Play Time

Well for the last few weeks i have been stopping by the Play Date Cafe and admiring their weekly challenge but what with one thing or another i haven't had a moment to take part. Today i got a bonus day off and as is me i was actually like 'oh what to do', not for a lack of things just making a decision. Anyway i had a look through one or two draws and thought, oh yes the Thanksgiving print outs from last year, look at the colours they pretty much fit the theme so i went with it. Three not my monthly five but three is better than none although i may need to make more but I'm happy i got to play, got to take part and got to use something that may well have stayed in my draw. Please stop by the Play Date Cafe and see the other creations inspired by their colour theme :)

Excerpts of 'Thanksgiving' UK

So with thanks to my lovely friends across the pond my friend Jo and i adopted Thanksgiving this year and celebrated in our own creative ways. I made a Thanksgiving cone which I'm not mad about but have had a few compliments about and incorporated some glittered cones that i did last year. I brought out my ikea wire tree and having printed of some lovely Thanksgiving freebies gave my hubby, mum, dad and son a tag with their name on and everyone wrote a little word of thanksgiving on it and attached it to my tree so thanks to them for joining with me in giving thanks. We enjoyed a lovely roast dinner which mum helped with, homemade bread sauce and some lovely chocolate sauce which we had with cream and waffles for pudding. My biggest dilemma this meal was making sure that nothing came near the meat for my dad, bless him. It was a juggling act, more so than normal when my roasties normally go in with the meat, our cooker is small enough as it is. Still i thoroughly enjoyed it and then we headed into town to see the Christmas lights go on the best of which was the fireworks. Full of greatness :)

Happy Thanksgiving

'Thanksgiving is the 4th Thursday in November, and is meant to commemorate that time, at the founding of the country, when the pilgrims celebrated their first harvest in the New World.

Nowadays, with families spread across the country and beyond, it's come to be THE traditional time to get far-flung families together for a family get-together and a Thanksgiving meal. It's interesting that it's one of the few American holidays that AREN'T associated with consumerism and presents.... it's about people and food. :-)We'll be travelling to my parents' house on Cape Cod this Thanksgiving, as usual. As many family members as possible will congregate there. Kids come home from college ... it's one of the biggest travel times of the year here.

We'll watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on TV from NYC in the morning, while a giant turkey is cooking in the oven. If there are high-school-aged children in the family, there's usually a high school (American) football game in the morning pitting two local rivalries together. The meal always includes a roast turkey, with all the trimmings, which vary regionally. We usually have turkey, bread stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce, green beans, and sweet potatoes of some sort. Dessert is traditionally pies: pumpkin pie ALWAYS, sometimes also pecan pie, apple pie, mincemeat pie, etc.

Everyone eats too much and then falls asleep in front of the TV watching American football games.

In the evening, we bring out the leftovers ... hot turkey sandwiches, pie, etc. People eat leftovers for the rest of the weekend. :-)

Holiday decor is centered around harvest themes in autumnal colors ... autumn leaves, pumpkins, gourds, corn stalks, raffia. Here in New England, the trees are putting on quite a show to compete. :-)

Then, of course, it wouldn't be America if shopping didn't enter into it somehow. The Friday after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday, the traditional start of the Christmas shopping season for those so inclined. The malls and stores hold HUGE sales and are packed full of bargain hunters.

I, personally, avoid Black Friday shopping like the plague, and just enjoy a long weekend with family.'

This was written by a friend of mine who lives in Massachusetts. I met her on the net and she kindly agreed to let us in on what Thanksgiving means to her and her family. Like alot of holiday traditions for the most part we do what we do cause that's 'what's done' i think its good to know why occasionally. Thanks to Kelly for taking the time out of her busy schedule to share with us her forthcoming celebrations. Happy Thanksgiving :-)

Thanks also to my Mum, she designed the Thanksgiving picture especially to accompany this piece :-)