Happy turkey day to y'all!
Didn't get my lazy bones out of bed this am until 8. Got the Pillsbury orange rolls and coffee made first thing.
Went to rinse the brine off the turkey and found that it hadn't finished thawing on the back side!
Left it under running water for 20 minutes while I set up the pan (celery, onions, herbs, chicken broth, pepper under the grate, for the gravy), and then dried it off. Wanted to let it sit for a few hours this morning, so that the skin would dry, but getting up late and it still being a little icy put the brakes on that. So, dried it off with a bunch of paper towels; rubbed the skin and meat down with lots of herbed butter (sage, thyme, pepper, salt) and filled the cavity with fresh thyme, rosemary and sage. Plopped it breast down, so that the back side can finish cooking, lowered the oven temp to 325, and popped it in.
I scrubbed the sweet potatoes, wrapped them in foil, and popped them in the oven too, to start roasting, and got the cranberry relish made and in the fridge to chill. I made the cornbread for the dressing yesterday, and the pecan pie and whipped cream too. (It came out sooo good. I used Buffalo Trace for the crust and pie, and put a little in the whipped cream too. Yes, we got into last night, lol.)
I'm off to clean out the cooler (in the shower) as the brine bag leaked
, clean the shower, then take a shower. After that, I need to get the veggie tray done; put it out (which serves as the veg for our meal; we'd rather eat fresh veg than cooked, so....
) along with the dips, crackers, meat and cheese trays, and flip the turkey. Once the bird is done, then I need to cook the sausage and veg for the dressing, put it in the oven, do the rolls (got brown and serve rolls this year), and mashed potatoes and gravy to make. Figure it'll be done by 1pm. Food all put away and kitchen cleaned by 2pm, then I can do nothing the rest of the day!
to each of you extra today and tomorrow as well. I'll check in later.
with a good afternoon 
each of you are having a blessed day. Dad and I are so thankful to God always, of course, and in all ways. We are enjoying a lovely Thanksgiving. We did bake cookies this morning which were tasty. Tomorrow he will donate the majority of them in some way that I pray brings extra joy and cheer, reminder that whoever is not alone. Have any of you watched the Christmas parade yet? I know it's available online. I would rather try and see Santa on the TV. It's not on until 1pm here. I'm thinking to start checking around 2:30. I will start on some Christmas cards, and we will watch some other TV a little later, too. We will also do some online searching. Wishing each of you a wonderful and warm rest of the day. 
