'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving . . .

. . . and all through the kitchen, the foods were laid out and nothing was missin'.

The brother and I went out this morning to the local dairy farm and picked up our wonderfully fresh milk, cream and eggs. Not another soul was there. I am still in the DC mentality of "Oh, better hurry before everything is gone!" We are definitely set in the dairy department, that's fo-sho. It is only about 20 minutes from the house and such a lovely drive. As we arrived the sheep were being fed. I still love sheep. They are just too cute. We then went to the butcher and picked up Bodie Bird. (When my brother was young, he had the nickname of Jim Bodie--and thus comes the Bodie bird.) After arriving home and gathering the gang, we went to a new restaurant that just opened last week around the corner that only serves breakfast, lunch and brunch. Yum. The rains came soon after arriving so I was glad we had made the pretty drive while the sun was still out this morning.

After our bellies were full and one more jaunt for our last-minute ingredients, the brother began making his turkey broth for the gravy and stuffing. Since my mom is no longer able to stand for the many hours needed in the kitchen, I have been named the new su chef for Thanksgiving meals. It's such a joy to work side-by-side with my brother. We are christening the new kitchen as it should be done. I am finally able to move on from my horrors of it's construction and enjoy it as a functioning kitchen. I knew Jim would pull me out of the kitchen funk. We are using every piece of equipment that is there.

It was then on to his infamous Sangria. While the turkey broth aromas conjure up the feeling of Thanksgiving, the Sangria smells were most definitely those of Christmas. The citrus fruit vapors were amazing. I can hardly wait to have a glass tomorrow as we're cooking.

One of my favorite colors is that of the cranberries cooking over the stove top as they are glistening and ready to pop.
And then there was a knock at the door. Our local florist delivered a beautiful Horn of Plenty from Ellen's (my sister-in-law) parents, and her sister's family. It is just unbelievably beautiful. We are so enjoying it in the center of our dining room table. They are the sweetest folks ever.

Here, the brother it making his stuffing croutons. They are now drying out in the warming drawer.

Well, I hear him pulling the bird out of the fridge preparing to put him in the brine bath for the evening. Gotta run in case I'm needed!











Introducing, the 2007 Bodie Bird.