May I steal this quote? This is exactly how I feel about my old gas station and assorted other old buildings! They’re beautiful when you view them through the right lens.
Perfect!
In spite of my formal culinary schooling and having been a caterer for many happy years, I absolutely cannot make mashed potatoes (other than instant). I don’t even try anymore. Today we’re having scalloped potatoes like my grandma used to make.
More like Authentication Lumps - proof you didn’t make instant smashed!! 
I woke to the pitter-patter of rain on the roof, and from the looks of weather radar, we’ll be getting more in the next coupla hours. But it should be well done by the time Daughter and her crew show up.
I just unwrapped the bird to be roasted. Despite being in the fridge for a week, there was still a big chunk of ice in the cavity!! Sheesh! As soon as caffeination is done, I’ll dry it, season it, and put it back in the fridge uncovered - several sites assure me that’s how you get crispy skin. So I guess we’ll see. Then I need to find my notes so I don’t forget anything. Except I forgot where I put my notes, of course.
That’s pretty much the plan of the day - dinner.
Happy 
!!
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN ‘Tis 66 Amurrkin out and cloudy with a predicted high of 73 with rain possible this afternoon. We shall see. Folk should be arrivin’ around eleven a.m. for pre-feast merriment. There will be munchies (brought by others) and adult beverages. The big feast will take place around one p.m. With any luck everyone will be gone by four p.m. My DAWGS will whoop up on the NATS at seven-thirty tonight.
CupCakes I am sure family will love you for bringin’ that candy dish. It is indeed priceless!
nellie lumps are a sign the smashed N.O.T. are made with love.
nettie it does seem that weapons-grade vocabulary is called for. Glad there is no apparent damage to the jeep.
Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then I shall purtify and get busy with prep and so forth for the big feast.
Happy Thursday Y’all! Happy Turkey Day to all the Amurrkin Mumpers!
Nothing says Thanksgiving like an early morning thunderstorm.
Up, caffeinated, and sheveled. Off today. I’m not actually cooking anything.
Found my lists! Tossed yesterday’s since I accomplished everything on it. Turkey is uncovered in the fridge till about 1130. I really should do dishes… eventually.
And I discovered someone left the garage door open. Dammit. Fortunately, no critters took up residence. It’s closed now.
Yeah, the vet checked her out thoroughly. Her eyes are a little odd, and she has a recurring seepage issue with them that is probably the result of a long-ago infection.
Well, you always could borrow from a master…Shakespeare Insults: 55 Shakespearean Insults & Put Downs
Cupcakes, that was a special story about a special memory; thanks for sharing.
Good morning everyone. Not fixing anything today, will head out around 11am to see what is open and what I feel like eating. Not much else planned for the day, probably will clean the bathroom and do a few other things, but gym and most stores are closed so will be a house day. Will call brother and wish him and eldest nephew well (they are not have Thanksgiving due to traveling for his operation next week).
It’s 46F now and only getting to 49F for a high, so November weather has kicked in for real in N. Ali-bama.
Have a good and happy Thanksgiving all!
Good morning, and happy day of giving thanks.
It’s 33F and foggy outside. It will be foggy and cloudy most of the day, with a high temperature of 43F.
Cupcakes, I loved the story about the dish.
I’ve been awake since 3:00, out of bed since 4:00, and went to the grocery store, returning home by 5:30. I am currently savoring some coffee before I get started on things around here.
Today’s meal will be a slow-cooker pot roast with carrots, celery, onions, and baby taters. In a nod to typical Thanksgiving fare, I picked up a pumpkin pie and some extra creamy Redi-Whip. I’d usually whip my heavy cream, but I will keep it simple today.
Metal Mouse, I don’t really need four-wheel drive for the upcoming trip; it’ll be mostly highway travel around the I-5 corridor (ugh, so much traffic!), but it will be a lot of driving. It’s 220 miles round trip from my place to the destinations. But there will be more once I pick up my boss in Edmonds, so more miles. If I were to continue south to return the GOV and pick up my vehicle, it would add another 75 to 80 miles to the day’s driving. However, before I had my Jeep, I drove an Expedition, and I loved driving that thing. Mine was responsive, had some real pep and power, and was super comfortable for road trips. I was the one who negotiated with the national fleet team to get it, and I plan to drive it often. I plan to drive the Ascent too. I don’t particularly appreciate sitting low in vehicles, so I prefer larger ones.
FCM, I hope today is smooth without any additional bad news.
Nellie, as many others have mentioned, lumps are love and prove the taters are homemade.
Okay, it’s time for some more coffee, and then I need to get things going.
Happy Thanksgiving to the American crowd (heck, and happy Last Thursday in November to everyone anyway)!
I’ve been in Michigan since Saturday with my itchy, very pregnant daughter, and I’ll be here until this Saturday. So far, we’ve put together a bassinet, crib, and rocking chair, we bought a stroller and a carseat, and we’ve made side dishes and desserts for dinner so that my SIL won’t have us underfoot in the kitchen while he’s trying to cook.
My daughter’s OB did a little good-news/bad-news with her yesterday. The steroids have been working well enough that she was thinking she could make it to her due date. However, she’s developed a skin-thinning reaction, so they will be inducing labor on December 4 (next Wednesday 
). So we’re frantically making plans for who will travel back at what time - looks like I’ll be home for three days in order to keep an appointment that took six months to get, then turning around and flying right back up on Thursday. Mr. L and Younger Daughter will follow later, after he’s had time to recover from this trip.
But there’s going to be a baby very soon! And even though I know you don’t realistically have to have all the supplies in place the second you get home from the hospital, I’m going to do my damnedest to be sure they have everything they’re stressing about because think they do.
@Seanette, my response would be gasp take to the fainting couch
I decided to go to the gym later this morning. Mooom and metal mouse are providing the inspiration.
Thirty-two degrees Ferret Height in the catio right now. Sunrise isn’t until 07:40.
The hits just keep coming for fcd. That must have been so heartbreaking for him.
Rainy day here in Philly. I’m getting ready to have pumpkin pie for breakfast. Just switched to watch Macy parade to see if I can spot lsl.
First time watching Macy. The Philly parade is all of one block away from me. Depending on weather I do a quick walk about, gather free things, and then watch from home. Today I am cozy in my chair watching, and sometimes I will hear a bit of percussion.
Have a great thanksgiving. I am thankful for our message board, all the amazing people who post here, and the tireless and wonderful moderators.
I had breakfast(scrambled eggs, sauteed asparagus, hash browns). Spot has had the Screamng Tuxedo Zoomies. I got the parade on TV.
Spot 
Pilot
Frantically batting at loose strings
What, you’re gonna let your sister beat you in the Mutual Of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom Backyard Menagerie contest?
Yay! And if you have a Costco pack of diapers, some backup formula, and either a crib or a sturdy carboard box you’re set for the first night or so.
I suspect that’s a blessing and a curse. As I read your posts about MIL, I keep thinking that I’m looking into the future with my mom (though my sister is the one helping her because she lives next door.) All I can say is my heart hurts for you.
You have no idea how the phrase made my heart soar! I’m rarely considered younger anymore. 
Now I’m starting my own weapons-grade vocabulary list for the next time one of my number does something so incredibly stoopid that they should known better for.
I love this. I’ve got my dad’s cane. It had been my grandfather’s before it was his. The paint on the handle is worn away and the wood is smooth as silk. And every time I use it, I think of my grandfather and my dad, and know that they are trying to help keep me on my feet.
Definitely a good thing! Of course, they’ll soon realize that half of the things they thought they needed immediately they’ll end up not needing at all… but better to have and not need than need and not have.
Last night, I actually managed to sleep for about 5 hours straight without coughing up a lung. Go me! I’m back to coughing and sniffling a bit this morning, but being upright and having cough medicine in me seems to be helping some.
I’m having a lazy Thanksgiving morning. Simple breakfast, took my meds, doing a little com-puter stuff, then getting dressed to take CtE for a walk. She likes to go to one of the local parks that has a lot of Pokemon Go stops. Sometimes I’ll walk with her but right now, I’m still focusing on healing. So I’ll either bring a book or one of my self-care/self-examination books and spend a little time with that.
We’re planning on heading to Friendsgiving at around 1. Their timing is wide open from noon on, with dinner being planned around 2. It’s not going to be a huge group, but my kids both have a tendency to get overwhelmed in new situations, so we’re planning on less before dinner time so we can leave after if they need it.
I should probably consider donning now my warm apparel so I can get out and back with CtE. Have a great Thanksgiving, all those who celebrate it! And a great Thursday for all those who don’t!
Apparently, hors d’Oeuvres at the church people’s house will be served at noon, and the feast will be at 13 o’clock.
Mrs. L.A. had her usual yoghurt for breakfast. I finished off the TJ’s meatloaf in a sangwich with a slice of provolone.
A nice family has invited me to Thanksgiving. Thank God.
It would be sad otherwise.
No money, no job, but someone cares.
Here is a YouTube of what I hope is our LSL’s balloon handling in the Macy’s parade just now.
I hope it’s starting just as his dinosaur unit turns the corner into view. If not, it is at 1:56 minutes into it.
I grabbed some screen shots and sent them to moooom on FB messenger, hoping the dear soul would post them here in all of her spare time today.
It’s 11:20 am and I’ve had only one cup of coffee. Cat on my lap so it might be awhile before I get cup 
#2.
I missed him on the first go round. I guess I didn’t switch over in time. I’ll watch the 2 pm eastern repeat, after the dog show.
I don’t know if you’ve figured it out yet, but she’s bat-crap crazy! 
HAHAHAHAHAHA! You so funneeee!! But here:
It’s about 1:30 and MIL got up long enough for FCD to give her the morning meds. I seriously doubt she’ll get up for dinner - in fact, I’ve set the table for the 6 of us. It’ll be easy enough to add a plate if necessary.
Turkey bird is in the oven. Smoked bird is sliced and in the fridge, awaiting warmage later. I just finished cleaning some strawberries and plucking grapes from their vine - I expect that’ll be dinner for Tobias. That boy lurves his fruit!!!
So, nothing else to do for about 2 hours - back to my documentary and crocheting.
Wifey, RN has a patient who will be spending Thanksgiving alone. She texted our hostess and asked if she could make a plate of the Thanksgiving feast to take to him. She said yes. So after the meal, we’ll be taking a drive down to Bellingham.