Fun story. Wife and i have been together for 10 years, the first one not married. The first turkey day at the folks i did what my family and my ex family always did. Eat big, nap watching the game. Turns out that was a first. My three brother in laws never ever did that and everyone was shocked that I did. One just does not nap you are supposed to sit and talk politely with daddy. Well when i woke up daddy was sleeping as well. I broke a barrier and he and I napped every year until he passed. The bils think I'm a rockstar. At 51, I'm they youngest.
So this year I'm bringing 'yankee' dressing as my wife calls it. In my upbringing in the PNW we saved bread scraps all year of all kinds then made dressing. This family uses cornbread and while I like it just doesn't feel the same. I've never made my family recipe myself. In recent weeks I have made two practice runs and both were a hit with my testers. Even the wife, grudgingly, admitted she liked it. It has pumpernickel, ciabatta, french, rye, etc. Thyme, sage, oregano, celery, onion and pears. I make and can my own chicken stock as well.
I also got some small metal buckets from wally world and for the sisters and mama am making up a bucket with our picked okra, butt rub, my canned green beans, my jerky and fresh cut sprigs of rosemary from the corner of the yard. I'm gonna win thanksgiving this year.
Last bit of fun, about 8 miles from mammas house is a realllllllly small town called Cowan. There is a for sale, fully equipped restaurant including a brick pizza oven, with 2000 sq ft living space upstairs. Gonna get a showing at 4pm. I think we've lost our mind but could be fun.