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I miss the turkey dinner, with all the trimmings...

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Mags, you're welcome here any time. I did the whole bit yesterday, and was a bit tired out by the end of the day though. However, there are lots of leftovers! That's the whole idea, as we like that part. I usually make at least 6 cups of gravy (yum!) for the sweet potatoes, stuffing and turkey (don't forget the cranberries!). Can't wait for dinner today. We'll set a place for you Mags.

At Thanksgiving we eat at the home of a very dear friend so we don't get the leftovers. Needless to say, turkey is the rule for Christmas, then ham for the New Year.

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You can come to my house next year, if you want, too, OK Miss Mags? You're popular ! Some training may be necessary if you decide to motor to Ohio, though, I reckon I should warn you. This Christmas was practice to that truth.

I really shouldn't have done it, but I somehow accepted the badge of "Christmas Dinner Cooker" this year. It's been a few centuries since I took on such a label, let me tell ya . I was all into it, though. I made so much stuff that I felt completely guilty (even worse) about homeless people who have nothing to eat on Christmas. My guests were so cool, too! I wasn't sure what might happen (and I'm a control freak in the kitchen, so it's hard for folks to jump into the middle of my 'assigned scheduling', despite volunteerism) but what I thought might happen, did. Major muscle spasms in my back midway through the potatoes (luckily, the turkey was in the oven already, by then). And my chums helped me through it --- all I had to do was lay down on the floor for 30 minutes with my feet up so my back landed right. The spasms slowed down. They'd never seen that happen before, and I knew it, so tried to make them *get it* that it's not all that bad. I'm an old hat at dealing with that sort of thing. Maybe bad for them, I guess ... but not so bad for me. I'll get 'em trained , and ... end result Friday? Even after losing that hour, with potatoes getting all glued up? Me on a flat surface twitching mildly? Dinner got served. Two hours later than planned, but served.

And I couldn't believe it ! And I don't doubt them, either -- I've known these guys for more than a decade (or three), so know when they're schmoozing -- the 'critics', as they went at it (seizures or no), said it was the best turkey they'd ever eaten. Nobody said much about the potatoes (but ate 'em all, anyway) --- but I managed a prize-worthy turkey, I think.

This means one thing, and one thing only: nobody need write me off, not just yet . Dammit! Bum *stuff* in place or not, I can still make a darned good meal out of an otherwise innocent barnyard fowl.

And, while I'm here! Happy New Year, everybody!

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