[Sca-cooks] Christmas Surprises

[gaylinwalli at gmail.com]

Earlier this morning: I yawn, stretch, throw the cat off my pillow and head  
downstairs to feed her and her brother.

Later this morning: I am drinking my coffee and happily goofing around  
doing absolutely nothing of consequence.

Still later this morning: It occurs to me that today is the 24th, not the  
23rd like I originally though. I become slightly concerned that I could  
have lost track of a day but when you work out of your own home this isn't  
an uncommon occurrence. I do not worry for long.

Noon: My husband gets out of bed and I happily greet him.

1:30 PM EDST: My brother in law calls to confirm dinner for the evening, as  
close to 5pm as we can get it, because mom-in-law has to work until that  
time and then sing in the 7pm church service. My heart flips a beat and I  
realize that no one has told me that there was a plan, or wasn't one, as  
the case may be. My husband spends some time talking on the phone while I  
start frantically thinking of what can and cannot be accomplished before we  
must leave for my mother-in-law's house over icy roads.

1:35 PM EDST: My husband hangs up the phone and says "We're cooking all the  
side dishes for dinner. He can only bring the turkey."

All? ALL!? I am already leaping into pants and shirt, as I had been happily  
doing nothing while wearing about the same.

1:36 PM EDST: I put on my brand new, newly christened "Lucky" cook's jacket  
and apron on the theory that any help with luck can be good. I begin  
thanking whatever gods and goddesses happen to be listening that I recently  
reorganized the freezer. I also curse myself for using up the last four  
eggs in the house last night for dinner.

2:37 PM EDST: I sit back down, happy in the knowledge that we now have side  
dishes. On tap are orange-garlic balsamic glazed Brussels sprouts with  
toasted almonds, roasted butternut squash and red potatoes with Herbs of  
Provence, and strawberry cobbler with Calavados-sour cream biscuit topping.

2:38 PM EDST: I open a bottle of wine.

Thank Deity I've been regularly thinking of "Disaster Planning" for feasts  
for just such an emergency. Granted this feast is only for 8 people,  
but...ah, the joys of a calming glass of wine.

Happy Holidays, all.

Cheers,

Iasmin