I am very excited about Thanksgiving this year. First, it's at our house (no travel!) and the only thing we have to make is the turkey. My mom and aunt coordinated everything else. Joe makes an awesome turkey and my mom and aunt are both fabulous cooks. So I'm anticipating great food, no drama, all in my own home. This year, I'm thankful for Thanksgiving.

eta: Oh, and we won a turkey when we ran a family 5K Turkey Trot yesterday at Ft. Carson. So the only things we had to buy were the bacon/apples/garlic/herbs to go on the turkey.

My Dad is going up to be with my bro, SIL, and nephew. Mom and her sister are driving up to be with my grandmother (it's her 90th birthday a week from tomorrow).

My mom, aunt J, and I are having thanksgiving lunch together at some point early in the afternoon. Possibly eating out.

Then my other aunt will drive up, she and mom will leave in the morning Friday and I'll be here just me for the rest of the weekend.

Well me and the cats.

Thanksgiving this year: Cornish game hens, stuffing, , green beans with facon, fresh cranberries with honey and lemon juice, Sweet potato pie. leftovers for one day.

We are driving up to gorgeous San Luis Obispo to have T-day with the in-laws. I will make my now-traditional blue cheese mashed potatoes and the turkey will be done in some totes delicious way by Bro-in-law, who is a chef. Other BiL loves lemon meringue, so SiL always makes him one from scratch for dessert.

Worst part of going up there-- DH and I are both on diets, and that means I will not be eating more stuffing than is humanly possible, as is my wont. Best part of going up there--they have horses and new baby donkey to pet!

I had Thanksgiving dinner last night, at a Friends Thanksgiving of 12 years standing which invited me in about three years ago. I brought two pies, apple and pumpkin, the hosts made some of the best turkey I've ever had, and everyone else brought the fixins. It was delicious and full of laughter.

This coming Thursday I'll be working on a job project that has gone kind of insane. Given that my dad, my last localish relative, died last February, I'm kind of glad to have other things to do.

Regardless, there will be pie.

I am puzzled by acorn squash mango soup: [link] I like acorn squash, and I like mango, but I don't think they go together.

Thanksgiving will be in Fort Lauderdale at BIL's house. No clue what there will be other than the lasagnas that I will be bringing. Not sure who all will be there. If SIL's brother is there that means good stuff because he is a chef. One SIL will bring lots of veggie stuff and lots of Pie! The grandma of the house will prepare lots of Haitian fare, rice and such. No doubt there will be food for many more than required, and drink, and merriment.

I'm going to my in-laws and cooking for them and my brother (who is going to be in DC applying for jobs instead of in NH with the rest of that side of the family). Turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, stuffed roasted pumpkin, creamed spinach, mushroom tart, green beans, salad, and pumpkin flan for dessert. And maybe gougeres if I'm feeling ambitious and have time and extra butter.

We are hosting around a dozen folks at our place in Pasadena. I work late on Wednesday and early on Friday so it's all about staying in town and not going near my crazy family in San Diego.

Scene: A house in Michigan, a mom is combing an almost 5-year-old's hair after bath. Child runs two fingers down the mother's chest.

Child: Mom, these are your boobs.

Mother: Yes, they are.

t child tweaks nipples

Mother: Emeline, that's not nice, please don't do that.

t child looks contemplative

Child: Mom, your boobs are getting longer.

black-out