No traction LOL. I am fortunate in that exercises for sciatica or piriformis syndrome work pretty well for me. You have to get on the floor to do most of them, but I am still limber enough to get up & down even with my surgical knee (cannot kneel on it). Knock on wood, both of my knees have been holding up well.
It’s 4:30 AM & obviously I am not sleeping but in the meanwhile, I have figured out how to manage Thanksgiving so all I have to do is get the turkey in the oven by 7 AM & heat up everything else. I will do some prep work Tuesday & have everything put together Wednesday. The kitchen will stay clean on Thursday, too. :-)
I have found that Styrofoam ‘coolers’ or even a regular cooler, is great for keeping dishes warm for 2-4 hours. Mom has ordered from Omaha Steaks & I have their coolers large enough for 9x13 pans & 8/9x11. I cut cardboard to fit just over the Pyrex baking dishes so I can stack them which also retains heat. When we got newspapers, I used several layers in the cooler bottom so the hot dishes don’t melt anything, but with no papers, I cut cardboard.
I use the coolers all the time - transport hot food to church potlucks & to relatives houses for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners. Since we moved here, we have had 60 guests (mom counted!) & I have made meals for all but 2 so I have figured out how to prepare food ahead of time & keep it warm ... coolers for casserole dishes & crockpots for things like Chef John Green beans, cinnamon apples, Bavarian sauerkraut, etc. When we have overnight guests, I make breakfast casseroles the night before & just pop them in the oven in the morning.
For breakfast casseroles, there are good ones (& other recipes) here at this site for bed & breakfast inns:
https://www.bbonline.com/recipes
Farmers’ Almanac say it will cease publication after 208 years
A 208-year-old publication that farmers, gardeners and others keen to predict the weather have relied on for guidance will be publishing for the final time.
Farmers’ Almanac said Thursday that its 2026 edition will be its last, citing the growing financial challenges of producing and distributing the book in today’s “chaotic media environment.” Access to the online version will cease next month.
The Maine-based publication, not to be confused with the even older Old Farmer’s Almanac in neighboring New Hampshire, was first printed in 1818. For centuries it’s used a secret formula based on sunspots, planetary positions and lunar cycles to generate long-range weather forecasts.
The almanac also contains gardening tips, trivia, jokes and natural remedies, like catnip as a pain reliever or elderberry syrup as an immune booster. But its weather forecasts make the most headlines.
“It is with a heavy heart that we share the end of what has not only been an annual tradition in millions of homes and hearths for hundreds of years, but also a way of life, an inspiration for many who realize the wisdom of generations past is the key to the generations of the future,” Editor Sandi Duncan said in a statement.
In 2017, when Farmers’ Almanac reported a circulation of 2.1 million in North America, its editor said it was gaining new readers among people interested in where their food came from and who were growing fresh produce in home gardens.
Many of these readers lived in cities, prompting the publication to feature skyscrapers as well as an old farmhouse on its cover.
Good advice on the coolers! Smart!
My meal won’t be as extravagant, but one thing we do in our family is roast a few turkey breasts, slice, and then they go into the crock pot with stock to stay moist. Works like a charm. No big mess and no carving mess at the table, either. I’m thinking of doing a few drumsticks too, if I can find them. Beau likes to chomp on one and so does my Mom, LOL! I plan on having all the sides ready to go, too. Heat & Eat!
I LOVE recipes from Bed & Breakfast hotels. I have a crust-less quiche that I make quite often that I found in a recipe booklet compilation of B & B’s. Can’t wait to check out that link!
I haven’t stayed in a B & B in ages, but have some fond memories of staying in some very beautiful homes through the years.
Your cooler idea is really great! I’ll have to incorporate that trick into my life.