Happy Thanksgiving to all! John brined the turkey overnight and he’s getting it ready to put on the smoker. I’ll be making mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, dressing, yams, and gravy later. Delicious dinner—and then the Saints take on the Falcons in the Superdome. A great turkey day!
Deb, we were supposed to have Thanksgiving dinner with Diane’s friend, Cindy, and her family. Yesterday, Cindy’s husband called to say he was taking Cindy to the Gates Vascular Institute because she thought she was having a stroke. Sure enough, Cindy did have a stroke and she’s in the hospital undergoing tests. Diane decided she would host Thanksgiving for Cindy’s family so we quickly assembled the Thanksgiving necessities: potatoes (soon to be mashed), green beans, salad ingredients (no romaine!), cranberry salad, the turkey, bread stuffing, with pecan pie and apple pie for dessert!
Going from being guests to being hosts really has us scrambling around, but we hope we can save Thanksgiving for our friends who received such a shock yesterday.
Jeff, disasters like Cindy’s stroke seem to happen around the Holidays. I think it’s the stress of the season. Diane always steps up when someone needs help.
Jeff Meyerson
Happy Thanksgiving – my favorite holiday – to you George, and Deb, and Dan, and everyone else and your families. It will be brutally cold for those out watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade in person today, the coldest Thanksgiving in New York since 1901! It is 21 this morning with a 9 degree wind chill.
Needless to say, we will NOT be going out after all. Just a little dinner for two – turkey breast, stuffing, roasted potatoes (Jackie doesn’t like mashed), gravy, corn, cranberry jello mold, and chocolate pudding pie for dessert.
Jeff, we woke up to 12 degrees with a 2-degree wind chill! I need to make a quick run to our grocery store for a couple of items Diane needs, but other than that, I’m staying inside today! Our Thanksgiving guests should arrive around 5 P.M.
It’s down to 19 now. I was thinking before of how different it is now than when we were young. All the grocery stores are open on Thanksgiving, so if you need to run out for milk or something else, you can.
Jeff, Thanksgiving used to be a “family-friendly” Holiday. No more. TARGET is opening up for “Black Friday” this afternoon. Other stores like Pennys will follow later today. Their workers will have to leave their families to go work. And millions of “bargain hunters” will be shopping instead of spending time with their family and friends. Too much commercialism! [stepping off Deb’s soapbox now]
Jeff Meyerson
You are right about the stress. Jackie used to love making these dinners, but (even though she wouldn’t admit it at the time) she always got VERY stressed out. The least thing could set her off. It didn’t help that her ungrateful family mostly took her for granted. The last straw was the last family Thanksgiving we hosted. Her family arrived empty handed as usual, did not lift a finger to help, and then, when dinner was over and we were cleaning up and doing the dishes, etc. they just sat around watching television. Not one of them offered to help in any way. Jackie got so fed up that she took out a book and sat in the kitchen reading, then her mother yelled at HER and they all stormed out!
Jeff, our family gatherings didn’t have that kind of Drama. But my sisters moved away (Florida and Arizona). Our kids moved away (Boston and San Jose). And sadly, some of our friends have died or live in nursing homes/assisted living facilities now. Our Thanksgiving group shrank!
maggie Mason
Happy Thanksgiving to all. You and Diane deserve a medal for stepping up to help your friends have a nice Thanksgiving. Something they can truly be thankful for.
I have it easy, I’m providing beverages. My friend knows what I’m good at. It’s a bit frustrating for them, Tues, they were informed their daughters inlaws aren’t coming, so went from about 12 to 7 people.
Maggie, at one time our Thanksgiving included 23-25 people (mostly family but occasionally “stray” friends). Today, there will be seven of us…if everyone who’s expected shows up. Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Happy Thanksgiving to you, George and Diane. Sounds like everyone is cold and hurried, stressed and anxious.
It’s just the two of us, as usual, and we have a small turkey, and stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, asparagus (for me, Barbara doesn’t like it), salad, pumpkin pie, ice cream. I focus on the turkey (I’m a dark meat guy, I save the white for sandwiches) and stuffing and gravy, mostly. Chips and dip during the 3 football games, the first of which is already on here (it’s 10:35 now). The fireplace is lit, the cat is asleep. It’s 41 degrees here, and it’s just starting to rain.
There is much to be thankful for, as I mention on my blog today.
Rick, Happy Thanksgiving to you and Barbara. I have the Bears vs. Lions game on, but I’m helping Diane with the Sweet Potato/Apple casserole that Diane decided needed to made. The turkey is in the oven. I’m about to peel the potatoes while Diane works on the salad. Our guests should arrive here in a couple of hours.
We’re almost ready to put the turkey breast in and make the stuffing. We made the jello cranberry mold and sugar free chocolate pudding pie yesterday, and Jackie made the whipped cream after lunch.
We’re listening to music – first a country selection of Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell, and now live albums by two of the late greats, Fats Domino and Levon Helm.
And we’re reading and occasionally checking on the football. I’m waiting for the Saints game tonight.
Jeff, the Bears vs. Lions game was disappointing. The Lions always seem to find a way to lose on Thanksgiving. Diane (aka, The Energizer Bunny) is flying around the kitchen putting the finishing touches on our Thanksgiving feast. I just finished peeling the potatoes and they’re cooking. As soon as they’re ready, I’ll whip them into shape. I’ve set up the wine and beer selections (for those up imbibe). Just made fresh ice cubes. Plenty of Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Root Beer, and ice tea for our guests. The turkey comes out of the oven in an hour and then sits for about 10 minutes before I start carving it.
And to you, George!
Dan, thanks for the Good Vibes on Thanksgiving! Don’t eat too much turkey!
Happy Thanksgiving to all! John brined the turkey overnight and he’s getting it ready to put on the smoker. I’ll be making mashed potatoes, creamed spinach, dressing, yams, and gravy later. Delicious dinner—and then the Saints take on the Falcons in the Superdome. A great turkey day!
Deb, we were supposed to have Thanksgiving dinner with Diane’s friend, Cindy, and her family. Yesterday, Cindy’s husband called to say he was taking Cindy to the Gates Vascular Institute because she thought she was having a stroke. Sure enough, Cindy did have a stroke and she’s in the hospital undergoing tests. Diane decided she would host Thanksgiving for Cindy’s family so we quickly assembled the Thanksgiving necessities: potatoes (soon to be mashed), green beans, salad ingredients (no romaine!), cranberry salad, the turkey, bread stuffing, with pecan pie and apple pie for dessert!
Going from being guests to being hosts really has us scrambling around, but we hope we can save Thanksgiving for our friends who received such a shock yesterday.
Terrible. Hope she recovers quickly. Great that you were able to take over.
Jeff, disasters like Cindy’s stroke seem to happen around the Holidays. I think it’s the stress of the season. Diane always steps up when someone needs help.
Happy Thanksgiving – my favorite holiday – to you George, and Deb, and Dan, and everyone else and your families. It will be brutally cold for those out watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade in person today, the coldest Thanksgiving in New York since 1901! It is 21 this morning with a 9 degree wind chill.
Needless to say, we will NOT be going out after all. Just a little dinner for two – turkey breast, stuffing, roasted potatoes (Jackie doesn’t like mashed), gravy, corn, cranberry jello mold, and chocolate pudding pie for dessert.
Go, Saints!
Jeff, we woke up to 12 degrees with a 2-degree wind chill! I need to make a quick run to our grocery store for a couple of items Diane needs, but other than that, I’m staying inside today! Our Thanksgiving guests should arrive around 5 P.M.
It’s down to 19 now. I was thinking before of how different it is now than when we were young. All the grocery stores are open on Thanksgiving, so if you need to run out for milk or something else, you can.
Jeff, Thanksgiving used to be a “family-friendly” Holiday. No more. TARGET is opening up for “Black Friday” this afternoon. Other stores like Pennys will follow later today. Their workers will have to leave their families to go work. And millions of “bargain hunters” will be shopping instead of spending time with their family and friends. Too much commercialism! [stepping off Deb’s soapbox now]
You are right about the stress. Jackie used to love making these dinners, but (even though she wouldn’t admit it at the time) she always got VERY stressed out. The least thing could set her off. It didn’t help that her ungrateful family mostly took her for granted. The last straw was the last family Thanksgiving we hosted. Her family arrived empty handed as usual, did not lift a finger to help, and then, when dinner was over and we were cleaning up and doing the dishes, etc. they just sat around watching television. Not one of them offered to help in any way. Jackie got so fed up that she took out a book and sat in the kitchen reading, then her mother yelled at HER and they all stormed out!
Jeff, our family gatherings didn’t have that kind of Drama. But my sisters moved away (Florida and Arizona). Our kids moved away (Boston and San Jose). And sadly, some of our friends have died or live in nursing homes/assisted living facilities now. Our Thanksgiving group shrank!
Happy Thanksgiving to all. You and Diane deserve a medal for stepping up to help your friends have a nice Thanksgiving. Something they can truly be thankful for.
I have it easy, I’m providing beverages. My friend knows what I’m good at. It’s a bit frustrating for them, Tues, they were informed their daughters inlaws aren’t coming, so went from about 12 to 7 people.
Maggie, at one time our Thanksgiving included 23-25 people (mostly family but occasionally “stray” friends). Today, there will be seven of us…if everyone who’s expected shows up. Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Happy Thanksgiving to you, George and Diane. Sounds like everyone is cold and hurried, stressed and anxious.
It’s just the two of us, as usual, and we have a small turkey, and stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, asparagus (for me, Barbara doesn’t like it), salad, pumpkin pie, ice cream. I focus on the turkey (I’m a dark meat guy, I save the white for sandwiches) and stuffing and gravy, mostly. Chips and dip during the 3 football games, the first of which is already on here (it’s 10:35 now). The fireplace is lit, the cat is asleep. It’s 41 degrees here, and it’s just starting to rain.
There is much to be thankful for, as I mention on my blog today.
Rick, Happy Thanksgiving to you and Barbara. I have the Bears vs. Lions game on, but I’m helping Diane with the Sweet Potato/Apple casserole that Diane decided needed to made. The turkey is in the oven. I’m about to peel the potatoes while Diane works on the salad. Our guests should arrive here in a couple of hours.
We’re almost ready to put the turkey breast in and make the stuffing. We made the jello cranberry mold and sugar free chocolate pudding pie yesterday, and Jackie made the whipped cream after lunch.
We’re listening to music – first a country selection of Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Emmylou Harris and Rodney Crowell, and now live albums by two of the late greats, Fats Domino and Levon Helm.
And we’re reading and occasionally checking on the football. I’m waiting for the Saints game tonight.
Jeff, the Bears vs. Lions game was disappointing. The Lions always seem to find a way to lose on Thanksgiving. Diane (aka, The Energizer Bunny) is flying around the kitchen putting the finishing touches on our Thanksgiving feast. I just finished peeling the potatoes and they’re cooking. As soon as they’re ready, I’ll whip them into shape. I’ve set up the wine and beer selections (for those up imbibe). Just made fresh ice cubes. Plenty of Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Root Beer, and ice tea for our guests. The turkey comes out of the oven in an hour and then sits for about 10 minutes before I start carving it.
Don’t eat too much, turkey!
Bob, I paced my self and saved room for pecan pie!