As usual, I had plenty of help and supervision writing this post on Thursday. I got it up and him fed then cleaned up the kitchen. I made a cup of tea and sat for a while then got busy.
This is where the china cabinet usually is. I had to empty it, move plants and the fairy, then slide it down into its new temporary place.
Last summer I had my brother put up another plant holder in the window by the VCRs. And it was ½” too big to get the china cabinet between the 2 holders. So I took down the original one as it was easier.
Then I dusted the cabinet inside and out and put all the dishes back in. Now I had room for the tree.
Then I started getting ready for my helper friend to arrive at noon. He would bring the tree and boxes of lights down, start the turkey breast marinating, then go shopping. So, we went out and harvested parsley, sage, and thyme.
He mashed a bunch of garlic and chopped the thyme and mixed it for a marinade for the turkey. Once the turkey was marinating, he left to go shopping.
Each string of lights was repaired before being put away last January. But I check each string before using it. They say if there’s a few lights burned out and left in place, it shortens the life of all the rest. So I make sure they all light.
Each layer of branches is tied up separately. I let down the bottom, then spread the lights around it after fluffing it back into shape. Then the next layer and lights and so on. The bottom section is the biggest and hardest to do.
My helper friend arrived back with the shopping and once it was put away, he started making the gravy. Then he made the stuffing with a gluten free mix he’d picked up.
By then the turkey had been marinating a couple hours so he started prepping the bacon with mustard. The turkey was soon wrapped and went into the oven. The stuffing went into the little oven.
I had kept working on the lower part of the tree and had finished it. I’d made many trips into the kitchen when called to decide various things or help cook.
Everything was supposed to be ready at once. I’d been a bit leery that the turkey breast would be cooked in 20 minutes. It wasn’t. It took more like an hour until it was done.
I’d made batata in place of mashed potatoes and had thawed out cranberry relish. I was far too tired to figure out a vegetable, so this was what it was.
After supper I sat down for an hour then had to get the stoves going. They had gone out during the day, but with the cooking and not being so cold outside, it was comfortable.
On Friday my helper friend is back at 8AM and I plan to work on the tree while he makes more Cranberry-Blueberry Chutney and persimmon pudding. He also needs to get the Christmas boxes down from the store room. In the afternoon I have another PT appointment. I’ve not done any PT all week, too much garden gym work. But equipment I needed to do the exercises came in Thursday night, so hopefully I can start the exercises on Saturday.
Nice going! Things are moving with steady progress. I thought the turkey would need more than an hour to cook; I used to watch my friend cooking for Christmas lunch in her kitchen. I learned to cook from her but I had forgotten most of my knowledge as I didn’t take any notes.
Larry was working too hard these days.
So, you’re going to exercise regularly. I ought to follow your example and get a stationary bicycle for my exercise routine.
Waiting to see the tree up with all the decorations.
The turkey must be very delicious and well garnished
#hive #posh
You did a good job with that turkey
It will taste really nice
The daily routine is very difficult for all of us and so the things we want to do are delayed. Your cat is much more beautiful.
That turkey must be so yummy!
I love how you prepared the turkey breast and I am sure it was fabulous. Yay, on getting the tree started, it takes time to fluff all those branches and tough on the back.