David, please send me the mushroom stew recipe. I need to try that. It sounds like an exhausting but gratifying day.

I'll have to write out the recipe. I just kind of wing it but I know the general outlines and then I just tweak it as I go. It's my own recipe, and the original idea was just to maximize mushroom flavor as much as possible. As with Emmett's turkey pot roast, I do cook it down with brandy and apple cider, then hit it with as much umami as I can while keeping the balance.

This week has been my happiest week since the Pandemic started. I almost feel normal again. I don’t know if it was seeing you guys on Saturday, having a mostly meeting free week, planning my Thanksgiving (I love planning things), my great new director at work or what, but I am trying to carry that happiness into today and made myself another plan.

Yes, I'm looking forward to another Buffista Zoom call. I hadn't realized how much I missed your faces and voices now that we've let the F2Fs fall to the wayside.

I think part of my despair is that being at home where time is an amorphous blob is just terrible for my sort of lack of executive function. If I don’t plan something, I too am an amorphous blob full of can’t. I don’t know why I keep forgetting this

We need to give you a project!

I am making slippers for Maria’s mom, who is still in the hospital. So that is my project for today. I think I want to an all handmade Christmas with as little purchased as possible- using up my stash of stuff- so masks, slippers, hats, scarves.

My uncle keeps trying to get me to write a book, but I haven’t written anything but work or school stuff since I went to college. I was a prolific plotter as a 6, 7, and 8th grader, but I never finished anything, so I think that is what he is thinking of. But I think if I had a huge desire to write I would have written some fan fiction over these years!

I'm already working on a list of elaborate things to cook over my two-week year-end vacation. Like, lasagne where you make all the parts, or cassoulet, or croissants.

I ended up only making 2 pies and did not eat any yet.

My “excitement” yesterday was one or both dogs eating my food when I went to the bathroom. Something they never do. So I got to google all the food and discover that several things are bad for dogs but nothing necessitated an immediate rush to emergency vet. So lots of outdoor breaks and watching them. Nothing bad yet just gross, so I’ll spare y’all.

The St. Bernard got a couple millimeters of whipped cream from the pie yesterday, but other than that, the dogs were kept safely away from the food.

We had a standard spread: turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed and hasselback potatoes, spinach salad, 2 kinds of rolls, and 2 pies. So this morning I had a small piece of chocolate cream pie for breakfast. I admit that although it's excellent, I would prefer pumpkin for breakfast.

It's a beautiful day and I want to get my car washed, but instead I'm cleaning the house and waiting for my new chest freezer to be delivered...

I didn't have any pie this year, and I have to admit that I missed the pumpkin pie for breakfast more than I missed having it for dessert yesterday.

I think I am going to decorate big time this weekend. I won't have anybody here, but it will seem less bleak if it is shiny and pretty. My SIL just did my nails Christmas red, with a few red glittery ones too to get in the mood.

There's a definite lack of PIE around here.

I just had a big slice of cranberry sauce for a late snack, though. That counts as a vegetable. (Say 'yes.')

Timelies all!

Thanksgiving dinner was pretty good, over all. The turkey was a bit dry(not really a surprise, as it was pre-sliced) though the gravy helped. Mashed sweet potatoes, stuffing and cranberry sauce were all good.

(Say 'yes.')

Yes!

Since we went full Thanksgiving Elf yesterday delivering foodstuffs all over the Bay Area, we were depleted on side dishes. So I made more stuffing, mashed potatoes, veg and turkey gravy today.

Really liking the Apple Cream pie now that it's been in the fridge for a bit. Need to try the Bluberry/Raspberry pie with ice cream, I think.

I'm still chuffed about yesterday. It was disappointing when EM cancelled, and when Emmett had to pull out it was looking like a full on disaster. But taking it to the road and delivery treats made all the difference. It was adventuresome and beautiful instead of desultory. And then the Zoom calls with JZ's family, and Emmett/EM were really fun.

Instead of nursing a Bummed Out Hangover, I feel energized and connected.

That's great, David!