The holidays are really piling on this year!  The Halloween pumpkins will still be fresh when Thanksgiving rolls around.

This year, Thanksgiving is November 22, the earliest possible date — putting it only three weeks after Halloween. (On the upside, you’ll have the longest possible Christmas shopping season.)

Since there is so little time to plan, focus on what’s most important:  family, friends, and food. Decide where you’ll be spending Thanksgiving. 

If you will be a guest, make your travel plans and find out what you can bring.  Many side dishes and desserts travel well.  If you plan to check luggage, wine can go by plane (well-cushioned and tucked into those little bags newspapers come in).  Alternatively, you can pick up wine at your destination.  You can also have a centerpiece or dessert sent ahead of you by a mail order company.

If you are hosting, decide who is coming and ACCEPT THEIR OFFERS OF HELP.  Isn’t having kind and thoughtful friends one of the things you’re thankful for?  Once you know what folks are bringing, you can work on your menu.  For now, it’s sufficient to decide if you are going traditional or if you want to try new things.  Anything more than that can wait until after Halloween!