Over the years my extended family has moved along to heaven without me, starting to run low. We had started letting other people cook for us by going to buffet restaurants, but ya know covid. This year my dad is gone and my moms roommate has come down sick after taking the flu shot. It was of realizing she never asked about the holiday, still hasn’t said anything. “Unprecedented times”

Got a 13lb turkey (dad’s favorite number) and saw another 13 today. Can’t recall on what but it was a welcome site. Got grandmas green beans almost right. The sweet potato fries with butter and brown sugar worked better than expected. The turkey came out great, cleaned for gumbo and roasting the bones now. Made some notes on how to do better next year. I miss the nostalgia and sentimental quality of the meal. I failed at gravy and mashed potatoes (simple yet without any historical recipes trying to achieve has been problematic.) I have a few recipes to discover this year. A few things to make ahead of time. I wish I’d paid more attention in my twenties when these family members were still trucking.

We had great peace and joy today. Sharing it with all of you here has been a great pleasure. Really warms the heart. Hope you had a great day too!