HAPPY HOLIDAYS

It's been noticed that I've been neglecting the blog lately. Everything's okay, it's just been intense for ol' Motherlode the past couple of weeks. At work I've been consumed with deadlines and back-to-back meetings, throwing a baby shower for my secretary, and onboarding a new boss. At home it's been clean, cook and clean up again for a nephew's visit, Thanksgiving and my 23-year-old daughter's baby shower.

This was a particularly enjoyable Thanksgiving since The Sage decided he wanted to help cook Thanksgiving dinner this year. It was fun working side-by-side, and since he's a wonderfully inventive cook we've never had such fabulous mashed potatoes (his secret: neufchatel) and cranberry mousse. The kiddos couldn't believe dinner was ready before noon (it's usually close to 2 pm before it goes on the table). The rest of the menu? Two turkeys and three kinds of dressing, giblet gravy, ham and red-eye gravy, sweet corn pudding and rice and mushrooms (made by our middle daughter), asparagus with parmesan crust, sweet potato casserole, deviled eggs, green bean casserole, Mediterranean tomatoes, and for dessert, chocolate mousse and various pies, pralines and macaroons (the latter made by Grandmom). In addition to our original clan of mom, dad and five kiddos, we had Grandmom, the son-in-law and grandson, and the other two girls' boyfriends. We avoided the subject of politics at the table and just relived old memories of fun times.

I'm anticipating several more weeks of light posting as we look forward to the birth of our new granddaughter and prepare for the holidays, so let me just wish you all now a very merry Christmas, happy Hannukah and new year from our family. God bless.