ThankFULL

FRIDAY October 10th, 2008:
So we got the spare room (mostly) finished for my parents to stay in this past weekend - I'll post some pictures soon. We didn't assemble the end tables but everything else worked out really well - I'm kind of envious of the bed especially (its one of those princessy type beds).

We mass cleaned our house - I LOVE SCRUBBING BUBBLES!!!!! (It made cleaning the bathroom fun as it hissed and crackled and disolved all of the dirt!!!) and made a small grocery run and finished about 10 minutes before my parents and Uncle arrived!!! HA! Procrastination wins again!!!

SATURDAY October 11th, 2008:
Made breakfast for the crew (except dad, who was still sleeping) and we headed off to the Farmer's Market to shop for Thanksgiving Dinner supplies! Man was it crowded!! We lost Uncle Paul for awhile - he explored on his own as mom, Chris and I shopped. Picked up a lot of really nice veggies and some cool dried grasses and pods (to make the house more Harvesty...) and I picked a very sweet small pumpkin (for soup). Mom of course had to have some Kettle Corn, so Chris went and stood in line for us (so sweet).

If you live in or around Edmonton - you should go to the Strathcona Farmers Market, its open on Saturday and Sunday all year!! There are really cool buskers (musicians, artists etc.) and always something cool to see, hear, smell and eat!!

Went on a massive grocery shop with mom, picked out a nice turkey (named him bob). I don't know why I think we can fit a whole trunkload of groceries in my fridge and cupboards - but it happens all the time!!! Had to clean out the fridge to get everything in - except there wasn't room for the Turkey!! oops! luckily it was still half frozen so we put it in the sink and decided we'd have to get some ice.

Its now almost dinner time and everyone is ravenous!! Mom really wants a buffet - so I suggest the Sawmill, but I got confused with the address and we ended up at the Moose Factory instead!! (or the other way around... I'm confusing myself again!!) Anyway - we ended up at the one that doesn't do the buffet during the week... Bummer! But we all had an awesome dinner and we watched a couple at another table who was getting their appetizer, main course and dessert made tableside!! It was really cool when the newbie cook was flambe'ing their dinner - he almost caught the ceiling on fire - I'm not exaggerating either!

Got home and played Mexican Train (its a dominos game) until past midnight... I totally lost (but we didn't actually finish the game so I guess if everyone else did really badly I might (slim chance) have won the game)

SUNDAY October 12th, 2008:
Sundays with my parents are always a quiet day - after they get back from church we had brunch and then my dad went for a nap - mom followed not long afterwards. Uncle Paul likes to walk around the neighbourhood etc. so Chris and I watched some TV.

BBQ'd dinner - everyone really liked my steak marinade!! We had some weird corn - it was white and red and when it cooked it kind of looked dead - dad called it cadavar corn!! LOL. It turned the water black... but it tasted good and the cores were kind of purple...

MONDAY October 13th, 2008: THANKSGIVING DAY!!!
Got up super early and started roasting the pumpkin for the soup... then mom and I dressed the turkey - and no it didn't include a bow tie and dinner jacket... lol Who ever puts together the cooking directions for cooking a turkey should be shot!! 20 minutes a pound... yeah um no... maybe 10 or 15... and because of this we really had to rush at the very end - especially since I asked Chris and dad to make a trip out to the grocery store and when they finally got back they were madly trying to put together my new dining sets from IKEA - and the turkey was already done - so was everything else... we just needed a place to sit and eat it all!!

All ends well though! we had out creamy pumpkin soup (in ceramic pumpins with lids) lovely salad and then the AWESOME turkey, candied sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and yellow and purple carrots... Top it off with yummy cranberry sauce and drool inducing gravy and we all stuffed our faces... and then crammed in some mini pumpkin pies and tiny strawberry rhubarb tartlets with fresh made whipped cream on top of all of that!!!

I was really sleepy - probably more from the lack of sleep and constant work in the kitchen than from whatever is in Turkey!! I said by to my dad and uncle (my mom stays for another whole week!!!) and flopped down on the couch, cuddled my puppy and tried not to fall asleep!!

All in All - an awesome Thanksgiving weekend!!