Last year we hosted Thanksgiving for family on both sides. It was a large gathering, so to accommodate everyone I had decided to move Thanksgiving to our back yard. We set up a long tables under the trees, we had a drink station on the deck and a buffet table on the grass, the adults had room to mingle and the children space to play, and in the early afternoon we broke bread together under a canopy of leaves resplendent in brilliant oranges, yellows and reds.
It was one of my favorite Thanksgiving days ever. Because we were eating and reciting our Thanksgiving prayer outside, I truly felt as if we were sharing in the harvest while surrounded by Nature's Bounty. It worked out so well that this year we're doing it again.
I learned a lot about taking things outside, what worked and what I could have done differently, and I'll share these. And please feel free to share any suggestions or traditions that you do in your family! This is what's beautiful about the blogging world -- we all learn from one another.
We are at the mercy of Mother Nature
I spend a great deal of time complaining about the interminable summers here in the Deep South where, unless it's a picnic on a beach, I like to eat indoors with the gentle hum of the air conditioner providing background music. But spring and fall are absolutely gorgeous here so having our Thanksgiving meal outside is an option for us. I realize this may not be possible for those living in colder areas of the country, but you get a snowy Christmas and we don't (one day I would like to experience a Christmas Eve snowfall and wake up Christmas morning to a winter wonderland). I guess the bottom line is this: as much as we love to be out in Mother Nature, we are at mercy of the seasons and completely dependent on her whims. And believe it or not, it gets cold down here, too.
 |
A basket of blankets by the back door for chilly nights
(because even in the Deep South it gets cold). |
Know your entertaining style
Elegant, casual, or somewhere in between? Lennox china or mismatched stoneware from Pottery Barn? Linen tablecloths or burlap table runners? Theme or no theme? We all host Thanksgiving in different ways, but if you stay true to your style then it will come across more naturally. If I had to pick my style, I suppose it would be more Tuscan farmhouse than Italian villa; in other words, welcoming and cozy with a tiny whisper of elegance in a rustic setting. Truthfully, though, I tend to think more in terms of
mood rather than
style. How do I want my guests to feel? How do I want them to interact? What do I want them to experience when they walk in our front door? What can I do to ensure they have a lovely time?
Moving it outdoors
Whatever your style, it's easy to move your Thanksgiving meal outdoors by recreating your inside setting ... outside. Picture your dinner table under the trees, or on your brick patio, or next to the fire pit. Set the table with your Lennox china or your Pottery Barn stoneware. Use the crystal stemware. String lights from the trees, provide background music, and keep a basket of blankets nearby for when the sun goes down. Don't think
picnic just because you're eating outdoors; rather, think dining al fresco on the Amalfi Coast.
Logistics are important
When you move the meal outdoors, it's important to map things out in advance. Know where to place the table, how guests will handle drinks, and how food will be served. For last year's Thanksgiving meal I made sure to place the table where there would be afternoon shade. I also knew that, due to our large numbers, passing around the sweet potato casserole or a platter of sliced turkey would be cumbersome, so I set up a buffet table nearby. As for drinks ... I placed bottled water and wine on the table, but all other beverages (soda, beer, iced tea) could be found at a "beverage station" on the deck.
 |
| Planners, planners everywhere! This from Pinterest. |
Dressing the table (in addition to the turkey)
To me, holidays are a time to dress things up, and just because you're dining al fresco doesn't mean you can't use table linens. To keep things simple, whenever I entertain (inside or outside) I do any of the following:
1/ Go bare. I really, really like the look of stoneware on dark, bare wood, so if you have a nice table don't use a tablecloth. Use linen napkins to soften the look and introduce a color scheme.
 |
| photo via pinterest |
 |
| Preparing a tablescape for a talk. No tablecloth needed. |
2/ Use drop cloths from Home Depot or Lowe's. Seriously, this is my favorite thing to do. The canvas almost looks like linen, and the neutral color provides an excellent backdrop for centerpieces and trays of food. And the best part? They are indestructible, can be cut to size, and drape nicely.
 |
| Using drop cloths from Lowe's for a luncheon |
 |
| Drop cloths are durable and drape nicely. |
3/ Use blankets or throws. This is another of my favorite tips, especially during the fall and winter months. Whether I set a table in front of the fireplace or out on the back deck, I will use flannel blankets as tablecloths. Last week I found some perfect blankets/throws at Hobby Lobby which be used for this year's Thanksgiving table, and the pretty autumnal colors will contrast nicely with neutral stone plates and fall décor; additionally, the throws help create a mood of welcome and hominess. The best part? They were 50% off (I purchased six blankets for less than $30, which will cover two 8-ft long tables.)
 |
| Fireside dinner using flannel throws as tablecloths |
 |
| The Hobby Lobby throws I will use this year |
Divide and Conquer
We all know that the Thanksgiving meal takes a lot of preparation and cooking, but the very heart of that first Thanksgiving was about celebrating Nature's Bounty and God's Blessings by bringing something to the table. So allow others to participate by bringing a bottle of wine, a side dish, a pumpkin pie. Here's one thing that works for our large family gatherings: we host and provide drinks, appetizers, and a side dish or two, my siblings bring side dishes and desserts, and my mother cooks the turkey (this is KEY! for me because it saves my kitchen from a huge mess -- think turkey carcass and dripping juices -- and it frees precious countertop space for all the side dishes).
 |
| My sister's fancy shmancy homemade pumpkin pie |
Something for everyone
Finally, when hosting it is nice to be able to offer something to all age groups, and being outside made this easier. So Joe set up corn hole, the boys made sure basketballs and footballs were pumped full of air, and I set out a basket of blankets in case anyone got chilly. Last year, I realized how having all that extra space allowed us to offer more things to do -- after eating the adults lingered at the table but could still see (and cheer!) the kids playing corn hole; the teens played basketball but came running when we pulled out the dessert; people wandered to the buffet table, drink station, and back again.
What about the football games? Our family is 90% male, so yes, there is football -- both in the backyard and on television. Last year the guys periodically wandered inside to check the score or watch a touchdown, but then they always wandered back again outside. We were at, or nearby, the table all afternoon. Then, later that night some friends dropped by and we had S'mores around the fire pit.
 |
| 1. Too far 2. Closer, but still too far 3. Perfect! |
Treasured Traditions
Finally, our family has celebrated Thanksgiving in many ways -- inside, outside, at grandparent's homes, at the beach, and even in Italy. But no matter where we are, we always read our family's Thanksgiving prayer. It's a special prayer, written by Lino Villacha, and my mother became pen pals with Lino through her best friend who was a missionary in Brazil. Lino's poem,
Obrigado Senhor, is a prayer thanking God for everything he had -- and when you read his words in light of the fact he suffered from leprosy and lived in poverty, it puts things in perspective.
In his poem, Lino thanks God for healthy limbs when so many are crippled; for a voice that sings when so many are mute; for hands that work when so many have to beg; and for a home to return to when so many don't know where they are going. And as we read the poem reminding us to celebrate what we have instead of focusing on what we don't, it's always the last two lines which capture the essence of Thanksgiving:
It is wonderful, Lord, to have so little to ask and so much to be thankful for.
