I love to have people over and giving them a break from having to “work” and clean up! I love having my table and couches full.

This will be a year to start new traditions since I just married in June and am far away from family. I love to keep in touch with family and friends at the holidays through cards and greetings. One of our favorite Thanksgiving traditions started 25 years ago when a friend gave me candy corns with a poem. . . . say a blessing and eat a candy corn. Usually I buy lots of candy corn when Halloween candy is half price.

Tamara- I’d like to read the candy corn poem. Please share!

Music is one of my favorite part of the holidays. I love the traditional songs as well as some new ones that have become favorites.

I just love a big family dinner- the more people the better! One of my favorite parts of the day is when the men leave the table to watch football after dinner and the women all gather in the kitchen to clean up. We crank up the music and have a great time together!

Our Thanksgiving tradition begins with my husband picking up the fresh turkey from his childhood friends’ turkey farm. My sister would make “Grammy’s” famous stuffing & bring it over the night before. We peeled the pototoes, made the cole slaw & gave the turkey his bath & I would make “Grammy’s” incredible pumpkin cake, while my daughter-in-law cut out pastry leaves to garnish the pumpkin pie. Very early on Thanksgiving morning, my husband & I got up to stuff & get the turkey in the oven. We took turns basting religiously every half hour. The last half hour was hectic yet incredible, my sons Sam & Christian mashed the potatoes, my niece Alicia assembled the crescent rolls, my sister & mother were busy making the gravy. The smells as well as the memories are intoxicating!!!