Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Good Day!


Good morning and happy Thanksgiving Eve Morning to ya!
I'm off work today on a "floating holiday." We get two of these a year and you have to use them by mid-December. Every year I completely forget about them and end up taking them on some bizarre mid-week day because everybody else took all the good days. I tried for Friday after Thanksgiving but was too late, so I opted for today. It'll be good because I can do my Thanksgiving cooking and preparing today and we have lifegroup tonight.
So I'm making those pretzel jello squares. Have you had them? They have a pretzel crust, cream cheese layer and then a jello layer. Jay loves them and I can use gluten-free pretzels so it's all good. I'm using lime jello with pineapples per his request and making a second batch to drop off at the hospital tomorrow for those working the holiday. Personally, I wouldn't have chosen lime jello but it seems to be a crowd favorite. Being that I abhor any recipe that involves steps of any kind, it's critical that I was off work today to do the crust, add the creamy layer, let it set, prepare the jello...it's very complicated business indeed. I don't know how I do it. :-)
I'm also in charge of stuffing being that there are so many of us for the holidays that the amount of stuffing which fits inside a bird isn't sufficient. And man, I do love stuffing! Amy (my older sister) hosts the dinner at her home and everybody acts like "isn't that lovely!" and all that garbage but the truth is it's a ruse to lure us there so that after dinner we're forced to decorate her 25 foot tall Christmas tree! Anyway, back to the stuffing. Amy is "intimidated" by stuffing (her words) which works out great because then I am stuffing-woman and we all know that stuffing is the easiest part of the meal. Don't tell her or I'll get assigned something with steps and I'm not up for that with all the jello stress and all. Which reminds me, how do you make stuffing? It's all very personal where dressing is concerned. Some people add oysters which sounds good to me but my mother gags at the texture of oysters. I think people add raisins sometimes too which is clearly demonic. And don't get me started on gizzards and such. I use pork sausage, onions and celery.
The Mr. is sure to jump up with a start tonight around 9:00 p.m. and remember that tomorrow is Thanksgiving and he'll insist on running to the grocery store so that he can make punch. The Mr. and Amy are punch freaks. I don't personally care about it but the masses demand it on every holiday. He's got a whole ice ring and sherbert system. I personally enjoy a diet Canada Dry with dinner. Shaken not stirred.
So we all got our dinner contribution assignments which is how we do it 'round these parts so no one is carrying the entire burden. Then everyone but Amy will assist with clean-up since it's her house. While we're in the kitchen cleaning she will sneakily get daboyz to haul the tree decorations up from the basement to assemble her elf slaves for the trimming of the tree the top of which can be seen from outer space much like the Wall of China.
So you can see why I need today off to start jello-ing, sauteeing and prepping for the marathon garland draping.
Oh, not to mention the overwhelming joy and worship that overtakes me when I consider another year with more blessings than I could have thought to ask for.
It's a good day.

Philippians 4:19
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

11 comments:

Margie said...

now I am all misty! Good thing I am off work too...

I decided that on my way home from dropping off Phyllis, I will drop off "a few things" to St. Vincent DePauls, and went out the garage (where the stuff gets stored)... uh... 6 garbage bags, 3 backpacks (the rolly kind), 2 pairs of ice skates. All in about 10 minutes. I count myself blessed!

Pat said...

I gave birth to both of you girls and I seem to recall you being the older sister.
Since I now qualify for AARP I may pass the tree decorating chores to the rest of you young ones and take a supervisory role. Also, the clean-up should fall on those between the ages of 16 and 50 (excluding your older sister Amy) and once again, I will supervise. I'm looking forward to a day of eating and supervising!!

Sara said...

keep dreaming b girl

Margie said...

I didn't even catch the older sister thing... hmmm... in our family you need to be under 10 or pregnant to get out of the clean up... are you pregnant? Sara needs another younger sister, don't you think? hee hee

Sara said...

JELLO IS NOT SETTING! HOW MUCH WATER DID I ADD? I CAN'T REMEMBER!

Sara said...

don't panic, the spoon left a slight demarcation on the surface of the jello. have turned up the coolality of the fridge. will post updates as available.

Deb said...

...this post just filled my heart with smiles!....

Happy Thanksgiving!

...oh...stuffing --I do the demonic raisin thing (in half) - the other half is free of the wretched raisins. (I refuse to comment on the gizzards and liver as I may incriminate myself...)
I also add pine nuts --or pineolas --try it --you'll like it!

Anonymous said...

I want pictures of the jello please! Hope you have a great time eating and washing the dishes too!

Becky said...

dishes?????
sara has a dishwasher now-it either goes in there or it gets tossed.

KayMac said...

Sara, I think you invented the "sense of humor". Happy Thanksgiving! How do I get my turkey to look like that?

MSU gal said...

forget that under 10 thing. i am once again sending my daughter in to do tree decorating. and sara is the only person who can get up on the ladder without falling. i am willing to help with clean-up though!