Thanksgiving 2021 Recap
So, I didn’t mean to fall off the grid for a solid seven days, but uh…THANKSGIVING. And for all of you that have emailed me, Facebooked me, and texted me to see if we survived and how it all went…here you go:
We did, in fact, survive. By the time it all shook out, we baked just around 3,000 pies. And that’s a feat with only four ovens and 24 hours in the day.
We always get so many new customers on Thanksgiving and last Wednesday, one new customer asked when our next truck of pies would be delivered. That we are just people baking pies for 20 hours a day for three days solid is overwhelming to those just learning about how we work. 90% of new visitors are completely impressed and are excited to return and visit us during normal non-Thanksgiving life. (Let’s not talk about the other 10%.)
We also did not run out of ingredients and endured no madcap runs to Hyvee, Aldi’s, Walmart, or Sam’s (minus one quick visit for eggs to tide us over until the delivery truck arrived). Do you remember that first Thanksgiving when we had to go to Hyvee and buy all their pumpkin and they said no? I do. And not repeating that level of pumpkin desperation is a crowning achievement in my professional life.
We also did not run out of pie tins, pie boxes, or bags. WHO ARE WE? WHAT IS GOING ON?
Now, all that said, making around 3,000 pies is no easy feat…even if you have the ingredients and the packaging materials. So let’s not for a hot second imply that I didn’t question all of my life choices at least five separate times last week.
Team PJP, as you might guess, was the MVP through it all. It takes a special group of people to look at a baking schedule that asks for hundreds of pies and not be daunted by the day ahead. Or to still be there 12 hours later making YET ANOTHER round of Pumpkin Pie.
Several points on Wednesday found us with a line out the door and down the sidewalk, but we were able to move everyone through quickly. One feedback submitted said “[e]fficiency at its best and the friendliest staff - everyone seemed so happy and helpful”. My work here is done.
When we finally wrapped up baking on Wednesday, I had our afternoon crew clean the ovens and wash every single tray in that space. In short, I’ve become Jeanne. (Though when she arrived back on the scene this morning, she had PLENTY to say about the cleaning to-dos still remaining.)
I didn’t even cry once last week. That makes two consecutive years that I haven’t cried. I’m not sure if I should be worried about myself or proud of myself.
And if you are curious, I heard no less than four Team PJP members express today how happy they were that Thanksgiving - and all the stress we were under - was over until next year. Tru dat. (Also, I ran a Cyber Monday sale on Jelly Jar shipments and received several hundred orders. I figured this might be the wrong time to tell them. Gulp.)