The following is an account of a disorganized Thanksgiving Day (from experience) and an organized one. I hope it makes you smile and plan ahead.
ORGANIZED SCHEDULE
6:00 a.m. Exercise, shower, fix hair, put on make-up and dress in festive clothing.
7:30 a.m. Say prayers, read inspirational material.
8:00 a.m. Make bed, dress, eat a hearty, bacon and egg breakfast (no toast or potatoes) take a walk, and check appearance of the front door and entryway.
9:00 a.m. Stuff turkey with stuffing prepared yesterday, have children set holiday table. (Silver was previously polished.) Boil potatoes (they were peeled yesterday and have been soaking in cold water overnight). Make pies (pumpkin filling, apple filling and dough were made yesterday and refrigerated).
10:00 a.m. Listen to holiday music; check table, centerpiece and candles. Bake pies. Whip potatoes and set aside to be micro-waved just before serving.
11:00 a.m. Put turkey in the oven.
Noon Prepare a light meal, soup and salad for family.
1:00 p.m. Call relative long distance, make sure bathroom has toilet paper, guest towels and soap, (Of course toilet is swished and swiped daily).
2:00 p.m. Make last minute items, such as gravy, heat rolls and mashed potatoes, put out butter, salads and other refrigerated foods prepared yesterday and the day before.
3:00 p.m. Doorbell rings. Greet guests, sit down to dinner. Take small portions and allow 45 minutes to eat. Stop eating before you are stuffed.
4:00 p.m. Have everyone help clear the table and clean up the kitchen. Sip water if you are inclined to snack on leftovers.
5:00 p.m. Take a nice long walk with family and guests. Build a snowman or take a ride in the country.
7:00 p.m. Come home and play cards or a board game or watch, It's A Wonderful Life.
10:00 p.m. Go to bed. Sleep like a baby.
2:00 a.m. zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
6:00 a.m. Wake up refreshed. Weigh yourself. Have a wonderful life!
DISORGANIZED SCHEDULE
6:00 a.m. Toss and turn.
7:00 a.m. Toss and turn.
8:00 a.m. Toss and turn.
9:00 a.m. Leave bed unmade, start meal preparations in pajamas, discover turkey is not totally thawed, skip breakfast.
10:00 a.m. Polish silver, snack on chips, olives, nuts and dip while blow-drying the turkey to unfreeze it. Put it in the oven with a Cornish Game Hen in the hole because you didn't make a stuffing.
11:00 a.m. Find family room in a mess, start stashing, find tweezers and put in bathrobe pocket. Start watching, It's A Wonderful Life on television, pluck a few hairs on your knee caps while you watch.
Noon Eat more chips and dip, have a beer. Wake up kids, throw a fit over their messy rooms.
1:00 p.m. Discover you don't have cranberry sauce, throw long coat on over pajamas (roll legs up so they don't show), head to Minute Mart.
2:00 p.m. Call husband to come and get you because you ran out of gas. Eat some of the snacks you bought, while you wait. Race home, take a birdbath, throw some clothes on, yell at the kids for not cleaning their rooms. Close the door to yours.
3:00 p.m. Doorbell rings. Greet guests, have husband entertain while you set the table.
4:00 p.m. Eat like a pig. Have seconds and thirds, pile on butter, salt heavily, drink several glasses of wine, don't save room for desert but then have it anyway. Tell everyone you'll do the dishes later, drag yourself to the living room and crash on the couch.
5:00 p.m. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
6:00 p.m. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
7:00 p.m. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
10:00 p.m. Head for the Alka Seltzer, hit the bed and toss and turn.
2:00 a.m. Sneak into the kitchen and fix a turkey sandwich, wash it down with milk straight out to the carton, polish off the last piece of pecan pie you bought at Minute Mart.
9:00 a.m. Wake up with a splitting headache, weigh yourself and sulk all day.
Just a little organization goes along way and if you’ll do as many tasks ahead of time, you’ll insure a stress-free holiday celebration. Be sure to see my video on letting the kids make a traditional Thanksgiving tablecloth.
Love,
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