Things have been pretty quiet here at Lander’s since the season ended. It’s been less than a month since we said goodbye to our last group of guests, packed up our canoes, and settled down for our long winter’s nap. In that time, we’ve visited friends and family, traveled with our closest companions, and filled those memory banks with a few more snapshots that will inevitably last a lifetime. But still, even with these adventures keeping our hands busy and minds from being idle, there are still a lot of things that we miss about the summer. From the sun (and those gorgeous warm days) to our fantastic guests who never fail to make the days fly by, we’re really looking forward to next summer – and our first season of the new decade.
Which brings us to why we’re here today. Thanksgiving is 22 days away and just so happens to be our favorite holiday. What more could you ask for than the chance to sit around the table and stuff your face with delicious food and heart filled laughter, surrounded by the people you care most about in the world? Don’t forget the never-ending supply of pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes.
The holiday is so much more than just good food. It’s a time for us to sit down and be thankful for absolutely everything we have. Especially from where we’re sitting in our beautiful little corner of the Delaware River region.
In honor of Thanksgiving this year, we’re going to recap two very big ‘what is’s that we’re grateful for.
What is…the Delaware River region’s link to Thanksgiving?
Even before George Washington’s historic crossing on Christmas Day, 1776, the Delaware River played an important part in America’s formative years. While the majority of the pilgrims (and their predecessors) settled on the East Coast, in Massachusetts and Connecticut, the Delaware River would quickly become a hub for transportation of goods, services, and people. Before the turn of the 18th century, the region played an important role in the economies of early American settlers. Our forefathers used the region’s rich resources to hunt for food, fur, and firewood; it was also a conduit for travel. Due to its attachment to the Atlantic Ocean, the River itself became a conduit for travel. Early Dutch and Swedish settlers used the River to travel back and forth between major port cities and the small settlements that would someday become bustling states.
In fact, all three states that make up the Delaware River region only came into existence because early travelers would stop along their way down the river and put down roots thanks to the abundance of natural resources and space for planting and animal husbandry. To this day, most of the major cities in our area are nestled along the Delaware in homage to this earlier time when the river represented power, access to trade and eventually electricity, and easy mobility.
Okay, short history lesson out of the way – I’m sure you’re wondering what any of this has to do with Lander’s or the pilgrims or my favorite holiday. Bear with me because I’m drawing the connection now. The Delaware River became seriously important to those pesky, peculiar pilgrims because it was the way that they were able to spread ideas, supplies, and even DNA throughout the upper eastern portion of this country. On Thanksgiving, when we bow our heads and take a moment of silence it’s important to remember, and be thankful for, the role that the Delaware played. We are the backbone of America’s founding and are proud of the role we’ve played in supporting not only America’s independence two hundred years ago, but also the foundations of the country as we know it today. Without the River, we might not be a country. That’s definitely worth a pause in our Thanksgiving meal.
What is…well what are…we thankful for here at Lander’s.
That was a bit of a stretch – thank you, English grammar laws for that one – but it’s definitely a point that I would be remiss to not touch on. At Lander’s, we are a fully committed family with long standing traditions and a lot of love. With that love comes a lot to be thankful for.
From partners who have supported us through thick and thin to the large, boisterous families that have come to mean more than anything else on this entire Earth. We are thankful for every second we get to spend holding our children, watching our grandchildren, nieces, and nephews grow, and learning from the fantastic friends in our lives. Our legacy, as rich – although definitely not as long – as the legacy of the river we love, will reflect the gratefulness with which we go about our lives. This Thanksgiving, if even more than any other day of the year, we will be giving thanks for all of the things that we love, that we have helped grow.
We are also thankful for our guests. First timers, repeat customers, future stragglers who have yet to touch our slops. We are thankful for the opportunity to get to be a part of your memories, and for the space you take up in ours. From all of us here at Lander’s, thank you for helping to make our business the family legacy it has become today.
What is…going on with the Lander’s blog?
With the winter season fast approaching we are moving down to one blog post a month until April when we get back to the regular schedule. We are thankful to get this time away from the screen and enjoy the beautiful fall foliage and the impending holiday season. In the meantime, we’re going to be wracking our brains to come up with some fun new events, and maybe another giveaway or two, for our 2020 season! Keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram pages for more Lander’s river snapshots, updates, and more. And remember – Lander’s gift certificates make the best holiday gifts for the outdoors loving people in your life.
River tip: Less river more holiday related – but if you have a ton of leftovers this Thanksgiving there are some great recipes on the internet to keep them from going to waste!