I'm off today to support a local independent bookstore -- it's Small Business Saturday and I'll be at Malaprop's in Asheville, helping customers with suggestions for gift giving. Books make excellent, personal gifts -- a great way to share something you love with someone you love. And while I'll be happy to recommend one of my own books, as you all know there are a lot of books I've read recently and I'll be suggesting those too.Here are some of the few pictures I took on Thursday -- I was mostly too busy in the kitchen or just enjoying myself to do more.
Something new this year -- smoked turkey -- two smaller ones rather than one lunker...John kept an eye on them ...
There were sixteen of us --far too many for our small dining room so we pushed back the sofas and put the dining table plus a door on sawhorses down the living room..
Cory was quite intrigued-- Angeline was under the bed, not liking the fact that my older son's two dogs were on the premises...
Some tablecloths and a few jars of grocery store flowers and it's festive enough . . . I've learned that the food is what folks care about...
Family and friends, inlaws and outlaws ...
Starters in the dining room . . .pumpkin hummus, pickled shrimp, deviled eggs, pimento cheese and crackers, chopped liver ...
Turkey, dressing, gravy, butternut squash au gratin, , butternut squash au gratin, Brussels sprouts, roasted root vegetables served in the kitchen . . .gingered green beans, cornnbread, pumpkin rolls, cranberry apple compote,, cranberry sauce, green salad....and probably more stuff I've forgotten on the table. And solemn attention to eating....