It’s gray outside, looks like rain. Lovely here in Southern CA where we not only need the rain, but also a respite from day after day of the same weather, lovely as it is. I have lots to do this morning: prep the turkey and get it in the oven, scrub potatoes and chop to mash later, make lentil soup for lunch since we’re not eating until 4 and people will be hungry early, prepare cheese and vegetable plates for snacking, make whipped cream for later to go on pies and other desserts. Then later, make dressing and macaroni and cheese, plus steam the brussel sprouts and heat up the yams and the squash casserole I made yesterday. My goal is to have plenty of food, but not too much. I don’t want to be wasteful, but I also don’t want to run out. Last year, three extra people arrived and the vegetables were a bit skimpy. There was plenty of other food, but as the cook, the sight of the empty dish early in the meal with no more in the kitchen pained me slightly. This year, two more people RSVPed after I had bought the groceries, and one is this big tall Canadian who loves my food. I love him for that – he eats 2nd and 3rd helpings when he and wife come for dinner  – but I also know I need to prepare enough so he doesn’t go away hungry. Not that anyone will be hungry by the end of the day. No, of course not. Not with this fare.

I tried a new recipe last night: pears poached in white wine and honey with orange rind, bay leaves and cinnamon. They look delicious and I can’t wait to taste them. I’m waiting until the meal since I only poached five. Alas…I thought at the time I was only having 7 people and now 10 are coming. My, my. Probably always need to factor in a few more people in future.

My sweet Sarah will be here this morning – hurray! –  and Liz finished her law school finals yesterday and will be able to relax over this holiday weekend. And Rachael made an A- on a very hard English paper at UCLA this past week – she and I worked on it together and we had no idea what we were doing – so this is all wonderful. Plus, we have Rachael’s best friend, Keara, coming, plus our priest and friend, Ian, Sarah’s boyfriend, Gregorio, and Jeff and Camillia, our Canadian friends. Keara’s family is from Bangladesh, Ian is from Wales, Gregorio is from Mexico and then there are our above the northern border friends. I hadn’t thought of it until just now, but this is quite the international crowd. Of course, they are all down-to-earth and wonderful. A lovely group of people to share our Thanksgiving table.

All right. I can hear the girls stirring and I need to head to the kitchen. I have a turkey to get in the oven.

Best wishes to all on this American holiday. What a lovely time to gather with friends and family and simply be together.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!