Holiday dinners at Mama's

Turkey and stuffing, ham,* her fabulous potatoes au gratin, some kind of vegetable, salad--usually with fruit (she loved fresh pineapple)-- and at Christmas time a steamed pudding--carrot usually and sometimes  persimmon--cooked in a Crisco can and served with her special sauce. Not a hard sauce, but a sweet, spicy sauce.

Now that I don't cook big dinners, and am pretty much relieved by that fact, I marvel that at age 80 she was still doing it.

A remarkable woman. Not just because she's my mother, but because she was remarkable. I always said she wore herself out for other people, mostly us and our dad, her beloved Wilford.

 *Mama made her own ham glaze from mustard and brown sugar and spread it all over the ham before baking. Just plain good.