Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Let’s delete this post and never speak of this again.

A snarling mass of vitriolic jackals

Do not shrug your shoulders and accept the normalization of untruths.

No one could have predicted…

“But what about the lurkers?”

Teach a man to fish, and he’ll sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

I like you, you’re my kind of trouble.

Take hopelessness and turn it into resilience.

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

And now I have baud making fun of me. this day can’t get worse.

My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.

Presidents are not kings, and Plaintiff is not President.

Shallow, uninformed, and lacking identity

Today’s GOP: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

Russian mouthpiece, go fuck yourself.

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

“Jesus paying for the sins of everyone is an insult to those who paid for their own sins.”

T R E 4 5 O N

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

When do we start airlifting the women and children out of Texas?

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

Pessimism assures that nothing of any importance will change.

You are here: Home / Nature & Respite / Birdwatching / Thanksgiving Eve Open Thread

Reader Interactions

205Comments

  1. 1.

    zhena gogolia

    Just bringing a nice Chateauneuf du Pape. Our host doesn’t like anyone contributing to the food. He used to let me make pecan pie but not any more.

  2. 2.

    Mary G

    Just setting off to make Tamara’s dark chocolate chip cookies, then some type of pumpkin bread and maybe Russian tea cakes. We’ll see how far I get.

  3. 3.

    The Golux

    Since it’s just my wife and me, we might go crazy and do a pork tenderloin (possibly my favorite cut of meat considering the price).

    Either that, or leftovers.

  4. 4.

    jacy

    Rolls in the oven, then I am done with prep. Hockey and beer later. Tomorrow just have to pop the turkey in the oven and make gravy. Everything else is done!

  5. 5.

    Yarrow

    I got assigned green beans this year. I don’t do the casserole. I use haricots vert, cook until just barely tender, toss with butter, add salt and pepper and sprinkle toasted almonds on top. It’s easy, healthy, and everyone seems to enjoy it.

  6. 6.

    Brachiator

    I got to have a kind of pre-Thanksgiving with my family a couple of weeks ago, so I am doing nothing. And frankly, I need the rest.

    A friend and her family is driving down to Palm Springs California, and will have Thanksgiving catered, the way God intended.

  7. 7.

    Mnemosyne

    My sister-in-law does the cooking despite not being that great at it, so we’re picking up a chocolate banana cream pie from Republic of Pie and that’s it. We’re going up near where the burned areas in Ventura County are (not where the Camp Fire is still raging — we’ll be 500 miles south of there) so I have no idea what traffic is going to be like this year.

  8. 8.

    schrodingers_cat

    I am making my cranberry mango chutney, been invited to dinner at friends’ in Connecticut. They are not T voters but can sometimes display totebaggerly qualities of praising David Brooks columns.

  10. 10.

    frosty

    On the road to my brother’s right now. He picked up the hosting for his wife’s family after his MIL passed. My sister and I joined in a few years ago. He cooks two turkeys and everyone brings side dishes and desserts. I’m bringing wine.

    ETA Usually about 25 people. He rents tables chairs dishes and silverware. The company sets it up, takes it down, and atakes away all the dirty dishes. Sweet!

  12. 12.

    Kay (not the front-pager)

    Cranberry-Merlot sauce (recipe from the Great Orange Satan at least a decade ago), pecan pie, and Nigella Lawson’s Christmas Clementine Cake with ganache. I’m making my own turkey & fixin’s on Sunday. I love cooking for Thanksgiving.

  13. 13.

    waratah

    @Yarrow: I would love your green beans. I had to talk my daughter down from the green bean casserole to simply fresh asparagus. She wanted sweet potato casserole so I said yes, I would rather have a lovely baked sweet potato.
    When she thought about cooking all that she wanted with one oven she decided we could do the roast Brussel sprouts and butternut squash until the weekend.

  15. 15.

    Kay (not the front-pager)

    @Yarrow: Good choice! There’s a new Trader Joe’s nearby that has been carrying really nice haricots verts so they’ve been on the table a lot lately. So easy and delicious!

  16. 16.

    Schlemazel

    Egrets, you have a few
    but then again to few to mention

    Finally got a med that is working for me & I feel almost human. Might be a good weekend if this keeps up

  17. 17.

    cope

    Our contribution to Bloat Fest will be two big pans of dressing, two big pans of sweet potato casserole with pecan crumble topping, marshmallow/sour cream sauce for the cranberry/raspberry mold arriving with sis-in-law and a surprise pumpkin chocolate cake baked in two halves to make a 3-D pumpkin, the surprise being that nobody knows we’re bringing it.

    Happy Thanksgiving Eve to you all.

  18. 18.

    Steeplejack

    I blew my chance for early-morning errands today, so I’m going out around 7:00 to get just what I need for tomorrow: a pastry for morning nosh with coffee, a rib-eye steak and a big baking potato, some sort of bubbly. Can’t see cooking turkey for just one person. Also will get something for dessert. And CAT FOOD!

    Sighthound Hall has been under radio silence this week, so I assume they are doing something with other friends.

  19. 19.

    MagdaInBlack

    Staying home, by choice. I have no living relatives. I have places I could go, but jammies and a ” Thin Man” movie binge seems like a lovely way to spend the day. ?

  20. 20.

    oatler.

    Instant mashed potatoes, canned turkey gravy and a bottle of vodka. And as Patton Oswalt suggests, I’ll be playing Pink Floyd’s “Great Gig in the Sky” while I eat it.

  21. 21.

    opiejeanne

    We’re hosting tomorrow. I just cranked out two pies, pumpkin and pecan, after too much overthinking on my part. I mean, why would I suddenly decide to blind bake the crust for the pecan pie when i’ve never needed to before now? Duh. The crust for the pumpkin pie is gingersnaps, made the way you make a graham cracker crust.
    Redid the crust from scratch, made the pie, they’re done. I toasted some pepitas and caramelized some pecans for the top of the pumpkin pie. I now have hard crack candy in the bottom of my heavy skillet. Gonna take a bit of soaking to loosen it.

    The pumpkin pie with caramelized pecans and toasted pepitas And if anyone has watched the food channel, yes, I tried to copy their pumpkin pie decoration.

    On to the potatoes in a little while.

  22. 22.

    Schlemazel

    @zhena gogolia:
    oh gawd, you didn’t put raisins in the pie, did you?

    She who must be obeyed (h/t Rumpol) and #2 son got together & decided for a real traditional Thanksgiving. I will be making beef rouladen, red cabbage and spaetzle. I have no idea why but that is the menu I am just the cook

  24. 24.

    Yutsano

    I was at the store last night and they had a rather handsome batch of green beans. So I snagged a bundle. Not sure what I’m going to do with them yet, but since my brother’s a vegetarian can’t do any porky goodness. Which is sad because pancetta was massively on sale.

  25. 25.

    Spanky

    Just took the brussel sprouts roasted in habanero-infused olive oil out of the oven. That and a bottle of good wine will be our contribution to my sister’s feast.

  27. 27.

    schrodingers_cat

    Day before yesterday was the day of semi-annual walking pilgrimage to Pandharpur in Maharashtra. Although I am not religious I find the devotional music praising Vitthal (the deity, representing Vishnu) to be sublime. The Bhakti movement was Hinduism’s reformation (13th to17th centuries, and Bhakti poets railed against caste and gender injustices. Some of this music and poetry is from 13th century. Marathi is the language of Maharashtra, one of the oldest Prakrits, much older than Hindi.
    I give you one example of an abhang composed by an untouchable saint poet who was not allowed to enter the temple and had worship from the steps.
    Abeer gulal sung by Manjusha Patil-Kulkarni and composed by Chokha Mela. The performance starts at 1.38 or so.
    Abeer is a black powder and gulaal is the red powder, devotees use.
    Ashadhi Ekadashi is the opposite of Thanksgiving, to celebrate you fast all day and think of how you can be a good person and help people around you.

  28. 28.

    JPL

    @waratah: For Thanksgiving only I dress up my baked sweet potatoes by adding cinnamon and vanilla extract along with the butter. It’s more of a puree and toasted pecans work also. Marshmallows are for cookouts in the summertime.

  30. 30.

    cope

    Question Betty: did you bag it and if so, what are egret plumes going for these days at the haberdashery?

    Sorry, couldn’t resist.

  32. 32.

    Kay (not the front-pager)

    @rikyrah: It’s funny how many people don’t understand this. It’s one place where #BothSides actually applies. Nancy is teaching a master class in how it’s done.

    And whatever her politics, I’m really impressed with how Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez just gets it. It’s why so many are so scared of her.

  33. 33.

    donnah

    We’ll have 14-16 dinner guests, so I made desserts today. Classic cheesecake, banana pudding, and brownies, to be joined tomorrow by apple and pumpkin pies. I’m roasting a large turkey and a turkey breast, plus baking homemade bread, corn, cranberry sauce, and baked sweet potatoes. We’ll also have ham, shredded potato casserole, mashed potatoes, and gravy. It’s about the same thing every year, but everyone loves it.

    Quick housecleaning tomorrow morning, then back to the kitchen!

  35. 35.

    zhena gogolia

    @schrodingers_cat:

    Yeah, I’m in danger of repeating the conversation we had last week about how Pelosi needs to step down because she’s “too much of a target.” I’ll try to contain myself.

  36. 36.

    Yarrow

    @waratah: My family never did the green bean casserole. Not sure why. We always had kind of plain green beans. I got fancy a few years ago when I got haricot vert.

    @Kay (not the front-pager): These are in a plastic pack that you supposedly can microwave. I don’t do that–I boil them because it’s easier than steaming since I have to do a whole bunch of them.

    I’ve been doing them this way for years and everyone seems to love them. Thanksgiving food can be so heavy that it’s nice to have at least a few things that seem a bit lighter. These also keep well in the fridge for a day or two. I reheat by stir frying them because that keeps the almonds crispy. You can microwave them but the almonds aren’t as crisp.

  40. 40.

    zhena gogolia

    @Schlemazel: @Steeplejack:

    No, my pecan pie is a delicious classic. But our host is very proud of his own cooking and doesn’t like anyone to share the stage. I’m fine with it — I hate to cook.

  43. 43.

    zhena gogolia

    @cope:

    Didn’t you watch Wind Across the Everglades yesterday on TCM? Christopher Plummer almost died at the hands of Burl Ives to protect those birds.

  46. 46.

    Yarrow

    @schrodingers_cat: You can always murmur what sounds like sympathetic agreement about David Brooks while expressing concern that since he’s the type of man who dumps his wife for his young assistant you’re just not sure if you can trust his judgment. All said with the greatest concern of course.

  49. 49.

    debbie

    @rikyrah:

    The GOP hates her so intensely because she outmaneuvers them so easily. If she goes, Dems will prove themselves as hapless cats without a shepherd.

  51. 51.

    debbie

    @Steeplejack:

    I too am only me (fuck you, family). I’m roasting a couple turkey thighs on top of a mess of potatoes, carrots, and leeks, and I’m making cranberry sauce. Maybe also crustless pumpkin pie and maybe also wild rice. But maybe not.

  52. 52.

    Brachiator

    @schrodingers_cat:

    Abeer gulal sung by Manjusha Patil-Kulkarni and composed by Chokha Mela.

    I really enjoyed this. Thank you.

    @MagdaInBlack:

    Staying home, by choice. I have no living relatives. I have places I could go, but jammies and a ” Thin Man” movie binge seems like a lovely way to spend the day

    Ah, that reminds me. For others staying home on Thanksgiving,

    Google Play’s Black Friday promos for 2018 include a special one-day-only offer: Users can rent any of the thousands of movies on the service for 99 cents on Thursday, Nov. 22.…

    In other holiday-related deals, the internet giant also is offering discounts on purchases of several TV series and movies from Google Play. Those include HBO’s “Game of Thrones” ($19.99 for full season, regularly $38.99); FX’s “American Horror Story” ($4.99 for full season, regularly $24.99); “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” ($9.99 vs. $14.99); and “Teen Titans Go! to the Movies” ($9.99 vs. $19.99).

    In addition, Google Play is offering subscriptions to Starz’s streaming service for $5 per month for the first three months. Lionsgate’s Starz service is regularly priced at $8.99 per month.

  53. 53.

    opiejeanne

    @opiejeanne: Forgot to mention that my niece and nephew are making pozole for tomorrow, and sangria. Woohoo! they’re also bringing the stupid green bean casserole made with canned stuff. My youngest is bringing deviled eggs, her standard contribution to every meal, and sweet potato casserole with marshmallows.
    Going to assemble the stuffing in a bit and refriegerate overnight. We bake it in a casserole, not in the turkey Mrs Cubbison’s cornbread stuffing is my secret recipe: I add chopped pecans to the onion and celery that go into it. We made chicken stock last week so we’ll use that to moisten it. Everyone likes it, and not everyone likes the version I grew up with made from stale white bread.

  55. 55.

    Kay (not the front-pager)

    @Yarrow: I agree about cooking beans on the stove. I always feel like I have more control of how cooked they get when I cook on the stovetop. I’ve just been tossing them with some toasted sliced almonds, but I found this recipe with caramelized shallots today. We’ll be having those on Sunday. ;-)

  59. 59.

    Bill Arnold

    @schrodingers_cat:

    Abeer gulal sung by Manjusha Patil-Kulkarni and composed by Chokha Mela.

    Thanks for that. Her hand gestures, are they just her style/improv or semi-scripted? (I’m fascinated by them.)

  61. 61.

    NotMax

    Repeating (fits better here).

    Obligatory annual Avalon Thanksgiving scene.

    Talked to Mom to wish her a happy holiday. Offhandedly mentioned the official worst Thanksgiving ever. She said that coincidentally she had been remembering the exact same thing right before I called.

  65. 65.

    opiejeanne

    @Yarrow: Your green beans sound really good. I wish that stupid canned everything recipe casserole wasn’t beloved by people in my family; I let those that love it make it. Then they can take it home.

  66. 66.

    Kay (not the front-pager)

    @Mary G: She’s done a good job of explaining to her “people” why Pelosi is the best, most progressive choice. I get the impression she works with people she can work with on things they can cooperate on, and explains – teaches – her choices and compromises to her followers.

  69. 69.

    TenguPhule

    @schrodingers_cat:

    Water buffaloes are huge and have deadly horns. I don’t think the anaconda that eats one would survive.

    20 foot long snake can eat damn near anything they can catch.

  70. 70.

    PsiFighter37

    Just the wife and me tomorrow. We’ll have a couple friends over for some drinks in the afternoon and go out for dinner. Looking forward to having a decompressed Thanksgiving without any awkward machinations with the family.

  72. 72.

    Martin

    Cooking for only 5 this year. Too much shit going on at home to do a big thing, and no conservative friends or family. I’m still basking in the glow of having a democratic rep for the first time. That’s she’s also a coworker is all the better.

    Pies tonight. Turkey on the smoker rotisserie tomorrow. My fancy cranberry sauce is sugar+frozen cranberries cooked. No green bean casserole, just normally cooked veggies. No candy yams or marshmallow, just normal sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes.

    People always complain about how hard thanksgiving dinner is to cook, but IMO that’s because they need to just calm the fuck down. Keep each individual dish simple. Move as much stuff out of the oven as you can, and as much to the previous day(s) as you can. Don’t feel like you need to do all of your gourmet bullshit tomorrow. Spread that out over the year. Tomorrow is comfort food and booze, and football if you are so inclined.

  73. 73.

    Bill Arnold

    @cope:

    did you bag it and if so, what are egret plumes going for these days at the haberdashery?

    I went down a rabbit hole looking at scientific literature on the evolution of crepuscular predators (and prey). (Dusk and morning light skew red which should favor birds, couldn’t find anything.)

  75. 75.

    TenguPhule

    Oregon Man commits suicide by Fed-ex driver.

    Timothy Warren was driving his FedEx truck through a verdant neighborhood in Portland, Ore., when the man he would soon kill screamed that Warren was going too fast.

    Warren stopped his truck. He was exhausted, he tried to explain to Joseph Magnuson that day in late September, and just wanted to get done with his work.

    Magnuson was unrelenting and hurled numerous aggressive insults and racist slurs at him.

    That was something Warren, who is black, could not abide.

    He stepped out of the truck, and both men yelled at each other.

    Magnuson took a swing. Warren swung back, connecting a single blow above Magnuson’s left eye that sent him tumbling to the ground.

    Magnuson, 55, briefly lost consciousness, then died later that evening.

    Prosecutors, however, have decided not to charge Warren, 41, with a crime. He did not intend to kill Magnuson and acted in self-defense during the Sept. 26 incident, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office said in a memo released Monday.

    Magnuson’s death from the fall was precipitated by “extremely poor health,” a medical examiner concluded, and the punch itself was not fatal, Senior Deputy District Attorney Adam Gibbs wrote.

    Warren was within his legal right to challenge Magnuson’s “racist vitriol,” Gibbs noted, and said that Warren’s decision to confront Magnuson — rather than ignore him — was not legally significant.

    Things I am thankful for this Wednesday.

  76. 76.

    opiejeanne

    @Steeplejack: My adult kids won’t touch anything but the canned jelly. It’s ok. One year I made a really great cranberry sauce with port and orange zest and I was the only one out of the bunch who liked it. They said it was the texture.

  77. 77.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Thank you for that great picture. I have a real weakness for reflective photos, and this is an especially nice one!

    Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, Betty, and to all jackals.

  80. 80.

    Raven

    Athens is a ghost town, we took a ride in the truck at sunset and watched the big ass moon come up.

  81. 81.

    NotMax

    @Steeplejack

    Yup, also alone (by both inclination and deliberate choice).

    New York strip steak*, couscous and maybe, if get energetic, copycat Horn & Hardart creamed spinach. Also too, either Kirkland brand Côtes du Rhône, which is available only this time of year, or Kirkland old vine zinfandel. Costco wines do vary but have found those two to be consistently quaffable enough for me and a bargain at about 6 or 7 bucks a bottle.

    *A rare treat to have at home. Debating whether to broil it or drag out the electric indoor barbecue grill.

  84. 84.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @The Golux:

    Yeah, pork tenderloin is what I’m having. Rarely have it, but it’s maybe my favourite cut of meat, so I’m definitely looking forward. My cousin is doing all the cooking; I’m providing the wine.

  85. 85.

    Thoughtful David

    Betty– So this heron you have now is a Snowy Egret. Needle-like black bill is the clue. Also a very nice bird.
    @schrodingers_cat: Cattle Egrets do follow cattle and sometimes ride on them here in the New World. But the Snowy Egret BC showed here, and the Tricolored Heron (which is also technically an egret in the same genus, Egretta, as the Snowy) BC showed this morning, won’t do that.

    So what distinguishes herons and egrets? Nothing, really. If they’re white we tend to call them egrets and if they’re not white, we tend to call them herons. But there are Reddish Egrets, which are mostly blue, and Little Blue Herons, which can be all white.

    I know, TMI.

  86. 86.

    cleek

    going to friends’, so i’m baking some sourdough, and bringing a Belle Glos ‘Las Alturas’ for sippin on.

  88. 88.

    BruceFromOhio

    Proper turkey probe placement was an engaging if obtuse discussion. It somehow morphed into a discussion about Adele-sounding singers fooling people into listening to Jeebus music. And this was before alcohol was served.

  89. 89.

    Steeplejack

    @Pogonip:

    You bake the empty shell by itself before putting in the filling. With a custard-like filling or one that doesn’t need to be baked, it prevents the pie crust from getting too soggy before it bakes all the way.

  90. 90.

    TenguPhule

    @Zinsky:

    Turducken.

    Tried it once. Sadly found it overhyped. The chicken and duck are basically meat stuffing in the turkey. No flavor of them remains after the long cooking, just tastes like a bland turkey sausage.

  93. 93.

    BruceFromOhio

    @Martin:

    Keep each individual dish simple. Move as much stuff out of the oven as you can, and as much to the previous day(s) as you can. Don’t feel like you need to do all of your gourmet bullshit tomorrow. Spread that out over the year. Tomorrow is comfort food and booze, and football if you are so inclined.

    This, this, by Gaia, this.

  97. 97.

    Jager

    An “orphan” friend came over for the traditional feast one year. Layered his plate with everything. Then poured a bottle of Louisiana hot sauce over it. My girls, 8 and six, were fascinated, my wife was horrified and I laughed because I had seen him do that every time we’d had lunch.

  98. 98.

    NotMax

    @Martin

    Cranberries can be cooked quite nicely in the microwave, then mashed. They WILL sputter and spurt – those stains are a bear to clean – so two tips: Be sure to put them in a bowl that is much too big for them and it is essential to cover with waxed paper (best choice) or very loosely with plastic wrap.

    Suggestion: after they are cooked, throw in a few healthy splashes of orange juice when stirring in the sugar to bring it up a notch. Also some orange flavored liqueur if you have any. I also stir in a small can of crushed pineapple (after all, this is Hawaii) and let is gel in the fridge overnight. Used to include cnopped walnuts but aging teeth don’t play well with nuts anymore.

  99. 99.

    PsiFighter37

    On a random thought: do you think Pelosi goes for the utter humiliation and forces Moulton to vote for her on the floor? I’d love to see that. Tell him he’ll be persona non grata like Joe Lieberman if he doesn’t.

  100. 100.

    MomSense

    I and every other fool went to the grocery store tonight. Of course in a small town you see every damned person you know (my occupational hazard is knowing waaaaay too much) so people kept blocking the aisles when they stopped to catch up. I thought one dude was going to go postal and he really doesn’t need to go back to Maine State Prison so soon.

    Oldest kid is playing a concert tonight so the other kids are all going to that before they come up here. I just had a call from several of the young women asking me if I’m ready to party. I’m in big trouble!

    Tonight I’m going to make the cranberry sauce, corn bread, and the pumpkin and pecan pies. Tomorrow will be an early start because I got a 23lb bird.

    Sending out hugs to all the Jackals. In the spirit of giving thanks, this site and the people here have kept me sane through this Trump crisis. I’m grateful for all of you.

  102. 102.

    FlyingToaster

    @waratah: Baby manatees only come with parents.

    Every February we go visit my mom, who lives about 20 minutes away from the Fort Myers Manatee Park. You have to go first thing in the morning before the Gulf waters warm up; the manatees head down the Orange River to the Caloosahatchee and out to the Gulf to eat.

    Last February there were no manatees because the nighttime Gulf water temperature was 74°. GRRRRR.

  105. 105.

    Steeplejack

    @Bill Arnold:

    The housecat is a crepuscular predator, which she lets me know—loudly—every morning before dawn when she’s ready to hunt the elusive Fancyfeastius turkiensis.

  106. 106.

    BC in Illinois

    Three generations, six households, spread across St Louis and St L County.

    Tomorrow, youngest daughter, me, Mrs. BC, and her sister, get together while the other daughters and son each get together with others. We will have SIL’s turkey and cranberry something, my wife’s rolls and salad, and whatever barista-daughter brings from Starbucks. Very middle of the road.

    The big day will be Friday. Everybody gathers in the morning at middle daughter’s house for ultimate frisbee for the older generations (39 – 69 year olds) and frisbee golf for the under 10 generation. (The 12-yr-old will take her pick.)

    Then we shift to oldest daughter’s house for leftovers from four different directions, with games for all and naps for some. It will last into the evening.

    More likelihood of disagreements about music than about politics. If things get dull, I can just say the word “Wilco” and for some reason heated arguments ensue.

  109. 109.

    MomSense

    @zhena gogolia:

    I’ve had a crush on Christopher Plummer since forevah. Something about the way his mouth curls at the sides and his eyes sparkle that slay me.

  111. 111.

    chris

    Just another day in Canada but I well remember my US Thanksgivings. Happy Thanksgiving to all, may your turkey be moist and the company pleasant.

  113. 113.

    Gemina13

    MIL is doing the bird and stuffing. I’m bringing mashed sweet potatoes with browned butter and sage, and asparagus roasted in honey and soy sauce. SIL is bringing her to-die-for apple pie. It’s going to be fabulous.

  115. 115.

    Luthe

    Our usual half-turkey is thawing. As there are very few of us, a whole bird is way, way too much, so my mother has the butcher slice the bird in half lengthwise. We eat one half and freeze the other for another day.

    @Steeplejack: Ah yes, the traditional cranberry sauce. My family has a running joke about my sister taking months to prepare the canned sauce, including tending the bog, harvesting the berries by hand, etc. This year we actually gifted her with a bag of real cranberries with her name plastered over the Ocean Spray logo.

  117. 117.

    NotMax

    Actually enjoying the second season of Patriot on Amazon Prime. Except the new theme music by the Beastie Boys, Immediately push the fast forward button for that. Definitely more overt subversive humor than the first season.

    Think James Bond (minus the gadgetry and T&A) if written by Eugene Ionesco or perhaps Salvador Dali. Plus any series which has the cojones to name an episode “Fuck John Wayne” gets extra points.

  118. 118.

    Eric S.

    I’ve purchased 4 bottles of wine for tomorrow. 2 cheap but drinakable table red and a couple nice Bordeauxs.

  122. 122.

    debbie

    @chris:

    I’d never heard of her, but a couple seconds of Googling has filled me in. I came across this tweet, which is pretty funny:

    Laura Loomer had one of the greatest final acts in the history of Twitter: trying to convince people she was being surveilled at an election night party because somebody’s nearby WiFi network was called “FBI Surveillance Van.”— Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) November 21, 2018

  125. 125.

    p.a.

    Thank FSM my goddaughters are old enough and on their own: I get an invite and avoid the family wingnut torture dinner (h/t Eat Drink Man Woman). Last time’s gems: S Hussein had WMDs and hid them in 30 minute intervals when our spy satellites were out of range; a lime is an unripe lemon. To quote Dave Barry, “I am not making this up.” Is it bad form to call one’s host a moron? I did.

  128. 128.

    gene108

    @schrodingers_cat:

    Does Florida have water buffaloes? I have seen egrets in India, hitching a ride on their backs.

    There are no domesticated animals native to the Western Hemisphere. All the domesticated animals were brought by European settlers and I don’t think they had ready access to water buffaloes to bring here.

  129. 129.

    Planetjanet

    When I made reservations at this lovely inn near my mom, they said they would either be serving a buffet tomorrow or the dining room would be open with the regular menu. Just checked in and asked to confirm reservations, but now the kitchen will be closed tomorrow. They scurried and found one restaurant that will be open for a few hours tomorrow, so they get credit for that. This town closes down so easily.

  131. 131.

    chris

    @debbie: Yeah, she’s a real piece of work. She’s one of the people who disrupted the performance of Julius Caesar in Central Park if you remember that one. Right wing nut job is perfect for her.

  134. 134.

    chris

    And another one. Sure Gavin, this’ll work.

    Gavin McInnes: "As of today, November 21st, 2018, I'm officially disassociating myself from the Proud Boys, in all capacities, forever, I quit. … I was never the leader, only the founder." Comes after reports FBI deemed Proud Boys an extremist group. https://t.co/pQOWxdh6lA— Matt Pearce ? (@mattdpearce) 21 November 2018

  140. 140.

    Ohio Mom

    @opiejeanne: Those pies are works of art!

    We’re bringing scalloped potatoes and an extra turkey breast to my cousins’, who live in Louisville. It’s a little less than two hours away, so an easy drive that does not require a sleepover.

    I thought I escaped the massive house cleaning that goes with hosting Thanksgiving but then Ohio Dad invited his extended family for brunch on Friday. The food part is easy though, mainly store bought bagels and lox.

  141. 141.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Raven:

    Can’t be too careful around them supermoons!

    And I cannot believe that’s been two years.

    Happy Thanksgiving to you both!

  142. 142.

    dmsilev

    Chocolate cake and apple pie are baked. Turkey has been cleaned and seasoned, and the giblets used to make stock for gravy. Initial prep on vegetables completed. Tomorrow’s schedule of tasks starts at 8 with getting the bird set for the oven and proceed from there for the next four or five hours. It’ll be busy but unrushed; my family has done this enough times that we all know the steps in the dance.

  145. 145.

    JMG

    In keeping with the tradition of a family that’s both well organized and prone to procrastination, the schedule for my kitchen tomorrow resembles what O’Hare’s was like today. Starts with pie making and stuffing preparation in the a.m., then turkey into the oven about when the Macy’s parade ends, then side prep around 3-4 p.m. Also plenty of pot walloping. That’s my job. My children do everything else except the stuffing, the last remnant of my Dad status. We’ll eat around six. That’s why my daughter, the best cook of the lot of us, is making some sort of French omelet but not really with asparagus for late breakfast. That’s so I can wallop more pots. I can’t wait for the whole day. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday by a mile, and I love Christmas and July 4th.

  146. 146.

    Immanenrize

    @Steeplejack: I have prorcelaine pie weights to pre bake crusts. My in laws thought I was crazy when I asked for them for my birthday. Still a source of much amusement west of Houston.

  148. 148.

    opiejeanne

    @Pogonip: a blind baked crust is when you bake the crust without the filling in it. I lined the piecrust with foil and filled it with kidney beans to weight it down so the crust doesn’t puff up in the middle. Instead, it slumped around the sides, so much that I had to redo the crust. It’s good now.

  149. 149.

    Yarrow

    @Raven: I remember that. How has it been two years?

    Commented late in the morning thread about the neuro report. Sorry to hear that. Hopefully the doctor will have an explanation to alleviate concern.

  150. 150.

    Immanentize

    @Steeplejack:
    I have prorcelain pie weights to pre -bake crusts. My in-laws thought I was crazy when I asked for them for my birthday. Still a source of much amusement west of Houston.

  151. 151.

    Raven

    @Yarrow: I got a call back from a nurse that wasn’t very helpful becuase she didn’t know diddly. Here’s what I have decided. If it was anything really serious they would have let me know immediately. Therefore, I’m chilled and have an appointment Tuesday. thx

  152. 152.

    Gelfling 545

    The roasted fruit for the Smoking Bishop is mingling with the wine. Two pans of sausage and chestnut dressing are in the refrigerator waiting to be baked, a custard pie is cooling on the counter and I made the cranberry relish last week. Yep. I’m not cooking this year. ? Actually I don’t mind doing this amount of cooking when the meal will be served elsewhere. That way I don’t have both the cooking and the massive clean up afterward.

  155. 155.

    Barbara

    Apple crisp, winter slaw (red cabbage, mango and candied spicy almonds), and cauliflower and hazelnut casserole, and a lot of wine are my contributions. Probably around 25 people at my husband’s family farm. Tomorrow night we usually have a bonfire, but not if it’s too windy.

  156. 156.

    NotMax

    Who didn’t see this coming? (crickets)

    WaPo link, emphasis added.

    The U.S. banking industry’s profits reached a record $62 billion during the third quarter, fueled in large part by a corporate tax cut, according to government data released Tuesday.

    The 29 percent increase in quarterly profits is just the latest indication that a decade after a global financial crisis that wiped out trillions in wealth, the country’s 5,400 banks have not just recovered but are even stronger. The number of “problem banks” dropped to 71 from 82 during the quarter, its lowest level since 2007. Banks are issuing more loans and profiting from more service fees, according to the FDIC data. Source

  158. 158.

    Suzanne

    @Yarrow:

    I use haricots vert, cook until just barely tender, toss with butter, add salt and pepper and sprinkle toasted almonds on top.

    I do this and serve with lemon wedges. I will do so tomorrow.

    I am about to get my ass out of bed and go make cornbread for stuffing. MMMM.

  159. 159.

    Yarrow

    @Raven: That sounds like a good approach. Worrying is waste of energy. Definitely agree if it was serious they’d let you know.

  161. 161.

    Raven

    @Yarrow: Yea, my primary put me on statins and said, “NOW will you take the low dose aspirin”! She’s not the first one to tell me if I took care of myself like I do my dogs I’d be golden!

  165. 165.

    NotMax

    Sigh. Was going to make cranberry sauce again this year. At seven smackers per bag for fresh cranberries, though, shall regretfully take a pass. Hoping they go on reduced price sale after the holiday.

  166. 166.

    Raven

    @Yarrow: Aw I dunno, Lil Bit has gone through so much. She’s eating well in her chair but really resists walking. Her eye vet said it is probably one of the meds we put in her eye that lower the pressure but make her vision even worse. She pees on our brick floor every couple of days even though I’m trying to take her out a good deal. The Bodhi is fine for 15, he doesn’t catch every cookie I toss to him but he still can hop on his chair and walk a mile in the morning. Every day is a gift but watching them slow down sucks.

  168. 168.

    Raven

    @NotMax: Watch the Ballad yet? I watched “The Gal Who Got Rattled” again last night because my bride hadn’t seen in. A numba one GI.

  169. 169.

    Tehanu

    We’re going to the kids and my daughter-in-law is cooking the usual healthful meal. She’s actually a pretty good cook, but I miss the butter and rolls and gravy and stuffing my mother always made. Hubby Dearest is making his garlic roast potatoes and my contribution is a jar of Giuliano’s garlic-stuffed green olives — so I’m thankful I’m not cooking because my knee has been giving me fits all week. Hope all here have a good holiday!

  170. 170.

    opiejeanne

    @Steeplejack: I just saw that. I also just watched the Binging With Babish episode on YouTube where he made everything from scratch, from the soup to the french fried onions. It sounded like something I should hand off to my middle daughter’s fiance, but they’re in Baltimore with his family. last year he hosted and after researching what the Pilgrims actually ate, he decided good old turkey and mashed potatoes was fine.

  172. 172.

    Death Panel Truck

    @The Golux: That’s what we’re having. I marinate the pork for 24 hours in a mixture of Worcestershire sauce, red wine, brown sugar, honey, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, and chopped green onions. It’s heavenly.

  174. 174.

    Yarrow

    @Raven: Awww, I’m sorry. Poor Lil’ Bit. Glad they’re both hanging in there, though. As you said, every day is a gift. That’s a good way to look at everything these days.

  175. 175.

    NotMax

    The Great McGinty just starting on TCM. Politics you can laugh at.

    (And yes, Mnemosyne, already aware of your view on Preston Sturges.)

  176. 176.

    Yarrow

    @zhena gogolia: @NotMax: I watched a bit of it a year or so ago when it was on TCM. You are right–it’s Burl Ives at his most churlish and peak Christopher Plummer. I couldn’t watch the whole thing but enjoyed what I did see.

  177. 177.

    MomSense

    BTW the series The Detectorists on Amazon Prime is fantastic. I highly recommend it. It’s one of those shows that I may watch many times because it is so comforting.

  178. 178.

    Kayla Rudbek

    Trying to figure out when we’ll FaceTime with the out-of-Town relatives. At least it’s only the two of us this year for dinner so we can eat whenever we want. Tomorrow’s menu: 3-pound turkey breast, broccoli hot dish involving stuffing, rice, dairy-free pumpkin pie, maybe a green salad with local lettuce

  179. 179.

    Matt McIrvin

    Stuck at the airport since 3 this afternoon because when they were de-icing our plane they found a dent in the wing. They’ve promised to get us on a different plane real soon now.

  182. 182.

    NotMax

    @Matt McIrvin

    In the good ol’ days they’d offer you a meal voucher with that long a wait. Probably as out of date now as high button shoes. But never hurts to ask.

  185. 185.

    Mary G

    The dough for Tamara’s dark chocolate chip cookies is chilling. Cornbread is done. Apple streusel pie is baking. And I still have energy! (because the teen’s girlfriend is doing most of the actual work, such as chopping nuts, peeling and chopping apples, etc., etc.

  191. 191.

    Thoughtful David

    @MomSense:
    Yeah, Detectorists is great. I think McKenzie Crook would be great to have a beer with. If you haven’t caught it from the credits, he wrote and directed it, as well as playing Andy. It’s one of the few comedies I have ever literally laughed out loud at. He catches you off guard with some very witty stuff.

  194. 194.

    zhena gogolia

    @NotMax:

    I think the entire GOP has seen that movie multiple times and are sure that this is how Democrats win elections.

  198. 198.

    Redshift

    Bringing hors d’oeuvre, so it’s pretty easy. Also picking up my sister at the airport at 11pm tonight, since I’m the night owl in the family. There was a typo in her email from whatever travel site she used, so she missed her flight and had to reschedule. And we’re getting to take our niece to a hockey game on Friday, which will be fun.

  199. 199.

    MomSense

    @Thoughtful David:

    And isn’t the human decency refreshing! I just love seeing friendships and ordinary people. My son ordered a lemonade the other day and I giggled to myself.

  200. 200.

    Thoughtful David

    @MomSense:
    Yes. Very decent, and low key. Another thing I like about it is they don’t beat you over the head with it. Some of the jokes slide by without even being acknowledged. If you’re not paying attention you don’t realize someone said something really and intentionally funny.

  205. 205.

    henqiguai

    @gene108(#128): Yeah I know, two days later and no-one is ever gonna see this entry. But, I gotta respond –

    There are no domesticated animals native to the Western Hemisphere.

    Llamas and guinea pigs.

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