Cranberry Thanksgiving, and I hope yours is just as cozy as the one in the book...

"How delicious," said Maggie.

"How delightful," said Grandmother.

"How about another piece?" 

That last statement, one filled with appreciation for the pumpkin pie with whipped cream, was said by Mr. Whiskers, otherwise known as Uriah Peabody, the sometimes-gruff sea captain in Cranberry Thanksgiving by Wendy and Harry Devlin. The story is set on a cranberry bog in New England, and it's Thanksgiving Day. Grandmother and Maggie live alone, and for the holiday, they each choose a guest to share their meal, one who is also alone or poor. Grandmother invites a polished gentleman whom she met and who was staying at the hotel. Mr. Whiskers is Maggie's special friend, one of whom Grandmother firmly disapproves. "Too many whiskers and not enough soap!" she says. Mr. Whiskers has not had a Thanksgiving meal in twenty years, and he arrives all scrubbed up and even has a tie on!

Well, as the story unfolds, it turns out that Mr. Whiskers is the true gentleman, and he saves the secret cranberry bread recipe and the day. Grandmother learns not to judge people by their outward looks and behavior, and Maggie's faith in her friend is justified. Their cozy dinner by the firelight, the ample, home-cooked meal, and the friendship they share make for a favorite story.

I first encountered this story when I was pretty young. My parents had signed me up for one of those one-book-a-month book clubs, and my favorite day of the month was when my new book arrived in the mail. I don't recall any of the others, but I still have this one, the original copy a little extra worn around the binding, but the story still warms my heart. 

I found a nice reading of it on youtube for Holly; we spent the afternoon baking, and while the pumpkin pie bars were in the oven, we listened to the story. That set us up for the cranberry eggnog muffins that came next, too-- the house smelled so good (the air already scented with Bell's Seasoning from my earlier project of making my grandmother's meat dressing ahead). 

I hope your day is filled with good food, family and friends, and a little touch of New England, too-- pumpkin, eggnog, cranberry, and sage... maybe that last one will smudge out some of the negative stuff as well? 

Have a good day,

C