Welcome to Mountain Brook Ink’s 2018 Holiday Blog Tour! We’re thrilled you’ve decided to join us on this month-long journey of family, friends, traditions, and memories. Now, as we approach the end of November, we hope you’ve enjoyed visiting with us as much as we’ve delighted in your presence. As our reader, you have done so much to pour into our lives, and this season we want to give back to you with insights into our world AND offer some giveaways. The more days you follow, share, comment, and engage with us, the more entries you’ll have toward a Kindle Fire Grand Prize or one of three Amazon Gift Cards!
Please note that the Kindle Fire can only be shipped within the U.S. , and the Amazon gift cards can be won by anyone who can use an on online gift card. You’ll find the link to an entry form for the Kindle Fire later in this post.
Welcome, friend!
To add to the holiday fun (and because I’m celebrating an exciting professional milestone which I’ll share in a few moments), I’m also hosting an additional giveaway for a $15 Starbucks gift card.
As a little girl, nothing excited me more than Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.
Without a doubt, those were the three biggest holidays our family celebrated and occasions I remember the most.
Today, one of our family’s holiday traditions includes making Christmas cookie bark.
Each holiday was marked with reverence and given it’s due.
There was never a question where our family would celebrate. It was better than any mall, shopping center, or money-making venue. Better than a Black Friday sale that boasted once-in-a-lifetime bargains, and better than a getaway to the tropics or anyplace I could imagine.
Any guesses?
It was Nana’s house—that beautiful, grand home built entirely of native stone and nestled within the old Ozark hills overlooking Route 66, long before the interstate and twenty-first century “progress.”
My grandmother’s home wasn’t especially fancy, but it was indeed unique. The massive two-story structure boasted comfy, cozy niches, built-in bookcases, and angled closets with mysterious passageways.
While I loved Nana’s home, I adored my Nana. Her sweet, gentle nature wrapped me in warm fuzzies all the way down to my toes. She doted on her family and made each of us feel special.
Nana loved completely and unconditionally even when, I’m sure, her grandchildren tried her patience. (Click-to-Tweet)
I was thankful we lived only 18 miles away. It meant we saw her often.
Our visits were always fun and Thanksgiving kick-started a new season of excitement.
No, obviously NOT creamed spinach. This is a cranberry and apple side dish that we make every year, and a dish that’s become another family favorite.
Each holiday I begged for my favorite side dish. “Will you make your creamed spinach, Nana?”
I knew she would, but I wanted that verbal reassurance. Nana’s trademark German recipe convinced me that I’d just entered someplace otherworldly.
With it’s rich, bacony taste and smooth, creamy texture, that spinach drew me a little closer to heaven. It made me think of God and all things good. That’s how scrumptious it was.
Nana would tweak my nose and laugh and say something in German.
Of course, there was the traditional turkey, too. The gigantic bird that slow-cooked in the roaster all night long. The one Nana basted the old-fashioned way—every two hours. (Yes. She really did get up throughout the night and somehow basted that bird to perfection.)
Add to that: made-from-scratch dressing, candied yams, fresh cranberries, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casserole, and the usual assortment of homemade pumpkin, pecan, and apple pies.
Now, following Thanksgiving, our family also enjoys the tradition of making homemade Christmas cookies. Mmm! So good!
Conversation was fun and lively, and Thanksgiving dinner was an experience. A time of unity, bonding, and thankfulness. Sometimes, we’d linger at the table for hours.
Afterward, my sister and I scampered away to play with our cousins and create a little mischief, too. Later, we’d join Nana and the adults back at the table for a game of Monopoly and snacks.
We’d watch old movies and Christmas shows, and when it grew late, we’d slip into our footed PJs and cuddle with Nana on the couch.
Nana would stroke her grandchildren’s heads and take turns with kisses. “Did you have fun today?”
Really? Didn’t she know?
“Yes, Nana. I loved today! This was the best Thanksgiving ever!”
And it was.
Until the next year. When I said the same thing—again.
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SHARING IS CARING
Why an old-fashioned Ozarks Thanksgiving will always be my favorite.
What makes Thanksgiving special? Is it the food, ballgames, and Black Friday sales? Or…is it the gratitude we store in our memory banks?
Join this Ozarks author as she shares a Thanksgiving memory and a few warm fuzzies. Chime in for a chance to win a Kindle Fire and more!
What are your favorite Thanksgiving memories?
Are you a Black Friday shopper or do you prefer to soak up the holiday at home with family?
Do you celebrate Thanksgiving with any special traditions?
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**Enter HERE for your chance to win Mountain Brook Ink’s Grand Prize—a Kindle Fire!!!**
NEXT STOP ON THE MBI HOLIDAY BLOG TOUR IS TRISH PERRY!!! JOIN HER SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH!!!
**ALSO…in celebration of this week’s Her Hope Discovered COVER REVEAL I’m hosting a separate GIVEAWAY for a $15.00 Starbuck’s gift card!**
RULES for the Starbucks giveaway:
*Must be age 21 or over to win
*Must be a U.S. resident
*Winner will be drawn at random
*Void where prohibited
*NO purchase necessary
*Winner for the STARBUCKS GIFT CARD will be announced on my blog, Friday, November 23rd.
Pre-order Her Hope Discovered HERE and it will be auto-delivered to your e-reader on January 1, 2019!
Note: Print version releases NEXT MONTH December 15, 2018.
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Much Love and Many Blessings,
Comments 23
This was such a heartwarming, wonderful story of your childhood memories! Thank you for sharing!! We always went to my Aunt and Uncle ‘s for Thanksgiving and after a delicious turkey dinner my cousins and I played games inside and played Outside. It was great fun! Love you. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family🦃🦃🦃❤️❤️❤️
Author
Nancy, family holidays are the best. Ohh the days where kids actually wanted to play outdoors!
Happy Thanksgiving Blessings to you and yours, too! 🙂
Love when the family gets together. We lived beside our grandmother all our lives. When she passed my husband and I got her house. Now all the memories we can share with our grandchildren. The cookie baking the Easter egg coloring the Turkey on Thanksgiving. Love it all
Author
Tina, ooh I feel the love! How special you are now living in the very same house as your grandmother. Some of my very, very best times were spent in my nana’s old rock house. Sadly, it’s no longer there, but in my mind I still walk each room, remembering all the happy times there.
Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Thanks for sharing such a warm memory of spending time with your Nana!
Both sets of my grandparents lived in the same small town, only a block from each other, so when we made the two-hour drive to see them, we bounced between their homes….snacking on cookies and kettle at one house and homemade donuts at the other. Yum!
I’ve preordered Her Hope Discovered. It sounds amazing, and the cover is stunning! May your Thanksgiving be filled with your sweet traditions. Blessings!
Author
Sherida, thank you, my friend! I hope you love Her Hope Discovered! There are lots of warm fuzzies, you can be sure. 🙂
How blessed to have lived so close to both sets of grandparents! It really is the simple things, isn’t it?
Cynthia, I wonder how many of your readers traveled old Route 66 before the interstate system. I know my family traversed at least some sections of it but I have no clue if we passed your Nana’s house. That was about 60 years ago this summer when we traveled from Virginia to California and back, taking a southern route out there and a more northerly route back. One other comment: you didn’t mention homemade biscuits with that delicious meal. Didn’t y’all eat biscuits? That was always one of the best parts of the meal for me.
Author
Edward, Nana’s house was along old Route 66 in Pulaski County, Missouri. It stood high atop a hill sheltered in the woods, overlooking the highway. Her house had a big front porch with porch swings at both ends. My cousins and I could swing for hours and watch the traffic go by. I’m sure that seems a little boring today, but those simple times were the best.
We do eat biscuits, yes! But for Thanksgiving, Nana’s homemade dressing outweighed the biscuits. 🙂
Hi, I live right on old Route 66. But actually our town is on highway 44. 66 is close by only blocks away.
I remember taking turns with my aunt and uncle to host Thanksgiving dinner. Such fun with our cousins.
I also remember Mother making spritz cookies, fudge and divinity for Christmas.
Author
Paula, *waves* I can almost taste that divinity! That was Nana’s favorite holiday treat. It sounds like your family had such fun!
Warm memories.
Author
Pat, they were! I miss those times.
Love family holidays growing up. Not a Black Friday shopper. I prefer home please.
Author
Melissa, holidays seemed so magical then. They still are, but as children, we see life through a much different lens. And I’m with you on the Black Friday shopping. Give me some old movie classics and pumpkin pie, please. 🙂
What great memories and an amazing example to aspire to!
Author
They really are wonderful memories. Nana touched so many lives, and I hope I would make her proud.
I love the family memories of growing up.
Author
Nancy, me,too! I’m so thankful for family.
What a great post, Cynthia! It gave me the “warm fuzzies” just reading it. I felt like I was right there with your family, sharing in the fun, food, and games (our family is the same way). Thank you for sharing your awesome memories! 🙂
Author
Shara, I’m so glad you enjoyed my thoughts. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Priceless memories!
Author
Caryl, indeed!
Such beautiful memories!