Thanksgiving

 Our Thanksgiving Dinner was almost ready on time! Everything was cooked and the Sasquatch and my brother, John, helped me get it on the table. We sat down to eat just a few minutes past one.

I like to eat early so we can squeeze in a second meal before bed time.

Lonnie took a photo of us at the table. That's me on the left (eyes closed of course) then my Dad, Uncle, and younger Brother. 

The Sasquatch was next but you know how elusive they are when it comes to photos.  Lonnie not pictured since he was taking the photo. 

You can see my wrecked kitchen in the background.

Last year was the first time I cut up the turkey before bringing it to the table.  Now I won't ever do it any other way.

I sort of miss having the whole turkey in the center of the table but this way is so much easier than trying to hack chunks off the turkey at the table...with it sliding off the platter and spinning around to give everyone a view through its rear portal to all that weirdness on the inside.

I tried a different recipe for mashed potatoes that involves cream cheese (don't tell Lonnie - he somehow thinks cream cheese is fattening). It was okay but I will just go back to my regular way of doing them next time.

We also had stuffing, gravy, sweet potato casserole, creamed corn. Trader Joes cranberry orange sauce, green beans, broccoli with cheese and Pillsbury crescent rolls. 

I had made a pecan pie and a coconut pie and my Dad brought a caramel apple crumb pie.

The  next day I made a batch of turkey salad for the Sasquatch. I have found that many people haven't heard of this but it's like chicken salad. The Sasquatch likes his with chopped pickles and mayonnaise, mustard, salt and pepper.

I made another batch for Lonnie and myself but instead of pickles I added celery and apples and turmeric. Lonnie said he liked the version I made for the Sasquatch better.

Then on Saturday, I simmered the turkey legs and wing sections and put the broth and meat into the freezer to be made into soup later on.

The rest of the bones and skin was thrown out for the crows, but the black vultures showed up to help with the clean up.

I like to make a few notes after the meal each year to remind me what changes to make next time. 

For instance, I had been dividing the gravy into two aluminum gravy boats (one on each end of the table) but the Sasquatch noted that the gravy gets cold quickly in the metal...so I switched to one big bowl of gravy with a ladle - much better.

 

 My main problem is... making too large of quantities. 

I think I acquired that habit back when my sons were in high school and groceries disappeared very quickly.    

It seems to be a hard habit to break!

red maple

 Our Red Maple is hanging on to its colorful leaves for a long time this year.

I took this photo from inside the house.

And this photo outside with the sun shining on it.

Let's see...I planted this tree in 2000. First it was a bit closer to the house and I dug it up a couple of years later and moved it here. Glad I did but maybe it's too close to the driveway now But if it gets any bigger I can do a little pruning on that side.

Deer have never bothered this tree so I thought I was safe in planting 3 more small ones in the side yard.  Nope, those were chomped off by either a deer or a rabbit. 

It didn't kill them and now they're trying to develop a main stem again. I will be putting up some netting around them to discourage deer and rabbits.