Thanksgiving in the North Carolina Woods
We literally went over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house. ☺️
The week leading up to Thanksgiving is one of my favorites of the year. My birthday always falls during this week, and sometimes it's even on Thanksgiving - fine by me! Growing up in northern New Jersey only 30 miles from Manhattan, it's like we could feel the energy of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade pounding and pulsing all the way out to the suburbs. I love the smell of hot coffee brewing on Thanksgiving morning, the flurry of excitement in a kitchen as people attempt to get the turkey in the oven on time, the mismatched spoons and casserole dishes and potholders from the variety of things that guests bring to contribute to the meal.
For the last 6 years, we’ve spent Thanksgiving in the Raleigh, NC area with Steven’s dad’s side of the family, and it’s been such a wonderful tradition. The day always begins with Steven’s homemade ooey gooey cinnamon rolls coming out of the oven. These are the exact cinnamon rolls that we sell at The Kindred Farm Store, but they were a family tradition long before that. Check this Reel of Thanksgiving morning cinnamon rolls being made!
One of the best things about the trip is taking lots of walks to explore the ancient woods in the Wake Forest area where we stay at Steven’s uncle and aunt’s home nestled in the trees. Steven’s sister and her family were able to join us this year from Queens, NY, and there was lots of little cousin time! We all fell 💯 in love with their beagle/hound dog, Louie.
We’re always up for a ride through forest trails on Uncle Tommy’s Kubota! We also took a walk in the woods to see the oh-so-appropriately named “Big Tree,” a 250-year-old majestic White Oak. The best part was setting back for home when dusk started to settle - I’ve never walked through the woods that late in the day, when it was getting dark. We had Louie and our phone flashlights, but it still felt slightly creepy in a fun way - it was on the verge of risky as the dark descended and we were still heading for the porch light at Uncle Tommy’s house - a bit of a risky adventure that we all experienced together.
(Shared adventures win again! For more about why this matters, see the chapter “Ice Cream on the Roof” in The Kindred Life book. ☺️)
The day after Thanksgiving, we went to visit with Gran, Steven’s grandmother (his dad’s mom) at her beloved home where her kids grew up. Little did Gran know we would be seeing her again the next day for her 100th birthday surprise!
The next day was the big party, organized by her children and other family members, and it was a seamless success! Even the weather was full of stunning sunshine, and a family friend let us use his gorgeous event barn just down the road from Gran’s house. So grateful. Check this Reel for more photos and a video of Gran arriving at her surprise party. 🥲
Isn’t this cake just stunning? You know I love the sunflowers! 🌻
Just look at Gran in all her beautiful glory! This woman is a wonder! She was so surprised by the 70 guests of family and friends who came to celebrate her.
Priceless photos of Gran with some of her great-grandchildren - here are our girls with Steven’s sister’s children who live in Queens, NY.
And a family photo with Gran and the descendants who come from her son, Ted. ☺️
All of these birthday party photos are by Meredith Cross Photography.
Have you listened to The Kindred Life Podcast yet? Listen to Episode 3: Taste and See, where I share some Thanksgiving memories and why the table matters. The thoughts and prompts in this episode will inspire you through the whole holiday season.
