Thanksgiving at Grandma's House

Thanksgiving at Grandma’s House

                                               by Judy

The young girls, Callie Mae and Alexis, in our stories loved their grandmothers. I loved my grandmothers, too, and have wonderful memories of them. They were especially important to me on Thanksgiving because they were both very good cooks.

My grandmothers were farm women, and their meals usually were prepared without the benefit of store-bought food. An old hen from the chicken house took the place of a turkey for Grandma’s Thanksgiving dinner. It was baked and served with mashed potatoes and gravy. Somehow, Grandma managed to serve homemade chicken and noodles, too. Perhaps there were two chickens involved. I don’t know. I do know two servings of mashed potatoes were required—one with gravy and one with noodles.

Side dishes included stewed tomatoes, homemade applesauce, homegrown green beans and freshly baked rolls served with churned butter, apple butter, or wild plum jelly. Dessert was pumpkin pie made from a pumpkin from Grandpa’s patch and apple pie made from apples out of Grandpa’s orchard.

Thanksgiving morning was filled with smells of Grandma’s cooking and the wood burning stove which heated my grandparents’ home. I could hardly wait until Grandma removed her apron for that meant it was time to take our places at the table. After Grandpa prayed, we ate. My brothers, younger cousins, and I listened to the adults discuss their week’s activities, community events, and even state and world happenings. There was no mention of football.

It wasn’t until I was much older that I realized how little “material things” my grandparents had. Yet they were thankful for food canned to last through the winter and enough wood cut to keep them warm. They felt blessed to have each other and their two daughters. I’m grateful for the memories I have of Thanksgivings with them when I felt loved and thankful.

I hope someday my grandchildren will look back and remember Thanksgiving dinners with me. They may remember the turkey and dressing, green bean casserole, and pies. Probably they will remember football games on television and talk of bargains for the next day’s shopping. I hope, too, they will remember feelings of love and thankfulness.