Have you adjusted to the new kitchen? What are the pros and cons?

Pro: It's much bigger, much more counter space. Still haven't mastered the oven. It's a double oven so the broiler is on the top and the heating element is much closer to the food.

Con: despite looking up the manual online I still haven't figured out how to adjust the temperature. It just turns on at 350 and stays there. I can't bump it up or punch it in as I did on my last stove, and the online manual gave an insanely complicated counter intuitive process to turn the temp down but not up. So...I'm probably missing something obvious. My last stove was just: Bake > Punch in Temp > Start.

But it might have something to do with the whole double oven thing, and I should focus on the bottom oven.

My plan is to take Mom out for Thanksgiving lunch (likely to Cracker Barrel), then if weather permits put a second coat of paint on her garage door. Our real Thanksgiving with the family will be Saturday over in Tennessee; I'm bringing a Caesar and pesto salad.

Timelies all!

We're going to my MIL's for Thanksgiving like we usually do. She's recovering from surgery(detached retina) so I went over there after work to help with some of the side dishes.

Sigh...it's been a rough year with Mr. S.

"But we wont' have leftovers if we just go to their houses!"

Say what!?!? That is the #1 reason to host, leftovers. Love me some leftovers.

My sister and I are having a spa night on Wednesday evening at some luxe Roman bath type place

Ahhhh, that sounds so wonderful. I have been in my new place ~3 weeks and have yet to go to the beach club across the street, swim, or unwind in the spa. I really need to take a moment. Maybe Friday. I honestly was going to go this morning early morning and do sunrise on the beach, even laid out my clothes the night before, and it was rainy! So I just went outside long enough for the dog to pee and dashed back inside. I did sit on the balcony in the super windy ocean breezes, so that was good. But, right across the street and I haven't managed it yet.

Still haven't mastered the oven.

You have no idea how instantly I thought to myself that I needed to jump on a plane and teach you the way of the oven, as I have never met an oven I couldn't master. Why oh why is instant travel to loved ones' places of residence not an option yet?

Sigh...it's been a rough year with Mr. S.

Oh Sheryl, it has indeed. My heart aches for your family. I do so hope that you find a path for Mr. S. to deal with his emotions. You all deserve a break.

You have no idea how instantly I thought to myself that I needed to jump on a plane and teach you the way of the oven, as I have never met an oven I couldn't master. Why oh why is instant travel to loved ones' places of residence not an option yet?

Teleportation...the solution to, and cause of all of the problems of the 22nd century. (Paraphrasing from the Simpsons re: beer.)

You will be excited to know that I have Figured Out The Oven. So now I just have to prep and cook all the food. As soon as I find the Immersion Blender...

I will be delegating more this year as both Emmett & Matilda are competent in the kitchen and JZ will make her Spanikopita. Also, I now know all the things I can do on Wednesday so Thursday is more about appetizers and the turkey.

We're only having one extra guest this year: Wendy, who was the girlfriend of JZ's dad. EM will be joining us as usual (and bringing pies) but otherwise a fairly tight nuclear family.

My plan is to take Mom out for Thanksgiving lunch (likely to Cracker Barrel), then if weather permits put a second coat of paint on her garage door. Our real Thanksgiving with the family will be Saturday over in Tennessee; I'm bringing a Caesar and pesto salad.

You're such a good son, Matt.

Thanks to all for the kind words on my son's wedding proofs.

As soon as I find the Immersion Blender...

I ended up buying another one. So now I have 2 in Otter Lake. Maybe I'll give one to my son. I have a lot of duplicates up there now because I just didn't have enough room to bring back all the things. I am missing so many things that it just doesn't make sense.

I woke up from a dream where I was a character in a mystery novel, and I had just gotten a love interest, but I somehow knew I was a side character and he was an FBI agent and I was like “but he’ll probably die at the end of the book!” Very weird but now im feeling wistful anyway?? Super weird, brain.

Aw, meara, what a meta dream!

You will be excited to know that I have Figured Out The Oven.

Whew! I was worried about your whole oven situation.

One of the things I do as a host is send stuff home with people, so I don't get the whole "no leftovers if we're guests" thing. Sure, I'm keeping a slice or two of pie and one or two meals worth of entree and sides, but I'll be sending my guests home with some of everything except the wine. I'm one person, and while I probably could live on dressing and pie for a week after Thanksgiving, I probably shouldn't.

Glad the oven situation's solved, Hec.

We'll get out of work around 2 tomorrow, so I'm planning on prepping the turkey roulade, making the pie, and getting the sweet potato prep done tomorrow afternoon and evening. I'll be able to make the Waldorf salad Thursday as the turkey, dressing, and sweet potatoes cook, and gravy's a 5 minute task. Tonight I need to sweep and dust.