Turkey day

I really shouldn't just run around and not address Thanksgiving in all its wonders. In the morning, we started off with the Macy's parade and Mom making turkey and my making pumpkin country muffins (more on those later!). The parade was mostly silly, per usual, but the highlights for me included: Dan Radcliffe and the cast of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," The Rockettes (yay tapping!), and Neil Diamond on a float. Count it!

Then it was time for football — GO, PACK, GO! — and food. When the guests started arriving, all was right and well and the house smelled divine. Aunt Kal brought the sweet potatoes (prepared with brown sugar cashews and peaches) and brussel sprouts. Uncle Pat's Kelly (though home sick) sent along mashed potatoes for us all. Mom's friend Julie made a from-scratch pumpkin pie (well, at least the filling was). And Mom and I? Well, the aforementioned turkey and pumpkin muffins, but also cranberries, stuffing, dinner rolls, gravy, and Mom's twist on green bean casserole (if you like water chestnuts and buttered cracker topping, you've come to the right place!). Heavenly feast, and we all were thankful for it. Later, around dessert time, Uncle Mike and Katie brought pies from Door County — a cherry and an apple — and Aunt Kal sprung a pecan pie on us as well. Satiated? Full? Stuffed? Bursting? Just about, yes. This really might be my favorite holiday.