Thanksgiving Day 2008

We all slept in but got busy right away. Dad headed for the shop to get out two more orders. After a piece of raisin toast Great Grandma and I started on the cooking. We were pretty much on our feet all day long and boy did we pay for it on Friday. None of us could sleep. And from the bottoms of our feet to our shoulders we were in pain!!!! Grandma is busy in this picture making the Pumpkin Chiffon Pie. The Pumpkin pie was cooling in the nook.

I worked on the stuffing. The house smelled amazing. I stuffed the turkey and had enough left over for this big bowl too.

So I now have notes on how to make pumpkin pie...the Dijuan Coates' way! I'll share with anyone who wants to know. I know now that everything I have for making the crust is wrong. I have a marble rolling pin - the ad said it was best because it stayed cold and didn't melt the shortening. No, No. It should be a large, old fashioned wood rolling pin, preferably with ball bearings in the handles.

I roll the crust out on marble for the same reasons that I used the marble rolling pin. But, no. I need to have a pastry cloth or at least a large wooden pastry board.

I need white vinegar. So, there you go. Got the recipe, a couple more secrets too.

But no one ever complains about my turkey!!!

Dayton enjoying his Pre-dinner snack of mashed potatoes and gravy. He hadn't had lunch and was so hungry. He grabbed a spoon from the utensil drawer and headed for the mixing bowl full of potatoes. He walked over to the stove and said, "Some of this" meaning the gravy. After a couple of samples Gaylynne just got him a dish. So cute!!!

Dad carved the turkey at the table which we haven't done for quite a few years. It was cool.

Courtney sampled a little to make sure that it was okay. It was!

We had wonderful political conversations all evening.

All of a sudden it was time for dessert. Grandma whipped up a carton of whipping cream and everyone enjoyed themselves.

And none more than Dayton.

In just one hour from start to finish Don made these wonderful rolls. They are sitting in a 9 inch pie pan so you can see how large they are. On Friday Great Grandma and I split one for our turkey sandwich lunch. Oh...my... yum!

Grandma made her famous Peanut/Cashew Brittle. Don came by on his way to get a part for his broken heater. (58 degrees in his home). We gave him some brittle to take home. We are going to make a second batch either this evening or tomorrow.

In spite of the fact that Lori and Matthew and Andrew didn't make a surprise visit which we all thought might happen, and that Teresa and the kids were unable to stop by, and that Brian was busy... well, we still had a really nice time and ate way too much. I got to talk to my brother, Pat, and he wished all of us a very happy holiday.