Is it still Thanksgiving if no one comes?

  Thanksgiving, like all holidays, should be filled with folks, both family and friends, infused with chatter and laughter, and bustling with things to do.  It should be.  Today, the day before the big day, I spent alone. Sure there was plenty to keep me busy.  I HAD to get that turkey ready, it WAS necessary to bake pies and a bounty of other foods NEEDED to be prepared.  I did it.  Not that I particularly enjoyed it this year since I am not sure if anyone will be here or not.  It is hard to prepare a meal when you have no idea if guests will arrive or not.  I did it, though.  The turkey is patiently waiting in the frig to be popped into the oven at 4AM, the sweet potato pone is mixed and ready for the Dutch oven, dressing is made, that "all-important" green bean casserole is prepared and pies...those pies made from scratch...those pumpkin and apple pies...bake as I write this.  All of the trimmings of gravy, cranberry/citrus sauce and fresh baked roles shall be fixed in the morning along with the roasted cauliflower and salad.  Whew!  It seems like a lot.

  Yep, it does seem like a lot and to beat that, I had to make double. Double? You may be asking. Yep, double.  I made the same recipes that I have made for years but, also, an entire version as vegan just in case Darling Daughter is able to come tomorrow. Talk about your brainstorming, mind-numbing work that was!  I was good to go with the usual things like dressing and veggies but those pumpkin pies threw me for a loop! Sure, leaving out the milk was no problem.  I substituted coconut milk for the dairy and raw sugar took the place of regular sugar but I had to use a bit of ingenuity to be get the pie to "set" without eggs. I am hoping my concoction works.  If not, I may just have a nice bowl of pumpkin soup with a soggy crust.  Yum!

Tomorrow will come and it will be Thanksgiving.  Even if folks do not come to the Bayou, I will be thankful,  I will be thankful that I can set a bountiful table.  I will be thankful that I have fine family and friends.  I will be thankful that my hands can be busy,  I will be thankful that my husband saw that I was a bit down and treated me to dinner tonight!  I will even be thankful for vegan pumpkin pies.  I will be thankful.  God is good.  He blesses us with so many things that it is often hard to comprehend. Thanksgiving will come.  May each of you find heaps of blessings for which to be thankful.  From the Bayou, Happy Thanksgiving, Folks...Happy Thanksgiving.