Yeah, I spent a goodly part of the afternoon making dressing (sage sausage, etc.), so the place smells pretty good. The wife made her cranberry sauce with oranges and Grand Marnier. I may make gravy tomorrow. It’s quite easy to make it in advance and then add turkey drippings to it the next day to bump up the flavor.
Howdy Y’all! Laundry got laundered and put where it stays until it gets dirty again. Dressin’ got made up and aigs boiled. We had late lunch/early sup. I have named it supunch because it amuses me. Now it’s chili time. We’ve been watchin’ Mrs. Brown’s Boys on Brit Box. It’s funny, but kinda raunchy. So far no pearls have been clutched or couches fainted upon.
I feel a touch of malaria and scurvy comin’ on. Preventative medicine is called for.
I have returned without a glass cat. Now I know that the special xmas collections (cats included) aren’t available until 12/1 and are all limited editions. That means MIL put some real effort into my xmas cats, more than I knew. (Of course remembering to buy them and mailing them was a blessing all of its own, I get that.)
We’ll go back the first week of December, the store is in the middle of town so the roads should be fine. There is a small embroidery shop in the area I’d like to visit while I’m in that part of the state.
Widower and daughter were happy to get the dinner box, Ronald hasn’t been feeling the best lately so Gina hasn’t wanted to leave him alone for too long. That’s when he gets confused and wanders around the house.
I’ve read all and am feeling like a kitchen slacker. Maybe I’ll make the pie crusts tonight. I’m using graham crackers so blind baking won’t be needed, but it will let me feel like I’m part of the prep club.
It was very foggy when we left and transitioned to gray and wet but it was still a beautiful ride. (Lovely pic, Cookie!) Traffic was fairly light, but tourist season is over now. Many of the Halloween displays have been replaced with xmas scenes, but some of them are halloween themed xmas displays. I do love how creative folks can be.
I was thrilled to find the latest Needle Pointers magazine in the mailbox when we got home. I love looking at all of the pretty pictures and there is always at least one pattern I just must do. The next seminar is going to be in Charlotte NC and I’m seriously considering going.
Well, Hub’s cat feeding alarm just went off so I guess I should get off and head into the kitchen myself.
Nellie, I would probably have put Alexis out on the porch for the next few nights, but that is just me.
Well, seven loads of laundry have been washed, dried and put away, some house-irk has been performed and the refrigerator is looking fairly bare, so just about ready for travel. Have gotten all the clothes out and ready to go, still need to make a note of all the accessories (hearing aid, phone and watch chargers) that need to go with me in the morning. Watched Champions League soccer in-between the washing/drying/folding acts, so a fairly active day for me. Debating if I should go to the gym this evening, I hate to break my weeks-long record of being there, but don’t know if I have the ‘wannas’ bad enough. We’ll see in a bit. Rain has departed but still cloudy and 60F and it isn’t going to get any warmer during the week.
rocky, glad you are feeling better and so are the dogs.
Cookie, looks like a good day not to drive.
Doubtful.
Coppertone, hope you can make it to dinner and best wishes on the heart checkup.
52, that would alarm me if that happened here, but apparently it was nothing much (unless it happens again tonight…)
flyboy, you just reminded me…need to get laptop out and ready to travel. Thanks!
And just got my new slacks in the mail so need to open the boxs and try them on for size. Talk with y’all later.
We just had a meeting about health insurance for FY 2026. What a waste of time. I’m not going to be there in FY 2026!
But La Jefa pointed out that there is Kaiser (our their new insurer starting next year) has services in Bellingham. Thanks. I really need to know that if I’m uninsured. 
T-day preps continue according to plan, mostly. The carrots are prepared for glazing, cranberry sauce is made, the Brussels sprouts are ready for brown buttering with dill, potatoes are peeled (not my choice, but my friends prefer them that way), chicken is prepped and giblets (such as they were) are simmered, so the gravy stock is done, too. Homemade rolls are tucked in the freezer, ready for thawing and warming on the day.
As I mentioned before, I bought a larger chicken than the one in my freezer I’d planned to make for myself. The butcher had to bring it out, since there were none in the meat cases. It’s a fine looking chicken, and I checked to make sure giblets were included. They were!
False advertising, sez I, after I’d opened the package and the bird. There was one tiny gizzard. I was able to wrest a neck portion off the bird, but it isn’t much. No liver. No heart! Why say you’re selling a chicken with giblets when you mean only with giblet? It’s not worth driving back to the store to fetch some proper chicken guts, but it is irritating.
Anyway, stock for gravy is prepared, the tiny neck picked and the lonely giblet chopped. I will probably commandeer the wings off the cooked bird on Thursday to add to the gravy as pretend giblets. It will have to do.
I’m trying to finish up cleaning and as much prep as I can today so tomorrow will be comparatively lazy. Then Thursday will be much easier.
I’ll prep all the salad and dressing components and make the pumpkin pie tomorrow. Not much else is left to do.
Safe travels and good eating to those who are doing that, happy cooking to everyone doing meal prep!
I. Want. A caga tio for Christmas!
FCD loves that show. I found it just a tad on the juvenile side. But harmless overall…
The ribs smell yummerrific! I let them cool a bit before putting them in the fridge. I’ll cut them into 1-bone segments before reheating them on Thurs. Pumpkin pies are done and covered with plastic wrap to keep someone from sampling them. We had supper at Salsa’s because I had a hankerin’, but the dish I chose was pretty meh. At least I didn’t have to do dishes. But I did have to do Refrigerator Tetris to fit everything in. That was fun.
Tomorrow first thing, I’ll unwrap the second bird, season it, and put it in the fridge uncovered for about 12 hours. According to what I’ve read, that makes for crispy skin, so we’ll see. FCD will help me put the leaf in the table. Daughter and SIL have a teacher conference with Tobias’ teacher at 7:30, then SIL will bring the kids here. We’ll do brownies and dressing in the morning. Then after lunch, I’ll get their help setting up the table. About 1:30 or so, I’ll take them to the Marine Museum before dropping them off at home.
Daughter’s friend will get here some time in the afternoon - I assume they’ll come here before going to her house. I guess we’ll see.
The bird will go in the oven around 9PM. That should get it done between 9 and 10AM on Thursday. Then the hackage shall follow the requisite rest period. I’ll be so glad when Firday is here! 
Typing this as I pedal 24 minutes on a stationary bike (guess I did keep my gym streak alive). Will finish here in about an hour and head home to finish packing for tomorrow. Want to leave about 7:30 so I will miss the traffic in Nashville. Otherwise it’s all interstate till the last 10 miles or so. Weather should be decent but cooler, need to remember my heavier jacket.
Otherwise just a few more calories when I get home and fill the suitcase and I’ll be ready for Slumberland and an early morning my
Note to self. Strain the stock into a bowl and discard the solids. I have perhaps been faulty on that step in the past.
The dog has a new chew treat, yak cheese, that is making her more active than usual. Plus it’s raining outside, which she hates. So I seem to have a lot of pent up doggie energy in the house.
Good travels to all who are venturing off on the road!
Remember to skim the foam.
That sucks. Feel bad, but don’t feel alone.
I haven’t screwed it up yet. This time.
Up from naptime, having Redneck Stirfry and a Manhattan.
Forcing a person being laid off to attend meeting about future events beyond the layoff dates is a level of incompetent cruelty.
“It’s never too late to screw things up.” - Brown Management.
Yeah, I was a little more vocal in the IMHO ‘Lay Off’ thread. (Just a little.)
Home, packing is done and I’ll be heading off to bed early tonight. Should be about 50F tomorrow morning and clear skies and about the same along my route up to brother’s so as long as the traffic keeps moving, should be fine.
Flyboy, ain’t any fun hearing about things that won’t affect you anymore.
Coppertone, had to google that, as Xmas presents go, that’s…unique, I’ll give you that…
And if I don’t have time to post tomorrow, take care and for those travelling like me, be safe and have a good trip.