From Potatoes to Pies: The Many Ways Give Thanks to Farmers [Opinion]

Is your list made?

That list very likely includes a turkey, the iconic protein entrée of the upcoming week.

Also on the list might be potatoes, white (or yellow or purple) or sweet or maybe both.

Other “sides” could include dishes ranging through a whole buffet of possibilities — from the classic green bean casserole to corn fixed in one of various ways to Brussels sprouts to the mandatory stuffing (or filling if that’s your family’s term).

Dessert plans very possibly include pumpkin, or a similarly flavored squash, prepared in some form or fashion, from the traditional pie to a more fanciful torte or a rich, creamy cheesecake.

And what else are you thankful for, besides that groaning table piled high with food?

Faith, freedom, family, friends. Peace. Good health. Warmth and shelter. Job security. And all those other life-biggies we so much take for granted.

What about all the little, ordinary, day-to-day stuff that smooths the potentially raw edges of our days and makes our moments a little easier, a little simpler, a bit less hassled? We all have some that come to mind.

Right now, with darkness arriving before supper, I’m so thankful for our brilliant outside night light.

The glaring brightness switches on automatically as daylight fades, casting a wide expanse of day-like glow over much of the yard and the areas we regularly travel between the house and the barn.

When it burned out several weeks ago — finally fried into failure perhaps by the extreme heat of the last few summers — nothing felt quite right at night.

It was difficult to see anything more than a few feet away outside, especially in the deep dark of moonless nights. I even resorted to plugging in a small night light upstairs, since the dusk-to-dawn light’s glow no longer peeked through the shadows.

About the second night after the light failed, I walked to the barn just after dark to feed the critters and lock up the chickens from our foxy marauders.

Still unaccustomed to the absence of the night light, I’d neglected to take a flashlight. In the darkness, I forgot the loose stones on our sloping driveway and connected with a larger one, which turned my foot and dumped me to the hard asphalt.

The badly bruised shoulder lingered for a couple of weeks and has blessedly healed.

So when our electrician’s big bucket truck came backing down the drive a few weeks ago, I rejoiced immensely.

Within minutes, the failed light had been replaced and after-dark visibility restored. Our return to standard time, which shoves us into darkness in late afternoon, especially underlines my gratitude for light.

I’m thankful for comfortable shoes. When one’s feet hurt, one hurts all over, sapping energy and the desire to do much of anything but get off those aching tootsies.

So, in lieu of running barefoot year-round (not a good option in our climate) a comfortable pair of shoes is a treasure for which to be grateful.

Thanks to the probably chilly individual who decades ago came up with the idea of electrifying a blanket.

Our first one came as a wedding gift from an aunt, who lived in this house before we did. She knew from experience how useful and appreciated it would be in a drafty old farm house.

Several replacements later, the electric blanket is a staple on my thankful-for-ordinary-things list.

The sewing machine is also on my thankful-for list. Sewing is a craft and skill still practiced by many of us, but who would want to do it all by hand?

Little wonder our ancestral mothers had but a few dresses to their names, and kept aprons over them most of the time to prolong their cleanliness and wear.

What a revelation it must have been to have a machine to stitch, even if it had to be hand-cranked or run with a foot treadle.

And, yes, despite the endless and irritating telemarketing and “spam” calls, I’m thankful for the cellphone.

The phenomenon of having the capability of constant communication in-hand is a two-edged sword, but it can truly be a life-saver in any number of emergencies.

When I can remember to jot a note on the phone of some item needed, it even eliminates that aggravating realization the list carefully kept at home is still stuck to the side of the refrigerator.

And I’m especially thankful when today’s amazing technology can filter out the unwanted calls — and send them right to “junk.”

We can all be so thankful for all the big blessings in our lives. And for so many of those little ones, too.

Happy Thanksgiving!