Very funny - in retrospect of course. Your story reminds me of the year my turkey was cooking very well until I opened the oven door to baste, only to find that the oven died. DH rushed the turkey over to my inlaws to finish cooking. Sides were modified to cook on the stove top and grill. However, that year was a breeze compared to the Thanksgiving that we required a visit from our local fire department. I am still trying to block that particular memory. LOL Thank you for sharing your story. I always try to remember my mom's mantra: when God gives you lemons, make lemonade!

Shelley, you know you are ALWAYS invited, just knock on the door and come right on in. (grin) That goes for everyone here. The food was good, especially the salmon which Elery cooked on the grill. I could have lived without the store-bought cupcakes, LOL, but Mother brought them and who am I to turn down a gift, especially one made with sugar. (grin) We do usually have fun, we all manage to get along pretty well pretty much all of the time. That means everyone recognizes my authority as Empress of the Universe, LOL. Cathy, she's sure getting big, isn't she? I've been invited to her very first school concert in a couple of weeks. She's excited and tells me that she's going to sing "B-I-N-G-O". ROFL I'm sure it will be wonderful... Annie

U betcha! Went grocery shopping today...2 hams purchased with all the trimmings and fixings for creamed potatoes, fresh corn, green beans, rolls, coleslaw, buttered rolls and my favorite....carrot cake! Our daughter and her family of three girls and that special SIL are coming from Florida (they will be here sometime Wednesday) and our son, who is not married and lives in a small town nearby will be coming for Easter Dinner on Saturday....then on Sunday I'll fix a quick bite of cereal and milk for the girls before we head out to church.....but the Easter Bunny will have been busy the night before preparing a special brunch to enjoy before they head back to Florida! Probably have a breakfast casserole in the crockpot while we're at church...fresh baked biscuits with ham (if I have any left from Saturday)muffins, fresh fruit, juice and coffee! Wanna come? It will be great!

Sis, Dad and I just started discussing yesterday... My sister will be hosting, with an assist from DH and I (time to get my little red wagon so we can easily bring our goodies around the corner to Sis' house). -Hor d'oevures... Not sure what we'll be serving for hors d'oeuvres, but already on the menu is: Pizza rustica (I make anywhere from 10-12 depending upon who I feel like giving one to (you have to rate high on my list) -I am thinking of modifying an asparagus dish I saw that calls for wrapping stuff around blanched asparagus (flattened bread, prosciutto, etc) but have to give it more thought as I don't want to compromise the beautiful asparagus I am seeing) We typically have a platter of antipasto, which is really a must have, so perhaps it'll be just that and the pizza rusticas. -First course we were thinking of doing perhaps some fresh ravioli. I saw Giada do a chicken cheese ravioli with a lemon zest sauce, so perhaps we'll play with that, eliminating the chicken. I just got the pasta-roller attachment for my Kitchenaide, which will make prepping the ravioli a breeze. -Second course, perhaps a salad in Parmesan cups. We did this two years ago and it was fantastic. -For dinner, so far we know we are going to make a nice stuffed pork loin. Our local Italian store does a nice job of it, it comes out so moist. Perhaps some simple roasted chicken as a second choice for the kids and whomever doesn't want the pork. I'll make a nice merlot or cabernet-based gravy or perhaps defrost some pork gravy I've been saving and kick it up a bit with some wine and herbs. -Veggies: We agreed on a few veggies, one baked, one roasted, and perhaps a steamed veggie. Will be finalizing that within the next week. -Starch...I'm thinking something potato. Perhaps Ann's Perfect Roasted potatoes will be the way to go. I love, love, love them. (Did I say I love them). -Dessert is left to the experts. One of our guests is master of all things baked and we leave that to her. Dad will want to bring something, so perhaps he'll make a grain pie. That's it so far...not much detail, but it is an iterative process and should be finalized by the end of the week. Sue