Thanksgiving is Here...

We've made plans to go to friends tonight for Thanksgiving. Yes, a day early. They had something to do, and we have plans for the 4-day holiday. It made sense.

I'm doing a "stone soup" kind of thing - we're bringing the food, cooking at their house and eating with them, then coming home again. My friends are contributing dessert and sides. We are doing the main course and bread.

I need to get the place winterized. Put hoses away, clear up planting debris, and move the grape plants. I also want to vacuum and clean floors this weekend. My roomie will do one more pass on the lawn, and continue sorting for his cross-country move.

I had an interview with a potential roomie for January, but he spent nearly all of 2 hours talking about his woman troubles. I don't think that would be a good match. I didn't hear one word about God or spirit. He has other options, of course, so I will pray that one comes through for him.

Don't eat too much, my friends. It only hurts you, and you may think it's OK, but your body pays a price....

I love to Bake!

I SO want to get to Thanksgiving and get the feast cooking! I love baking. I love roasting, cooking, baking, mixing, and everything about cooking! I just don't like to eat. Sounds funny for someone my size, but it's true. I don't like food.

I guess it's the chemistry of food that fascinates me. Canning and freezing are as much a part of my repertoire in the kitchen as a loaf of bread or a batch of cookies. I love to cook!

I made a cole slaw. I used a cooked salad dressing from scratch for it, and had to go get cream to thin it down. Man! It took 12 oz of cream! And it's still really thick. I kinda tastes like Miracle Whip, but I know there are no preservatives in it at all. It's perfect for a cole slaw.

I'll bake the Yams tonight, so they don't take up valuable oven space tomorrow. They can be re-heated in the microwave. I need to make the Cherry pie still, but the 2 pumpkins are done. Am I obsessing? Probably. But I'm having a ball!

If I'm eating turkey feast in February, so be it!

Not Getting Religious....

A friend read my blog and begged me to not get all religious on her...

I'm not going there...

I'm using my faith journey as a guage to where I've been and where I'm going. A continuum line... It shows me growing.

We are all spiritual beings having a human experience, after all.

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On a different subject all together... THANKSGIVING FEASTS!

I'm cooking a big one, and only myself to feed. At least so far. I've opened it up for ladies who either have no place to go; or don't want to go there, but don't want to be alone. One rule: no intoxicants (or folks under their influence).

I'd like to also restrict to no kids, pets or partners. And I can only seat 10.

So far, no reservations, no confirmations. Who knows what will happen on the day...

I'm guessing I'll have a lot of leftovers.... YUM!

Cherry and Pumpkin Pie, Mashed white potatoes, Yams, Asparagus (I might even make a Hollandaise sauce for that), Turkey and Stuffing. The cats get the raw giblets, sorry. Gravy from scratch, too.

Oh yeah, none of this is from frozen except the asparagus. I'm even making the pie crusts!

My Stuffing recipe is with celery, pine nuts and dried cranberries.

Well, that's it for today...

I love my days off!

I get to stay up late and watch old movies, and then sleep the next day. I don't have to use the alarm clock unless I need to be someplace early in the day. I get to finally rest my weary bones and mind. Mostly my mind. My bones are fine...

My mind though...

I guage if I've had enough sleep by whether or not I wake up dreaming. If I'm dreaming, I've had enough sleep. If not, I need more sleep. I just feel better if I've been dreaming.

However, some dreams can be really strange! Not disturbing, or scary, just strange!

This morning, I dreamt that I served Thanksgiving to my friends, and the turkeys were frozen. And there was one for each of us! The funny part of this, is that I'd started with one turkey, and they multiplied in my kitchen.

In life, the turkey is comfortably defrosting in the fridge, and I'll put it in the oven around midnight or 1am on Thanksgiving morning.

I sure hope I get some takers for the Women's First Annual Thanksgiving Dinner....
I have a 20-pounder and me with five cats. We can't eat it all...