A Scottish Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. The day after Thanksgiving is my favorite day of the year.

We had two options:

1. forgoing this lovely tradition
2. share it with our new friends.

Option 2 for the win!

A children’s Thanksgiving history book was ordered, as no one really understood the origins and meaning of Thanksgiving. Some thought it was just a Christmas dinner served early.

Preparing for Thanksgiving in a foreign country is a bit tricky. We started early with our list at Costco in Aberdeen. (Costco Aberdeen is exactly like all American Costco’s, laid out the same and the hot dogs are delicious. They do call the carts ‘trolleys’ and you can buy haggis, so there are a few differences).

Costco shopping:

• pecans for the pie
• sweet potatoes
• sparkling non-alcoholic juice bottled like champagne for the loons/boys (which was a huge hit as they delightfully toasted each other and saying things like “look what we get to drink)

Grocery store shopping:

• turkey
• marshmallows for the sweet potatoes, which were pink and white, sunk and melted
• cranberry sauce came in jars
• squirty cream (whipped cream)
• fresh green beans as they do not come any other way

Procured online. Amazon for the win:

• Pumpkin pie spice
• Pumpkin puree for pie
• Stuffing mix
• Fried onions for green bean casserole
• Cream of mushroom soup for green bean casserole

Locally sourced:

• Tatties (potatoes) given to us by a friend from his field.
• Pickled figs made by me. Surprisingly a big hit.

Cooked in our new ovens. We’re still getting use to them, but they are brilliant for cooking Thanksgiving with grateful thanks to my B.I.L. who is in the business.

My sewing room could hold us all, as long as we sat down in order, as there was only one way in and out. My heart was full as the youngest loon saw the table and expressed complete delight!

Figuring out that the secretary in the hall would work as a buffet was a logistical hit!

The great thing about a Scottish Thanksgiving is that the stores were never crowded with last minute shoppers who had forgotten to buy unbaked baguettes. Baked baguettes and copious amounts of butter were the loons favorite food.

Hosting Thanksgiving is easier when you’re retired.

Adjusting to the fact that no one else knows it is a holiday is a work in progress.

Having a houseful of friends who were ALL very excited about Thanksgiving was a blessing beyond anything I could have imagined.

Thanksgiving, it never is about the turkey.

…clearly we are so very, very blessed.