At our Thanksgiving table it was the opinion of those who regularly eat Brussels sprouts that they used to be even more bitter than they are now, since a hybrid or some specific variety has been cultivated more widely. Difficult to imagine people eating them at all under those circumstances.

The table is compressed to the smaller size and turned to make room for the dog beds that were moved out of the way for our dinner. It's always a one-two punch cleaning and furniture-wise at the holidays. I need to get out some of the decor and clear the mantle because that tends to be what I decorate. (Last week I put strings of lights in the juniper and I got a new string of large LED bulbs that is now hung along the soffit trim of the front porch.) It's just me here, why make a huge fuss? But when family do eventually arrive for our xmas meal and gift giving, it's nice to look like I put in some effort, and if I have to put in the effort it might as well be up for a while. I haven't had a tree in ages (my daughter spoke of picking one up this weekend - maybe I can send her a lot of the ornaments I'm not using.)