Shout Out to Sherri, Who Posted The Questions I am Answering on Her Blog Last Week

QUIZ TIME

Name 3 things you or your family do/eat/practice/watch/listen to at Thanksgiving that others may consider interesting/strange/stupid/questionable.

(feel free to explain)

Can't think of 3? Give me your #1!

My friend Sherri at Matter of Fact posted these questions on her blog last week. I couldn't answer them because I was preparing for a birthday party and too excited to give it much thought. All I cared about was cleaning up for the party. Twenty guests. It went well for the most part. I ran out of beer, so someone went on a beer run. Someone told a racist joke so I had to stare them down and make them feel like trash without causing a scene at my mom's and uncle's party. Luckily I have my dad's angry face, which means I look like I am going to have a stroke right then and there, but I don't make a sound. Everyone there just looked like deer caught in the headlights while my face twisted so that my mouth was on my forehead. Finally, when I regained the power of speech, I said what everyone was waiting to hear. "Does anyone need any ice? I think I need to refill my own glass and cool off!" Everything seemed to go back to normal then. Only the jokester seemed fidgety, which is the way I wanted it.
Anyway, I promised Sherri I would do a post on her questions when the party was over, and here it is. The first thing I do is make breakfast for the four of us (Mom, Bob, and Uncle) . If I make turkey soup and mom's homemade stuffing, they get cold cereal and milk for breakfast. If I make packaged stuffing, I take a breakfast vote (maybe even the night before, in case they want Overnight Frenchtoast), majority rule. It looks like among four there could be a tie, but there wouldn't be because I vote last. That means three different votes, I cast deciding vote :-) Two people agree, and it is good enough for me. Then we watch the parade on television. I know, better Christians go to Church. Maybe we will this year, but the odds are in the parade's favor.
The turkey goes in the oven while the parade is on. I microwave the sweet potatoes at the same time. Two and a half hours before the turkey is ready, I put the sweet potaotoes, butter, and marshmallows in the crockpot. I make a crockpot sweet potato casserole. When the turkey comes out of the oven, I let it rest (it is exhausted after being in the oven all that time) and I make a green bean casserole in the microwave. I open a can of cranberry sauce. That's it. I am making the apple pie on Wednesday, so that will be good to go.
We used to eat elsewhere on Thanksgiving, but mom can't get into the car and go places, so I do Thanksgiving now. Every year I invite people besides Uncle, but it seems they don't want to come. I don't think it is my cooking. I think they think it is too hard for me to do a big dinner, have people over, and care for mom. I don't think they realize that in some ways it would be easier. I wouldn't bother with side dishes, just the stuffed turkey. I would assign someone to make the sweet potatoes (however they want), someone to make a vegetable (their choice), someone to bring dessert, etc. It really wouldn't be that much more difficult than making dinner and taking care of mom ever is. Oh well, people mean well, and I need to remember that.
My husband may watch football, depending on his mood. I told my Uncle to invite a friend of his who did not know where he would go for Thanksgiving. I told my Uncle that unless the problem is too many offers to choose from, he should invite him here, so we shall see. I might be up to five people.
We may put up the tree on Friday. I used to like to wait to Christmas Eve, but after mom's stroke I decided to extend the Christmas season as much as possible. I need to try to find a way to keep advent that isn't burdensome to others.
The only really strange thing is my mom's recipe for homemade stuffing. It includes the liver, stomach, and gizzards of the turkey. While that doesn't bother me, I think I'd rather KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetie) this Thanksgiving, and enjoy the parade and my family as much as possible, further proof that I am more Mary than Martha (not a good thing on Thanksgiving of all holidays!" Oh well! Mom, Bob, and Uncle love me anyway. It is part of their job description as Mom, Husband, and Uncle...