I just cleaned out the lists and lists and lists that had accumulated on my trusty legal pad and notepad last week. Lists for clearing out the old house before putting up for sale, staging lists, packing lists to move to the campground, lists to sort items for the move to New Jersey, lists for the contractor building the new house and lists of tasks to be accomplished in readying the new place for life…

Then my daughter and I started a new list: Thanksgiving.

Actually it is four lists: menu, shopping, timeline for preparations, cooking checklist for the big day. Now we have started to check things off the list.

The largest turkey my grandson could find!

The turkey has come home to roost…and a ham.  Both were free this year.  The local grocery gave either a turkey or ham free with the purchase of $400 over the course of two months…easy peasy with a household of 7!  So my daughter earned one and I the other.  As we speak, the turkey is going to its brine bath of orange rind and apple juice with herbs from Pioneer Woman.

The cooking began yesterday, picks up speed today and, of course, culminates tomorrow.  I will keep you posted on the successes of the day.