Homemade cornbread > Stuffing:

Adorable kitchen helper:

Rotkraut underway:

Cornish Game Hens:

Thanksgiving Day Crossword (they made it about half-way) (it's ongoing):

Mac 'n Cheese ("traditional" fare when there's a toddler in the house):

Time to relax:

Junah was an even bigger help in the kitchen than his sister — helping to make his mac 'n cheese, and also with whipping cream for pie — but no pics. In fact, I sort of lost the photo-thread by the time all the food was ready and served! The Cornish hens looked (and tasted) divine.

It was all delicious — not over-the-top quantity-wise, as sometimes happens (thankful for the small hens instead of a huge turkey). There was a lot more stuffing than I was expecting — enough for TWO 2-qt. dishes instead of one (I'll adjust that recipe, I think)! The Rotkraut was delicious (and I love that it could/should be made ahead). With the cabbage, beets and cranberry sauce, there was a lot of red at our table!

I love the mission behind the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ale… but I didn't really care for the actual beer. I'm glad I tried it! There were three bottles in the variety pack of New Belgium beer that I bought for the holiday… not sure what's going to happen to the other two bottles. Heh.

Hope you're having a great Friday. I worked for half the day, and now I think it might be nap time.

 It's been a weird year or two or six around here, but we're finding our way. Thanksgiving is a good reminder to… well, to be thankful for what we have.

Among the things I'm thankful for is plentiful and readily available food at the grocery store. I smiled when y'all were commiserating with me yesterday about having to go to the store…

I actually enjoy going to the grocery store during busy holiday shopping times — there's an excitement, urgency, and bustle in the air — and I feel a camaraderie with my fellow shoppers, whether they're doing the "big shop" or just running in for some forgotten item.

The other day I was amused to pass a teen several times — he was on his phone, obviously out of his element but on a quest, looking up at the aisle directories while being directed around the store by whomever was on the other end of the line.

And I love the little old ladies with their lists and coupons — and often feel a little melancholy about them, too.

I've found most people to be in good humor (knocking on wood) and if there are some who are not, I hope I can make up for it!

We're all working it out as life challenges us with new situations every single year — some good, some bad, some pretty damn ugly — doing our best, finding our way.

_ _ _ _ _

On the menu today:

• Roasted Cornish Game Hens
• Salt-roasted Beets with Pistachio Vinaigrette (Kate)
• Savory Cornbread Stuffing
• Mashed Sweet Potatoes
• Braised Kale
• Rotkraut
• Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
• Bread (Ali)
• Pumpkin Pie (Rusty)
• Chocolate Dessert (Ali)

 It's going to be "quiet" in here — just Kate, Ali & Rod & the kids, my stepdad, Rusty & me. Thinking of Maddy in NZ (new post!); Ann & fam in Spain; Karen & Michael. Also, of course, of my mom & Sharon, grandma & grandpa, aunts, uncles, and cousins…

Well, before I get too melancholy over here…

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving… and/or a really great Thursday!!

In America:

In New Zealand:

Hope things are going well with you! I've gotta run to the store…

Aiming for a BINGO by Thanksgiving, I made it with a few days to spare, finishing The Time Traveler's Wife during lunch yesterday.

The #1 thing on my list of 5 Things I Want to Do More in 2016 was: Reading (especially audio books). And, of the 21 books I've read so far this year, 12 were audio books! Interestingly, all of the books in my BINGO column are audio books!