As many of us prepare for some sort of Thanksgiving….gatherings that might be filled with traditional foods, fancy table settings, watching parades, napping to football, volunteering to serve meals, or deliver meals. Possibly skipping the whole thing. Or resting up for Black Friday…Steve and I want to wish you the best and tell you a bit about our Annual Pie Party.
For about 5 years now we have invited neighbors and friends to join us for a sweet & savory get together. It’s always a week or two before Thanksgiving. And it’s a super-easy party to host. Guests bring either a sweet or savory pie, or nothing but themselves. There’s always PLENTY of pie, no need to worry if you don’t like to cook, but do like to eat! There’s something wonderful for everyone. Shepherds pie, chicken pie, pizza pie, crust-less pie, hand pies, quiche, shrimp & grits pie, onion tarts. And of course alongside the pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie, apple pie, blueberry pie, and chocolate pie you’ll find key lime pie. Honestly, name a pie you want. With at least 40 pies to choose from you can’t be disappointed. We even had Moon Pies! It is totally okay to eat “dessert” before “dinner”.
This year we had 72 guests and 3 dogs! A fantastic bonfire, and as always a few new faces, an age-range of 1-month-old to 85-years-young. And so much laughter along with lots of storytelling.
This year we added something new. I put a wheelbarrow out front and invited guests to bring donations for C.O.R.A., our local food bank. On Monday morning I was delighted to deliver a full car of needed items. I had to leave the wheelbarrow at home.
As the photo above suggests, be grateful and eat pie!
We are and we did ❤️🥧🙏
Happy Thanksgiving y’all
FROM STEVE:
About five years ago we were invited to a pie party on the west coast and found it to be a great way to make connections with people we didn’t know very well.
There’s something about a pie that feels like a reward for living in the school of life which can provide some challenges.
We brought the tradition of the Pie Party back to North Carolina and started our own version.
The first party was a booming success with lots of sweet pies and a few less savory pies. A bonfire maker showed up and kept the fire going for hours. It was pretty chilly and everyone snuggled, met new friends, ate more pie, and went home happy.
I have been very physically weakened. I wasn’t sure I could manage four hours of entertaining and helping people blend in and create interesting conversation. Debbie and I always like to bring people together that don’t know each other. We have lots of great conversationalists in our lives! It’s fun to watch them connect.
I found my rhythm when my Pickleball students showed up early and loved on me. I realized that I could just sit with them and hold hands instead of being the host. I got to be an observer.
I made it 3 hours before heading to the bedroom to rest. Around 7 o’clock Debbie came in to check on me. She was amazed how long I had hung out. I rested for an hour then I got up to wash dishes, which is one of my favorite things.
After a party we like to share our stories. What we ate, who we talked with, what we learned, and what surprised us. I was really happy that we have seasoned Pie Party guests who covered all of my hosting roles by hanging out in the kitchen and greeting everyone! Mostly I was just happy that I had the strength to be present with loved ones.
THE MORNING AFTER” Taken from the The Red Couch
Steve & Debbie’s Grand Adventure 