Bring On The Turkeys

By Leigh Sorensen

So all the relatives are coming for Thanksgiving – his relatives, her relatives, old folks, teething tots, toddling house-wreckers, bored-to-tears teens. Even some in-laws and lonely neighbors. The football game will not be enough distraction.

Here’s what you can do inside and out to create a little buzz and enter tainment in addition to serving “stone fences,” an intoxicating Monmouth County mixed drink featuring applejack, apple cider and Angostura bitters.

Bring on the pumpkins, gourds, nuts and charades. Off limits are impeachment pie and political pudding.

You do not have to be Martha Stewart, but try. Everyone knows if you just bought the decorations, of course you bought the food. Seriously, distract them with your own decorations and activities. Get the kids involved.

How about a turkey centerpiece made from a pineapple or pumpkin? Or autumn lovebirds made from gourds? A bouquet of grasses? A wreath for the front door made from autumn leaves or bittersweet?

Or if the game really is the day’s centerpiece, put a pig-skin bird in the middle of your table as illustrated here.

I’m mum re mums. Well almost. I once gave one to a French family I owed a thank you, and they were appalled. In France mums are for funerals.

While the game is on, give your paper shopping bags and a pair of scissors to the children and have them make a costume: Native American headdress, fringed dress, chaps, pilgrim hat. When they are paperdolled up, they can play charades with simple things to act out: turkey, cat, dog, lizard, eagle, grandparent.

Then send them outside for a treasure hunt. It could be for tiny pumpkins, red leaves, acorns, but not candy. They’re still on a sugar-high from Halloween. Or if the weather cooperates, have them build a snow pilgrim.

Or if you want everyone to go outside and you have a small hill, play Thanksgiving boules, a game similiar to bocce with a metal ball, or see who can roll a very round pumpkin the farthest. Make it harder by giving your guests different shapes.

Next year, hopefully, some competitive family member will want to host Thanksgiving in a totally different way – like hiring a caterer.

Leigh Sorensen has designed gardens in the Two River area and beyond for more than 25 years. She is also a former columnist and contributor to The Two River Times. She can be reached at leighsorensonlandscapedesign.com.