NEPHEW did the organization and the stressing. He was much better at both than I would have been, and he was SO much fun to cook with. And, wow, can he organize!
NEPHEW and I now know how to use a meat thermometer (and how to spot one when it's in the drawer. A candy thermometer isn't the same thing.)! It's really not as easy as you think it would be. Apparently you need to know where to put the thermometer and how long to leave it there. The three minute rule with a rectal thermometer doesn't apply here. We seriously put the end of the thermometer in the the boiling potato water to see if the little red line was going to move at all. It did. So we put it back in the turkey.
We had eight people... me, HUSBAND, SON, DAUGHTER, NEPHEW, SONSLONGTIMEGIRLFRIENDWELOVEHER, SISTERFROMANOTHERMOTHER, and DAUGHTERSGREATFRIENDN. And enough food for 750. Everybody got to take home food for ten.
To explain further..... we had eight people, two spoiled, anxious cats, a small house, a small kitchen, and football playing on the never-to-be-turned-off-goddamnit-TV. HUSBAND controlled the games and the remote control. End of that.
SON built a wonderful fire in the backyard fire pit. We remembered to put the screen on the fire pit when the cold front came through so the fire wouldn't spark something that would burn down the neighborhood. Of course, we all had to discuss, at length, whether or not the wind was strong enough, and should the screen be put on the fire pit, and, oh, it was so pretty without the screen. But then we saw a blazing branch blow out of the fire pit and across the yard, so we all said yep better put the screen on the fire pit. End of that, also. It burned beautifully the rest of the evening.
We had a little issue with slicing the turkey. Turns out, nobody really wanted to do that. And everybody claimed the I've-never-done-that-before defense. HUSBAND just sat back and smiled. So SON and NEPHEW took it on and did a great job. I've made note, however, that we don't need a carving knife next year. Hands work just fine.
The food was wonderful and the conversation was even better. We laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed. All day. Here are some more highlights:
- We had the awkward moment when SOMEONE said should we say grace? Not sure who thought they should ask that? I think I said well ok uhh sure really? Then DAUGHTER said oh we should all just say what we're thankful for. And we all stared at her. Then we did that. And it turned out just fine. Apparently, we all loved each other, and were thankful to be with each other, and we hoped to do it again next year, and we were so thankful for all the food, and does anybody need another drink.
- I made the mistake of saying to everyone that SON and NEPHEW had done a great job of "BONING the turkey". I heard somebody say did she just say "BONING the turkey?" and there was laughter (Beevis & Butthead went through my head). Then I corrected my verb to de-boning. Gotta laugh at that one.
- Then after somebody passed somebody the rolls and butter, there was some sort of comment, then SOMEBODY said "well don't ask me to butter your biscuit anymore!" There was a pause, and then laughter. Gotta laugh at that one too.
- We had the last minute digging for dishes that were in the "don't-look-in-here" cabinets. The cabinets where you use your foot to hold the stuff in so you can slam the door. Ya'll may not have any of those. All of mine are that way.
- We did the appropriate amount of Sarah Palin bashing. We talked about what we would do if she ever became president. Turns out we would all move to another country.
- We had the debate about whether they are yams or sweet potatoes.
- We had the debate about cornbread dressing versus white bread dressing.
- We trashed family members who weren't there.
- I said "dark meat" too many times, apparently.
- I'm sure I said will you grab me another beer too many times. DAUGHTER started the drinking, however, by cracking open the Merlot at 1:00, so it was open season from then on.
- Pancho managed to get outside (he's a pampered, indoor cat). We don't know how long he was out there but somebody heard him at the back door. DAUGHTER opened the door and he trotted his big self right back inside. He looked at me, and I'm sure I heard him say holy shit mom it's cold out there. He planted himself in the middle of the bed and stayed there for three hours. Then, overnight, he threw up all the grass he ate while he was outside. It looked pretty much just like it did before he ate it.
- And I took great pictures. Here's what most of them look like:
There are others just like these. We did manage to get a few group photos. I told everyone there could be NO cigarettes/cigars-by-the-fire-break until we got some damn pictures. And thanks to DAUGHTERSGREATFRIENDN we got a few family pictures, too. I promised not to post them online. I didn't promise to send them as Christmas cards.
Daughter and I were talking late that night, and I asked her if she thought DAUGHTERSGREATFRIENDN had a good time. She said oh I think he did. She said she had already told him that we were a strange family so he was prepared. I said really? We're strange? She said well, yeah, but that's a good thing.
I thought a lot about that. I guess if I had to choose between being described as "my family is so normal", and "my family's sort of strange", I'd choose strange.
It was a really great day!
3 comments:
Austin Family Motto: "Strange" is the new "normal."
wow, love this post. love all the inside jokes and the fun had by all....i am so thankful for that. love you all to pieces.
Fun, Fun, Fun.....love this post and would have loved to be sitting around your table also asking for beer too many times...but did manage to do that anyway :)
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