The day after Thanksgiving, our kitchen is a patchwork of pie tins, turkey bones, and half-eaten casseroles. But instead of diving into cleanup or Black Friday chaos, we’ve started a new tradition:
We call it “Leftovers & Love Notes.”
🍂 Fun Breakfast Plans and a Strategy That Pulls Us All Together
Our family loves a good tradition. I had recently decided to ditch the shopping spree on Black Friday. Actually, I only did the whole Black Friday Thing one time, that was enough for me.
And so, for years, the day after Thanksgiving was a time to relax, read, and slowly put the Autumn decor away, prepping for the Christmas Holidays.
It’s simple, slow, and sacred… just the way we like it.
and hanging them out in the yard for fresh air before packing them back up for another year.
🥐 Brunch from the Bounty
While the coffee brews and the kids sleep in Friday morning, I pull out the remnants of yesterday’s feast. Mashed potatoes become crispy potato cakes in the skillet, topped with a fried egg.
Turkey is tucked into warm biscuits with cranberry jam. I wake everyone up and we gather around the table in pajamas, plates piled high, hearts still full.
There’s no rush. No pressure. Just the quiet joy of being together.
💌 Notes of Gratitude
After breakfast, we pass around a little wooden box filled with notecards and pens.
Each of us writes a note to someone we’re thankful for. It could be an aunt who brought the sweet potato casserole. It might be a neighbor who dropped off a pie. It can also be a teacher who’s gone the extra mile this past fall at school.
The kids draw pictures. The grown-ups write memories. We seal each envelope with a pretty sticker stamp and a prayer.
Later, we walk to the mailbox together, scarves wrapped tight, cheeks pink from the cold. It’s a small thing, really. But in a world that moves so fast, taking time to say “thank you” feels like a quiet rebellion.
🌟 Why It Matters
This tradition reminds us that gratitude isn’t just a feeling; it’s a practice. One we can carry with us, long after the last slice of pie is gone.
So this Thanksgiving weekend, I invite you to try it.
Gather your leftovers. Gather your people.
And let love linger just a little longer.
Blue Willow 
“But in a world that moves so fast, taking time to say “thank you” feels like a quiet rebellion.” That is true! Sounds like a great tradition to start on any day! ~ Rosie
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Thank you, Rosie! I agree wholeheartedly
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I love your new Thanksgiving rituals.
Ditching the Black Friday shopping spree, you turn leftovers into a rich brunch. Sunning the linens will give them a sun smell. The best part is the note writing and dropping the little notes or cards into the mailbox. They will definitely brighten many guys’ day.
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Thank you, we love them, too, Mr. Shengliver! And you are right, the Luncheon is Rich in so many ways. (Some foods taste even better the second day, and we found that to be true with the Stuffing/Dressing and the Gravy, too). One of my favorite activities is hanging out the wash in the cool air in November. There is no fresher smell that linens and clothing hung out in the sun! Thank you for your kind comments!
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“Leftovers & Love Notes” feels like such a beautiful way to extend the spirit of gratitude just a little longer. It’s traditions like this that make the season memorable—not the big events, but the quiet rituals that bring connection, reflection, and a little extra warmth to the weekend.
Thanks for sharing this—it’s inspiring, and it makes me want to create a new tradition of my own.
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Glad to hear this, Diana! I hope you do create some new traditions. They are the foundation of our holidays, and hold us together thru thick and thin! Thanks for your kind comment!
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