Without a doubt, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. This is mostly because Thanksgiving has become the unofficial holiday of Garlic, My Soul over the last few years, and a GMS Thanksgiving is the best kind.
Some people like to start Christmas shopping as early as August, but we think that’s for the birds. However it is not at all unusual for Jennie and me to have Thanksgiving on the brain all year round.
This year we sent out the official invite on October 24. A month of intense planning is pretty standard for us, but we usually try to keep our Thanksgiving excitement under wraps for a few weeks, so as not to frighten anyone with our overzealous approach to holiday planning.
Well guess what. Today is the day to get excited, folks. Check out that countdown on the right side of the page. We’ve only got 2 weeks to go!
The oven schedule is nearly complete.
17 people have RSVP’d yes with 6 maybes. So, this year will be a smaller affair.
The gluten-free portion of the menu is set.
The free range turkey has been ordered. 26 pounds, in case you’re curious.
Oh, and did I mention that I am planning to fly back to Los Angeles for the holiday!!!!
That’s right. This Thanksgiving will be our first Garlic, My Soul reunion since we went bi-coastal back in April.
When I told Jennie, we had this conversation:
Jennie: WHATTTTTTTTTTTTT, shut up
me: yes
Jennie: shut up. SHUT UP
Jennie: WHEN ARE YOU COMINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
Then she cried. Literally, she cried. And Jeff made fun of us. That’s just how we roll in the Garlic, My Soul family.
I am so excited you guys. I don’t even care that I’ll be flying on the two biggest travel days of the year, sitting in middle seats for all of my flights, and missing the opportunity to earn time and a half at my job by working the day after Thanksgiving. I don’t care about any of it, because I am SO excited about….
Starting the day at 7:30 AM to get up, get showered, and get our whole cooking operation over to our friend Paul’s house.
Jennie and me, shoving our hands inside a giant turkey, our favorite party trick for 4 years running.
Coffee and crossword puzzles, and Iny’s Prune Cake, for the second year in a row.
Wine and snacks all day long.
Rubbing the whole turkey in butter 30 minutes before we take it out of the oven. Then, waiting until Jennie isn’t looking and adding even MORE butter.
Holiday decorations courtesy of the talented miss Mary Costa
Not being able to finish my plate. Trying anyway.
Rebecca’s homemade pumpkin pie.
Live blogging, throughout the day.
Dinner at 3:00, Leftovers at 7:00.
The post-dinner walk around the neighborhood.
Boardgames and more wine late into the evening.
An entire day, one that starts before sun-up and ends well after sundown, of feeling the love of some amazing friends and giving thanks.
[addtoany] Yum