I hope those of you who celebrate had a lovely Thanksgiving. Ours went well, peaceful and happy, with kids and friends.
The Cajun turkey was predictably amazing. You are supposed to warm it up on a wire rack with the liquid juices it came with. Instead I poured some apple juice into the pan, and after the turkey warmed up – and was cooked a bit, because I am paranoid – the drippings made absolutely the best base for stuffing and gravy.
Kid 1 made her patented mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, and mac and cheese, all of which was ridiculously good. Also, she and I attempted our first custard for banana cream pie, and we got it on the first try. There will be custard in my future.
We had way too much food, and it was all utterly delicious. After the meal, it was packed up and sent home with the children to their respective houses. All we have left is some turkey and lamb. I have planned the Thanksgiving leftover menu for what’s left. Yes, it involved turkey soft tacos. We’re in Texas, leave me alone.
The house is halfway decorated for Christmas, and I’ve wrapped the first gift the day before Thanksgiving. We are babysitting 2 small dogs today, so the house is full of furry creatures running back and forth.
It’s back to the edits today. I am getting a little bit discouraged, because as usual with the edits, the more I edit, the more I become convinced that the book is no good. I start the edits up-beat, and by the end, I’m convinced that the whole things was a colossal waste of time. It’s Chapter 4, and I’m already worn out. I needed to edit the description of a little muddy island and I rephrased it like 8 times. Also shrubby is, apparently, a word.
I need to get through the edits so the book can go to the beta team and be edited. Then it will be time for other projects.
Time for another cup of tea. Once more into the breach for Harry, England, and Saint George.
We are our own worst critics.
It was my first time cooking the Family Thanksgiving Turkey and I was convinced I’d overcooked the turkey and that the holiday was Ruined.
The turkey came out great, the in-laws and Husband had nothing but praise. My husband insists I must make this turkey again.
All will be well. Mod R, back me up! 😬
Go you! Good job on the turkey!
Thank you!
And may the God of Small Happiness bless you while you edit!
“MONTJOY The day is yours.
KING HENRY
Praised be God, and not our strength, for it!
What is this castle called that stands hard by?
MONTJOY They call it Agincourt.”
May your Agincourt be soon, and less bloody than Harry’s!
have you seen the Monty Python sketch about shrubberies? It came to mind when you mentioned shrubby….. not quite the same thing…but some light relief from edits perhaps!
https://youtu.be/RZvsGdJP3ng?si=piG4fFB6mzcDUTnE
Hi, getting to this one late (as is the way for me! Being in Australia also doesn’t help…)
Just wondering if there is an opportunity to apply to be on the beta team? Is there an application process?
Hi Olivia, a general call for betas does go out on the blog for books usually, announcing how to apply etc. So “keep an eye on the blog” is the advice 🙂
For Maggie however, a bit more expertise was required so the betas were selected privately.
Hugs for words like shrubby. I’ve lost track of the number of words I’ve Googled lately because Spellcheck flagged them as Wrong. For example, complexion vs complection. Choice one is modern, choice 2 is an older spelling.
Love the news & the stock photo. Many would give a lot to live just off that road in the fall! Green is good when surrounded by snowcapped mountains, lots of evergreen trees and for color, one native maple and lots of Japanese maple trees. There is a shrub called Heavenly Bamboo (it isn’t a bamboo-just part of the name). In the cooler months the leaves on some varieties turn beautifully red. But I do miss seeing the trees in the East US that just burn with color in the fall. If you live close enough it is a good excuse for a ‘road trip’!
Ilona and Gordon there is nothing small about your magics you weave your worlds and your characters with great skill and I am an absolute aficionado. I live almost at the bottom of the world in wonderful New Zealand Aotearoa. your seasons that you describe now are so unlike ours at this time of year.El Nino is headed our way so that means our summer climate will be hotter and in some cases wetter than we are normally used to. we will be in the high 20s to low 30s for our Christmas Day Sunshine beaches and fun. wishing you and your whole support crew and family the best Christmas the happiest and safest of times. Miriam
PS. like all your fans and readers just waiting for that new book to come out because we know it’s going to be damn fine.
Is there a way to get the recipes for kid 1 patented mac and cheese and green bean casserole? I’ve been scouring the site. Because you mention them every year. But never with a recipe.