My father found this leather turkey (actually a decanter made in Italy) many years ago at a yard sale in Connecticut. It was a big hit at Thanksgiving in 1994.

A few years later I rescued it from one of my mother’s purges and, when Thanksgiving celebrations were moved from her house to mine, I dug him out, cleaned him up (he’s susceptible to mold and mildew) and used him once again as a centerpiece.

He is a strange guy, but he makes me laugh. In 2019 we all autographed his tail. He seems to love presiding over the dessert table, don’t you think?

Ginny outdid herself this year with pear tart, chocolate mousse cake and tiramisu.

We are so spoiled by having a gourmet baker in our midst. It’s always hard to choose which one to sample so we usually end up trying all three right from the beginning.

The turkey is now packed away with the velvet pumpkins and the rest of the decorations to await next year’s party. It wouldn’t be the same without him.