Sunday, with dreams of Thanksgiving and Christmas baking

I am planning Thanksgiving! 

The picture above is what the meal I am ordering will have... 

 I need to finalize some things but here's the menu 

I am thinking of:

 Hors d'oeuvres/appetizers: 

Cheese and crackers? 

cranberry and Camembert fillo bites (Trader Joes)

Thanksgiving Dinner/Meal:

Turkey

cranberry stuffing

sausage stuffing

mashed potatoes

cranberry sauce

green beans 

gravy

yam dish with cranberries

rolls + butter

green salad + toppings 

applesauce 

apple tart 

cranberry pie

turtle bars

ice cream

hot apple cider

tea, coffee,

lemon water 

I am thinking, based on my pictures of last year, 

and that we are having at least 8 for dinner this year,

instead of 5, that I will have the the hot and cold drinks,

plus desserts + serving spatulas, 

(both the tall glass cake stand with cover and 

the low cake stand with matching server + 

a pretty plate for the turtle bars)

 dessert plates + silverware, teapots, coffee pot, 

and also the rolls/bread, hors d'oeuvres/appetizers on one table

and the meal itself on the island, with more candles used,

on both the island and food table. 

The only thing I will have to figure out is if I can have the 

hot apple cider and lemon water on the actual table, 

as this may be more convenient for the meal... 

or if it will need to be on the table with the other food... 

Here's some pictures from last year (via my blog)

I am thinking this year of using the same water goblets + wine goblets that I got this year

so that we can have a choice of colder / room temperature drinks,

 plus tea cups again for the hot apple cider.... 

 I am excited to have this meal and to make a really love

Thanksgiving Dinner party for everyone who comes! 

It was beautiful at our far-away church... 

Did you know that we always see NYC in the skyline as we drive back home?

Mr Husband spoiled me and we got the canned yams that I had been wanting before heading back home... I want to make the cranberry and sweet potato dish again for Thanksgiving and 

did not yet have the yams for it! 

We have the chicken parm again for dinner... I could of made more

spaghetti... it's hard to get it just right so that one does not have leftovers! 

Tonight I prepared the turtle bars for the freezer,

wax paper first and then foil and then put into freezer bags.

I hope to make a second batch on Tuesday.

I actually would like to get a lot of baking done this week...

we will see what happens... it would be nice to have more time so that I can 

work on gifts of tea blends... I also hope to have vanilla this year...

it's a wonderful time of year and I am so excited for it all!