Preparing for Thanksgiving
Christine November 21st, 2009
Thanks to all for the very generous comments on my Sky Watch Photo below. It was one of those very singular mornings when the clouds didn’t totally take over before the sun was able to gather up some color. Sometimes I’ll see more color on the west slopes of the Bison Range rather than on the Missions in the opposite direction. The light was the program director that morning and I just happened to click the shutter.
Totally unrelated, we are having a house full for Thanksgiving including our boys with their sweethearts, my folks, and my brother and his wife. I am getting a bit nervous about fitting everyone into our wee house but hopefully the family will find a place to sit and eat turkey. Our Mother, who is well into her 80’s, insists on assuming responsibility for the turkey and dressing. That is her territory. OK, fine. But when am I supposed to get this turkey thing down? I can count on one hand the times I’ve had to actually handle a turkey and dress it for Thanksgiving. And that is minus three fingers. (No, I have all my fingers; very funny.) No, two. Two times - that I remember. And I am not one to stick my hand down into a cold, slimy cavern and forget it the next day. Eeeew. In truth I am very grateful to Mom that I don’t have to do that. There are some things which truly expose the mega-wimp in me.
My Mom is a pro and it is an admirable preparation to watch her fixing the bird. Albeit, it is kind of disturbing to see this tiny little lady with both her elbows deep in turkey; I mean is that safe? What if she slips and falls in? It’s dark, cold, and slippery. To illustrate her size, here is a photo of us when we took my parents down the Missouri River in July. I am small but she is tiny. (Ah, the river… *sigh* was it really that warm and the sun so bright that we had to wear sunglasses?)
At any rate, I hope all your plans for the upcoming Holidays are firming up and that you won’t have to travel huge, long distances to be with family and that your gatherings are warm and full of hearts and smiles. And if you wish it, that maybe someone else will handle the turkey for you.
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Happy Thanksgiving to you and Family, Christine. This is the first year I’m not the Mom making the turkey. I left that job to my kids since we are still on the road (with Lucinda) exploring UT. Hopefully, I’ll find turkey somewhere…
PS Love the photo of you with Mom!
Don’t let her fall into the turkey, but cooking it is OK.
I’m not much of a turkey eater, but where I’m going with dear friends, someone else is cooking both it and a pork roast. All I have to bring is my famous fried apples. Have a great Thanksgiving with family Christine.
Christine, you can do practice turkeys when your kids come. Believe me, you will never get it as right as your mom, in your own mind. I am going to my mother in laws this Thanksgiving, but will take everything but the turkey breast she wants to cook. ( I have one to cook for us, with a southwest recipe, I got out of the New Mexico magazine) I do want to be at her house in time to lift it out of the oven though, since she just got over a broken hip.
Guess what? You will most likely get smaller. I have lost over an inch already.
Oh, Christine, what a great photo of you and your mom! I love it! And thank you so much for your warm holiday wishes… As for me, I was given a choice this year: turkey or mashed potatoes.
Guess which one I picked? LOL. Hopefully all my fingers will touch is creamy new potatoes and butter!
And even better, next week I only work two days! Whoo Hoo! And can I just say how fabulous the sky looks in those shots below? I am just speechless…
Wishing you the best Thanksgiving ever… Enjoy!
My family is coming here. I can’t wait. I hope you have a great Thanksgiving. Cheers.
I have prepared more Thanksgiving dinners and turkeys than I have fingers. This year will be the first exception in a long time as we travel to Kansas for the holiday.
Really Christine, the Butterball hot line is your friend and the greatest secret is to get that bird thawed. If it’s frozen, it’s a painfully cold experience to dive in there!
Even though it’s not rocket science, every single year it makes me miss my mother. I still have the page of the yellow legal pad from the first Thanksgiving that she dictated Turkey and dressing preparation instructions to me long distance from Montana. And every year that she was living, I would call for some last minute piece of wisdom…about the dressing in particular.
I am so grateful for my beautiful mother and her gentle hand that guides me in my kitchen and in my ways–when I’m not too distracted to feel her presence.
So here’s to mothers who demonstrate fearlessness, humor, sense and compassion. The recipe for creating great women like Christine and good daughters & sons everywhere.
Happy Bonding during Thanksgiving Christine and a blessed year ahead too
Cheers from Singapore
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family too. I’ll be fixing our turkey dinner tomorrow as John always heads to his mother’s house for Thanksgiving. i can’t wait to cook for us either. glad you’ll be surrounded with family. take care.
Hi Christine, What a great picture of you and your Mom. You are so very blessed to have her in your life. I read your blog yesterday about Thanksgiving and had to laugh when I read about the turkey. I can so relate! Did you ever see the “Mr. Bean Thanksgiving “? It will leave a permanent imprint in your mind concerning preparing a turkey.
Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Shannon
Have a simply grand warm and wonderful time!