Hosting in Alameda 2015! With a big family, the mix of us all always makes for a dynamic and fun bunch. Plus a little of the unknown factor providing intrigue + Maria's determination to create the event, and we were set to go. Mom and Dad Dempsey were willing and with last week's Disneyland journey, it's been a nice round of family time. Maria planned really well, set her menu, got everyone that was coming slotted in with menu items, and I just did whatever she instructed me too. Mom, Dad, Eileen, Woody, Jeremiah, Tom, Sam and Bella, Stacey and Lila, and my brother Mike would stop by before dinner.
Neighbor Linda was ever kind to volunteer a table and chairs, and even stopped by during the day to drop off some donuts, which Maria found especially neighborly and touching. The boys pitched in and we had the place set up nicely. Mike stopped by earlier and everyone landed within 5 minutes at the 4 o'clock hour. Amazing. I probably should have noted the expected arrival time as this was when Mike, Oliver and I were about to go to Kathy and Bob's to pick up their coffee maker. We stayed, Mike visited, I helped (and watched) Maria perform her magic in the kitchen. At one point we might have had 10 people in our kitchen- such a scene.
Vegetables are always the king in my mind at Thanksgiving and this year, no different. The only day of the year that I overeat (or maybe it's just eating a lot of starches), Maria even providing vegetarian gravy options for the mashed potatoes. Molly's pies, food brought by everyone, easy. Oliver appreciates the apple cider (Mike, Grandma). Not much drinking otherwise. We'll be handing out beers over the next week I think. Stop by for a beer if you're reading this. Jay made some New Zealand dessert beverages (sweetened toffee coffee crunchies). Leftovers for awhile. No complaints here. Maybe next year?
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| after everything party (rest) |
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| photo by John Dempsey (ps: that's not my plate of turkey!) |
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