Thursday, December 2, 2010

Thankful for Thanksgiving


Last week we traveled out to Montclair, New Jersey, to celebrate Thanksgiving with my brother Eric and his family. My sister Cynthia and her partner Barb flew into New York and stayed overnight with us, and on Thursday we four headed out to New Jersey on the Decamp Bus #66. Darlings, the line for the bus was so long we almost didn't make it on. I held my breathe as we threaded on to board. A couple more people got on behind me and the door closed leaving a long line behind. Oh dear, you don't want to be stuck in the Port Authority on Thanksgiving Day. We were happy to stand for duration of the trip and get to Eric's house. My parents arrived soon after from Connecticut.

My sister-in-law Tracy has a great eye, and we share a love of antiques and things that go back in time. She was talking about how she practically furnished the home with purchases from house sales in Montclair. And Montclair has great house sales.
This metal light fixture in the living room is shaped like a tree branch:

They have a gas fireplace which looks amazingly real, as if the embers are glowing and fading.

Here is the dining, set for the big meal. That's a bird cage standing the corner – love it.

TD and I ran across the street to have a drink with our friends the Beans who also live in the neighborhood. When we got back, it was time for the main event: dinner!
In the kitchen Eric carved the turkey

and the candles on the table were lit.

We sat down to the beautifully set table. My niece Jane made the name cards which were personalized inside with photos for each person. The golden sequins glimmering on the table runner mimicked the little green leaves painted on the china set. Tracy told a funny story about sleeping in her car in a snow storm to get in to an early-morning house sale where she found this dreamy china set.

I meant to take a picture of the meal but I got distracted eating.

We have a lot of family birthdays during this corner of the year including me, TD, Eric and my mother. My grandmother's birthday was also in here, Sagittariuses all. A birthday cake was brought forth to celebrate.
TD, me, my father holding the cake, and Eric:

It was a cozy and relaxing holiday celebration. Many thanks to our host and hostess. And I hope you had a wonderful holiday too.

3 comments:

Ella said...

Have learned so much about Thanksgiving this year and your photos showed the warm familial feeling this tradition is about. Distracted eating... that is just an evidence that the food and company was very very good. Sometimes we have to forget the camera and just catch the moment as a memory inside us.

Bart Boehlert said...

Hi Ella, Yes there was a lot of passing food and eating! A delicious memory.
Best,
BB

P.Gaye Tapp at Little Augury said...

what great photographs and the hat is stylish most definitely.