When we invited 30-40 people for the annual open-fire Thanksgiving, we started watching the weather forecast about two weeks out. For the first few days the icon on the weather app danced between partly sunny and cloudy. Closer in, the rain and snow symbols appeared. By the Sunday before, the forecast models agreed that New England would get a major winter storm on Wednesday, the heaviest travel day of the year.
The first six inches were wet, stuck to everything, creating great beauty, but a nightmare for the power company.
Loss of power at dinnertime came as no surprise.
The next morning ...
A Vermont winter wonderland. A solid foot of snow. And the work began.
Allan laid the fire ...
... while Bob shoveled.
Two-year old Toby was ecstatic.
Two twelve-pound brined turkeys were prepared for the flame. Laurie supervised as Sally carefully inserted the spit. She then readied the other by slathering butter, honey and a spicy barbecue rub, and finally covering with bacon.
This turkey will roast on the gas grill for four hours, while the other ...
... and placed by the coals. By now the audience had started to arrive.
Poppet
Annie, sans Dave, also unable to make the trip, back home in Olympia, WA with the flu.
Peter slalomed his way in ...
Catherine shamelessly dove into Jim's famous lobster dip $$$. OMG!
Pretty soon, everyone was laying out their offerings. John brought super duper special extra sharp New York (enough adjectives there?) cheddar cheese.
Laurie started in on the winter vegetable medley while Catherine emailed Nate in Utah to say that he was missing the lobster dip.
Rebecca transformed Brussels Sprouts.
As if the lobster dip wasn't enough, Jim sautéd the extra morsels in butter and sherry. Sheesh!
... while working her rendition of pecan pie.
Never far from the food ...
Getting acquainted ...
Chip
Stormy
Toby
Madison
And shy Sophie in the upper left. That's Toby getting liberated from the collection of snowballs.
Dogs are never far from their owners.
The all important rice is added
While the firemeister scrutinizes.
Albie takes mental notes. Anyone see George Clooney?
The coals have cooled at bit allowing Frances to add the liquid more fashionably dressed.
Paella pan stuffing is ready.
Frances prepared salmon for the fire ...
Time out for Dogs
Back to the Cooking
With less than an hour before the turkeys are done, Stormy supervises Allan, keeping a constant vigil to ensure the coals are plentiful and perfect. This is serious stuff, man.
Frances begins the paella pan stuffing with the sautéing of the sausage.
The crowd starts to gather as Stormy takes his eye off the prize...
... as does Chip.
Slowly, the carefully pre-measured ingredients are added.
The only problem with the hot coals is that heat is too hot for Frances. But typical Yankee ingenuity comes to the rescue... to everyone's delight.
Well, they could've gone a little longer, but no one noticed.
Carving underway. Oh boy.
Kale salad. Really!
Dinner is served.
The girls enjoyed their private dining room.
Sorry we missed the dessert pictures. Here are the remains of the day.
Thanks everyone! It was a collective effort to make it such a memorable day.
