Foiled Turkey

I enjoy Thanksgiving.
I get up early that day, and start....rather, continue cooking.
It's a fun, quiet time for me.

We had a small gathering this year.
One son had to leave shortly after lunch to travel, and be at work Thanksgiving night.

No problem!
I was up at four thirty, and put Mr. Turkey in my faithful roaster.
I like using the roaster -
the ovens are then free for pies and other things.

I was so pleased.
I was ahead of schedule.
Everything would be ready before twelve.
We would be able eat right on time, so my son could enjoy the meal before he had to run.

I got dinner rolls ready, and left them to rise. Then I went to work on sweet potatoes.
I set the table, and did a few other things.

Seven o'clock, I thought I'd baste Mr. Turkey again.

Something appeared to be terribly wrong.
My featherless bird looked the same as it did when I first put it in the roaster.

No way.
Yes way.

My roaster, my faithful roaster had died.
That roaster had seen many football banquets through the years, and graduations, and holidays.

No matter what I tried, I couldn't revive it.
Time was ticking away, and Mr. Turkey had a time limit.
He had to be ready by noon.

Since I used my roaster all the time, I had no deep pans big enough for my huge bird.
I had no cooking bags.
There was no time to run to the store, not with the time limit.
Besides, it was too early for stores to be open in our little town.

So, I scrounged through pans from every cupboard.
I found a big sheetcake pan...long time in storage.
I pulled out the Reynolds Wrap.

It was going to have to do.
I plopped Mr. Turkey in the shallow cake pan, wrapped it up the best I could,
and placed it in the oven.

I didn't open the oven but once - to be sure it was working (you know how it is - I call it appliance conspiracy.)

Everything was ready.
I asked my dear husband to check the turkey.
Good news - it was browned, and looked done.
Bad news, the timer button on the turkey hadn't poked out yet.

We waited a little longer, and tested it again.

I didn't meet the twelve o'clock deadline with the turkey, so we began feasting on all the other food.
Twenty minutes later, the timer popped.
So, we got to enjoy turkey together as family.

When my son left, I sent him off with containers of food.
Since we had turkey at the end of the meal,
I also sent a pumpkin roll for dessert.

That evening I reflected on the day.
You know,
Foiled turkey wasn't bad at all.

Sometimes we have to detour from our plans, but it's all right.
Things work out.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Now it's onward to Christmas adventures!

Relax my friends.
Enjoy the heart of the season.

Proclamation of Thanksgiving 1777~In God We Trust

In one week, we'll be celebrating Thanksgiving, gathering with family, feasting on turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie.

This year the holiday takes on a meaning that reaches deep in my heart, to the beginning...
In these troubled times, let's look back two hundred thirty-five years ago, to our young nation.

These are our roots.
This is our history.


The First National Proclamation of Thanksgiving was given by the Continental Congress in 1777 from its temporary location in York, Pennsylvania, while the British occupied the national capital at Philadelphia. Delegate Samuel Adams created the first draft. Congress then adapted the final version:

FOR AS MUCH as it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to adore the superintending Providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with Gratitude their Obligation to him for Benefits received, and to implore such farther Blessings as they stand in Need of: And it having pleased him in his abundant Mercy, not only to continue to us the innumerable Bounties of his common Providence; but also to smile upon us in the Prosecution of a just and necessary War, for the Defense and Establishment of our unalienable Rights and Liberties; particularly in that he hath been pleased, in so great a Measure, to prosper the Means used for the Support of our Troops, and to crown our Arms with most signal success:
It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive Powers of these UNITED STATES to set apart THURSDAY, the eighteenth Day of December next, for SOLEMN THANKSGIVING and PRAISE: That at one Time and with one Voice, the good People may express the grateful Feelings of their Hearts, and consecrate themselves to the Service of their Divine Benefactor; and that, together with their sincere Acknowledgments and Offerings, they may join the penitent Confession of their manifold Sins, whereby they had forfeited every Favor; and their humble and earnest Supplication that it may please GOD through the Merits of JESUS CHRIST, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of Remembrance; That it may please him graciously to afford his Blessing on the Governments of these States respectively, and prosper the public Council of the whole: To inspire our Commanders, both by Land and Sea, and all under them, with that Wisdom and Fortitude which may render them fit Instruments, under the Providence of Almighty GOD, to secure for these United States, the greatest of all human Blessings, INDEPENDENCE and PEACE: That it may please him, to prosper the Trade and Manufactures of the People, and the Labor of the Husbandman, that our Land may yield its Increase: To take Schools and Seminaries of Education, so necessary for cultivating the Principles of true Liberty, Virtue and Piety, under his nurturing Hand; and to prosper the Means of Religion, for the promotion and enlargement of that Kingdom, which consisteth "in Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost.
And it is further recommended, That servile Labor, and such Recreation, as, though at other Times innocent, may be unbecoming the Purpose of this Appointment, be omitted on so solemn an Occasion.

An Extra Hour To Share/Just Taking The Time

Ah! Time change.

What to do with that extra hour!
I decided it should be an adventure.

A walk with my dog, Griz would be nice. Nothing abnormal about that, except that today, I decided it would be a take-your-time walk.
The air was cool, and fresh.
The sky was spread with a layer of white creamy frosting that covered the blue sky.
The sun peeked through the clouds, like a flashlight glowing under the sheets.
Hope for another day.
A quiet, lazy Sunday....

Sparrows balanced on power lines, reminding me - my God cares about the sparrows. How much more does he care for his children.

Yards were filled with colorful leaves begging to be shuffled through, piled up and jumped in. Flowers were missing,but stems and green leaves remained...it was not quite winter yet.

We stopped and visited with my special friend, Delores. She always brings a ray of sunshine to any day. Through all the hardships she has experienced in her life, she has been an inspiration to me. ...the most amazing woman of faith I know.

The town seemed to be slow in waking today. Hardly any traffic, as stoplights changed in sync, waiting for the busyness of the day to begin.

We walked to the park.
We were the only ones there.
What a treat to watch Griz run around. His ears flopped up and down as he galloped across the wide open space, his jowls pulled back in a smile.
I had no choice, but to laugh. You'd have to have been there.

We passed the football field, where my five children spent ample time...playing football, playing in the band, running track, (cheerleading - that would be my daughter). . . such important times. Memories made, character formed, victories and losses - samples of life's ups and downs.

We walked down gravel roads, and I sang and danced to the music. It was my adventure, my extra time.

It's a small town where I live.
The adventures have been many.
I looked at things I see everyday, appreciating anew, where I live.

I could've been busy doing other things with that extra hour, but I'm glad I took the time to slow down.

~

I sit in my backyard in my quiet place.
I'll need to clean my Kaylee garden soon.
But right now I enjoy sitting here.
A cluster of daisies remain in the garden.
Some lamb's ears, or Stachys byzantina (Latin name,) continue to thrive.
A gentle breeze rustles the leaves, and Griz meanders through the yard, sniffing and peeking through the bushes.

I am thankful.

Thankful for the adventure of everyday life.
Thankful for the people who cross my path.
Thankful for the beauty I see when I take the time.


And later - - I think I'll have some chicken tortilla soup, warm up some cider and watch the Broncos with my family.

It's a good day to share the time.