Have you cleaned the silver yet? I realize it's slightly more than a month until Thanksgiving, but lifestyle maven Martha Stewart says it's a good task to get behind you right now.

Behind me, that's a phrase I could associate with polishing silver.

At my house this Turkey Day, they'll be lucky to get stainless - I've still got a huge box of heavy duty plastic utensils left over from my son's wedding rehearsal dinner.

Just to make sure you know what's proper, Martha says to keep your silver in a "regular rotation," that frequent use and washing by hand maintain the shine. Isn't that the truth!

I figured out the absolutely best way to keep mine happy and shining: I gave it to Will's bride, and her mother polished every single piece within minutes for their taking custody.

What a deal.

Of course, with only about 30 days to go until Thanksgiving, my blessed mother has begun to channel through me that I must get the menu and seating arrangements in order.

As I've mentioned through the years, my house is the welcome repository for 12-15 of my dearest relatives that happy holiday.

Everybody really needs to like everybody else that day because it gets pretty darn crowded downstairs.

Last weekend, upon receipt of Martha's Thanksgiving edition magazine, I began to consider what we'll eat this year.

Brined turkey is mandatory, along with sweet potato casserole, dressing and gravy, and cranberry salad.

From there, I have some leeway with other side dishes and desserts.

My fall garden is coming along, so depending upon whether it all dies or is frozen between now and then, we could enjoy its broccoli, cauliflower, turnip greens or Brussels sprouts.

I cautiously added that last item because, frankly, I have hated Brussels sprouts forever. But one of those TV cooks convinced me that if I cut them in half and grill/roast them, the taste changes dramatically. Well, maybe. We'll see.

I can especially see the remainder of my family turning their noses skyward at the very sight of them.

I'm also thinking about making bread pudding to go with my customary Key lime pie, an homage to my mother, who wished to live the Caribbean life or at least run off with Willie Nelson. Of course, those options are only similar in the compass direction.

My mother loved Thanksgiving, and since her legendary death on Halloween 1999, it's fallen my responsibility to host and cook the feast.

With my mother, she probably would have the table set by now. I am not there yet.

And, to Martha's joy, my mother most certainly would have had the silver polished and ready to shine so beautifully.

It's all waiting for daughter Margaret to take it home to Texas, should she ever decide to go beyond the family plastics.

Patsy R. Brumfield writes a Thursday column. Contact her at patsy.brumfield@journalinc.com.