October 14, 2015

Weekending: Happy Thanksgiving!

This is post is coming to you a bit late because this past weekend, we packed up the old car and headed North to spend the long weekend in Edmonton. I didn't have my computer with me and we didn't get back home until late last night (well, not too late to watch two episodes of The Walking Dead, because, priorities), so I'm getting this written up until Wednesday morning.

It was a last minute decision to head North; we really didn't want to do another road trip in my old car, but we worried that if we didn't get up to Edmonton this weekend, we wouldn't have another chance to until after Christmas. We also hadn't seen my dad since June, before he left for his annual trip to Europe, so a we were due for a visit!

Saturday, was spent hanging out at my dad's, grocery shopping for turkey dinner for Sunday, eating pizza and playing tile Rummy. Such a fun game!

Thanksgiving 2015

Sunday, Jim was on turkey and stuffing duty. We started cooking our own turkey a few years ago, following the direction of his dad's. It's actually much easier to cook a turkey than one would think, and our method never fails to leave us with a deliciously moist bird! The stuffing is also a "family recipe" and my favourite part of the whole meal.

Thanksgiving 2015

While Jim was busy in the kitchen, I snuck off to get in a quick visit with my good friend Lauren and her new baby girl. It was so great to catch up and get in some baby snuggles.

Thanksgiving 2015

I got back to my dad's just in time to help with the final preparations for dinner before we all dug in. My dad's girlfriend, my uncle, and my brother also joined us for dinner! (FYI, my dad's house has got to be the hardest house to take photographs in - it's dark and the cherry hardwood floors give off crazy colours, hence the lack of photos this weekend).

Thanksgiving 2015
Thanksgiving 2015
Thanksgiving 2015
Thanksgiving 2015

Monday, the three of us visited my Grandpa and GG. They hadn't seen Sully in several months, so it's always fun to see how much he's changed. We ended up visiting for almost four hours…eating up all of GG's yummy homemade snacks and her amazing pumpkin pie, before taking Maggie out for a walk (Sully was in doggie heaven!).

Thanksgiving 2015
Thanksgiving 2015
Thanksgiving 2015
Thanksgiving 2015

After that, we popped over to my mom's place for a quick visit (she had been out at my Grandma's farm for the weekend), before heading back to my dad's place.

Tuesday, we took our time packing up, before heading back to Calgary, but not before I made sure to get some photos outside since it was another beautiful fall day out! We stopped for gas and a quick leg stretch in Red Deer at The Donut Mill. Every single time we drive through Red Deer, we always say that next time we will stop at The Donut Mill, yet we never do. They have some AMAZING donut flavours, like pumpkin pie, oreo cream, rolo, and the best Boston cream I've ever had, plus the classics. I was severely disappointed in the sprinkle donut though, which is my all time favourite donut. They also serve soups and sandwiches and some other warm food options. The coffee was good, and I'd definitely stop in for donuts again!

Thanksgiving 2015Thanksgiving 2015
Thanksgiving 2015
Thanksgiving 2015
Thanksgiving 2015
Thanksgiving 2015

We rolled into our driveway around 8:30 p.m., got Sully into bed, then watched two episodes of The Walking Dead before calling it a night!

I'm having serious turkey dinner withdrawals right now and feel like I ate my weight in food this weekend! I guess the one benefit of not cooking Thanksgiving dinner in your own home is the lack of leftovers (although I would love me a turkey and stuffing sandwich right about now!).

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian family and friends! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend however you may have spent it.

19 comments:

  1. Sounds like an awesome weekend! I cooked a turkey at Christmas once and was surprised how easy it was! :) But yes I miss leftovers - this year Mom sent me home with some so that was a treat. I love all the fall photos, I wish our community was older, we have no big trees, all new ones. This weather has been unreal!

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    1. I know, I love the trees in older neighbourhoods! But one day our newer neighbourhoods will also have big trees ;) Many, many years from now…!

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  2. What a great weekend. I would LOVE a turkey sandwich right about now!
    I love your grey/lace sweater AND Sully's vest. So cute!
    Can you believe I haven't been to Donut Mill since moving here? Where was my text message ;-)

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    1. Thanks! Old Navy for the win (last season I think)!

      No, how have you never been to The Donut Mill?! And I totally thought about texting you but it was late and we didn't decide to go there until we were driving up. Next time when I'm driving through a more reasonable time we should meet there!

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  3. Awesome weekend! I made my first turkey this weekend with my Mom's help and it went great, I thought it would be harder.
    Love all those big old trees, one thing I miss living in newer areas.
    I am not a Donut Mill fan lol. Long story but there Boston Cream donuts have really whipped cream in them which for me is like eating puke lol. So yeah ;)

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    1. Yay exciting! It's definitely something that seems daunting until you do it.

      That's what I loved so much about the Boston Cream!! The whipped cream! lol

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  4. Sounds like a fun weekend! Oh I love turkey and stuffing sandwiches! YUM! Adam and I made our first turkey a couple of years ago and it actually isn't that hard at all if you time it all out right and I swear putting butter under the skin is the secret to keeping it moist, we've never had a dry bird!

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    1. Ohhh, I've never heard of that tip! We actually "steam" our turkey (cup of water in the pan and inside the bird which keeps it nice and moist.

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  5. You're adorable and Sully is so cute!! I hope we can get together for another visit soon. I miss you!! Funny story.. one year I was stuck in PA, Saskatchewan for Christmas alone and decided to recruit another media friend who was stuck there for the holidays to make a turkey. We put butter under the skin and kept basting it every half an hour. It was sooo moist. When it came out, we thought that meant it was under-cooked (it wasn't!!) so we ended up throwing the WHOLE THING in the garbage, hahahahaha!!!! I need to redeem myself some day!

    Glad you had a fun weekend!

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    1. Me too, friend, me too! You and London are welcome here anytime, just so you know :) We should plan a blogger Christmas party!

      Haha, oh man, that's hilarious! At least you'll never make that mistake again?! ;)

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  6. What a great weekend :)
    Whenever I visit my mom I bring containers so I can take turkey home with me. I'd probably cry if we didn't have leftovers!

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    1. That had been our plan, but then I felt bad leaving my dad with barely any leftovers, haha. That's ok, we plan to have turkey dinner again in Florida when we are there over American Thanksgiving!

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  7. Looks like a great weekend! I think I had a maple bar (or I think it's called a long john here?). It was dry and lacked flavor. Womp.

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    1. Oh, boo! I felt the sprinkle donut was dry too. Well, if you ever do go again, get the Boston Cream!

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  8. Sounds and looks like a fabulous weekend with your family! In our hurry to get on the road on Sunday night, we failed to take any leftovers. Major sad face as I LOVE stuffing :(

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    1. Oh no, that sucks! Stuffing is my favourite part! I would choose stuffing over turkey actually ;)

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  9. Looks like a great weekend!! Glad you got away to see your family!! The pictures look great!! I haven't played rummy in years!!

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    1. Thanks, Ashley! We hadn't played in a long time either, but I was reminded how much fun it is! (Although, I love any board or card games so I'm not hard to please ;) )

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  10. I love Sully's vest in the photos! Are you going to share your family recipe for stuffing? My family has a secret recipe for stuffing too, it's called Stovetop! I actually prefer it to home made!

    www.inloveinlondon.com

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