We will be hosting our annual Thanksgiving Celebration on Thursday, November 24th. This is the 6th year that we have invited the Southbound Thruhikers on the trail near Erwin to join us for the big feast. Over the years it has grown to include an extended family of my children, alumni hiker friends and many others, wanting to share in the companionship of good people for a traditional Thanksgiving. We are expecting about 30 people and we will have enough food for twice that many… even after thirds and fourths! Everyone is welcome to join us! Please let any SoBo’s you know on the trail know that we can pick them up and take them back to the trail. Hikers will have first call on most of the beds but there are plenty of places to sleep off too much turkey.
The menu basics are:
Roast Turkey, Stuffing, Deep Fried Turkey, Ham, tons of Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Sweet Potatoes, Cranberry Relish, Green Beans, Corn, Pasta Salad, Potato Salad, Seven Layer Salad, Broccoli Squash Casserole, Yeast Rolls, Pumpkin Pies, Pumpkin Rolls, Lemon, Chocolate and Coconut Pies, Hawaiian Wedding Cake… gallons of Sweet Tea, never ending Coffee…
So what have we forgotten?? If you have a favorite recipe please feel free to bring it or come early and cook it here. I welcome cooks in my kitchen… but you might have to wear a cute little apron… just ask Skeemer!
We will be cooking all day Wednesday and Wednesday night. We hope to start dinner about 1:00… and the eating will continue until the food is gone or until the last hiker says NO MORE!
We will have the horseshoe pit going in the back yard, hike videos going in the house, lots of gossip and music in the kitchen and free shuttles for day hikes on Friday morning.
I have so much to be thankful for this year. My children are healthy and only driving me a little crazy… the 2005 hikers have been great this year and Erwin has been a friendly and less stressful place to do this business for a while now. But as much as anything, I am so thankful and truly blessed just by being a part of this AT community. There are no words to describe how much you all give back to me and my family in so many ways. Large and small. Recently we needed to replace a broken antique gas furnace in this old house. A good friend proposed that maybe some people could help us cut the cost with donations. WOW!! That was all that had to be said and you all stepped up to the plate and knocked that one out of the ballpark!!! The unbelievable generosity of this AT “family” just beats all I have ever seen! Thank you to each of you for your encouragement, kind words and donations. I was so excited to go to the mailbox…(your cards and letters outnumbered the BILLS!) I also received a couple of very touching notes from past hikers recalling some past kindness. Thank you so much! It means the world to me to know that I may have helped you in some way or made an impact in your life. So, if I haven’t gotten around to thanking you personally yet, I will!! If any of you need a warm place to stay this winter then we can sure make a spot for you!!
Miss Janet