Killing it on a late Thanksgiving

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Gonna keep things quick and simple today.  We had Thanksgiving this past weekend and a week late because of Kiddo and her Flu on Thanksgiving itself.  The day after that, J and Kiddo went to Jing’an Temple.  Not only that, they got bagels.  Also, they found some turtles and Kiddo was happy as a clam in sand for that.



The meal was good.  I corrected the mistakes made a few weeks ago in my practice run and the chicken was moist and delicious.  Skin was crisp and delicious.  Gravy was spot on.  Stuffing, which Kiddo helped prep, was beyond.  Mashed potatoes aren’t hard, as long as you use about 7 tonnes of butter and cream.  HAHA

The on thing I will say and not just let the pics and videos say for me today is that I am SUPER proud of Kiddo.  Firstly, for helping prep.  Yes, she still needs some help with her knife work and cutting techniques, but she’s just starting and so slow and overly cautious that it’s more of a detriment to try to correct her right now.  Secondly, she’s helping more and I can focus more on helping her each day to keep the knife more even and to curl her fingers when cutting.  Third, I’m going to give the knives a pass on the whet stones soon, so the smaller knives can be honed sharp and make those accessible to her, since a blunt knife is as dangerous as a sharp knife.






Also, before I go, I need to mention the day itself.  It was lovely weather.  Kiddo and I walked over to the produce market for things to put in the stuffing.  She helped pick it all out and really is getting a good eye for produce and fruits.  However, while we approached it, there was a guy on the street with a cage filled with ducks and chickens. 


Well, these are for sale and as we approached, Kiddo saw one being defeathered.  It hit her, then, that these weren’t pets and someone was selling for others to take home to love, but to eat.  We went a half block down and had a little cry.  After produce purchasing we were leaving and Kiddo wanted to say bye to the chickens and duck and as she was, someone approached and asked about pricing and picked a chicken.  I urged Kiddo to go.  She wanted to stay.  “I want to see how he does it” and “I want to know if the chicken is in a lot of pain.”  She watched.  Fascinated by the process and speed in which the man was able to kill the chicken.  She wasn’t traumatized by it and (as the pics below prove) had no problem eating our chicken than night, while telling J about how she saw a chicken die and how it’s “actually very quick, but the man put it in the bucket and it still flopped around, but all we could see was a bucket swinging which is crazy to see, but I went on my iPad and chickens can still move for like… 2 to 3 minutes after dying because it’s like a reflex in their nerves.”  I’m very proud of her for feeling her feelings, but also, then, for facing the reality of the situation and wanting to see the process.  All while still being able to eat chicken that night.  


Anyways, Thanksgiving was great, we are well, Xmas approaches, and it’s time for Holiday cheer.  Cheers to all and Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Festivous, or whatever you celebrate.  Hope your ramp to 2026 is smooth and that the new year treats you well.


Let’s go, Kiddo… It’s almost time for Christmas, almost time for the New Years, and then after that it’s almost time to travel for our CNY celebrations and get back to warm weather.  It’s been another amazing year of learning and adventures with you and I am so proud of you and what you do every day.    

































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