What's weird about where you are staying - Thanksgiving 2025 Edition

[Anonymous]

This is one of my favorite threads each year and since I didn't see it yet I thought maybe I would start it. Except we are not traveling this year (except 1 hour away just for Thanksgiving dinner) so I don't really have anything to add but I love hearing all of the great stories.

Any crazy sleeping arrangements, annoying random relatives, weird food or thermostat issues, etc? Who wants to get us started?

[Anonymous]

Ooooooh, I’ve been WAITING for this!

We have four overnight adult guests, because my ILs don’t “believe” in hotels. Whatever, if DH’s cousin and his girlfriend want to stay on a double futon and DH’s parents want the guest room and they all want to share the basement full bath and sitting room, they’re welcome to it.

DH is handling all that stuff. I’m making mashed potatoes, yeast rolls, stuffing and an appetizer, and I hired the house cleaners to come on Monday. DH is in charge of the turkey, cranberry sauce, gravy, green beans and pies.

I’m setting the table.

Will he have all the fresh sheets and blankets and towels out and ready when they arrive tomorrow?Maybe, or they can all pitch in and make up their own beds; I have to work from home. Will DH think to call in a pizza order early for tomorrow night, or will he leave it too late and they’ll be slammed and we won’t eat pizza until late? I don’t know. I’ll be happy to go pick it up and to pay, they take forever to get their order together.

Whatever. I’m leaving most of it to him because I usually do it all and I really can’t be bothered this year. I hope he remembered to buy more wine.

[Anonymous]

My uncle is constantly spoiling for a fight. I’m not staying at his house, but we’ll be at the same gathering.

He honestly has fought with me and his DIL over Jiffy corn pudding. We were discussing how much we loved it, and he starts in with “YOU don’t even KNOW where JIFFY MIX is FROM,” all indignant. And we both said at the same time, “It must be from Michigan.” Because he lived there for like 5 years, and anywhere or anything that is even loosely tied to him is the best thing that ever was or ever will be. And then he got mad that we “just guessed when we didn’t even KNOW it was from MICHIGAN.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My uncle is constantly spoiling for a fight. I’m not staying at his house, but we’ll be at the same gathering.

He honestly has fought with me and his DIL over Jiffy corn pudding. We were discussing how much we loved it, and he starts in with “YOU don’t even KNOW where JIFFY MIX is FROM,” all indignant. And we both said at the same time, “It must be from Michigan.” Because he lived there for like 5 years, and anywhere or anything that is even loosely tied to him is the best thing that ever was or ever will be. And then he got mad that we “just guessed when we didn’t even KNOW it was from MICHIGAN.”

Lol. It's from Chelsea, MI. I have seen the silos with my own eyes.

https://www.jiffymix.com/about/chelsea-milling-company/

[Anonymous]

Here's mine.

We are going to MIL's.

Every time we visit her, I marvel that she still has the foot care product basket we gave her for Christmas in the mid-1990s sitting in the bathroom. It's a mix of squeeze bottle products (a foot scrub, etc.) and a wooden foot roller massager. I wonder if it is being used but I do not ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here's mine.

We are going to MIL's.

Every time we visit her, I marvel that she still has the foot care product basket we gave her for Christmas in the mid-1990s sitting in the bathroom. It's a mix of squeeze bottle products (a foot scrub, etc.) and a wooden foot roller massager. I wonder if it is being used but I do not ask.

Does she dust it? My mom would save old unused things like that, but rarely dusted them so they developing a coating of dust making them very u appealing.

[Anonymous]

My children *and* one of my sister’s children are allergic to tree nuts and peanuts.

My mom has only Sweet Almond hand soap, hand lotion, shampoo, conditioner and body wash in her home. In all the bathrooms and in the kitchen.

Then she complains every year when my sister and I bring in hand soaps for the guest bath, the kitchen, and a full suite of toiletries for the guest bathroom. And yes, real almonds are listed on the label. And yes, I know they won’t die as long as they don’t ingest, but contact like that does flare up eczema and causes headaches and watery eyes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My uncle is constantly spoiling for a fight. I’m not staying at his house, but we’ll be at the same gathering.

He honestly has fought with me and his DIL over Jiffy corn pudding. We were discussing how much we loved it, and he starts in with “YOU don’t even KNOW where JIFFY MIX is FROM,” all indignant. And we both said at the same time, “It must be from Michigan.” Because he lived there for like 5 years, and anywhere or anything that is even loosely tied to him is the best thing that ever was or ever will be. And then he got mad that we “just guessed when we didn’t even KNOW it was from MICHIGAN.”

I have Jiffy cornbread mix for Thanksgiving muffins. But corn pudding sounds wonderful. How do you make it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My uncle is constantly spoiling for a fight. I’m not staying at his house, but we’ll be at the same gathering.

He honestly has fought with me and his DIL over Jiffy corn pudding. We were discussing how much we loved it, and he starts in with “YOU don’t even KNOW where JIFFY MIX is FROM,” all indignant. And we both said at the same time, “It must be from Michigan.” Because he lived there for like 5 years, and anywhere or anything that is even loosely tied to him is the best thing that ever was or ever will be. And then he got mad that we “just guessed when we didn’t even KNOW it was from MICHIGAN.”

I have Jiffy cornbread mix for Thanksgiving muffins. But corn pudding sounds wonderful. How do you make it?

Google to make sure, but I think it is:
1 box Jiffy
1 egg (maybe 2 eggs?)
1/2 a cup or so of sour cream
1 melted stick of butter
1 can creamed corn
1 can kernel corn (I prefer the white kernel corn)

Mix, pour into a casserole dish and bake for about 45 minutes.

[Anonymous]

We are hosting. Thermostat has to be set at 72 for the grandparents, plus the fireplace has to be on. Unfortunately, the fireplace is in the small seating area in the kitchen, and I am simultaneously cooking tonight's dinner and also baking a pie for Thanksgiving. Between the thermostat, fireplace, and the oven and stove, I am roasting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are hosting. Thermostat has to be set at 72 for the grandparents, plus the fireplace has to be on. Unfortunately, the fireplace is in the small seating area in the kitchen, and I am simultaneously cooking tonight's dinner and also baking a pie for Thanksgiving. Between the thermostat, fireplace, and the oven and stove, I am roasting.

No. They can put on extra layers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are hosting. Thermostat has to be set at 72 for the grandparents, plus the fireplace has to be on. Unfortunately, the fireplace is in the small seating area in the kitchen, and I am simultaneously cooking tonight's dinner and also baking a pie for Thanksgiving. Between the thermostat, fireplace, and the oven and stove, I am roasting.

No. They can put on extra layers.

Definitely. I have an extended family who is always cold. Last Christmas I hosted, it was 20 degrees out and I had the back door wide open. Caused lots of bickering. Thankfully my husband and son like it cool like me and we can turn down the heat when everyone leaves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are hosting. Thermostat has to be set at 72 for the grandparents, plus the fireplace has to be on. Unfortunately, the fireplace is in the small seating area in the kitchen, and I am simultaneously cooking tonight's dinner and also baking a pie for Thanksgiving. Between the thermostat, fireplace, and the oven and stove, I am roasting.

No. They can put on extra layers.

I hear ya, but they are old, frail, and only staying for 60 hours. I will take the heat, as they say!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are hosting. Thermostat has to be set at 72 for the grandparents, plus the fireplace has to be on. Unfortunately, the fireplace is in the small seating area in the kitchen, and I am simultaneously cooking tonight's dinner and also baking a pie for Thanksgiving. Between the thermostat, fireplace, and the oven and stove, I am roasting.

Omg that’s insane especially if the oven is going all day. They get either the thermostat or the fireplace. Not both! Crazy people in someone else’s home!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are hosting. Thermostat has to be set at 72 for the grandparents, plus the fireplace has to be on. Unfortunately, the fireplace is in the small seating area in the kitchen, and I am simultaneously cooking tonight's dinner and also baking a pie for Thanksgiving. Between the thermostat, fireplace, and the oven and stove, I am roasting.

No. They can put on extra layers.

Definitely. I have an extended family who is always cold. Last Christmas I hosted, it was 20 degrees out and I had the back door wide open. Caused lots of bickering. Thankfully my husband and son like it cool like me and we can turn down the heat when everyone leaves.

This post reminded me of childhood memories of opening the back door during our family's annual Christmas party to get some cold air. I can still smell the smell of wood-burning fire chimney smoke, and see the clear bright stars in the sky. We are city folk now and I don't think my kids will ever have that experience.