 | 9 Nov 09 |
Dear Thanksgiving Guests,
I can’t tell you how thrilled I was to learn that while I was writing seven days a week, trying to meet my deadlines in order to get a paycheck…
What? Oh you thought publishers just threw money at me? Like randomly? In big huge chunks?
Bwhahahaha!!! Sorry, I think my crazy might have been showing. Let me tuck that away under all my overdue bills.
Now where was I? Oh, while I’ve been pounding the keys (or banging my head on my desk when I’m stuck) apparently, you all have been planning.
Thanksgiving.
At my house.
And seriously, I am impressed! You’ve made a lovely menu of roasted turkey, cream cheese potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes, salad, corn, warm fragrant rolls, several different kinds of homemade pies! Yum!
And the ambiance! The tables set up with fresh linens and my grandmother’s china that hasn’t been washed in two years! Gleaming crystal wine glasses! Fresh flowers! Candles!
All in my sparkling clean home. (Umm excuse me, I was just choking on reality.)
I just have one question…
DO YOU ALL LIVE IN CRAZY LAND?
You don’t plan all this with my HUSBAND AND NOT TELL ME!
So I’ve made a few changes…
Welcome to my home. See the dust on the mini blinds? Learn to love it because it’s going to be there for-freaking-ever. And no flowers on the tables? Go ahead, I dare you to ask me why there are no flowers. You want flowers? I’ll go in the back yard, yank out the rose bush and put it on the table if you want flowers so damned bad. I live to please, so go ahead, ask…
Not going to ask? Okay, good.
So here’s the deal. You ignore my flaws and failings and I’ll try to act like a sane person. Okay, maybe a drunk sane person. But that’s the best I can do.
Or we could have Thanksgiving at YOUR house.
Yeah, that’s what I thought. See you on Thanksgiving! Bring wine!
Happy Holidays!
Crazy A Writer
Okay, guys, you know I’m kidding! My husband would NEVER do this. But seriously, how did the holidays get here so fast? And why is there never enough time?
© 2009 Jennifer Lyon. All rights reserved.
Award winning author, Jennifer Lyon, always wanted to be a witch. Since her witch-powers never materialized, she went onto Plan B and now she creates magic in her books. In her new series, the author of the acclaimed Samantha Shaw Mystery Series (written as Jennifer Apodaca) introduces the Witch Hunters, legendary men who must overcome a curse to team up with witches and fight evil.
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I am having the family Thanksgiving dinner at my house again this year, but I have decided the heavy cleaning is on hold this time. Since there’s only one non-family guest coming, why kill myself.
We doing the huge dinner but with paper tablecloths, disposable plates/cups, etc. It’s just as much fun without all the slavery …
by Chicki Brown November 9th, 2009 at 4:54 amChicki, sounds like a lot of fun at your house! I am doing a dinner at my house, but while I’d planned to get all my deep cleaning done, it’s not going to happen.
My husband wanted to use paper plates, but I have two sets of china and feel guilty. The problem is that my grandmother’s china is VERY old and must be carefully hand washed.
by Jennifer Lyon November 9th, 2009 at 8:18 amI am SO excited! Daughter is coming to town to stay with her hubby’s family at their timeshare for Thanksgiving week. THEY’RE doing dinner. All I have to do is show up. True, it’s not my family, but with one in Ireland and the other two in Colorado, this works for me. And we’re going to Colorado in early December to see grandson turn 2, so I’ll still get to see them. But at their places, not mine!
by Terry Odell November 9th, 2009 at 5:44 amTerry, you have it made this year! Doing something different is fun
I really hope you enjoy time with you Daughter and her husband’s family!
by Jennifer Lyon November 9th, 2009 at 8:20 amWhew. For a minute there, I was feeling your pain. Thank goodness my Turkey Day isn’t like that. For one thing, Thanksgiving is Hubby’s turn to cook. All I do is buy the stuff and he whips it into an awesome meal. The other thing is we live so far from all our relatives, no one comes here for holidays. All usual, it’ll be the three of us and the cat. =o)
by B.E. Sanderson November 9th, 2009 at 6:09 amB.E., my turkey days can get a LITTLE like that. But it’s not husband and that’s all I’m gonna say on that
How cool that your husband is cooking! My husband will help (including dishes) so I have no complaints. But it would be fun to watch him do a whole dinner by himself!
by Jennifer Lyon November 9th, 2009 at 8:22 amAfter we got married, he just sort of took over Thanksgiving. Good thing, too, because turkey is one of the few things I can’t cook. LOL
by B.E. Sanderson November 10th, 2009 at 5:36 amSee, I kind of miss the Thanksgiving mania–my husband’s family has permanent dibs on us for Turkey Day because it’s the only time they all get together all year and we always meet at a hotel or resort someplace. At first it seems nice, someone else cooking and cleaning and going nuts, but after a few years? I really miss the turkey disasters and not having enough plates and someone forgetting to cook the sweet potatoes and someone else leaving sausage out of the cornbread dressing. Now THAT was a bonding experience!
by Louisa Edwards November 9th, 2009 at 7:08 amLouisa, that’s a great point. Those disasters become family-lore. Like the time I bought a small turkey by accident because–thought it said 22 pounds not 12 (umm…yeah…I blame stress). But my teenage son saved the day driving from store to store all across town on T-day to find a second turkey. He saved the day!
Hope you have great Thanksgiving!
by Jennifer Lyon November 9th, 2009 at 8:26 amWe rotate Thanksgiving between various family members so no one has to do it twice in a row, and we’re pretty lax on the whole decorating thing. (er, decorating? flowers? real china? SERIOUSLY? my family wouldn’t know how to eat it if it came with all of those accouterments.)
I have, thus far, never in my life cooked Thanksgiving. My husband has. I’m the one who cleans and/or acts as traffic spouse, moving everyone in and out. I plan to go out of this life having that perfect record.
by toni mcgee causey November 9th, 2009 at 8:55 amToni, we must toast your perfect track record! I learned to cook a turkey when I was told to cook it for a sister in law. Don’t even get me started…
I’m all for paper plates and easy! But I will do china this year…because I’m clearly a masochist. Sigh.
by Jen Lyon November 9th, 2009 at 10:38 amLOL Jen! I KNOW your dh wouldn’t do that. He likes LIFE! =) But the holidays are sneaking up on us and I’m putting out the Dust Bunny warning myself! Of course, this year, dd and her hubby are doing Thanksgiving AND Christmas.
All I have to do is come over early, show her how to cook the turkey, help her make sides, …yadayadayada. Thought SHE was doing it!!
Maureen
by Maureen Child November 9th, 2009 at 9:46 amMaureen, LOLOL! Sounds like a vacation, except that you’re doing all the work! On the other hand, I know how much fun you have with your daughter, so it doesn’t sound too bad
by Jen Lyon November 9th, 2009 at 10:39 amHubby knows I would have to kill him if he volunteered me for something like that.
With 5 kids, a hubby, and pets my house is NEVER as clean as I would like. I did just go through a mountain of papers and tossed out a bunch. I also have a pile to shred, I’m saving that for later.
Thankfully, no pun intended, Thanksgiving is always done at my husband’s aunt’s house. Every household brings a dish and there are always 2 turkeys over 20 pounds each. I make a turkey dinner for our house a few days later when everyone is up for eating turkey again.
by HollyD November 9th, 2009 at 9:46 amHollyD, glad to know your husband enjoys breathing too much to try that! You really do have your hands full, I admire you for juggling it all!
Hope you have a great time at your husband’s aunt’s house.
by Jen Lyon November 9th, 2009 at 10:41 amChoking on the wishbone in laughter here! They DO sneak up fast, don’t they? We drive across the state AND bring the chef (my husband!) so we get both Travel and Work. But I don’t have to clean a house, and we take a lot of leftovers home, so YAY.
Funny, true, and timely post! Thanks, Jen!
by Roxanne St. Claire November 9th, 2009 at 10:10 amHey Rocki, there’s a lot to be said for not having to clean the house! And your husband cooks too? Mine bbq’s, but I’m very territorial about the kitchen.
And we NEVER stop working, do we?
by Jen Lyon November 9th, 2009 at 10:43 amWe have Thanksgiving at SIL’s, thank God. We get Christmas which gives me a little more time.
We are so behind this year. We have no Christmas shopping done yet. None. By this time we are usually done and have them wrapped. We better get our butts in gear.
by Jill James November 9th, 2009 at 10:33 amJill, you’re usually FINISHED Christmas shopping by now? That blows my mind. I don’t have the first idea what I’m going to even buy yet! Amazing!
by Jen Lyon November 9th, 2009 at 10:44 amROFLOL, I really thought it was real. Ha! Joke’s on me, I’m so gullible . . .
Fortunately, my husband’s relatives all live too far to visit (and they chose not to) . . . though honestly, I love cooking Thanksgiving dinner. It’s the ONLY holiday I really enjoy cooking. We had one big Thanksgiving here where half of Dan’s family came and we had lots of fun, but I can’t seem to get everyone on the same page at the same time . . . so it’s just me, Dan, the five kids, my mom and every other year my FIL.
I hear you on the holidays. Christmas! Shopping! Last year I was on crunch deadline and this year I thought I built in enough time . . . not.
by Allison Brennan November 9th, 2009 at 11:15 amAllison, you probably believed it because it’s partly true
My holidays have been a bit like that except that my husband isn’t the culprit. One year, guests I had didn’t like paper plates and actually got out my china.
I hope you have a great time with your mom, husband kids!
by Jennifer Lyon November 9th, 2009 at 12:45 pmROFLMAO! I can’t count the number of times this has happened to me!
In my age and wisdom, though, I have discovered the solution to Thanksgiving…
What’s the best part of the day? Turkey sandwhiches, football on the tube, and pumpkin pie, right?
That’s what I cook & serve. A turkey breast (no one eats dark around here), with a fresh loaf of Wonder(tm) bread, pumpkin pie, chips, and relish tray. You want to do T-giving at my house? Cool. See above. That’s what you’re getting to eat. If you are really lucky, I’ll have seasonal napkins left over from a previous year, otherwise it’s paper towels.
by Silver James November 9th, 2009 at 11:29 amSilver, that’s a great way to entertain! Trouble is that I like doing it up…I just don’t have the energy that I used to.
by Jennifer Lyon November 9th, 2009 at 12:46 pmJen, thank you for this reminder. I’m sending out the holiday cancellation notices tomorrow! Ack!
Ok, so this year, my cousin is doing Thanksgiving. I have to bring a Jello mold and potatoes. Christmas Eve is at my house, but it’s going to be the intimate version this year. My mil is cooking Christmas day. So, I am off the hook! Of course hubby really wants to throw a Christmas party this year, but with a new baby in the house? Nah, too many germs.
by Karin Tabke November 9th, 2009 at 11:37 amWhat’s the word on bebe? Has she made an appearance yet?
Sending good thoughts to all! <3
by Silver James November 9th, 2009 at 12:22 pmsilver just back from the doc’s. things are moving along. but still no baby!
by Karin Tabke November 9th, 2009 at 3:51 pmKarin, your holidays are going to be even more special with your new grandbaby!
by Jennifer Lyon November 9th, 2009 at 12:47 pmI know! I’m rubbing my hands together in anticipation!
by Karin Tabke November 9th, 2009 at 3:51 pmKarin, all I can say is your granddaughter knows how to make an entrance! There’s a lot of us waiting
by Jennifer Lyon November 9th, 2009 at 6:33 pmThought I’d chime in again in case anyone is cooking the turkey. My brother the chef gave us a fantastic technique he uses in his restaurant.
Start your turkey at 425. After 30 minutes, lower to 325. Then repeat every thirty minutes, raising and lowering the temp (if you’re home anyway, it’s no big deal.) The turkey will cook VERY FAST — our 12-14 pounders were usually done in under 3 hours. The meat is juicy and tender, even the next day (all week, actually).
Only caveat: if your dressing/stuffing is cooked in the bird and contains raw anything, it might not cook long enough to bring that stuffing up to temp. However our stuffing recipe is meatless, eggless — and the one thing my daughter will probably insist I bring to the inlaws. It was originally designed for a goose, but I tried it and the kids haven’t allowed anything else. Recipe is on my website, as is my ‘not enough people coming to dinner to justify two pies’ pumpkin-apple pie recipe.
by Terry Odell November 9th, 2009 at 11:40 amTerry, thanks! It sounds delicious! I will use my tried and true method (yes, I am that lazy!), but I bet several people will try alternating heat method.
I’m going to go look at your dessert when I’m done working today!
by Jennifer Lyon November 9th, 2009 at 12:49 pmOMG, Jen!!! You always make me laugh! I’m so glad to hear this was not the real scenario at your house.
My DH and I will be at my mom’s house over the holiday, and we’re taking her out to dinner! Yay!!
by Kate Carlisle November 9th, 2009 at 12:26 pmKate, ohhh you’re going out? I’m feeling jealous right about now
And on making you laugh? You return the favor!
by Jennifer Lyon November 9th, 2009 at 12:50 pmI love the holidays!
by S. J. Day November 9th, 2009 at 4:28 pmSyl, really? I love them too–but all the prep work wears me out.
by Jennifer Lyon November 9th, 2009 at 6:31 pm