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The Gathering

With Thanksgiving patiently waiting but a week away, I find myself slipping into a state of consciousness that seems as familiar to me as my favorite pair of pajamas. There’s just something so tranquil and peaceful about Thanksgiving. Mother Nature has mysteriously cast a sleepy spell over her landscape as the sun hangs low and lazy wrapped in a thick gray blanket of sky. I find myself slowing down and turning inward for a rest.

Even as a little girl, I would find refuge in the warmth of my house after spending so many long days dancing in the sun.

It’s as if I have permission somehow to stand still long enough to reflect and appreciate and relish life; to taste the memories that are tucked away in my mind; and to see the new ones that are being made in the moments before me.

Still to this day I remember looking forward to the beautiful Thanksgiving table that my mom would so lovingly set. Each piece of the table had a meaning, a memory or a story to tell. The linens, the dishes, the recipes – they had all been gathered…gathered through the years and passed along to the next table, to the next generation who would come together and reflect and remember all the “who”‘s and “how they came to be”‘s.

So now I find myself gathering.

And reflecting.

And remembering.

As I set the table and make the place cards.

As I carefully fetch and clean my grandmother’s etched glasses.

And place them ever so carefully, next to my dishes.

As I tenderly fold the napkins which so cleverly hide…

the crisp dollar bills that are tucked inside for all to find.

Just as my grandmother did and her mother before her.

And I become aware that I am gathering the cherished memories and the moments as well as the dishes and the place cards.

I realize that I am setting the table for the memories of tomorrow.

I find peace in knowing that we will all be gathering here at the table – the ones who are present as well as the ones who have passed.

Gathering around the Thanksgiving table, set with love by the hands of many.

Wishing you a blessed gathering this Thanksgiving.

Wenderly

Wenderly

Married my soulmate. Mama of 2. Love to inspire. Can't help but to relish in all things beautiful inside & out. Join me in Savoring the Art of Living.

19 Comments

  1. What a lovely post and tradition, Wendy. Thank you for sharing! Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday – James and I were married the day before. 🙂

  2. It’s going to be a hard thanksgiving for you, Wendy, without your Grandma. I’m so sorry but I do love that these traditions are living on through you!

  3. What lovely traditions you are passing on to your girls my friend and I love the leaves for place cards. This is the sweetest post 🙂

  4. What a lovely, lovely post and thoughts! I also have such fond memories of setting the Thanksgiving table with my mother – Thanksgiving, more than Christmas, because the whole focus was on family, without the frenzy of the gifting. Also love your brown transferware. Glad to have found you (via #FF on twitter by @socalgapeach)

    • Hi Elizabeth!
      Of course, I’d be happy to share the dish info with you! I happened to pick some of these up at T.J. Maxx a few years ago, the name brand is, Clayton Tableware (made in Malaysia). I have some antique dishes that aren’t in this photo, the name of those is, Royal Stafford, they’re made in England. These types of dishes are usually referred to as “transfer-ware” I also have them in blue & red! Hope that helps you!

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