Sharing Thanksgiving Photos
It's always so much fun to see how others celebrate Thanksgiving.
Every year I send out an email to all our employees, business partners, and friends extending my very best wishes for a safe and lovely holiday. In my note, I share my own plans and talk about the dishes I am making for the gatherings I attend or those I host myself. I also urge everyone to take photos of their table settings, their feasts, their families and their friends, so I could post them on a blog to share with readers. This year, I opened it up to my Instagram followers - asking all to send in their holiday table photos. I am so thrilled with all the responses and excited to see the pictures and the stories that accompany them.
Here is the first gallery, enjoy.
-
- This beautiful photo was the first to come in from Tyler Caleb Harper in New York. He writes, “I saw your Instagram post and wanted to submit a photo I took of the Thanksgiving spread I made for my parents back home in Mississippi.”
-
- This submission is from James and Heather Lura. They celebrated Thanksgiving in their Wayzata, Minnesota home with all the traditional Thanksgiving foods and desserts.
-
- Cassie Welsh from Winchester, Tennessee says, “Hi Martha! I’m hosting Thanksgiving for the second year and I’m so excited. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I love decorating the table in a bountiful harvest way.”
-
- Cassie also says, “I use pumpkins from local nurseries, turkey candy dishes found while thrifting, and postcards from an antique store in Salem, Massachusetts.”
-
- Here is a closer image of Cassie’s fun turkey plates. Do you know the history behind turkey patterns? When President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving official in 1863, English potters began making holiday themed dinner plates and platters to take advantage of the growing market for these pieces. Manufacturers have been producing them ever since.
-
- Here is one of the antique post cards Cassie used for her decorative centerpiece.
-
- And some of Cassie’s locally bought pumpkins.
-
- Katie Alvarez sent me this photo. She says, “hoping this table inspires others to enjoy the simple beauty of beeswax candles at their holiday gatherings this season. On this table is an antique Wilton Armetale pewter and folk art runner with beeswax tapers by Appalachian Wax Works handcrafted in Maryland.”
-
- Happy Thanksgiving from Ashley Andrews in Sacramento, California. This is a photo of her beautiful table. The China is Tiffany & Co., barware is William Sonoma, and the silver is a sterling set from her great grandmother. The florals are from a local florist, Twiggs, and I served prime rib, macaroni and cheese, and spinach salad. Dessert was carrot cake!
-
- Another Instagram follower, Linda Farrington, sent in this photo of her table. Linda writes, “I have always loved Martha’s recipes and entertaining style… she inspires me. I prefer a formal setting with soup tureens, heirloom silverware, china, and crystal. I host holidays in my 1927 revival Normandy Tudor house in Westchester County. I used Martha’s recipe for creamed onions.”
-
- Linda also prints out a menu for all her guests.
-
- This pie was baked by Instagram follower, Anthony Pena. He says, “your book, Pies & Tarts, helped me along the way.” My original Pies & Tarts book continues to be a source for me also. This year, I made brown sugar pumpkin pies and cranberry tarts using my recipes in that book.
-
- Anthony also made this pecan pie – the decorative turkey cookie is so pretty.
-
- Cindy Syracuse and her family “celebrate Thanksgiving the night before so we can sleep in on Thanksgiving Day, watch football and enjoy the leftovers!”
-
- Cindy writes, “I use my wedding Lenox China, Williams-Sonoma napkins and pumpkin glasses, flatware from Target, and a table runner from Amazon.”
-
- Tracie Stoll sent me the following three photos. She says, “I was so happy to see the Instagram post and wanted to share my pictures. My husband passed away in February after a very brief battle with bile duct cancer. He was just 49 years old. This is my first Thanksgiving without him. We were married 27 years, together since 1992. Thanksgiving was his most favorite holiday. We have hosted our whole married life.”
-
- Tracie adds, “I always give a favor for people to take home and this year I had some coasters made with some of his old shirts, some of his favorite button downs from years past. Here are a few pictures. Happy Thanksgiving.”
-
- I am sure all Tracie’s guests loved these special favors.
-
- Jackie Johnson McBride shares four images. She says, “I decided we needed some colorful cheer with all going on in the world, so my food and tables reflected that with pops of citrus and color.”
-
- Here’s a view of one of her place settings. Jackie adds, “I did a citrus thyme butter turkey with cheesecloth as well. My Mom passed earlier this year; we were always the biggest fans of Martha.”
-
- Everyone at Jackie’s table filled their plates. I bet they also went back for seconds and even thirds.
-
- Jackie also shared a toast to all.
-
- This table was set by Catherine Sharkey Steinberg from Riverwoods, Illionois. She writes, it includes “transferware plates I collected 25-years ago. I used some blankets set on the diagonal instead of tablecloths.”
-
- Here is a look at Catherine’s lovely centerpiece.
-
- And these photos are from Danielle Dickson. It’s a “Thanksgiving table scape I spent weeks planning and thrifting to bring to fruition two years ago. It’s still one of my favorites! Our daughter came home from New York City and complained that I always do elaborate table scapes for company and not for our intimate family meals. I had to go all out! I think I successfully channeled my inner Martha.”
-
- Here’s one of the place settings at Danielle’s table. Everyone’s tables look so gorgeous. Thanks for sending in these photos. And tune in again tomorrow for more of your Thanksgiving memories.
Martha Pins
Martha Tweets
