The turkey’s been carved, slathered in gravy and gobbled. The yams sweetly enjoyed and devoured. The mashed potatoes are just a salty, delicious memory, and only crumbles remain in the pumpkin pie tin.
Now what?
While many of us may slip into food comas following the Thanksgiving feast, others may be itching for something to do. Columbian readers say they will be decorating for the holidays, flipping through Black Friday ads and watching football during the evening hours. Charles Dailey said on The Columbian’s Facebook page that be reading “Didn’t My Skin Used to Fit?” by Martha Bolton to his wife, Lois.
“She’s been my best friend for more than 62 years. Such fun laughing together,” he said.
Weather predictions suggest we may be spared a wet Thanksgiving Day, so the options for post-meal entertainment with family and friends are practically endless. Here are some ideas from Columbian readers and staff:
• Turkey bowl: Instead of watching the game inside, you could play a game of touch or flag football in the yard.
• Thanksgiving memory game: How sleepy did all that food make you? Test it with a memory game. Players stand in a circle and the first person says one thing they ate for dinner. “I ate turkey for Thanksgiving.” The next person says another food and the food
that the person before them said. “I ate turkey and stuffing for Thanksgiving.” As the list of eats gets longer and people forget to repeat one item, they’re eliminated from the game. Whoever is left standing (and remembering) is crowned the Thanksgiving memory champion.
• Pin the tail on a turkey: Those wanting a Thanksgiving twist on a classic game could try to pin the tail on the turkey. Draw or print a large poster of a turkey with one feather missing from its plume. To make the game easier (and make more people winners) you can print a plume-less turkey and have blindfolded players pin individual feathers onto its backside. You can use colored paper and cut out enough feathers for everyone who’s playing.
• Pumpkin bowling: Arrange a triangle of 10 empty plastic bottles or cups. Players take turns rolling a pumpkin — gently, mind you — into the pins. If you want to stabilize the pins or make the game more difficult, just fill the bottles with water and tightly screw on the caps.
• Candy corn hunt: Hide candy corn around the room. Whoever finds the most pieces in a set amount of time wins.
Games, of course, don’t have to be Thanksgiving-themed to be fun to play during the holidays. There are plenty of fun indoor games to keep people active (or to wear off their sugar high).
• Foot volleyball: Blow up a balloon and string yarn across the room to create the volleyball “net.” Players have to crab walk and try to kick the balloon over the string to their opponents. If a team lets the ball touch the ground, the other team gets one point. If a balloon is too easy, you could try a foam rubber ball.
• Sardines: This game is a classic spin on hide-and-seek and best for large houses. One person hides while the rest of the group tries to find them. Here’s the catch: When you find the hider, you hide with them until there’s one person left. The last person to find the “sardines” gets to hide during the next round.
