AFTER Thanksgiving at the Cross House?
A few months ago I was talking with Justin.
“Justin, the Cross House is SO something which is ideal for entertaining, and I would love to have a gala Thanksgiving dinner at the house as an annual event. But I have no family, and all my friends join their families that day. So, a good idea but nobody would come.”
Justin pondered. “Why don’t you do a day after Thanksgiving family-of-choice dinner? I would love to come.”
This seemed a brilliant idea!
A month later, Sandra, who learned of the house via this blog, and toured the house, emailed with a proposal. “I do this HUGE Thanksgiving dinner which has a ton of leftovers. How about if I bring all the leftovers to the Cross House the day after Thanksgiving, and we have a great dinner with a bunch of people?”
This seemed rather cosmic right after my conversation with Justin. So I said yes. Yes!
Now that this day is soon upon me I have been fretting. Who should I invite? Because I have lived in so many states, my fabulous oldest bestest friends are not likely to fly to Kansas for a day.
Then it occurred to me: invite all of you!
So, this post is an invitation to join me for a family-of-choice Thanksgiving dinner the day after Thanksgiving.
Dinner will be served at noon.
Bring leftovers!
I will supply wine.
NOTE: If you plan to attend, you must contact me to let me know. I will need to prepare!
So…it will be interesting to see how this turns out!
EEK! EEK!
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I am thankful to have been invited, and regret that I must regret.
And now I am full of regret!
It would be great fun if I could make it! And how perfect for a kitchenless house. Remember my first new years party with Indonesian takeout warmed on an electric radiator?
Chad! I would LOVE to meet you!!!!!!!!
I’m sure we can do that at some point! But not the day after Thanksgiving.
Poo!
Wonderful idea! I really wish I lived closer (I live in NC). I would love to be able to visit, meet you and see The Cross House in person. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving and a wonderful dinner party. Love your blog!
Thank you, Pam!
Yay yay yay!!!
I will bring leftovers–sherried sweet potatoes/pineapple/brown sugar/pecans//stuffing w sage, white wine, walnuts, celery & mixed day old bread, green beans w Jerez sherry vinegar, walnuts & dried tart cherries! Ross et al will provide turkey for me to cook & a sundry bloggers & friends of Ross in KS will enjoy!!!! Yay yay yay I am so pumped– especially since I invited myself & my side dishes!!
Come one come all ya’all!!
Have a wonderful blessed Thanksgiving Ross and community.
Tank you, Susan! And you, too!
We will have a delightful time & this will be great for Ross to be surrounded by all of us who can make it & support his endeavors. Thanks for all of the good wishes & am so thankful Ross is on board with my crazy idea of inviting myself to cook at the Cross House. He assures me will have an oven to cook the turkey in & if not will have a backup roaster ????haha
Today I got the hot water heater hooked up! Whoee!
Yes, I will have a full range in the kitchen, and microwave.
What a wondrous and special way to celebrate a day of thanks. Regrets I cannot be there from Canada (Toronto) but I will look forward to seeing pictures (and video?) of this event. Enjoy.
Hello, Canada! Have a lovely Thanksgiving, Anne!
Maybe we could carpool next year! I’m just 3 hours down the road from T.O.!
This is such a wonderful idea! And I wish I could join you. But I will be in Nebraska hosting my own”Slightly Used Pie Party,” which involves friends, wine, beer, coffee, and eating up everyone’s leftover Thanksgiving pies. But I will let my mother and sister know, and if Mom’s up to it, maybe they’ll stop by!
Oh & I so wanted to see you Barb Sanford— you & Kerri are 2 of my favorite CH bloggers!!
Happy holidays to u & yours!
Sandra: What a kind thing for you to say! I am from Emporia and am back often. If you are nearby, we could always meet another time when I am back. I am very sorry to miss meeting you and sampling those fabulous side dishes!
Yes yes yes I have to meet you if the I will bring the paint brush for the north facade!! U are so delightful– Ross kept expecting Barb w paint brush in hand hahaha & said so when I had. Delightful visit in Aug. I will email u when in Emporia some time visiting Cross House– obsessed w Cross House & driving family, friends & sundry loved ones ad nauseum w all get delightful attributes. Constantly talking about Restoringross.com–42 original stained glass, 8 fireplaces etc poor Ross!! I pestered him with my Thanksgiving ideas & bless him he finally relented after Justin broached the cosmic idea…..
WOW! I would have some killer leftovers to contribute but when asking my husband about going to Kansas he said,” I’m not Dorothy!” Guess that means no…. Michigan is a little farther than a few hour drive! Maybe you could “live-cast”? I’m sure it will be fabulous and I will join you in spirit.
Where in Michigan? I am a go Blue fan!
Buchanan, SW corner…we’re actually Hoosiers…big Norte Dame and IU fans…
Thx!! It’s ok u r ND & Hoosier /IU fans!! Haha my sister & her husband got their PhDs @IU–the Lessows ???? So I won’t hold it against u!!!
I think it’s a friggin great idea. Assuming I-35 from Olathe doesn’t become too treacherous, count me in. I will reply privately to see what I can contribute, but I can definitely bring a turkey or ham if we can figure out how to warm it when I get there. Looking forward to meeting any and all who can stop in.
I’m driving up from Overland Park & should be ok unless part major blizzard!
I am planning on bringing a roaster to plug in to roast my turkey. Ross may hv an oven as well. If I. Use the oven u could us my roaster. It would be lovely for a ham.
Oh my goodness, what a GREAT idea. I will probably have to decline (with a lot of regret) but I’ll see if I can talk my husband into it.
Wishing you luck with your powers of persuasion!
What fun!
My father did this for decades on Thanksgiving and everyone loved it. Many people are estranged or live far away from their families, so he always threw events like these for anyone who wanted to stop by and feel like family for a day. He also threw a summer potluck picnic by the river every year. I would bring a group art project that we all could work on to commemorate our reunions.
He had one of those old-fashioned Bingo games with the big wheel and we would always play “Performance Bingo” too. Whoever got BINGO would recite a poem, sing a song, tell a story or a joke, do a trick – whatever special thing they could do – we laughed together and all felt accepted and appreciated. There was usually a musical jam session later too. He had a lot of friends in theater, art and music, so it was always a memorable time running into friends from far and wide to catch up.
My point is, you’re starting a new tradition, making new friends and creating good memories. It can be whatever you want it to be – just like your beautiful home. People will talk for years about the fun you’ll have. It’ll be epic!
What a wonderful comment, Gia! Thank you!
I’m all the way out here in California so there is no way I can make it, but I wanted to respond to tell you how much your kind invitation is TRULY appreciated and that, if I could, I definitely would be there. I know you will all have a great time! You are such a kind and good person Ross. I wish you nothing but the best – you so deserve it!
Thank you, Kerri! Much love, Ross
Gee wish I lived close (Boston) I would be there in a flash! Would love to meet you and your beautiful house! Enjoy!
Wanna carpool? 😉
What an awesome idea! This is gonna be great for ou and everyone to meet IRL, and I so wish i could fly over from Loire Valley, France to meet you and see your incredible house (hooked up to this blog since Day 1, first binge-reading it, and then daily — at work lol).
The Loire Valley? I wanna come visit you!
If you ever come to Loire Valley some day (daydreaming is good, right?), let me know! 🙂
You’re such an inspiration. We’re doing a bathroom and bedroom in our stone barn, and I keep bugging my BF about doing things properly (prime-sand-paint, filling-in every hole, etc… it is soooo far from perfect but at least we try!) 🙂
Aaaawww…I wish I could come, but America is so very far away…
What a great idea. And so cool that Sandra invited herself with all her goodies. I hope you have a great time. I wish I could come also, but Arizona is so far away. Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Too far from Indiana for me to be there. The Cross House will be alive again with laughter from old and new friends, the smells of wonderful food. Much to be thankful for! Enjoy your first Thanksgiving in what I hope are many, Ross.
This reminds of our first Christmas party in this house. The place was empty, as we had closed the sale two months earlier and were still in the process of planning renovations. We invited all of our friends and family, encouraged them to bring food, drink, and a lawn chair. It was fabulous … as I know your party will be, too.
Please allow me to express how thankful I am for the effort you put into documenting and sharing your renovations and your thoughts and feelings about the process. Thank you, Ross, dear.
What a great idea! I cannot wait to see the pics after the event!
Crazy me and my 12 year old daughter who considers you a hero, we might come (with her sister 10 and my adult son). I will have to look in to the finances. Could we camp out in the house before driving back to IOWA?
Wonderful idea!! I’m staying over night in Emporia night before & after as not a spring chicken & have to pace myself. Kids could sleep in sleeping bags & u could hv 1 bed & I would hv the other. We could split it! Haha! I will drive back to Rochester MN on Sat. Staying in Overland Park Wed nite to see my 23 year old son:-)
That sounds like fun! I am disabled, so no money for a hotel, so the only way we could come is if we could camp out. But it is up to Ross- his house. And staying the night before would allow for a safer trip.
Hi, Mariam!
It would be a delight to see you for the event! But, the house is SO not ready for anybody staying the night.
I have been following your wonderful progress for a year now and truly wish I could make this undeniably incredible soiree! Unfortunately, the trip from Key Largo after my Hurricane Irma injury has prohibited the possibility. Thank you for sharing your stories and house adventures. I hope to meet you in the future!
This sounds like such an extraordinary event and I am bummbed that I can’t make it! Hope you all have a fabulous time- great idea Ross!
Oh PK sososo wanted to meet you the creative genius / artistic genius—love love love your art!!!!l
Oh Thanks Sandra. Maybe we’ll meet at Ross’ next extravaganza -after he gets the bat paper hung!
Maybe I’ll buy this 1932 Studebaker so we could recreate the 1932 Mouse family photo:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1932-Studebaker-Six-Model-54/222709396720?hash=item33da83b4f0:g:8QcAAOSwjyhaAPFp&vxp=mtr
Oh my gosh I wish I lived closer. One day . . .
This sounds like it will be wonderful. For everyone who can attend I wish you and Ross a day that is filled with warmth, friendship and joy. And for all of us who wishes they could come please share photos of the fun.
It sounds like a wonderful event, I look forward to seeing pictures and reading about it!
Ross,
I would very much like to attend if you would have me, and maybe my husband if he doesn’t have to work that day. I’ll probably bring a dessert of some kind?
When you say that dinner is served at noon, do you mean my Vermonter and retired Army husband’s version of noon, which is noon on the dot, or my Mexican version of noon, which really means people should show up between 1 pm and 2 pm? Because if I tell my husband that it starts at noon, then we will show up on your doorstep at exactly ten minutes to noon, sigh…
Thank you so much for your generous invitation!
Amber
Abilene, KS
I would be thrilled to meet you, Amber. And your husband.
Your time questions made me laugh! So, let’s say Vermont time.I would suggest arriving around 11AM.
Bring whatever u like!
It’s only a 1500 km drive for me. 🙂
Perhaps next year. I would definitely take some vacation time and combine the trip in with a stop in Chicago for some pizza!
I’m sure you will all have a great day. Sorry that I live too far away.
Lovely invite …. I did send a message via the contact link but all other replies there looked past-tense, so … I am excited to attend and since I’m local, I can bring mashed potatoes and my friend Dee will bring a pumpkin pie … Laura