Take Me Thursday

Welcome to Take Me Thursdays

So I have been contemplating for some time on how to incorporate a little bit more of "me" into the blog. I am a North Carolina native and love my home state. So on Thursdays, I am going to show you places in NC that are some of my favorites and hopefully, bring a little inspiration to you to get out there and travel a bit. It is called Take Me Thursdays! Just in time for the weekend. I do hope you enjoy! Please comment on posts as I can use all the encouragement (or criticism) as I can get for the blog!

This week we Travel: To the Pursers' House

Because today is Thanksgiving I wanted to dedicate this post to my parents. All my life they have gone out of their way to make the holidays extra special for us kids. Not just their own, but all our friends too (who they also claim as theirs). From the moment I step out of the car, I can feel the warmth of this home. Not a house, but a warm, cozy, friendly home. The smell of woodsmoke coming from the fireplace, all the family dogs running up to greet you, the crunch of leaves underfoot let me know it's fall. Faintly, you can hear the sounds of music, bluegrass or country, or (if my sister is home, Christmas tunes) coming from the stereo. This particular sound means there is something a cookin' in the kitchen. Only when the stereo is on is there food in the oven! And speaking of food, sometimes, if you're lucky, you get the whiff of hickory wood and turkey waving through the crisp air while it's cooking in the smoker. Dads specialty.

Walking in the house, there is a fire in the fireplace, the dogs, Kanyun, Scout, Merlot and Maggie are underfoot craving attention. The air is warm from the cozy fireplace and divine smells are coming from the kitchen where there is family, who have come from all over the state to be here. To be with us. To be with family.

Mom, who is normally covered in flour, reaching out for a hug and grinning from ear-to-ear. Annie, my little (buy by no means baby) sister who is the queen of the stereo and all things silly. Her husband, Bryan, the minister, who is never seen without sweet tea in his hand or their dogs, Kanyun and Scout by his side. My Dad, who has never let any type of weather keep him from the outdoors prefers to only come inside if there is food readily available and a good movie to watch. He's the true outdoors man.

My cousin, Allyson and her husband Benny, who come in town from Boone, NC to help bake all the holiday goodies with Mom, Annie and I. And last, but not least, my Aunt Sue. Allyson's mom. Who comes in town from Greenville, NC to help cook, knead bread, decorate cookies, wrap gifts or simply to enjoy the holiday banter. My favorite aunt of all (but then again, I only have 1). Holidays just aren't the same without them.

And then there is myself and my husband John. I am the loud one. I like things to be fun, light-hearted and filled with laughter. John on the other hand is quiet. He sits back and takes everything in. He laughs quietly at our silly puns and jokes. Goes along with us as we look through old family pictures. Smiles when Annie does something silly and ends up falling out of her chair. Helps Dad whenever he needs a hand hauling in some more firewood. He's an observer. And this year, will be his first Holiday at our house since he married me. Now, a family member himself.

There are others to drop in to say hello too, old friends who only come into town for the holidays drop by for a cookie or two (or an entire meal). Who most of the time end up staying longer than they planned because we suck them into the holidays along with us.

The Purser house is always filled with food, and dogs, and people. It has been this way all my life. Mom always wanted to have a house full of people and chaos. And boy does she get it! God willing our family will only grow. But it truly is my favorite place in the entire world to be. Thanks Mom and Dad for making your home my home and so many others feel at home too.

What about you? Where is your favorite place to be for the holidays? What are your holiday traditions?