Your Favorite Thanksgiving Traditions?

DH and I are thinking about spending Thanksgiving by ourselves this year rather than going to my DB's home. We won't be having any company, it will just be the two of us.....the three dogs and kitty cat. That kind of sounds a bit lonely, and to make things more special I'd like to start a new tradition for the two of us. So, I'm wondering what traditions everyone else has on Thanksgiving....give me some ideas, somewhere to start. Something besides the food please.

Something cute with meaning for the both of you.

Maybe wear orange socks?

Put a penny on a railroad track?

Sleep upside down in the bed?

LOL

raking leaves? building compost? go to the dog park? OK I'll admit we have no special traditions or creativity. How did you meet? Revisit a special place?

LMBO!! This is why I started this thread, I knew y'all would make me smile! :-D

Put a penny on the railroad tracks....my DBs used to do that all the time when I was a kid and I thought it was so super cool. I also like the orange socks thing, but I don't know that DH would do that....maybe I should choose that just because he would be embarrassed by it, tee hee hee!

I wish we had a dog park around here because I'd love to do something like that. I thought about making a tradition of taking the dogs for an extra, extra long walk....say maybe an hour or more....but it is getting pretty cold. Still might do that one though.

To be completely honest, DH and I are thinking of moving to the West Coast in a couple of years and we'll be on our own there. I was talking about this on another thread and saying how much I'd miss my family when someone mentioned how important they feel it is to create our own traditions, especially at holidays. I really think they are right, and it's never too soon to start a good practice, right?

How did we meet? Oh, you'd be bored to death if I told you! However, there are special places that we could go and reminisce together. Hmmm, even a few places we could do that AND walk the dogs in orange socks. Sounds like fun to me.

Anyone got any other ideas? It doesn't matter how sophisticated or goofy they are, I'd really love to hear them all!

Bored to death? try us..(.Not to hijack...Maybe that should be another thread.)

You're not hijacking. The story........being a bit of a motorhead I liked DH's car and wanted to go for a ride. He was/is shy, so I finally asked him one night for a ride. That's really pretty much it. See? Boring.

the rest, as they say, was history~~~~~What kind of car? My hubby had a black Mustang that was really a POS but I didn't know it at the time, just looked pretty racy in his black sports car, leather jacket and mustache.....He would really love a GTO

What happens to the penny? Does it melt?

Collect and press some flowers or leaves from that day?

Get some special paper and write letters to each other recounting the best parts of the last year, and then read them aloud after dinner?

Hi Andi,

The penny, if it manages to stay on the track, will squash flat.
They are really interesting. Sometimes they are squashed in an
oval manner enabling one to be able to tell it is a penny, such as
words, faces, etc.

Contrary to popular belief, penny squishing or squashing is NOT illegal
except in Canada.

From http://www.squished.com/featuresnew/features_101.html

Oh, that makes sense. They have those machines at zoos and amusement parks where you can melt a penny into the shape of one of the characters or animals.

Collect and press some flowers or leaves from that day? from andidandi~
~ Thats a nice idea. Weather permitting, a nice hike or walk each year in a different place explored together and remembered this way.

Well, I'm still not sure what we are going to be doing. DH is going to be tearing our walk-in closet apart between now and TG. UGH! I was cleaning in there yesterday and found mold. So, he decided to rip out 2 of the walls, insulate them, drywall them, and then we'll paint them....along with the bedroom. I pray this does NOT become a TG tradition!

I think we'll be a bit too busy for long walks with the dogs this year, but we can always do that next year.

I did pick up matching socks for us today though!! They didn't have any orange socks for men, of course, so I had to go with something much more calm....an oatmeal color. But, it's a start. When I told DH we were going to wear matching socks as part of our new TG tradition he looked at me and simply said, "You're weird, you know that?" I replied, "Yeah, but I don't care what you think." Wuvie, I'm pretty sure you meant the sock thing as a joke, but I think it's going to end up being very cute. I'm going to have to keep my eye out for some fancy men's socks....or just crochet some. I'm thinking orange elf-type slippers, but more shaped like pumpkin pie slices. LMBO. How much can we get away with in the name of "tradition" anyway?

LOL Heathr, actually I was serious in my joking way. LOL.
I'm a rather odd bird, my family well realizes this.

You know, I think a sock matching thing would be rather cute.
You could even keep them in a plastic tub with notes on how
you spent your Thanksgiving. Years from now, when you pass
on, imagine how cool that would be for someone to find that box
of socks with all the notes stuffed into them. Aww.

That is "Awwwww" and so cute. So, I'm not the only one who thinks about what folks will find in my house after I'm gone? LOL! I know that someday someone is going to have to go through all of my junk....and when they do it'll probably prove that I'm crazy, but I'll be gone by then, so oh well!

Actually, this makes me think of when my Gramma passed and we cleaned out her house. *Sigh.* We found my Dad's old teddy bear in the attic. Oh, gosh, it was a mess, it was so old and dirty....full of holes and falling apart. My sis has a special teddy bear she's had all her life, "B-Bear", and everyone in the family knows the bear and his name. Our Aunt made it for her when she was little. Sis is in Tx now and B-Bear spends his days on her fireplace mantel. When I saw that raggedy old teddy bear of Dad's I KNEW it would be a treasure to my sis. I was so afraid to touch it, that it was just going to go "poof" and turn into a pile of dust. I did manage to get it into a plastic bag and kept it until sis visited later that summer. She cried over that and it was so special to her. You just never know how touching and important your after-effects may be to someone who loved you. Now Dad's teddy keeps B-Bear company on the mantel.

Oh, gosh, I think about what people will find all the time. It's hilarious
to think about what they will say, LOL.

My kids will stick it all in yard sales, but I do have a few notes already
placed with certain items. "This is NOT to be sold in a yard sale!" is
the note with my poetry, my rosette iron collection, etc. Otherwise it
would all be sold for pennies and someone would get quite a bargain.

On the other hand, it is sad but true, it's only worth what someone is
willing to pay for it. I'm trying to weed out what I can with regard to the
stuff that is just taking up room, but indeed, a B-bear would have to stay!

:-)

Heather,

Once upon a time, we spent all of our holidays running from house to house, his family, my family, run, run, run. At the end of the day, we were all beat! And guess what? No leftovers to munch on. As time passed, many relatives passed away and there was some stress with certain family members and we decided it was just too much. We were worn out and so were the kids. So we started spending our Thanksgiving at home, with the people that make our live what it is every day and not just once or twice a year because the calendar said so!

I get up early on Thanksgiving, get the turkey going, get the side dishes under way and make sure things are moving along, while hubby drags out the Christmas decorations. We always put our tree up on Thanksgiving day and take it down on New Year's day (another holiday we spend alone). If we have time and not too much wine (chuckle) I also put up the lights on the outside of the house. Otherwise we do those the next day. Each year, we do the tree differently so we spend part of the girls break, making new decorations for the tree and house.

With my Great Grandma, Grandma and Great Aunt now gone, and my mother's indifference, all of my family traditions ended. Hubby lost is Grandmother, Father and his Mother is in a nursing home so most things there ended too (although his sisters and brother still get together). So, it was time for us to create our own special holidays. We also spend Christmas alone and have a special menu for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and New Year's Eve too.

Any day can be special if you spend it with those you love. Hubby and I still like to play scrabble and other word games. ;) I know it's harder, but happier, if you try to think of all the the things (people) you do have and not what is not there.

Don't forget to make the raw turkey dance before you cook it. It's always a big hit at my house. :)

Best tradition-- Looong Looong walks- on Thanksgivings. No matter what the weather even if you have to wear long underwear or take an umbrella. Walks are so enjoyable and good for you. Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!

Oh Sorry- I didn't see that about the mold--I had the exact same thing in my entrance closet!
I feel bad for you- but know how you feel.

Thanks for the comments....and sympathy!

Bad, I think you're so right about so much running during the holidays, especially with the large family you have. At least for me it's just me and DH. I've been thinking about getting out some of the board games we have in the attic....I don't even remember what games we have, it's been so long since we played them. I also love decorating for Christmas as early as I can get DH to do it. I was ready to do it on Nov. 1, so we'll see if I can get DH into it tomorrow.

I'm up for a long walk anytime, but on a holiday it's extra special.......

Here's a little story about long walks y'all will probably enjoy......Years ago when we had our first dog I decided to take her for a loooooooong walk on Christmas day. DH wasn't in the mood, was busy, whatever, so he didn't go. I didn't mind that much, as we live close to the woods and I knew I'd enjoy the walk alone too. So, off Shiloh and I go, into the woods on Christmas day for our loooooong walk before DH and I go visiting. I'm walking along with my doggie, enjoying the snow, the day, the beauty.....ahhh, so refreshing, such a special day, such a happy day. A song popped into my head......so.....I started singing it as we walked along. I'm a really bad, bad singer, but Shiloh was enjoying my noise-making. She was being so cute, so I sang all the more, and all the louder. La, la, la, la. I was so into the beauty and singing that I didn't notice the man standing off to my left in a clearing. I only noticed him because he moved. OH MY GOSH! He had been there the whole time, had heard my awful noise the whole time. I just wanted to run and hide. I have no idea who he was but I know he told everyone about my singing. Now I only sing to the dogs while I'm in the house....and I've still gotten caught. Sometimes you just can't win!

But the memory still makes you laugh! :O)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Yes, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Oh, I'm LOL. I'm kinda glad that I don't know who the guy was, I probably run into him every day and don't know it.

About 15 years ago, I started watching the grinch and eating home made donuts for breakfast Thanksgiving morning with my son. He is now 21, and doesn't live at home, he asked the other day if he could still come for breakfast! He came over in his pajamas, we had donuts, and watched the grinch. He probably went home and back to bed. He'll be back later for dinner.
Love Dr Seuss!
So, maybe a movie you watch every year together

I once read a funny article in a Reader's Digest Magazine. It was about neighbors and the little nick names we have for them. Years ago, a young couple lived a few doors down and they kept their grill in the garage. Whenever they grilled out, they rolled the grill out into the driveway, put the food on, then she would sit in his lap while they waited for the food to cook. We dubbed them the stackables. We also had the cop, the yellers, the waterers, etc. For years, we've been "the people with all those girls". I have no doubt, you are the "forest singer". LOL

My motto is "Laugh at yourself before you give someone else the chance." :)

The stackables, LMBO! Yes, I'm sure I'm the forest singer....or worse, lol. Maybe the dog singerer.

I love the donuts for breakfast with the movie, and how sweet he came over in his pj's.

We have our Thanksgiving socks on, and I made DH do a toe dance with me before we put them on.

Chuckle. My second child has a way with animals and is very sensitive to them. We jokingly called her the dog whisperer. When we moved to the country, we changed it to the cow whisperer. We are so bad!

So yes, you could be the dog singer. hahahaha

LOL Chele, the cow whisperer.

I hope everyone's Thanksgiving was wonderful. Ours was very nice. Pretty quiet, but nice. Other than our oven shutting off all by itself for some strange, mysterious reason everything went great. We still can't figure out how the oven shut off. I guess the worst part of it shutting off was that I saw it as very humorous and DH didn't at all. Oh well, we survived, and so did the turkey.

Do you mean the turkey survived or was done perfectly, despite the power loss? LOL