Most of our traditions have fallen away with the passing of the older generations. What is still important to my husband and I is just a sweet rememberance to our children and their generation. We still have a traditional meal and will welcome all who would come. Unfortunately, with some of the family heading south for the winter, and others simply not wanting to be obligated to taking a turn hosting the event, they make other plans. I've only been to one of my four siblings for a Thanksgiving, and that was about 20 years ago, and we all live less than 40 miles of one another. We held our family dinner last Saturday so it wouldn't interfere with other plans, but it still didn't work for them.
Our dinner was our usual traditional/non-traditional with turkey, bbq ribs, mashed potatoes, candied yams, oyster dressing, cornbread dressing, gravy, corn, cranberry relish, assorted other salads and sides, rolls, pumpkin pie and other desserts.
Our actual Thanksgiving day was as simple as it could be...we even went out for dinner...just the two of us. I made two fresh pies for dessert at home....mincemeat pie and an old family favorite...Old Fashioned Cream pie.
Today I went grocery shopping and tonight will prepare dinner for son and his three children. They are here for the weekend. Oh goodie! :)

Jan

We had 10 people for dinner yesterday and 12 today. It's been so nice seeing friends and family. Today we had a soup dinner; turkey noodle and potato leek, which used the leftovers from yesterday's dinner. It was a big change to go from china dishes yesterday to soup from a pottery mug today, but the pottery's more my style anyway. I'm grateful that I have a family who appreciates my efforts in the kitchen. It makes all the preparation worth it!