Thanksgiving

Yes, I'm more than 2 weeks late.  But stuff happens.

As usual, we had a crowd for Thanksgiving.  Our family, our best friend's family (I guess after 30+  years, they're more like family, right?) and a couple of people who had nowhere else to go.

This year, we had our usual 2 turkeys, plus one deep fried by my sons in law.  One of them was a huge advocate for it; I didn't care, but specified that he had to do it outside, only in an electric deep fryer, and only a minimum of 30 feet from the house.  Yes, that's a lot of regulations.  No, I'm not having my house smell like fried food, nor do I intend to risk starting another house fire.

Random pictures from around the table, where we passed around my camera.

 (of course my youngest took a selfie.  Kids these days!)

Desserts, and the girls who were first in line!

 There was at least 2 of each kind of pie.

 Yes, I take my cake decorating inspiration from kindergarten, because why not?

Happy Monday, everyone!

Thanksgiving Planning

It's that time of year again, when I plan to feed all of my hungry hordes for the best part of a week.  It's nice to have everyone around, although I must confess that I have great twinges of nostalgia for not only when my children were much younger, but for my dearly beloved.  I'd have to say that I never miss him less, I just figure out how to cope.  That's something.

So, here's the shopping list.  The restaurant supply house is due in a couple of hours.  Turkeys are not on this list, because I'm picking them up from a local butcher on Wednesday.  I settled upon this method about 3 years ago, and I have to say that not having my refrigerators crammed up for a few days before Thanksgiving, but only for one evening, has worked out well.

And here's the menu for the week.  I have 3 arriving Sunday, 2 more on Monday, and the rest on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Oh, and the census for Thanksgiving dinner is 22 (subject to change, of course; could be higher).

So the plan is to make the pie crusts and cranberry sauce tomorrow, desserts Monday and Wednesday (I have a business appointment in New York City on Tuesday), and play the rest by ear.  Photos to follow, of course!

Easter Dinner

All of my sons were home for Easter, and none of my daughters were.  One daughter is eagerly awaiting the arrival of her second child, one was working, and the third, who lives 650 miles away, couldn't take enough time off to make the trip worthwhile.  But 6 sons would seem to be enough.

I made a boneless leg of lamb for Easter.  It was beautiful, it was large, it was delicious.  Easter dinner here is always on Saturday, so everyone can enjoy Easter morning and early afternoon with the family, and then go home as their schedules dictate.  It's been a tradition since the oldest started college, and it works well for us.

Our table looked underpopulated, but that happens hereabouts.  Still, I'll joyously take anyone who shows up.  And I might need to make a spring colored tablecloth.  The white one is a little boring.

And on Sunday morning,we held an Easter egg hunt for the 2 little ones who sere here.  Uncle Jeff hopped around, somehow managing to find but never actually collect, plastic eggs, and everyone had a fun filled morning.

I hope your Easters were filled with relaxation and fun.  And I hope the Bunny was good to you and yours.

Happy Monday, everyone!

Holiday Food Recap

It's very picture short, I'm afraid.  I don't remember to take pictures these days.

People started arriving Friday, which was a lazy spaghetti and meatballs dinner.  Only the boys in residence and Shannon's family were here.

Saturday, everyone arrived.  And we had turkey.  Just a 20 pounder, which was pretty well gone by dinnertime Sunday.  Not much for the sides: stuffing, roasted Brussels Sprouts, spinach, corn, cranberry sauce and gravy.

Sunday, Christmas Eve Eve, we had ham, with potatoes with sour cream and scallions, salad, I forget what veggies: no pictures, remember?

Christmas Eve: Shrimp sauteed in garlic butter, with fresh spinach and diced tomatoes, over a bed of pasta, also cooked with spinach.  You guys are gonna get your veggies whether you like it or not.  And they did.  A lot.

Christmas morning is the usual overstuffing of the people.  Baked goods of many types, plus eggs with ham and cheese, eggs with just cheese, and just eggs.  About a dozen of each.  Mike's kids sat on either side of me.  It was their first Family Christmas Morning, and I hope they loved it.

And Christmas punch.  Can't ever forget the Christmas punch.

Christmas night: Filet Mignon, potatoes in a butter and parsley sauce, roasted Brussels Sprouts, whole green beans with garlic, big fat yeast rolls.

So, I lived through Christmas, and I think everyone enjoyed it.  It was nice having my kids and grandchildren here; the house was loud with conversation, laughter, games and fun.

And Shannon says Nora loves her Narwhal jacket (I don't know if I'm meant to infer that Shannon doesn't love it).  Last Saturday, they went to the shelter to donate old towels and sheets, and Nora wore her jacket.

She also didn't want to leave, but that's Shannon's problem.....

Happy New Year, everyone!  I hope 2019 brings you all good health, happiness, and a touch of prosperity for good measure!

I'm Dreaming of...

...no more white than this.  It looks good, but travel is still safe.

Merry Christmas, everyone. Treasure your loved ones today.

Merry Christmas!

We got the tree up after Mark came home.  Can't have him missing out on our traditions.

And my grandmother's German glass icicles are up.  I love them.

Merry Christmas to all of you!  See you some time after the holiday....

Thanksgiving!

It was a busy week, purposely so.

All of my family was here, as I knew they would be.  Jeffrey helped baby Michael with rides on Tank,

 while Nora made sure Bebop got plenty of hugs.

 Aunt Cass helped Nora ride the rocking horse!

 Getting the food all set out!  Of course, we had to garnish the turkeys.

 Our friend Greg's son Scott brought along his hover board, and gave his own baby a ride on it....

 Followed by giving Nora a ride.  She actually looks pretty pleased!

 My 3 beautiful daughters with Nora!

 You know what everyone is thinking: "Hurry up and take the stupid picture, because we're hungry!" Except for baby Michael, who's thinking:"Oh, I can play with Bebop!"

 More pictures of food, in case you missed them.

And what meal would be complete without lots of desserts?

How was your Thanksgiving?  Doubtless much less complicated, but just as much fun.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

A Little Getaway

My daughter was taking her family to Cape May, a lovely beach in New Jersey, for a couple of days, and invited me along.  Well, what else did I have to do for those couple of days?  So I drove to her house, hopped into her car, and adventuring we went.

I had never been to any of the Jersey Shore beaches before.  Honestly, as a teenager in Connecticut, I knew that all metro-New York teens went "down the shore" as they say, and truly wanted no part of it.  But Cape May is just far enough south that only families venture there; the rowdies stay a few miles north, where there is more entertainment.

Without further ado, pictures of my family and me (including 2 of my 3 daughters and my daughter's mother in law) enjoying, or hiding from, the sun:

I'm going to try to return more often; I'm trying to get my life on schedule, but it's really turning out to be very difficult re-centering my life, when I've lost the man who was my sun, moon and stars.  But look how happy that baby was playing in the sand!  Days like that help immensely.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!