THANKSGIVING DAY - 2008

GETTING READY

Morgan came over early and helped me start cooking. I needed to make mashed potatoes, and Morgan was afraid I'd hurt my shoulder, so she got out my electric potato peeler and peeled all the potatoes. She loves to play with the peels when she's finished. Chloe, Morgan and Angie had cleaned the house. Chloe and Morgan set the table and decorated. Thanksgiving finally arrived.

FINALLY READY

MENU

Turkey

Green Bean Casserole

Candied Yams

Sweet Potato Cobbler

Cranberry Salad

Jellied Cranberry Sauce

Mashed Potatoes

Fauxtatoes (whipped cauliflower)

Corn Souffle

Giblet Gravy

Corn Bread Stuffing

Giblet Stuffing

Homemade Hot Rolls

Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake

Pumpkin Pie

Pecan Cobbler

Chocolate No-Bake Cookies

Diabetic Apple Crisp
Iced Tea

Coffee

Various Wines With Dinner

"Waving Wheat" Oklahoma Dessert Wine

THE DINNER
Morgan started the meal off with her prayer and did really well this time. She omitted the pledge of allegiance from the end of her prayer. Everyone ate, laughed, and talked. The girls had made handmade leaves for decoration, and everyone had their name on one, and the reason the girls were thankful for that particular person was written on the back of the leaf. They did a really good job. We all took turns reading the leaf closest to our plate. Mark had done a good job of carving the turkey. As luck would have it, none of my clan likes dark meat, and Mark and Sheila prefer dark meat. A perfect arrangement.

The only mishap, one of the dishes got a bottle of wine knocked onto it, and it got chipped and covered with a really good Chardonay. No loss, the plate was replaced and the chipped plate was served to the dogs. Coco (the idiot poodle) drank the wine off the plate. Don't even ask!

Are we a bunch of pigs or what? I know that's a lot of food for 7 adults, 2 children, and 3 dogs, but my Grandmother Sneed started my Mom on the tradition of cooking everything in the world for Thanksgiving. That is the only holiday that it's done this way. My Mom could put on a Thanksgiving feast like you wouldn't believe. Angela considers all of my mother's traditions for holidays as something that MUST be done.

After dinner, Sheila watched most of the Cowboys / Seattle football game with Eric and my Dad. Of course, it was so one sided, it wasn't that much of a game. Angie, Mark and I drank wine on the patio, while Gary played with Chloe and Morgan. The dogs were in 7th heaven with all the turkey we had left over. (I bought a 22 pound turkey.) It was a very relaxing, pleasant holiday.

Mark had more fun than the rest of us. He tried hanging with Morgan. Don't think he quite got the "hang" of it.

Everyone arrived home safe and sound. Another memorable holiday with family and friends. Memories are priceless!