Thursday’s Top Ten Reason NOT to Cook Thanksgiving Dinner

Place cards for Thanksgiving dinner guests

So if you’re not cooking, you are either dining out or better yet invited to share the annual feast at someone else’s dinner table.  Either way, the end result is still the same because you….

1. Do not have to spend hours grocery shopping for myriad ingredients for dishes you make only once a year.
2. Do not have to spend 3 x what you normally spend at the grocery store each week, buying weird items like persimmons, figs, chestnuts, turnips and a 14 lb bird.
3. Do not have to pull the giblets out of the cavity of an ice cold turkey and then clean its inside  and cut off its rear end also known irreverently as the pope’s nose.Do not have to pull the giblets out of the cavity of an ice cold turkey and then clean its inside  and cut off its rear end also known irreverently as the pope’s nose.
4. Do not have to get up at the crack of dawn to stuff the turkey and put it in the oven so it is ready at 2:00pm
   
5. Can actually go to the Parade if you wish or leisurely sit in your living room with a cup of coffee all warm and cosy and marvel at the balloons and how cold everyone seems to be at the Parade.
6. Can have breakfast with the family instead of peeling potatoes.
7. Don’t have to wonder how you are really going to get everything baked and cooked with 1 oven and only 4 burners.
8. Will have time to get appropriately dressed  without an apron and even be able to put on makeup.
9. Will probably be offered some leftovers to bring home for tomorrow’s supper (bring your own containers)
10. BEST of all, you won’t be in the middle of any unresolved sibling or parent-child issues from your own family!!

Related articles

• Thanksgiving Martyrdom (sassandbalderdash.com)
• Will There be Canned Cranberry, or Should I Bring My Own? (sweetandweak.com)
• What’s the Most Intimidating Part of Thanksgiving Dinner? (thekitchn.com)
• Thanksgiving Survival Guide (theundergroundsupper.wordpress.com)

 

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Easter Sunday-Fifth Avenue-New York City

It takes a couple of days for the photos to get up and online.  Today, our friend, Helen, posted her photos and I have snagged a few to show my readers.  She was much better than I was at taking pictures!  And I’m happy that there is one of her in the bunch because I didn’t have one and she spent the day with us at the Parade.

More to follow…hopefully by tomorrow – those will be the ones my son took and I know he snapped some really great ones.

Each year we meet up with this lovely couple from MA. Their outfits are impeccable and authentic!

Bigger Is Better??

Which came first the egg or the violets?

Our friend, Helen is on the far right!

Our friend, Greg in top hat and tails! He looks so debonair.

Related articles

• ‘In Your Easter Bonnet, With All The Frills Upon It, You’ll Be The Grandest Lady In The Easter Parade!’ (thegloss.com)
• Easter Parade Marchers Put Fancy Headwear On Display (newyork.cbslocal.com)

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Erin Go Braugh and All That Jazz

It’s a great day for the Irish and this year St. Patrick’s Day fell on one glorious pre-spring day in New York City.  The sun was shining all day, the temperature was mild and the crowds were huge!  It was a great day for a parade and for leaving work (long lunch hour?) to watch the parade.  So I did.  And being the good blogger that I am-NOT – I left my camera home and my new Flip video.  Just think of the fab photos I could have taken today.  Instead what you see is off my blackberry and well, Oh Well….  Also since I always like to make sure when something goes wrong, it is at least partially Peter’s fault, most of the photos are of parade marchers walking away from me rather than towards the camera.  Why?  Because Peter got there first and told me where to meet him and he was on the shade side of the Avenue and that put the camera in the shade – I had to wait till the marchers past me so I could have the sun shining on them and not back-lighting (oh that is way too technical).  Anyway I was able to snap a few good ones of my favorites which are the bagpipers.  They are so fabulous and the mournful sounds of Amazing Grace always makes me weepy.

Bagpipers in colorful plaid

The marchers came from all over – we saw a very large contingency from Londonderry , New Hampshire.   There were several units of ramrod straight Marines and of course New York’s beloved Fireman and Policemen.   The Emerald Societies from both departments were out in full force.  Step Dancers, Fife and Drum Corps, large delegations from various counties all walked by smiling, waving and wishing all a Happy St. Paddy’s Day.   Lots of beautiful colleens, some in native garb and others waving bright green flags.    And then there were the I’m feeling no pain and it’s okay to look like a jerk on St. Paddy’s Day.

The Green Flags are Flying

Goofy Green

Band the Drum Slowly

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