| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| CabinCreek-Kentucky |
Posted - Nov 11 2005 : 8:49:05 PM
NOVEMBER ... a month of Thanksgiving with family and friends .. enjoying the bounty of our harvest with loved ones.
Memories made ... Traditions kept.
And don’t forget those less fortunate than yourselves. Look around your community for someone who may not have family to spend this holiday event with and invite them to your home and make them feel the warmth that you are blessed with.
FUN THANKSGIVING DAY EVENTS:
Copy Thanksgiving pictures from a coloring book .. and put a big pile of crayons in the middle of a table and have everyone color, date and sign their picture. Make a ‘gallery’ of these photos for everyone to enjoy all during the day. Of course, each child will enjoy this .. and have the adults 're-visit' their own coloring-book childhood days by participating too!
After a sumptuous supper, have everyone bundle up in a sweater and boots or comfortable shoes and take a walk together .. collect autumn leaves (add these to the ‘gallery’ of colored pictures)
.. rake a big pile of leaves and play in them.
Have all the children (and adults too!) lie down on the soft autumn earth and cover them entirely (except for eyes, nose and mouth) .. Ask everyone to be silent and to just listen to the voice of nature .. have them quietly identify the sounds they hear … (birds chirping, leaves falling to the ground, a squirrel or rabbit skittering through the woods, any animals they may hear .. then tell them to look up into the trees for a ‘forest-creatures’ view of the world.
Build a small bon-fire and roast marshmallows or make ‘smores’.
SMORES: everyone search for a long stick to roast their marshmallows on. Have a plate full of graham crackers and chocolate bars. After the marshmallows are good and hot .. layer a graham cracker with the chocolate, the hot marshmallow and top it with another graham cracker and gently ‘squish it all together’ so the hot marshmallow melts the chocolate. Of course, have adults supervise this with small children so they do not burn themselves.
Serve a big jug of apple cider or hot chocolate to go with your s’mores … and perhaps someone in the group is musically talented and can strum the guitar while everyone sings old familiar ‘camp songs’.
Sit in a circle around the campfire and ask everyone “what are you thankful for”? And have them each tell of a former Thanksgiving memory.
And don’t forget to take photos of your Thanksgiving Day events … and maybe make a little album of this special day for each family.
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Browse your local antiques shoppes and thrift stores for items to decorate your November table or mantelpiece with. Platters and bowls in autumn shades … TURKEY platters and salt and pepper shakers .. Baskets and wooden bowls to heap autumn gourds in! A special ‘fall fragrance’ candle is a must! You might even want to find a special remembrance piece as a gift for the Grandparents or Special Friends that you invite to dinner. Let them know how thankful you are for them!
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And some yummy recipes .. let the kids help make these!
CARMEL APPLES
A special autumn treat for the kids (and that includes YOU!)
2 (14 oz) packages caramels
8 apples
finely chopped peanuts
¼ cup water
8 sticks mini chocolate chips
In a crockpot, combine caramels and water. Cover and cook on high for 1 to 1-1/2 hours, stirring frequently. Wash and dry apples. Insert stick into stem end of each apple. Turn control on low. Dip apple into hot caramel and turn to coat entire surface. Holding apple above pot, scrape off excess caramel from bottom of apple. Place on greased wax paper to cool. And if you like .. (before the caramel sets) .. dip in a plate of chopped peanuts! Now .. go sit on the porch and watch the leaves turn and enjoy these yummy treats with someone you love!
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WHY SAVE THE ORIGINAL FINISH ON ANTIQUE FURNITURE?
Antiques are a historic link to the past. They are a record of the actual workmanship that was put into a piece made in an earlier time. If an antique piece is changed in any way .. it is diminished .. no longer ‘original’. The historic value is destroyed.
Antiques can be ‘preserved’ to save the integrity. Every antique is unique unto itself, and shows signs of the maker. Tool marks, original paint and stain. If these original finishes are stripped, sanded, or repainted much of the history of the antique is FOREVER GONE and it’s “stories” along with it. Not to mention that the monetary value of an old, good piece is drastically reduced. Always use safe products to preserve it in its original condition.
Patina (wear and aging that comes with time) should be kept intact also. Pieces can be cleaned and preserved without destroying the history of aa treasured find.
The same is true for all kinds of antiques, whether they are made of wood or fabric, china, pottery, or metal.
Consider carefully any old piece that you are considering altering. If you cannot preserve a good piece yourself, look for a preservationist who can. The money spent to do so, will be a saving of both money and history!
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“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there”. (Rumi)
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MORE AUTUMN IDEAS
Collect colorful leaves. Press them between waxed paper. Use them as fun placemats.
Get a new fall doormat. Toss over the arm of your sofa or a rocking chair, a quilt in the shades of autumn leaves.
Make some hot cider with cinnamon sticks in the crock pot.
Carve a pumpkin, sprinkle cinnamon on the inside and light it! YUMM!
Fill a nice antique glass bowl with fall candy.
Gather together some children and make ‘paper chains’ with orange, brown, yellow, gold and red construction paper. Swag it across your fireplace mantle.
A cornucopia is an old fashioned basket filled with autumn’s bounty. You can also fill it with fresh fruit for an instant and healthful snack!
Collect acorns and nuts and put them in a wooden bowl.
Go on a walk and collect ‘autumn’s bounty .. and bring it home and make an autumn wreath.
Cook soup and a hearty bread a couple times a week during the fall season.
Buy MUMS .. nothing says autumn like MUMS!
A big bowls of apples and nuts makes a nice centerpiece.
Plant an apple tree.
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WHOLESOME SNACK!
½ cup of each of the following ingredients:
golden raisins, pitted dates, figs, almonds, cashews, walnuts, pecans, wheat germ, wheat bran, whole-wheat flour, powdered milk, honey … (only enough water to moisten).
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Combine the fruits and nuts in a mixing bowl. Mix the wheat germ, bran, flour and powdered milk together and add to the fruit and nut mixture a little at a time, alternating with the honey. Add just enough water to moisten and pour into a buttered pan. (You can use an 8x8 or 7x9, or two small loaf pans). Bake for 30 minutes. When cool, slice into bars or break apart and wrap. Enjoy this ‘good-for-you’ snack whenever you get the ‘munchies’.
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Finda wooden rolling pin or wood breadboard. Hang it on your kitchen wall .. and when your ‘gurlfrenz’ come to visit .. have them each sign it. You will eventually have a one-of-a-kind ‘historical’ treasure that will become more precious with each passing year!
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