JourneysPhotograph

A Thanksgiving Day on the Lake in Tahoe

·Truckee, California·#winter#tahoe#holiday#thanksgiving#cooking
A circular baked pastry topped with cranberries, pistachios, and rosemary rests on a clear glass plate.

We spent Thanksgiving in Tahoe this year. The weather was beautiful — perfectly clear skies, with snow dusting the mountains across the lake. The snowshoes were already out on the fence, a good sign for the season ahead, but the day itself was sunny and relatively mild.

Preparations for the meal took up most of the afternoon. A baked brie wreath with cranberries, pistachios, and rosemary sat on the counter while the main course was prepped in the kitchen. We decided to cook the turkey outside on the grill's rotisserie, letting it turn slowly in the crisp air.

By late afternoon, the dining room table was set with a green jacquard tablecloth that caught the low sunlight streaming through the windows. The plates were laid out and everything was ready for dinner. It was a quiet holiday, focused mostly on cooking and enjoying the view before sitting down to eat.

Two snowshoes and three shovels hang on a wooden lattice fence with string lights, a snowy roof and pine trees are in the background.Blue lake and snow-capped mountains framed by dark green pine trees under a clear blue sky.A person holds a raw turkey on a cutting board in a kitchen, with another person and a dog nearby.A person in a red shirt lifts the skin of a raw turkey on a wooden cutting board, with shears and twine visible.A seasoned whole bird on a rotisserie spit in an open gas grill, with a blurry background of trees and water.A raw, seasoned turkey is mounted on a rotisserie spit above the grates of an open outdoor grill.An oval dining table with a green tablecloth and place settings is illuminated by sunlight, revealing a snowy deck and trees outside.A green tablecloth with white plates, crystal glasses, and silverware set for a meal, highlighted by strong sunlight.