Today was beautiful sun shinny light breezy warm day, at least warm for November… in Jackson Creek, North Carolina.
Les and I slept late…He was so very tired and has worked very hard all ready this week. Plus he feels bad has a cold….Course I slept late because he snored bad all night!
I put the turkey on about 11:00AM…
Put the Quilt table cloth on my table made by my Grandma just for me! and finished it with a pretty vase of fresh flowers! Then the memories started flowing…
Turkey is NOT a tradition with the Delk family…But it is what I love!
Grandma (passed away 2010) all ways fixed chicken pie, green beans, creamed potatoes, pies ;Pumpkin and Sweet Potato. There was all ways ham, and potato salad, deviled eggs, cakes of all types and Sweet tea!
The boys (“my Daddy” Alton (deceased 1990), his brothers Dempsey (deceased 2012), Henry and Richard) use to go deer hunting down on the reservation…(Uwharriee National Forrest) and were lucky to see a deer! Let alone kill one!
Uncle Mitchell and Aunt Iris ( both deceased) their two boys Van is in Texas now, and Randy (deceased 2011) use to come down and rabbit hunt with their dog.
Then my Great Aunt Lala, Great Aunt Blanche, Uncle Clayton (Grandma’s brother one of 13) and all of us would gather and have dinner (lunch) at Grandma’s.
Course my Grandpa has passed as well in 1994….
It all sounds so sad… I don’t mean for it too…This is not about what is gone…It is about what I am happy and thankful for and the tradition and love …People pass…Life is for the Living…And we must LIVE IT! To the fullest! Anything less is well wrong! All that has happened before just adds to the present!
We would sit down and have the wonderful food my Grandma had prepared along with what each one had brought.
There would be politics discussed (I remember spirited conversations by Great Aunt Virginia) , world events, things each person was up to, business, lots of picking at one another, the women would sit and talk as they all helped clean up after the meal. The children would go to the barn and play and everyone had a good time.
Memories were shared of those that had gone on in the evening as we sat by the wood stove, and many stayed with Grandma and Grandpa in the country for the night.Old Quilts were brought out made by my Great Grandma Delk so everyone would be warm. (I have 2 of hers!)
Not quite the Waltons but it was good for the most part.
This afternoon as I fixed dinner for Les and myself…I thought about all that Grandma had taught me…about cooking…I made her creamed corn that was my Great Grandma Nance’s recipe. I fixed My Great Grandma Delk’s green bean recipe, and made my Grandma Delk’s Creamed potatoes, and my Dressing ! I used a pretty bowl to put my cranberry sauce in and remembered My Great Aunt Grace and how she loved to do that!
And YES! GRANDMA I DID THE DISHES!
Now I can hear all the voices from so many years ago and it warms my heart. The Bible says we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witlessness. I believe that to be so…They seem especially close this evening.
Happy Thanksgiving!
From Maple Grove Farm to You and Yours!
