Thankful

This past week was filled with food, family, parties, and football! That about says it all.

Monday joy: By mid-morning I had made 2 peanut butter pies, a large recipe of sausage balls and had baked oatmeal in the oven. My theory was to get as much done ahead of time as possible, because having folks here for 6 days meant a lot of eating. Anything that could be made and either refrigerated of frozen needed to be done. I figured starting early Monday morning was as good a time to start as any.

The rest of the day was spent putting the final touches on the common areas.

Monday dinner: I was tired and didn't feel like cooking

Progresso soup (I don't even remember what kind)

Tuesday joy: I woke and finished all of the upstairs cleaning, including putting blankets on the beds. The forecast for the week was much cooler than we had been used to so I thought it might be a good idea to get additional warmth for the beds. Other than a final refreshening of the bathrooms and a quick vacuuming of the carpeted bedrooms, I called upstairs done and had time for a shower and such with a few minutes to put my feet up before the first ETA.

Tuesday dinner: Son1's family arrived in the late afternoon, then son2 and DIL2 joined us for a BBQ dinner.

Pulled pork, shredded smoked chicken, baked beans, collards, corn on the cob, coleslaw, cheese biscuits.

Wednesday joy: Thanksgiving prep began in earnest. It was a day of cutting, chopping, sautéing, basting, baking, etc. Then lots of clean up said dishes, pots and pan. Wash, rinse, and repeat, because as soon as one thing was done, there was another item to be cooked or prepped. About 3 or so I was finished for the day and was kind of tired. 

Son1 and family went to see Son2's house and I had a couple of hours to do a few other things before getting dinner ready.

We stayed home mainly because Son3 and DIL3 had a delay in their plans and if they were able to make it here Wednesday we thought it might be a good idea for someone to at least be home.

Wednesday dinner: I had planned on having chicken lasagne, but booted those plans. Instead I chose a simpler lighter version.

Chicken, veggies and pasta, tossed salad

Thursday joy: Thanksgiving Day came early here. We had a large extended family meal (49 of us to be exact) where everyone brings whatever they are asked to bring. My assignment was bourbon brown sugar meatballs ( I made them once now have to bring them every single time), collards, sweet potato salad, cranberry relish, peanut butter pie. There is a funny tale about the pie. I had made 2 of them, one for home and one to take with us to the big Thanksgiving. We had the home pie after the bbq meal, but I stuck it back in the freezer with little under a half a pie later. I asked Son1 to grab the pie to take to the family meal as we were headed out the door. I did not pay any attention until we got to R's house and got the pie our of the thermal bag to put on the dessert table. That is when I noticed he had grabbed the partially eaten pie instead of the whole one.  Oh well. At least there were many other desserts and it just looked like someone hit the dessert table pre-meal.

Thursday dinner: We were overly full when we waddled home after the huge lunch. I had planned on cooking a turkey breast with modest Thanksgiving fixings, but booted that plan. Instead I put on an easy to make pot of soup.

Pumpkin, sausage and sage soup.

Friday joy: Goodbye Thanksgiving and all Thanksgiving decor. Hello birthday party streamers, balloons, birthday table scape, plates and cups. It was Pip's actual birthday and we planned a party for her. A few kids along with several of my cousins, and all of our immediate family came for a pizza lunch ( I am not dumb enough to try and make 4 large pizzas when I can buy them) followed by cake, ice cream, music and merriment. 

As soon as the party was over Pip could not wait to go to Ulta to spend some of her birthday money. DIL's 1 and 3 went with her. I was happy to stay at home because I do not enjoy Black Friday crowds.

In the late afternoon, 2 of Son3's friends stopped by and visited for a bit.

Friday dinner: I tried to get Son3's friends to stay and eat with us, but they declined. Instead I was stuck with a ton of leftovers.

Roast turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, asparagus, sliced tomatoes, dinner rolls

Saturday joy:  Goodbye birthday decor, hello Roll Tide table scape.

Most of the family woke, ate breakfast, then headed to Tuscaloosa for the Iron Bowl. DIL3 and I were the only ones still at the house and I actually had time to have leisurely coffee and to sit down to write this post while I washed towels, clothes, cleaned the common areas and the powder rooms before settling in to watch the game on TV. 

Saturday dinner: We knew they would not be home from the game until sometime between 8:30 and 9. I had all the makings of a huge pot of soup available and decided it would hold very easily. I also had leftover sliced turkey, salad fixings, mashed potatoes and collards for whoever wanted something else.

Vegetable beef soup, leftover pumpkin sage soup, or whatever anyone else wanted to heat and eat.

Sunday joy: Son3 and DIL3 left early in the morning to get back to Nashville in time for DIL 3 to practice for a Christmas dulcimer video concert that evening.

Son2 and DIL2 came over for lunch. Thank goodness for tons of leftovers!

After they left we settled down in front of the TV to watch DIL3's performance.  I am very thankful Son1 was here because TheHub and I would never have figured out to to watch it  quite comfortably there, instead of crowding around a laptop.

Sunday dinner: No one was hungry. 

Veggie stuffed baked potatoes and/or tossed salad

And now that everyone has left, the dishes are done (again! I think I have washed more dishes  and cooked more this past week than I have in my lifetime), the towels are clean and folded, 2 beds have bedding done with one more waiting for tomorrow, and I am tired. Incredibly tired. This old grey mare ain't what she used to be.

I do not even feel like thinking about cooking, much less planning a menu. We are going to eat very simple meals this week. Hopefully that require little to no cooking.

I also read nothing this week and don't care!

May all your weeds be wildflowers,

Anne

p.s. Though not my usual practice I plan on breaking the seal on a very good bottle of bourbon  this week. Fighting colds and a little tipple while decorating sounds like a winning plan to me. Old fashions anyone?