The Hanson horde gathered for Thanksgiving on November 26th, 2011.
The invitation read:
The Hanson Horde will gather Saturday, November 26th, 2011, "noonish." "After Thanksgiving... Are you tired of turkey? Sick of sausage? Had enough of ham? Well, this year the Scandinavians are going GERMAN!" Bavarian porkchops in sweet kraut; Jim's famous red cabbage, and peach, apple and cherry strudel. Got any German recipes you'd like to try out on us? Hot potato salad? Home-made soft pretzels? Dumplings? Speitzel? Turnips? Squash? ("The Kaiser has decreed that Tommy-toes, Chicken and Noodles, Lefse and hot dishes are ALSO German!)
Jim & Maryalice Hanson
Please RSVP with the number of members of your family that will be attending (but you know we will make enough food, anyway). German music will be provided, Scandinavian Saga's told, Schnapps sipped. Aquavit will be in abundance. Leiderhosen would not be required. Limited yodeling. Traditions are not for keeping. They are for keeping us close.
This Thanksiving we took a walk on the wild side. The Thanksgiving meal prepared was heart health, compassionate and friendly to all involved.
For 18 years, Maryalice and Jim Hanson have opened their doors to the Hanson tribe the Saturday after Thanksgiving, something they started when Christine and Richard Hanson, the grandparents, were no longer able to have the family gathering. The tradition of Richard and Christine continues with families of their daughters, Helyn Langlie, Carole Schember and Phyllis Hagen, and their son, the late Paul Hanson. The family has expanded, but since all can't always come, the number of guests stays pretty consistant - "only about 50 or so." Someone made the remark, "even the little ones are no longer little" (18 years). But, new little ones take their place."
Jim paid tribute to "Bestefar" in his Thanksgiving toast telling a fascinating story about the special qualities of Aquavit/English, Akavit/Danish, and how Grandpa Chris would sip very tiny amounts of it on special occasions.
Thanksgiving is about being with family and friends. It's about taking our time to stir and simmer and season, until every room of the house is filled with the sweet warmth of the holiday. It's about sitting down with the people who mean the most to us, and passing love around the table until every heart is filled.
The serving table centered around the "Bavarian" porkchops with sweet kraut and apples, "German" potato salad, red cabbage, "German" styled dressing and three flavors of baklavia, some "German" kielbasa sausage, and a reuben delight. Bobs’s birthday cake was "German chocolate." There was "German" chocolate chip cookies, mocha cake, which must have been "German" too.
The lefse was a little bit "Norwegian," and the homemade chicken and noodles a little bid "Dane." There was also a little spaghetti, which might have tasted a little "Italian," the fruit salad, sweet potatoes, and vegetable horderves tray, all a little "American." The breads were definitely "German", spead thick with HOPE butter, and there was "international" coffee and tea, to enjoy.
Coming the farthest distance to enjoy the day was Jim's niece, Suzy, and her husband, Taylor Smith of Oxford, Mississippi. The eldest in attendance were Helyn Langlie, of Ellendale; and the honored mother, Jim's mother, Phyllis Hanson, from Bancroft Estates. Jim's cousin, Barb, and husband, Dale Mrotz, from Ellendale also joined in on the fun.
Barb is the champion lefse baker of the family. Their son, Victor, and wife, Kellie Mrotz, and children, Hudson and Sophia from Ellendale brought along butter for the lefse and the dinner rolls. Jim's sister, Sue Mattson, the angelic caregiver, brought along Willie Krohn, Katy Kriese, and Aaron Scherer, all of Buffalo.
The rest in attendance were: Jayne Villareals' children, Molly and Mike Olson, Cierra and Nick of Glenville; Melinda Talamantes and her children, Skylar and Carley of Albert Lea; Natalie and Jeff Bartlett; Lily and Luke, of St. Michael; and Michael Hanson and his two sons, Maks and Kolten of Maplewood; DeLoyce and Fred Schmidt, Kelly Janning and her children, Dakota, Jaxon and Alexis; Tony Schoenrock all of Austin; Bob and Kathy Hanson of Chanhassen; Carole Schember; Daryl and Kathy Paulsen; Kade Schember and Jeff Forbes, all of Geneva and Teresa Scully, of Young America; and Phyllis and Eugene Hagen of New Richland.
May we all remember to give thanks not just on Thanksgiving but every day of the year for that which we have been given.
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• Thursday, December 8th: Kathy Glynn, Teri McDonald, Jeff Schei, Tracy Haddy, James Olsen, Mike Flugum.
• Friday, December 9th: Carrisa Christensen, Paitan Janis Glynn, Al Paulson, Robert Robertson, Rusty Besco, Mark Ribbe, Tony Phillips, Courtney Thompson, Brian Strand, Chuck & Cynthia Crabtree, Steve & Terri Engel.
• Saturday, December 10th: Cody Dobberstein, Steve Lee, Valarie Otterson, Karla Osmundson, Art DeNeui, Scott & Melonie Crabtree.
• Sunday, December 11th: Jane Nordhorn Allen, Justin Hove, Geoffrey Ramaker, Marty Shultz, Rick Johnson, Janice Paulsen, Beth Scripture Klucksen, Jake Thompson, Theresa Van Ravenhorst, Larry & Emily Otto.
• Monday, December 12th: Warren Sorenson, Torie Richards, Jean Groth, Addison Gayle Lyman, Bernard Falksen, Matthew Butler, Barbara Lageson, Judith Johnson Tetzloff, Kim Seath, Christopher Nelson.
• Tuesday, December 13th: Deb Bunn, Dan Carroll, Jake Pence, Eleanor Koster, Spencer Wayne, Maks Robert Edward Hanson, Michael Kelly, Mike & Michelle Peterson, Candy & Darin Baker.
• Wednesday, December 14th: Makenna Marie Smith, Alexander Jayce Quimby, Keith Bengston, Randy Lehmberg, Elizabeth Falksen Brockoff, Richard Conroy, Wayne Reese, Tina VanRiper, Catherine Lageson, Jim Ladlie, Rich Krikava, Daryl & Peggy Radjanovish.
It is your special day - take a break and celebrate!
Surprise somebody. Call someone. Send a card and make their day. Little things mean a lot.
