I did it! I coordinated and cooked a big Thanksgiving feast right here in my little cottage! When I first got the place I was so excited that I shouted out, "I’ll do Thanksgiving!" with out really thinking what that entailed. Then I got engaged and it kinda fell to the back burner so this last week I really had to get my ass in gear to get everything done. I went to the grocery store, and luckily they were nice enough to help me find all the things on my list that I had no idea what they looked like (fennel bulbs?!?!). After getting all stocked up Bj came over the day before and help me with some last minuet things, like hanging a new curtain rod, raking the leaves, etc. I stayed up too late on Wednesday and the only reason I popped out of bed Thursday morning was because of the nightmares I’d had that night that I got up too late and didn’t get the turkey in until 11. But no fear, I stuffed that bird and shoved it in the oven just in time. I had cut up a bunch of stuff the night before so I really just had to figure out what giblets were and stuff like that. I made the turkey, two stuffings from scratch, gravy from giblet broth, acorn squash and fennel and mandarin salad. My mom and Bill brought two kinds of cranberry relish, wine, and a green bean and hazelnut dish. Michele and Brett brought the potatoes, salad, and the entertainment (baby Violet, and a cool new version of Cranium). Bj’s parent’s brought dessert. It was so much fun!


Bj’s appetizers.


and the other side:


It was so great to have everyone bring something. We ate at about three, and then chatted, played a game, had dessert. And afterwords Bj said I was going to make a great wife, awe! So sweet!

I mean, I think I can carry on a conversation with just about anyone, but I’ve still got that tickly throat thing and I want to spread the conversation around the table Thursday. Do you know of any site that has cool conversation starters? Or do you have a good list going somewhere? I found this book and this one, but no one near me carries them.

Oh and on a totally unrelated note, I got out the newsletter today, with a coupon for 20% off any size order Friday. If you didn’t get it, or aren’t signed up just enter "turkey" to get the deal from midnight to midnight at the Ribbon Jar. Tell them Amber sent you (ha ha, that was funny in my head).