Discovering Thanksgiving: Family Traditions, Farmhouse Transformations, and Unforgettable Holiday Recipes

Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude, feasting, and, for many, a journey into the unique tapestry of family traditions. Every household celebrates this cherished holiday in its own distinct way, creating a mosaic of customs that can be both familiar and wonderfully surprising. This episode of our podcast delves into those memorable “first times” celebrating Thanksgiving with in-laws, sharing insights into what felt perfectly normal to one of us, yet delightfully unexpected to the other. We recount the delightful (and sometimes humorous) “surprises” we encountered, offering a peek into the rich diversity of holiday celebrations.

Beyond the festive table, we’re also thrilled to bring you some long-awaited farmhouse and garden updates! Our renovation journey continues to unfold, revealing both progress and unexpected challenges. And of course, no Thanksgiving discussion would be complete without food. In our culinary segment, we’re highlighting some of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes that stray deliciously from the usual menu, offering fresh ideas to invigorate your holiday feast. Finally, as always, we’ll share our latest cool discoveries – practical gadgets and tools that have genuinely enhanced our daily lives.

This episode is packed with stories, tips, and inspiration for your home and holiday season. You can easily download it from your favorite podcast platforms, ensuring you don’t miss a moment of our discussions. Find us on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and TuneIn Radio. For those who prefer immediate listening, simply use the player embedded below right here on your computer!

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A Bittersweet Farewell: Remembering Samson

We began this episode with a heartfelt update about our beloved dog, Samson. Many of you will remember him from episode 62, where we candidly shared our journey of caring for an aging dog, including our efforts to improve his health through a real-food diet. We spoke about the challenges and joys of loving an elderly pet, and the profound bond we shared.

It is with immense sadness that we share the news of Samson’s passing. Despite our best efforts and the improved diet, we discovered a rapidly growing tumor under his chin. This condition gradually led to a significant decline in his health; he struggled to eat, lost weight rapidly, and became progressively weaker. It was an incredibly difficult decision, but after consulting with our veterinarian and seeing his continued suffering, we made the painful choice to say goodbye. On a beautiful, yet profoundly sad, fall day, we laid him to rest near our cherry tree. Brian lovingly crafted the simple marker you see above – a piece of wood adorned with white spray paint, which, perhaps due to the lighting, appears to glow in the photograph, a fitting tribute to his luminous spirit.

Many of our newsletter subscribers and blog readers have already been updated on this sad news. However, for those who primarily follow us through the podcast, we wanted to ensure everyone was informed, especially given our recent discussions about him. Samson was an integral part of our family, and his absence leaves a profound void. His gentle nature, unwavering loyalty, and playful spirit enriched our lives in countless ways.

In case you missed them, you can find my full tribute to our sweet Samson here, where I share more memories and photos of our cherished companion. He was also lovingly mentioned in this Good Things List, because truly, he was a major source of good and joy for our entire family. We are incredibly grateful for the time we had with him and for the outpouring of support from our community during this difficult time.

Thanksgiving Surprises: Embracing New Family Traditions

The beauty of Thanksgiving often lies in its traditions, and for couples, merging two sets of family customs can be an adventure filled with heartwarming “surprises.” Our episode focused on sharing personal anecdotes about these delightful discoveries – from unexpected side dishes that became new favorites to unique ways of carving the turkey or even different timings for the main meal. It’s a journey of blending, learning, and ultimately, creating new shared memories that strengthen family bonds.

While our discussion revisited some cherished memories, we also wanted to equip you with practical resources for crafting your own unforgettable family traditions this Thanksgiving. Whether you’re a seasoned host or navigating your first holiday dinner, these links offer invaluable support:

• Planning a feast can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Our 23 Last Minute Thanksgiving Ideas: Things To Do, To Eat, & To Look At provides quick solutions and creative inspiration for everything from decorations to dessert, ensuring your celebration is seamless and joyful, even if time is short.
• To help keep you organized and stress-free, our Thanksgiving Week Checklist Printable & Time Management Tips is a game-changer. It offers actionable steps to manage your time effectively during the busiest week of the year. While the specific printable mentioned is now integrated into our comprehensive season-long Holiday Planner, the article itself is still packed with excellent advice on how to approach your holiday preparations efficiently.
• Setting a beautiful table enhances the festive atmosphere and makes the meal feel even more special. Discover inspiration for creating stunning dining environments with our collection of Beautiful & Unique Thanksgiving Tablescapes. These ideas range from rustic charm to elegant sophistication, helping you design a setting that perfectly reflects your style and welcomes your guests with warmth.

Farmhouse Updates: Unveiling the Kitchen Transformation

Our farmhouse renovation journey continues to be an adventure of discovery and perseverance! We’ve officially kicked off the kitchen demolition, a crucial first step toward realizing our vision for a more open and functional space. This initial phase is essential for preparing the area for engineering assessments needed to install the new beam that will replace the load-bearing wall you see above. Removing this wall is a major undertaking, but it will dramatically transform the flow and light in our kitchen.

As we carefully dismantled the wallboard, we uncovered a delightful surprise: glimpses of the original beadboard ceiling! This discovery brought a wave of excitement, as it’s the first instance of finding original wood in the house that appears to be genuinely usable. It’s moments like these that truly connect us to the history of our home and fuel our passion for its restoration.

However, the demo process has also revealed some rather unsettling “fun facts” (said with a heavy dose of irony) about the original construction quality of this old farmhouse. We’ve found posts that simply end in the middle of walls, doors and windows completely lacking proper headers, and, most astonishingly, the main “beam” in what was supposedly a load-bearing wall is merely a 1×6 inch piece of lumber. I assure you, I kid you not – it’s barely an inch thick! It almost looks like a structural joke. This discovery certainly debunks the romantic notion that “they don’t make them like they used to,” at least in our particular case, ha! For anyone following our renovation closely and wondering when we’ll be moving into the finished space, these kinds of discoveries suggest it might indeed be “a while longer.”

On a more positive note, we’ve successfully completed the insulation installation for the walls, a significant milestone that paves the way for the next phase. With the insulation in place, we can soon begin installing the new wallboard and the beautiful wood finishes we’ve carefully selected, bringing us closer to a fully functional and aesthetically pleasing kitchen.

A quick confession regarding our outdoor projects: we haven’t made as much progress on our fall yard to-do list as we had initially hoped. During the show, I mentioned the mound and brick wall we had completed, completely forgetting that we had already discussed this in a previous update. So, rest assured, you’re not crazy, and no, we don’t have two mounds and brick walls, lol! (For those interested, you can see the impressive before and after photos of the mound in this Good Things List.) The good news is that since recording this episode, we’ve managed to tackle even more projects in the yard. So, stay tuned for a more comprehensive and genuinely fresh update on our garden progress very soon!

What’s Cooking: Thanksgiving Food Options Beyond the Traditional

Thanksgiving dinner is the culinary highlight of the fall season, and while traditional dishes hold a special place in our hearts, sometimes it’s fun to introduce something new and exciting to the menu. If you’re curious about our all-time favorite traditional Thanksgiving foods, along with links to those tried-and-true recipes, you can revisit this previous podcast episode. Alternatively, for a comprehensive collection of all things Thanksgiving, from decor to crafts to a wide array of recipes, simply head over to our dedicated Thanksgiving page on the blog.

For those looking to expand their holiday culinary horizons, we’ve curated a list of delicious dishes that, while perhaps not strictly traditional, would make fantastic and memorable additions to your Thanksgiving spread. These recipes offer unique flavor profiles and preparation methods that can both simplify your cooking and delight your guests:

• Slow Cooker Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes: Free up precious oven space with this incredibly convenient and utterly delicious side. Layers of tender potatoes bathed in a rich, cheesy garlic sauce, slow-cooked to perfection, making it an ideal, hands-off dish for a busy Thanksgiving kitchen.
• Grandma’s Baked Tasty Rice: This comforting and savory rice dish offers a wonderful alternative or complement to traditional stuffing. It’s hearty, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying, bringing a touch of home-cooked warmth to your table.
• Easy Baked Potato Fans (Hasselback Potatoes): Elevate the humble potato into an elegant and visually stunning side dish. These “fanned” potatoes, also known as Hasselback potatoes, are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, providing a delightful textural contrast that guests will adore.
• Spicy Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower: For a vibrant and healthy addition, this roasted cauliflower brings a delightful kick and a beautiful golden hue to your plate. The turmeric adds an earthy warmth, while a hint of spice provides an unexpected, palate-pleasing twist.
• Lemon Garlic Baked Carrots: Forget plain steamed carrots! These baked grated carrots are infused with bright lemon and savory garlic, transforming a simple vegetable into an incredibly flavorful and surprisingly addictive side dish. The unique preparation brings out their natural sweetness beautifully.
• Kale Cranberry Salad with Feta & Pecans: Lighten up your meal with this refreshing and colorful salad. The hearty kale, sweet cranberries, tangy feta, and crunchy pecans create a harmonious blend of textures and flavors, offering a wonderful counterpoint to richer holiday fare.

This is Really Cool! Our Latest Discoveries

In every episode, we love to share those small, yet significant, finds that genuinely improve our daily lives or bring us unexpected joy. Here are our latest “really cool” discoveries:

Brian’s Pick: The Pebble Smartwatch

Brian’s latest cool find is the Pebble Smartwatch. While Pebble as a company may no longer be active, its innovative spirit lives on through a dedicated and passionate community. This smartwatch offers an incredibly affordable option for those seeking smart functionality without the hefty price tag of newer models. What makes it truly remarkable is its robust user community; a group committed to keeping the Pebble updated and functional, developing new apps, and extending its capabilities far beyond its original lifespan. It’s a testament to good design and the power of community, offering features like notifications, basic fitness tracking, and a surprisingly long battery life, all wrapped in a discreet and practical package. It’s a fantastic example of getting exceptional value and continued support from a beloved tech item.

Jami’s Pick: Sloggers Rain/Garden Boots

Jami’s go-to new favorite is a pair of Sloggers Rain/Garden Boots, specifically the shorter version. As someone who spends considerable time in the garden, practical and comfortable footwear is paramount. These boots have been an absolute game-changer. The shorter design provides significantly more flexibility, allowing for easy bending, kneeling, and moving around during various garden chores without the bulkiness of taller rain boots. Beyond their practical design, they are genuinely super comfortable, making long hours spent weeding, planting, or watering a much more pleasant experience. They are also incredibly easy to clean, simply hosing off any mud or dirt. For any fellow gardeners or outdoor enthusiasts, these Sloggers are a highly recommended investment for comfort and utility.

Thanks for listening! We truly appreciate you joining us on this journey. If you enjoyed this podcast episode, you can immensely help us grow and reach more listeners by sharing it with your friends and family. A simple recommendation can go a long way! Additionally, subscribing on iTunes (or your preferred podcast platform) and leaving us a kind review are fantastic ways to support the show – these actions significantly boost our visibility and help others discover our content.

We love hearing from you! If you have a question you’d like us to answer on the air, or an idea for a future podcast topic, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can call us at (541) 658-0215 to leave a voicemail, and we’ll be thrilled to discuss your input in an upcoming episode!

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