It’s no secret I love the beach, and when I look at something so vast and so powerful I just feel wiser. I am calmed by her white foamy heartbeat. Her tides heaving like a pendulum keeping time in a way that can not be cheated or negotiated. And so this is where we will celebrate our day of gratitude and feast.

For those of you who have been lucky enough to have years and years of unbroken traditions, I applaud you. My day of thankfulness has seen nothing but change over my lifetime. And each year as we make new friends, visit new places and eat new foods I have amassed a cornucopia of  love and blessings all over the country. This year Thanksgiving Day was no exception.

Stopping to see Ron’s mom Jean at the assisted living, we enjoyed a humble but delicious meal with all the fixings. And at our small table was Ellen. Who, without us, would have celebrated Thanksgiving alone. See? These are the kinds of things that happen when you veer off the traditional path. Quiet, gracious, happy. Thank goodness we were there.

Hardly 5 minutes went by during the next 4 days that I didn’t have a fork or spoon in my mouth. Eat. Eat. Eat. Gobble. Gobble and gobble!!

Served by the staff, and really very good, the above was our FIRST turkey dinner. Yes, I had all the ingredients in the cooler, packed smartly in the back of our Lincoln, that would be cooked and presented later that evening at the beach. I think this is the first year we ate TWO turkey dinners!

Check out the seasonings added to our bone-in, skin on turkey breast. Just enough for the two of us…including two days of leftovers! Fresh thyme, lemon, onion, and a Herbs de Provence rub. This bird is ready to roast!

Pan Roasted broccoli, creamy mashed potatoes, and a fine herb gravy made it all feel like home! Even though it was served on hotel plates, it still tasted delicious.