How a Southern Belle Does New Year's Day

I'm getting a little despondent because New Year's Day is approaching and that means getting ready to go back to work bright and early on the Monday morning after. I guess I should be thankful (actually I AM thankful) that I have a job but you know how it goes...nobody really looks forward to going back after a nice long relaxing holiday.

We don't do a lot on New Year's Eve. We've had a couple of invitations and will drop by to see a few friends but won't likely stay out until midnight. Legare is heading back to Chapel Hill to be with his pals and there's no telling what Lorelai will be doing. We haven't been able to keep up with her this holiday...since recovering from her wisdom teeth procedure she has been going going going like that little Energizer Bunny.

New Year's Day is another story. First of all, GO TIGERS BEAT THE STUFFING OUT OF NEBRASKA IN THE GATOR BOWL. We aren't traveling down to Jacksonville but have planned our day around the 1:00 PM game. Hank always has to work a few hours on the first day of the month for some odd reason that nobody but him and his staff understands....something to do with billing of the big industrial customers. He'll get home by noon and we'll have some game day tailgate food on hand and are hoping that our friend Ed will be joining us. After the BIG WIN, we'll sit down around 4:00 for a New Year's Day feast...

Pork Chops in Mushroom Gravy

Dressing

Hoppin John

Collard Greens

Broccoli Salad

Sweet Tea or Wine

Generally, we would have macaroni pie instead of dressing but since Legare won't be here we're going with the cornbread dressing...in consulting with Ed, I discovered that not a single one of us had any good dressing for Christmas so we're due!

If you aren't familiar with Hoppin John, it's a field pea and rice dish that, in combination with collard greens is supposed to bring good health, good luck, and wealth in the new year. We eat it every year and while I don't have any proof that we've had extra good fortune and we certainly don't have wealth, things could always be worse so we keep eating it just in case. Some folks find Hoppin John to be a bit disgusting but all I can say is that they haven't eaten MINE...I mix my peas with red onion, bacon, and a balsamic vinegar reduction before combining them with the rice. Likewise, my collards will melt in your mouth...don't knock 'em until you try 'em.

I interrupt this post to have a heart attack...Legare is upstairs in his room and just started hollering and jumping up and down and hollering some more. Lorelai is (was) still asleep and we both jumped up and went running...I thought he'd hurt himself or there was a wild animal in the house. It seems that his Civil Procedures exam grade was posted this morning and he made an "A".... I think we might have to give him a flying pill to calm him down.

Anyway...back to New Year's Day...that's our plan. I surely do hope that each and every one of my blogging friends and their families have a safe and happy celebration. Look for a Life of a Southern Belle Award on New Years Day. I'll also be catching up on some tags and awards that have been passed along to me the past several weeks just as soon as everything calms down.

You're all the GREATEST!