While I have a few quiet moments

I don't believe it is possible to stay sane. I got up very early to start preparing for the onslaught tomorrow. Trifle is made, less whipped cream topping. Stuffing for the turkey ready. Having a cup of coffee and indulging in ngs before moving on to cooking ham and making various sauces. Later on, lay table. Anyone drops by today gets to eat on their laps.

Things I am lucky about - no little kids whirring about all pumped up with excitement not being able to wait lol Marley's the only one in that category now at age 4+ but since she will be the only kid, the grandchildren, uncles and aunts all pander and pet her so she stays sane. Spoilt but sane.

Anyway - Merry Whatevers to you and yours and have a great time, it was lovely to meet both you and DD in the summer, not to mention dear Brat, who really wasn't Brattish at all :)

Sheena

Ahh, yes. I double that sentiment to all.

I have also been up since the crack of dawn baking cookies and such. We are celebrating the Polish tradition today of Wililia. We have the meatless supper and pass the wafer. Does anyone else do this?

Dinner is easy. I am having pierogi with buttered onions. We are also having shrimp scami, baked potatoes and coleslaw. I am also making spagetti squash that I slather in the scampi sauce. Something l learned from the cooking network. Delish. It really is great with the shrimp on top.

I am taking a break from baking to have a cuppa and read the boards.I am trying not to sample too many cookies, lest I be sick before noon!

A great day to all,

Diane

Shopping (online) is done, everything has arrived. Today is wrapping day and pickup dinner day. We will take dinner up to my parents in Connecticut tomorrow. Boston Market is fine with everyone especially me. I *may* (I said *May*) make a mince pie since I have 2 jars of Vermont Country Store mincemeat...

I do have to knit on my sister's scarf some more and do some rough blocking...

Alison

I was on good behavior because I'm askeerd of you. LOL!

Elizabeth (who very much enjoyed that day)

THANKS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS ALL AROUND TO YOU TOO!

Skeptical me doubts that. And anyway, to know her is to love her.

Have a happy,

Lucille

Everything is finished here and wrapped. We're going to my parents house tonight and we have all decided to just have "heavy hors d'oerves" and play games all night. I'm supposed to be making potato skins to take, but I noticed hubby got three large idaho bakers (instead of several smaller potatoes) at the store so he's back out trying to find some smaller potatoes for me. I guess I could just bake them and mash them, but that doesn't make much a finger food :)

Chris Howard

You are ruining my reputation Lucille, just when Brat boosted it!

Merry Whatevers to All anyway.

What *is* it with men? I made a specific request for a 10-12 pound turkey (because that was what would fit in my largest pan). He returned with a 20+pound monster -- "it was cheaper".

Wasn't cheaper than the amount of oven cleaner he had to use to clean up the mess where it hung over the edges of the pan and dripped all over the oven.

Eventually, he learned that when I wrote something specific on the shopping list, there was a good reason for it.

Reputation? You're too short to scare me!

No quiet moments here today! I am cooking the turkey (named James--we always name ours after a deserving turkey in our lives) today, have a chocolate cake baked waiting to be iced for dessert (no one ever has room for dessert, but there always is one), because we are having Christmas dinner tonight. DD is leaving Boxing Day for Quebec City, so wants tomorrow for packing, washing extra socks etc. After dinner, I'll be one of the communion assisstants at the late night service. (I'm the one with the tinsel garland left over from the early service pageant round my head!). Having snatched a few sane (????) moments here (certainly a few smiles), it's off to make the fruit salad. Merry Christmas Dawne

They have been making Repeated Big Announcements about the big Christmas Choral High Mass at 8:30 PM at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (about 4 blocks from here). Since DBF is (nominally) Episcopal, I've been suggesting he could park here after he gets off work and walk over there. Why don't you and your tinsel garland join us?

Help--I think we're being overtaken by a race of giants.

Lucille

As I have for the last several years, I'm going to my dear friends house for Christmas dinner tomorrow. She still wants lots of company I guess because she misses her kids who are all up north and can't take the time to fly here for Christmas.

The only thing I don't like is she insists on my bringing my dreaded cranberry mold which everyone but me thinks is great. It's nice because it's easy, but I can't convince anyone that it's just too sweet.

Lucille

Now that's my NYs wish, to be skinny like you lol

You can, but it will take lots of discipline. For me it's easy. Being the brilliant human being I am I just made sure when I was born to pick my father's genetic code and not my mother's. lol

Lucille

Me, I got double whammied: my father's height and my mother's girth, LOL!

Elizabeth

I don't know anything about my parents' chemistry; however my unbelievably high HDL must have come from them, and I am most thankful for that. Short, somewhat on the "cuddly" side, but not fat!!

Gillian

Nah - la Brat was almost shy at first!