I cooked cranberries yesterday and simmered a big pot of vegetable stock, so that's two holiday tasks crossed off the list. While the turkey roasts, I'll make giblet broth for gravy, but the vegetable stock will go into the stuffing and the collards, and now I have plenty in store. Our dinner will be fairly traditional, as Paul likes it. The one big experiment is a cranberry mousse pie rather than traditional apple or pumpkin. If the oven really does get repaired on Tuesday, I'll bake plain white bread for stuffing and gingersnaps for the cookie crust. If not, store-bought will have to do. It's always my goal to use as few store-bought items as possible, but I'm not doctrinaire and can roll with whatever, as long as it doesn't involve cranberry sauce from a can or marshmallow-topped sweet potatoes, both of which make me shudder.

Despite our household woes, I'm enjoying myself. I do like a feast.

Today I'll work at my desk, do some housework, talk to Teresa about Zbigniew Herbert, go for a walk, maybe go to the grocery store. Tomorrow will feature the big guests-are-coming cleaning event, plus a repair guy cameo. Wednesday ought to be baking all day.

What could go wrong?