A Good Turkey Day!

Started with me rising first at 6:44 a.m. wondering if I would like my cooked turkey this year.  I didn't last year and was almost afraid to cook another turkey.  Last year's turkey was entirely too dry.

Grabbed a cup of coffee and headed over to food network for some reinforcement...found some with these three recipes...

Ina's Perfect Roast Turkey

Pat Neely's Oven Roasted Turkey

and

World's Simplest Thanksgiving Turkey

a bit of this a bit of that and I loved! our roast turkey this year.  I stuffed the cavity and used the basting butter sauce from Ina...I seasoned according the the Neely recipe and roasted following the oven directions from the World's Simplest recipe. 

Here sits the roasted turkey...resting before being carved.  I'm also keeping the oyster dressing and green beans hot...I think the fresh bread buns were still baking in the oven at this time.

My sweet mother-in-law arrived with delicious dishes in hand...sweet potato casserole above

and her one-of-a-kind potato salad below.  I come close in trying to make mine taste like hers, but my family lovingly tells me hers is better.   Oh well.

She also brought her broccoli casserole...another winner.

Here the turkey is being carved 

while family members watch the T-day parade waiting for the late-comers to arrive.

The meal was wonderful, the company was wonderful and I loved every minute of it!

I was watching Secondborn as he took the first few bites off his plate...his eyes were closed and the look on his face spoke volumes.  I asked him if it was good.  I don't think I'll ever forget that grateful smile and nod of his.

After eating our noon meal and cleaning the kitchen, we journeyed over the river and thru the woods...actually we crossed the bridge and went down-the-bayou to my parents' home where we visited with my parents, siblings, nieces and nephews.  More fun and love!

The good day finished off at our dear friends' country home sitting around a gorgeous and very warm bonfire with a glass of wine for me and coffee for Prince Charming.

I fell into bed around 12:10 a.m. so tired, but oh, so thankful!