Friday, November 28, 2008
Things To Be Thankful For!
I’m thankful for the help, love and attentions shown by my son, daughter-in-law, and daughter in getting this Thanksgiving dinner ready, served, and cleared away yesterday. (Please forgive some of the fuzzy pictures my physical state was not up to snuff.)
Wes, my eldest, took on the duties of cooking the sauce and basting it to candy the sweet potatoes.
He carved the turkey the best I have seen in a long time. It seems he either read or saw how it was to be done turning out a large pile for the platter and a very empty carcass when he finished. He helped set up the serving table.
Debra, his better half came in time to put the mashed potatoes, stuffing, and gravy into the appropriate containers for reheating, She then took over the warming duties of each dish. She put the home canned pickles, chutney, pickled beets, cole slaw, cottage cheese into serving dishes. She set out the plates and silver ware for me.
Where was I? Walking in pain around the kitchen watching things get done. Earlier I had drove to Davison to pick up the dinner thinking I had it made in the shade until I opened the box and read the instructions for preparation. Two years ago I picked up a ready made dinner and everything was complete. Just keep it warm or cold depending on the item. This time the turkey called for 2 1/2 hours for reheating and all the side dishes had to be warmed too. As extra I had already peeled and steamed the sweet potatoes, made the crab dip, try to roll it into a log with no success, and turned it over to Debra to do. I was trying to peel boiled eggs that I had cooked from the night before but the membrane wouldn’t separate and they were falling apart, No deviled eggs for the family this year.
Jay was in bed still not feeling well from the minor surgery the day before and Richard, our long time friend, who was the first to arrive was wandering around drinking coffee. When Wes wasn’t busy he kept Richard company. My grandson Dakota wisely stayed out of the way.
He found something to keep himself busy as he waited.
Next Cindy, with friend Lewis had arrived. ( My picture of them didn’t turn out.) Cindy pitched in to help with the set up. By this time my legs and feet ached so bad I couldn’t think. Nothing was working under my hands and I realized that my children were saving the day.
At last everyone was seated and the chowing began.
.
Richard started as Jay, after waking up, taking his medications, and filling his plate he followed suit.
After dinner the same crew that helped me get things ready started clearing, transferring left over to smaller bowls or to containers to take home with them, and loading the dishwasher. The dirty dishes or pots that didn’t fit Debra washed by hand. All three of them had me sit in a chair in the kitchen and supervise the proceedings. I love them dearly and don’t know what I would have done without them.
A special request for a picture was filled as son and grandson posed in the kitchen.
So despite my problems together we pulled the dinner off.
It is unnerving to realize that age and infirmities are finally effecting the way one can perform a task that used to be work but could be done comfortably . What am I thankful for, besides all the help—why that the whole thing is over with.
