Post Thanksgiving Day Friday Five

Singing Owl of RevGals writes:

Ah, the day after Thanksgiving -- groan! Fortunately, I love Thanksgiving leftovers.

Thanksgiving is the American holiday when the greatest number of people travel somewhere else to celebrate. I am posting this from my son’s home in Minnesota where we are recovering from the food shopping and the preparations and the meal and the clean up. It is difficult to think of anything requiring much energy today, and I am enjoying my sweet baby granddaughter, so I will keep it simple. For those of you not in the USA, I apologize for the nationalistic tone of this Friday Five!

1. Did you go elsewhere for the day, or did you have visitors at your place instead? How was it?
We had a relatively quiet day. Just Beloved Bearded Spouse, his mom and our kids. Since I felt pretty stink-o, it was probably just as well that we weren't around a lot of people... I would have infected them all.

2. Main course: If it was the turkey, the whole turkey, and nothing but the turkey, was it prepared in an unusual way? Or did you throw tradition to the winds and do something different?
Personally I would rather have ANYTHING besides turkey. It's not my favorite dish. I make a great dish of squash and apples that the adults love and kids choke down. (The recipe is HERE.) This year I threw tradition to the winds and got a meal from the grocery with a pre-cooked turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, rolls and pie all done for me. Sacrilege? Maybe. But the part the girls like the best was the stuffing, and no one else seemed to mind.

3. Other than the meal, do you have any Thanksgiving customs that you observe every year?
We use napkin holders that look like turkeys, made my by mother-in-law. For two years in a row now, we have watched the National Dog Show as the turkey finishes cooking. And then later, football!!!

4. The day after Thanksgiving is considered a major Christmas shopping day by most US retailers. Do you go out bargain hunting and shop ‘till you drop, or do you stay indoors with the blinds closed? Or something in between?
Well, actually, we usually never go out. Kind of a rant against the machine sort of thing. This year we went with folks from our church and handed out hot chocolate and coffee for the hordes who were shopping at a local mall. Free always goes over.

5. Let the HOLIDAY SEASON commence! When will your Christmas decorations go up?
Probably after all of my papers, assignments and projects get turned in on December 8th!! Or sooner if someone in the household gets inspired. (One can always hope.)

Still sneezing... please may this cold go away!

Deb