Thanksgiving and November Photos

I finally unloaded my camera in order to sell something on Craig's List for a client. Lo and behold, I also found some family photos.

D seems bigger to me every day. She's saying the funniest things; identifying objects. Tonight she was bouncing on the couch and hitting a lamp. I said "Dahlia, don't hit the lamp." and she stopped and pointed to the lamp and said "lamp". To non parents, this wouldn't seem like rocket science, but to me, when D responds to things I do or say, or predicts the next sequence in a routine, it blows my mind.

These boots are made for... clomping carefully through the kitchen, so as not to lose them. The last time she tried on my boots, she peed in them.

Yay! The cutest mullet on the Eastside is good for something... pigtails! Dahlia started rockin' the pigtails last week and I think I'm going to have her in pigtails for her Santa picture tomorrow. OMG she's going to bawl her eyes out at the sight of that big, red man.



Chillin' with dada watching Charlie and Lola.

Lounging and relaxing before bedtime in the world's softest pajamas.

Here I am with my pride and joy, the Thanksgiving turkey... oh yeah, and my daughter. Her shirt says "I woke up on the cute side of the bed."

Happy Thanksgiving!

I was (and am still) patting myself on the back for brining my turkey today.

Turns out brining is pretty easy and makes the bird taste a whole lot better.

19lb. Turkey Carcass Goes into the Brine

After removing the disgusting innards and trying not to throw up, I rinsed the bird with cold water, filled my largest pot with water, put the bird in to displace the water so I knew what I was working with, removed the bird, added 2 cups of kosher salt, a bunch of juniper berries ($11/ can!) a hand full of peppercorns, all spice, an entire head of peeled garlic, fresh rosemary, thyme and bay leaf and a half cup of sugar. Then I mixed it up and tossed the bird back into the pot. The concoction went into the fridge for 18-24 hours.

The in-laws are here from California, so we have already started partying. We drove by the liquor store and promptly left as the line was like Lake Chelan at 11pm on the 4th of July... ok, it was a long line.

I'll be peeling potatoes tomorrow morning, so don't call.

I'm trying to avoid making the Thanksgiving meal using boxed and canned ingredients. It just seems wrong. However, I'm not superwoman and I've had to choose my battles. It looks like the green bean casserole will be made mostly of preservatives. Our buns are pre-made; we just pop them in the oven a few minutes before dinner.

I hope you all have a great turkey day.

To my dear sister and brother, I'm sad that we wont have you here tomorrow, but we'll see you at Christmas.

xox