I grew up on a farm and while I haven’t lived on a farm for more than fifty five years, I can’t help but follow what is going on with the lives of those who are still engaged in agricultural work here in the Finger Lakes. I have a keen eye for following what is being planted and what is being harvested in the fields in the Finger Lakes and from my personal experience, I know that there is no greater feeling of satisfaction than knowing that your silo is full of grass or chopped corn and that your barn is full of hay for the animals to eat over the winter time.
Most of the corn and soy beans have now been harvested and the fields are being put to rest. Over and over in my mind, I hear the hymn that we would sing: “Come Ye Thankful People Come”. Thanksgiving was one of the few days that my father would ever take off from working on his farm. We would enjoy the traditional Thanksgiving feast with my Uncle, Aunt, and my cousin Lee, and then after dinner while the women washed up the dishes, we would go hunting for rabbits.
There seems to be a ground swell of concern that perhaps we aren’t observing Thanksgiving Day as it should be observed and that we are turning it into just another shopping day without spending time with our families. And I think that folks are just now realizing what they have been missing! I do feel sorry for those who can’t be with their families this Thanksgiving or have to work in our crazy world of seven days per week of retail sales. But I have to remind myself that my father and mother took very little time off for themselves, but rather worked on Thanksgiving Day taking care of the chickens, the cows, and the dog and the cats, just like any other day of the year. However, they did have just enough time to sit down around the big old kitchen table and share the fruits of their labors with family and friends.
Jeanette and I will be traveling to Pennsylvania to share Thanksgiving Day with Jeanette’s daughter Susan, and her son Robert and his family. It will be a special year for us. We do hope that you will find just enough time in your busy lives to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends. And while most of you don’t have a silo or a barn to worry about, we do hope that your refrigerator is filled to overflowing for Thanksgiving.
Jim, we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our friends and family for thanksgiving! I have the menu planned with consideration for everyone’s favorite dish . With thanksgiving so late this year, I am tempted to start decorating for Christmas. I have decided to only put up the tree in our entry which holds all the ornaments that are very special to me. The rest of our home will remain decorated for thanksgiving. Jeff spent the day getting the propane tanks filled and getting ready for our annual turkey fry. Right now there is a fire in our fireplace, a chicken pot pie in the oven, and we have opened a bottle of Bully Hill Chardonnay while we watch Penn State play Nebraska on the TV. Colin is at the game with some friends. Have a safe trip . Looking forward to your visit.
Susan,
I don’t want you and Jeff to be burned out before Thanksgiving! I managed to take a few pictures this morning before the cold winds, 26 degree temperatures, and freezing road ways arrived in the Finger Lakes.
I am making the best of staying at home on Saturday night with a glass of Merlot from the Belhurst Castle.
Jim, yes those were great Thanksgiving days when we all met at the farm, had a wonderful feast prepared mostly by your Mother, and then went looking for rabbits. Did we ever get any? It didn’t matter because we were together and celebrating the holiday. This year we meet Lisa and all the family at Lisa’s Houston home. Wendy will fly in from Chicago and be there too. We will be thinking about you and yours. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Cousin Lee
Lee, good to hear from you. Sixteen degrees this morning with snow on the ground and icy conditions. There were very few rabbits around the farm at that time because no one left the property lines grow up with cover. I do remember on two separate occasions that my father actually took some game; he shot a rabbit near Geyer’s Chapel Church and then on another occasion, a pheasant on Mrs. Yates farm. Please say hello to Mayetta, Lisa, and Wendy for us. I may travel out to Ohio after Thanksgiving if the weather permits.