So, it wouldn’t be a 10 on the 10th if I didn’t talk about the weather, right? Let’s just say it’s been quite nice for November. We did have snow flurries on Halloween, but that isn’t unusual. All of the annuals are gone except for the ferns. I think I’m going to keep them and use them to cover up some plants that need just a bit of insulation. Our burning bushes are in full flame, but all of the trees are now bare of leaves.
November is not one of my favorite months…apologies to those of you with November birthdays. And, in fact, Thanksgiving isn’t even one of my favorite holidays so this is going to be difficult! But, regardless of that, I do hope you’ll play along with this month’s 10 on the 10th! Please either link up your post (and any others you’d like), comment, or email me your answers.
Without further ado…
- Top on my list is the gathering of family. Since we’ve moved south, albeit only 2.5 hours south, we don’t have Thanksgiving with my extended family. Nigel’s family is scattered to the winds, too. So, we are only ten. But, they are my most important ten, well, nine since I, obviously, don’t count! Everyone comes to our house to celebrate and eat. I’ve tried to get everyone to share their thanksgivings/gratitudes, but they think it’s corny!
- The kickoff of the holiday season has to be high on my list because I love Christmas! I used to post a Christmas carol from YouTube on my Facebook page every 25th of the month with a countdown to Christmas. I haven’t done that in a while as I seem to neglect my poor Facebook page these days. I don’t decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving and probably won’t do it until the first of December this year.
- I guess I’d have to include some of my favorite foods we eat at Thanksgiving. I don’t like pumpkin or pecan pie, but I make a mean pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting. Some years I make that, but there are some years I don’t. I do always make “Delights.” This is a dessert my Aunt Lou used to make, and my people love it. It’s a no-bake kind of cheesecake thing with layers of Cool Whip and cherry and/or blueberry pie filling. I make enough so that leftovers can be taken home. Cheesy potatoes of one kind or another are also another favorite.
- The anticipation of Black Friday, I guess, is another favorite. But, it seems like Black Friday has turned into Black November because many retailers are already running their sales. I don’t know if we can blame that on Covid or not.
- Playing games is something we sometimes do. My son-in-law finds some of the strangest card games, but I have to admit they are hilarious. I rarely learn the rules and just play along and lose!
- The memories of Thanksgivings past are something I will always treasure. We used to go to my Grandma Luderman’s when I was a little girl. We would usually get to hook the pony up to the cart and ride around for a bit. If the day was warm, we might even get the go-cart out and race around and around the driveway.
- Another memory of a past Thanksgiving is when my Grandma, Mom, and aunts were older. Mom had taken over the hosting duties until her COPD forced her to admit it was too much. Mom was a stickler for a clean house so she’d spend days making sure her house was spick and span. Eventually, she decided to use the Senior Citizens Center in our town as our meeting place. My aunts and Mom would split the cost of the rental. Everyone would bring their specialties. Those were the years when I was drafted into roasting the turkey. I didn’t relish that because those four old ladies were harsh in their criticism! But, what I wouldn’t give to have three of the four around to tell me how dry my turkey was!
- OK, another memory which may have happened on Thanksgiving or Christmas…I’m not sure. My niece had twin boys who were probably somewhere around four years old…maybe older, maybe younger. Anyway, the Senior Citizen Center used to be a laundromat decades ago. So, it had a bit of a strange layout. There was a dark hallway that led back to the restrooms. For some reason, that hallways was higher at one end than the other. But, those two little guys had scared themselves silly over something. And, for the life of me, I can’t remember what it was. But, I do remember them running up the hallway, scaring themselves, and running back down laughing. It’s hard to believe one of them is now married, and the other is a submariner out in the Pacific Northwest.
- The beginning of the holiday cartoons is a favorite. I know I am in the minority here when I say I don’t like the Hallmark Christmas movies. I mean, honestly, if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. But, the holiday cartoons are oldies from my childhood. So, again, it’s a nostalgia kind of thing for me.
- Cuddling up with a good book under a throw or two, and just doing nothing is a definite favorite though it’s not necessarily a Thanksgiving thing.
Wrap it up, Marsha!
Well, I think this may be my worst prompt ever! Even I struggled with coming up with answers so I forgive you if yours aren’t fabulous! Please feel free to leave comments on Thanksgiving whenever you might celebrate it!
Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, The Grey Brunette, and Away from the Blue as well as Deb’s World. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, and Style Splash. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda and Lisa. I also host Final Fridays on the last Friday of the month as well as 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!
Don’t have a blog?
Don’t worry! You can always leave all or some of your answers in the comments! If you don’t want to do that, you might discover a new blog! Blog friends, if you’d rather not participate, please share this party with others so we have lots of links!
And, now, it’s your turn!
Please link up your favorite 10 on the 10th posts as well as baking, cooking, decorating, fashion, DIY! If there’s a category I’ve left out and it’s family friendly, please feel free to include it! Please do visit some of the links! If you don’t have a blog, here is your chance to find a new one! You can also drop all or some of your answers in the comments!
Playing games, especially board games, sounds cozy. You can wake me up in the middle of the night for a board game. I have a cart full for black Friday, lol. Happy weekend!
Hahaha!!! I love that you’re ready for Black Friday already, Nancy! Board games bring out the competitor in me…I always play to win!
Thanks, Nancy!
Pingback:10 on the 10th: November 2023-10 Favorite Things About Thanksgiving & #SpreadTheKindness Link Up On the Edge #678 – Shelbee on the Edge
Oh, I thought this was a fun prompt for November, Marsha! But Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday so I found it easy to come up with 10 things. But food did not make my list! As much as I have always love the Thanksgiving holiday, I have never ever liked the traditional Thanksgiving foods. Yuck. Thanks for hosting this fun series as always, my friend. And a very happy Thanksgiving to you and your people!
Shelbee
Awww, thank you, Shelbee! I am behind on reading blogs, but I’ll be over in a bit. It’s been interesting to see how many people like Thanksgiving more than Christmas!
I feel the same about the Hallmark movies! They are all the same. Lol! Your smaller Thanksgiving sounds wonderful.
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
You know what’s really funny…I forgot to mention this in my post…Mike actually likes them! He will sit and watch them for hours. I’m not sure if he thinks it’s all the same movie or if he’s in a trance! It is nice just being a few, but I miss the big ones when I was a kid!
Thanks, Kathrine!
First time linking up…thanks for hosting! I’m another who is ‘in the middle’. I’m not a fan of the Hallmark movies either, but Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I don’t decorate for Christmas until after Thanksgiving because I enjoy the fall so much and want to make it last. I think Black Friday has lost it’s charm since you can get great deals almost year round now. Wishing you a happy Thanksgiving! I subscribed so am following along now.
Welcome, Joyce! I’m glad you joined in on the fun as well as subscribed! I hope you enjoy. I miss how Black Friday used to be. Now, it’s rare to find a real jewel, right? I will be over to read your post soon!
Thank you again, Joyce!
What a sweet read Marsha! I used to love that the newspaper on Thanksgiving would have all of the ads and we’d pour over them after eating to look at all the sales. Sadly, that doesn’t happen anymore because the sales are already in full swing!
This year we will be in Greece so no turkey for us! I’m a little sad about it but also looking forward to the trip!
xo,
Kellyann
Oh, Kellyann! I completely forgot about the excitement of checking the newspaper for all of the ads! Ours would be about two inches thick! I do wish the sales didn’t start as soon as they do! Oh, enjoy Greece! My daughter and her family just got back. I can’t wait to see photos!
Thanks, Kellyann!
Thanksk so much for the prompts!! I enjoyed reading your answers and could just imagine those little boys scaring themselves silly!!
Thanks, Lisa! I wish I could remember what they were doing, but I just remember them laughing along with the screaming at the same time!
I used to be in the streets on Black Friday and loved going out and finding deals now I stay at home and shop from the comfort of it lol. I sure do miss that the most though my friends and I would get up early catch the sales and do brunch….
I have been known to get up way before sunrise (which isn’t really saying much) and shop without makeup! I still go out, but now I wait until later in the day. There aren’t really that many deals. I miss the Black Friday shopping we used to do with my mom.
I’m going over to your blog in a bit!
Thanks, Kita!
Pingback:10 of my favorite things about Thanksgiving - Kita Bryant
Hi Marsha I enjoyed your answers (and also your honesty). We don’t have Thanksgiving in Australia but I think we should have some form of Gratitude day. I’m looking forward to visiting the Christmas markets in Europe and then coming home to host family Christmas. I must try to remember 10 on the 10th – where do you get the prompt from? Have a lovely day and watch out for my photos of my trip. xx
Thank you, Sue! I can’t wait to see your trips to the Christmas markets on your blog! I actually come up with the prompts. Sometimes, I do have to google for the Would you rathers, but I put my own twist on them.
It is a time that I am actually in the house and just relaxing. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
Patrick, I guess I didn’t realize you weren’t at home much! I’ll have to search around on your page.
Thanks, Patrick!
Thanksgiving is probably one of my favorite holidays; it’s so easy and it’s just about food and family and thankfulness. I tend to like this time of year since it is now socially acceptable for me to want to stay at home reading and snuggling under a blanket where I tend to get the odd stare when I want to do that in spring and summer! LOL
This has been the biggest surprise to me…how so many more people like Thanksgiving over Christmas. Ours are pretty much the same except gifts are added in. Snuggling up with a good book should never warrant an odd stare, right?
Thanks, Joanne!
Thanksgiving used to be my favorite holiday because it’s all about food and no gifts. I still love it, but I feel like it gets overshadowed by Christmas these days which always bums me out.
XOOX
Jodie
I am so surprised because almost everyone has said they prefer Thanksgiving to Christmas. I guess I love Christmas more because giving gifts is my love language! But, I do hate the commercials starting the day after Halloween!
Thanks, Jodie!
Oh I love playing games too, and I hope we’ll have time to play some when we go home for Thanksgiving this year! It’s my favorite holiday because it’s family and food and not all the other extras that can make Christmas (especially) feel like an obligation. I explain my reasoning in my 10 on the 10th contribution!
So many people have mentioned how they enjoy Thanksgiving more than Christmas because of the lack of those “extras.” I think that’s very interesting. I will be over to see your blog in a bit!
Thanks, Kym!
Thank you for the prompts! What a great read Marsha!
http://www.christinacenci.com
You are very welcome, Christina! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
I really love your blog! It’s brand new to me, and found as a result of shared love of April Cornell, as well as many other shared styles and interests. Thanksgiving this year will be very quiet and am really looking forward to a dinner with my husband at this mill that sits on the river close to where we live. The food is always wonderful, the setting fabulous and am excited about going. We’ll start the day with a short hike in the local nature preserve, which we do every year if in town. I’ll decorate for Christmas on Friday. We have a brand new energetic kitty, so no tree this year, but I have plenty of other lovely and nostalgic decorations to put out. Have a wonderful holiday!
Welcome, Dulcy! I’m so glad you’re here! I do love April Cornell and have for so many years. I primarily buy clothing, but I do like the linens, too! The stores are amazing? Have you been to either of them?
Your Thanksgiving sounds lovely. I’ve eaten at a couple of restaurants that are converted mills. There’s something a bit magical about them. I will probably decorate for Christmas shortly after the beginning of next month. It’s definitely a process here! My husband knows to just stay out of the way as I work my way through everything. I used to take photos, but we’ve moved and no longer have a fireplace. That changes so much!
Anyway, again, welcome to my blog! I hope you enjoy it!
It’s so fun to read through these posts! I enjoyed this one!
Thanks, Laura! So many good posts for this one!