Dashing through the Tasks

Just a quick note b/c no time to really contemplate and write. Much to do, much to do before we get to the nursing home @ noon tomorrow with Sis and Don for Thanksgiving dinner there with Dad and the other residents.

We're also making a traditional meal b/c we want to sit down here later in the day with Sis and Don, and H.'s friend, Noah, from NYC. We will be dining among many boxes, but that should be OK.

Our menu is pretty basic:

• Roast turkey breast with lemon and butter
• Sweet potatoes with mini marshmallows [I usually try to make these and H. says no, Alice, please let's just make plain roasted ones--he has been diabetic since age 18, after all--but Figgy has expressed interest in these, saying I have never made them. Those are fighting words.]
• Steamed green beans
• Steamed carrots
• Stuffing [H. doctors a Pepperidge Farm mix with goodies like nuts]
• Butternut squash Wellington [Sis making]
• Gravy [made fresh and expertly by Kings]
• Vegetarian gravy [better find a can for H.]
• Salmon with panko crumbs [H. making]
• Cranberry sauce [not homemade this year]
• Creamed onions [H. loves these since his Mom makes them for holidays, so I've learned to make them, too]
• Wine and sparkling apple cider
• Sis's sublime pumpkin pie, yummy, with an extra hit of ginger and her homemade crust
• My apple pie in butter crust
• My Key lime tart in graham cracker crust [I would have skipped this, but when I asked Dad what kind of pie he wanted, this was what he said, so I want to bring him some]
• Freshly whipped cream
• Vanilla ice cream [a pint of the good stuff rather than a half-gallon of the mediocre]

You will notice I did not mention mashed potatoes. We just have too much to do. Let's see if H. balks at that and goes and buys some mashers.

Want to write much more, about Dad and how he has always loved Thanksgiving--hope to do so tomorrow.

In these tough economic times, grateful for our groceries and our lights, our water and the snug roof over our heads. For our heating oil and our milk and our pretty china [Sis and Don and Dad chipped in many Christmases to get us a place setting]--not to mention the extras like gravy and pie.

Good stuff. Sending a heaping plate of happy wishes your way.