What do YOU call it - dressing or stuffing?

This is the great Thanksgiving debate of '08. I suppose if you actually stuff your turkey, it is stuffing. If it is served strictly as a side dish, it is dressing, but its all the same thing...right? Either way you stuff it or don't stuff it, Sabian doesn't like it, but he did try mine today. Far from family, for the first time we celebrated Thanksgiving just the two of us. A little earlier in the week (well, maybe just yesterday) I pulled myself together and finally figured out that we could make it a good day.

We hit the beach first thing, checking out the shells and numbing our toes in the cold, cold waves.


Then it was back home to prepare our meal...and prepare we did.


















I have to admit, I'm a little proud of ourselves. Granted, we were only cooking for two people, but I think we did a pretty good job. A turkey with just enough for lunch and a couple of rounds of leftovers, which is very important, mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, and pumpkin pie. Picture some crescent rolls in the blue and yellow dish on the end (they weren't done yet) and we were set. We threw open the windows, said our thanks, and dove in. Of course, it is always over quicker than the time it took to prepare, but it was well worth it. After cleaning up we took a short walk to a neighbor's house for a visit and some pecan pie and then came home to crash on the couch before catching Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving special. All in all, it has been a good day and what makes it even better is that the doors are now thrown open for Christmas preparation and celebration. It really is amazing how quickly the time goes, and it is amazing that saying that makes me sound very old. Sigh.

Adding a little humor to the day, as we left for the sandy shore this morning, we saw this:

Recognize anything? While it is a different boot than the first that we found in our yard, I personally look at it as a holiday token given to us as only our gray friend from across the street can give. In return, I hope he enjoys the turkey bones we have left for him under the trees.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!