That sounds like a really nice day, Allison.

I'm going over to my sister-in-law's house this afternoon. I'm bringing a medley
of roasted veggies (brussels sprouts, butternut squash, cauliflower, fennel) and green beans. A few of us have "special needs," and this lovely family accommodates
all. My mother in law is bringing two bowls of squash-one unsweetened. They make
gluten free gravy for my husband. Sometimes a vegetarian is there, though not today,
so there's always a vegetarian option. For my brown I'll have sweet potatoes which
will also be unsweetened.

This morning my husband and I are going for a mountain bike ride in the woods.
For him, it's a way of being on a mountain bike; for me, it's a way of being in the
woods.

I'll second that it gets easier and easier the longer I've been on step 7. It seems like wherever I go, I can always find something yummy to eat and can do it smoothly, keeping the focus on the enjoyment of good company.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

: *taking an overnight trip and finding
: a pet sitter who actually has
: experience with parrots
: *getting to take a dip in the hot
: springs
: *seeing a wonderful exhibit of bird
: photographs, and finding a pair of
: Great Horned Owls roosting in the
: rafters outside the museum where
: the exhibit is

: Although my husband does have some
: family here, we often find
: ourselves spending Thanksgiving
: alone. When that happens, we spend
: the day at a wildlife refuge and
: then cook a simple dinner,
: followed by sweet potato pie with
: whipped cream. I am on step 7 so
: the one I make has no sugar added.

: This year we were invited to join our
: neighbors, who are good friends.
: We are supposed to go over at 3,
: so we can still go to the wildlife
: refuge if we get an early start.
: So we will get our breakfast all
: sorted tonight and ready to go.
: (Mine is all set anyway.) we'll
: take some food with us for lunch.
: Right now I am baking the sweet
: potatoes for my pie, which I will
: make tonight because we are doing
: errands today.

: I've eaten with these neighbors
: before so I know there will be
: program-friendly food. We are
: taking cheese and crackers and
: smoked salmon. I will bring my pie
: and people can try it if they
: want, and I will have a dessert.
: Usually I don't bother with
: dessert, but my husband and I
: enjoy this pie for Thanksgiving,
: and I will make it again for
: Christmas. Not only is it
: delicious, but technically it
: could count as a brown, because
: it's basically sweet potato,
: butter, eggs and evaporated milk
: with some spices.

: Depending on what time we actually
: eat our meal, I may need to eat
: something again before the evening
: is over. I will play that by ear.

: Do you all have a plan for how you
: will do the step you are working
: on? Remember, you don't need to
: worry about the rest of it, just
: take care of the step you are on.
: The longer you do the steps, the
: easier it gets to handle holidays,
: and relatives get less and less
: annoying, LOL.
: Allison