn! I'm sure you and your family can make a fun day of it in spite of everything. |
| Contrary Wife |
Posted - Nov 26 2008 : 11:40:20 AM
Kathryn, I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers. I have a feeling that you and yours will come through this Thanksgiving with flying colors and in years to come will remember it fondly, as the year you plowed through, ;^)Huggs to you and yours.
Teresa Sue
Farmgirl Sister #316
MJ's Heirloom Mavens Badgebadger
MJ's Heirloom Mavens Bookclub Coordinator
"Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly." The Dalai Lama |
| LivingWell4You |
Posted - Nov 26 2008 : 09:02:47 AM
Suzan, I was thinking the same thing!
Kathryn, whatever happens - and I'll be praying for the best - it will be a wonderful memory to share when the kids are older. I just have the feeling that you will pull this off in true farmgirl fashion, even if it's popcorn and toast! Hoping the warmth of the farmgirls' love cheers your spirits.
God bless -
Karen ~ Chickherder & Farmgirl Sister #311 |
| Suzan |
Posted - Nov 26 2008 : 08:51:50 AM
Kathryn, Just remember that being with your kids will be family enough, and make new traditions! Remember the chinese meal for Christmas dinner in the Christmas Story.... |
| Jami |
Posted - Nov 26 2008 : 08:28:36 AM
Kathryn - dang the luck huh? Well, first thing I thought of was MJ's outdoor fire with her dutch oven/cast iron stuff featured in her magazine a couple of issues back. You could make a real adventure out of it if the borrowed oven doesn't work out.
The other thought that popped into my head--remember the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving? Snoopy and that little bird made popcorn and toast! 
I'm always thinking of how to "fix" something to make it work...those are glass half-full ideas of mine. Hugs to you girl. Keep your chin up and hunker down and plow through.
Jami in WA
Farmgirl Sister #266
http://woolyinwashington.wordpress.com/
http://farmhouseflair.etsy.com |
| Alee |
Posted - Nov 26 2008 : 08:18:55 AM
Hi Kathryn-
I can certainly sympathize! We used to live over 700 miles from our family base too. It is incredibly hard during the holidays. I found that we coped great during most of the rest of the year, but once the Holidays started rolling around it was really hard. And I can imagine that without an oven, it is even harder. *hugs* Hopefully you can find someway to enjoy the holiday even with all the stumbling blocks thrown in your path. *hugs*
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
Please come visit Nora and me on our blog: www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Nov 26 2008 : 07:59:09 AM
I am a newbie, but boy howdy do I hear your frustration (and disappointment!) I am sooo sorry this has happened to you and your family. I have to say, growing up, it was just "us" my mom, dad and I, and we lived too far from anyone to go "home" for the holidays (late 70's, gas crisis, etc.) but we always managed to have a wonderful holiday--even if it was just us! We made reservations at a nice restaurant (usually a hotel, because that's what was open then) but over the years, it has been so many other diverse and beautiful establishments (mostly country inns) and I've never been sorry. When in doubt, go out! The Beaumont Inn in Harrodsburg, Kentucky serves a BEAUTIFUL Thanksgiving, just an fyi :)
My father is passed on now, and I am married and we spend time with all 3 of his families for the holiday, which can get a bit overwhelming. Sometimes, I still think, "why don't we just go out?" |
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