When I was a child I always thought my birthday was the start of all winter holidays, followed a few days later by Thanksgiving then Christmas. Those holidays were a time of family gatherings which meant friends, food and fun. I'm way past that now, but this year for the first time in a very long time, I'll have family and friends around for both birthday and Thanksgiving. Not sure yet about Christmas.

My son says he's bringing a 'turducken' to fix for Thanksgiving. Not being much of a meat connoisseur, I have no clue what that might be, but I can imagine. He's on his own for that one.

So as of last night with the arrival of my daughter from Florida, my holidays have started. She'll be joined by my son and his family, another friend from Arizona and one from DC during Thanksgiving week. It will be a full house.

In the meantime, I just received a box filled with Amaryllis bulbs, an early gift from Mamajack and Jill, I think. It was a surprise, I can only tell by the return address. Today I'll plant them.

For me, I'll add one more to your list: Family, Friends, Food, Fun and Flowers!

Happy Holidays!

Turducken ---- cross between a turkey & a duck. Don't ask me how or why.

So wonderful you are having family, friends, food, fun AND flowers for the holidays! As well as for your BIRTHDAY !

No no no, Anni!!!!

Wiki says: A turducken is a dish consisting of a de-boned chicken stuffed into a de-boned duck, which itself is stuffed into a de-boned turkey. The word turducken is a portmanteau of turkey, duck, and chicken or hen.

Oh good!! Now I understand. I was so worried that somebody had interfered with fowl genetics.

Well, I have read & heard both definitions. But, BUT ---- B U T ---- I got you to Wiki it didn't I?

My Wiki screen is always open

We had one once. It was good.

That sounds yummy.

I wonder why they haven't stuffed a game hen inside the chicken? Turduckengen.

You write that up and take photos of the one you are baking, then publish it somewhere online, it'll hit the www and you'll be an instant winner!

I'll say I knew you when.

You're going to have to tell us how this thing looks when it's done. Do you have to pull the birds out of each other? Or do you have to cut down to the next bird?

They are all deboned according to what I've read. You just slice right through them.

Ummmmmmmm . . . you have to understand, I don't eat meat.

Yes, I know you don't.
Oh, that's weird.... deboned birds stuffed inside one another. Exactly HOW do you suppose one goes about deboning a bird? Nah, nevermind, I don't even want to know. It might taste great but it's a little odd to me ... temporarily not a meat eater on that one.

Collapsed fowl comes to mind.

I would rather have beef....

I have a daughter coming in from Hawaii this week, for her brother's engagement party. She leaves the day before Thanksgiving to head back to her home. But because of the engagement party, I have 2 sisters, several nieces, and various partners making the 500 mile trek here for the weekend. It will be kinda like Thanksgiving, early - with no turkduckenogens (or whatever it is called!)

Now if my other son can manage the 700 mile trip home from college for the weekend, it will be perfect. ~Jan

Jan- I hope your other son is able to come in! Dave and I have had many times of celebrating a holiday not by the calendar date- doesn't make it any less of a holiday!

Hope he can get there Jan.

Me too Jan.