Happy thanksgiving and I am back online!!! :-)

We went to Black Angus, which had all-you-can-eat for $13.99, and then gave you a $5 gift card toward your next meal, bringing the actual cost down to $8.99. Couldn't have bought the fixings for that little.

They had turkey rolled around stuffing (which appeared to be made from their salad croutons). Mashed potatoes with lumps. Yams in a sweet sauce with bits of apple. Julienned green beans with bits of bacon and diced onion (I tried to eat around the onion, which I'm allergic to, but apparently did get a bit of it by accident).

We also got salad and a piece of pumpkin pie (which we brought home). I saw a waiter running around with their mini-loaves of brown bread, but don't know whether ours forgot to bring one, or whether that wasn't included in the turkey dinner ... not that we needed more calories.

We had a very quiet day at home. DH is slowly recovering, but gets tired very quickly. I made a small hen turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, a little squash just for me, ditto some roasted onions and a salad. DD and I made an apple pie the day before and my neighbor sent me a pumpkin pie. (all for me) I really missed the hubbub of 40+ people crammed in a house, but the quiet day was enough. I am most thankful.

Cheryl

I am glad that Rich was back at home with you and the kids. That was Thanksgiving enough!

We had a quiet day, just the two of us...........first time for years. I bought a small 11 lb turkey; I invented a low-carb stuffing which was pretty good. I made cranberry sauce using Splenda, and we had green beans and brussel sprouts. I *allowed* Jim a Thanksgiving treat of a small baked yam, and I had a baked potato.

Today we will have leftover turkey, and I will make some creamed onions to have with them, and some other healthy veggies. I will also make a crustless pumpkin pie for DH, I don't care for it personally.

Man, this "no-carb" cooking gets to be a challenge, but it has been very successful, and achieved what we had wanted............normal blood chemistries *and* a 35lb weight loss. (Him, not me!)

Gillian

Sounds just fine - you had all the important things with you!

We spent a lot of the day driving in miserable rain. Then had a quiet dinner with my cousin, her DH, her DS, and just us. Great turkey, sweetpotatoes - with maarshmallos, carrots, and stuffing. And lots of dessert - the chocolat decadence cake we brought, and the semi-homemade apple pie they'd gotten. And the extra chocolate cookies which DH had.

We're happy to be with some family, and DH spoke with his sisters, my DB & I played phone tag.

I think we'll continue making the jersey trek, as my cousin - who is my surrogate older sister - was diagnosed with Parkinson's last year, and she's definitely slowing, showing some signs. But doing better this week than when we saw them at the shore in Sept. She and her doc swear by the mega-doses of Coenzyme Q-10 she's taking. Anyhow - it was nice. We talk about our DMs - who as sisters-in-law (my DD's baby sister - same age as my DM) were also best friends. We figure they'd like us doing these things together, and have similar fits when we pull out the mugs after dinner on my DA's gorgwous Wedgewood.

Of course, we then spent the rest of the time eating really good Italian food and acceptable pizza (almost brought some good pizza back, but thought it wouldn't survive the trip with the dog).

ellice

True, but I don't see my cousin's as often as I'd like and really missed them and the hustle and bustle of the day.

Best wishes to her!

Love it!

Good pizza - I've almost forgotten what that is!

Cheryl

I can understand that. But, I think with DH having his alumni hockey game that weekend, and my cousin's situation, we're sort of committed to the small T'givings for a while.

Thanks. She's an interesting person - truly fought some of the women's issues - going to college in the 60s. Interesting education, and then she went to law school at 44. Practiced a lot of human rights/women's rights stuff. Now she does education law mostly and some family practice - and I don't know how much longer she'll keep going. She's cut back to 4 days a week, and is hoping to get another year out before she's really slowed down. She doesn't have the tremors, but moves very deliberately and slowly - from the disease. Poor thing has serious arthritis in her knees - and is trying to figure out what to do. They're getting ready to sell their house, looking for a flat in Manhattan - but working the timeline because once they move to Manhattan she'll stop working.

It is funny. But, we had nice mugs. Our other friends - she insists on using her grandmother's china - which we wash by hand. But, by the end of the meal - we end up with this motley assortment of mis-matched mugs - even with chips - because she won't throw them out (sentimental reasons). Very geeky kind of collection from conferences, etc. It's too funny. I think that's the reason that when DH & I bought our new, nice everyday dishes he decided to go ahead and get a set of mugs as well. And then someone actually gave us the gorgeous Coffee-pot to go with (we have Denby called "storm" - in blue/plum with some grey background).

Hey - I think there was one good pizza place in NH. Now, if only I could remember where it is. I told Donna I'd try to bring some pizza back, but it just didn't work out. However, now that my cousin is taking Friday's off, I'm thinking of hopping the train up for a long weekend - and will definitely bring back pizza when I do.

We're searching around here. I've found good gourmet type pizza, but it's not the same.

ellice

Thanks so much for sharing your day with me.. I was just telling my Boyfriend about it just now.. You all had a pretty quiet one as well as I did here at home.. My prayers go out to you all.. And, god bless.. Portia aka angel_crafter