Today we think about all the things we are thankful for. Chicken Wrangler Sara and I are so grateful for our readers.
As you gather with your family and friends today, we offer this Irish blessing for you and yours.
Thanksgiving arrives on Thursday making this week filled with family reunions, food, fun, travel, football games, Black Friday, and being thankful.
Not necessarily in that order.
The way we celebrate things today is quite different from how Pilgrims celebrated Thanksgiving feasts.
Historically, Pilgrims in The Commonwealth of Virginia held Thanksgiving services beginning in 1607. Days of prayer, not days of feasting, but services deeply grounded in religious beliefs and gratitude to their Heavenly Father.
Our national holiday stems from the feast held in the autumn of 1621 by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians to celebrate the colony’s first successful harvest. The colonist didn’t call it Thanksgiving, though.
Thanksgiving to them was a religious holiday in which they would go to church and thank God for a specific event. The activities that autumn of 1621 – dancing, singing secular songs, playing games – wouldn’t have been allowed. Not religious. The feast was a secular celebration, so it never would have been considered a thanksgiving in the pilgrims’ minds.
Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation for a national day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.” established what we do today.
Interesting that the basis for our celebration remained the same as the early colonist feasts – thankfulness.
As you go about the preparations this week, spend some time thinking about the origins of the holiday and all the reasons you have to be thankful.
GRATEFUL and THANKFUL are adjectives describing deep appreciation. Exhibiting both adjectives causes GRATITUDE.
In this month of emphasis on being thankful, I’m an author who is grateful to and thankful for readers who read my books.
Use the comments below and/or on Twitter with these hashtags #grateful #gratitude to share what you’re thankful for today.
Blogging about thankfulness and gratitude in November is cliché, but there’s no better time than the month when our whole nation pauses and gives thanks to focus our thoughts on thankfulness.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said that in order to achieve contentment, we should “cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously.”
As we celebrate the coming holiday in America, most of us will have a thankful attitude on Thanksgiving Day. Too often, though, our attention wanes for the rest of the year. We should seek out things daily to be thankful for, i.e. give thanks continuously as Emerson suggests.
Here are two ways to focus an attitude of thankfulness beyond one Thursday in November.
Surprised? In our plugged-in culture, it’s impossible to avoid social media no matter how hard you try so why not use your posts, pictures, videos, and tweets to cultivate thankfulness on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Heaven knows we get enough of wars, earthquakes, floods, fires, sick children, murdered spouses and, lately, politics.
It seems the more suffering and mayhem, the more mass media coverage. Yet research shows the opposite: good news spreads faster and farther than disasters and sob stories.
By sharing positive, uplifting posts, memes, and videos, you encourage attitudes of thankfulness in yourself and others.
According to Henri Frederic Amiel, gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Writing down what you’re thankful for everyday reinforces positive thoughts and grateful feelings.
We’ll explore gratitude lists more next week. For now, can you think of ways you can foster thankfulness?
If you live in the United States, you’ll be celebrating Thanksgiving Day soon.
We Americans began celebrating the day during the Civil War when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”
Since 1924, many of us spend the day watching New York City’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade or football. The National Football League has been broadcasting games since its inception in 1920. And, of course, there are always the collegiate teams to cheer for. Around our house, timing of our Thanksgiving Day meal is based on when the University of Texas Longhorns play.
Things today are different from that first Pilgrim Thanksgiving feast in the early autumn of 1621. What hasn’t change is the basis for Thanksgiving. We still pause on this day to give thanks for our blessings.
While I believe an attitude of gratitude should be an everyday occurrence, this Thanksgiving I am reminded of my many blessings:
A loving husband (who’s the hero model for my novels)
Family and friends (far and near)
My pets (who brighten every day)
Most especially you, my readers
If you are traveling this Thanksgiving Day, I wish you Godspeed. Our weather forecast for here in the mountains of Colorado is for snow on Thanksgiving Day, which will make a perfect day for those who ski or like to watch football games.
Me, I’m not that crazy about football or skiing. I’ll be cozied next to the fireplace reading.
If you have a Kindle, you can be reading too. Pick up a copy of my latest release. It’s my special Thanksgiving Thank you for you.
When Love Returns for KINDLE: http://amzn.to/1My5CeW 
We recently attended a family wedding three states away in Wisconsin. We discussed whether to fly or drive.
Not for long though. You see our bucket lists contain a visit to all fifty states. Driving would help tick off two states … if we took a northern route back home to Colorado.
Family and friends cautioned about the possibility of adverse weather if we traveled by car in Minnesota, North Dakota, and Montana. We listened and then decided to take our chances.
With our two four-legged children loaded in the car, we headed north.
(Note: Their advice would have been so correct if we had made the trip last week during the deep freeze and snow of the early winter storm in those states. We didn’t. We were nestled all snug in our cabin in Colorado watching Casper, Wyoming with temperatures of -35 degrees on the evening news.)
As it worked out, we were so glad we drove.
Little Bighorn National Cemetery
Teddy Roosevelt National Park
The beauty of the landscape was breathtaking.
The people we met friendly and interesting.
Lunch in Portage, WI Pub
The wedding inspiring.
Congratulations, Abram & Becca
This Thursday many of us will be gathering to eat turkey and all the trimmings with family and friends.
In 1621, the Plymouth the Pilgrims and Indians celebrated survival and the hopes of future good fortune on the first Thanksgiving.
Our trip of over 3,500 miles reminded me of the awesome things we have to celebrate this Thanksgiving Day.
Majestic mountains
Fields ripe with grain to harvest
Moonlight on lakes
Water rushing in streams and cascading down waterfalls
And, most of all the fellowship of family and friends
It’s three days until Turkey Day.
Time for family reunions, food, fun,
travel, football games, Black Friday
and being thankful.
Not necessarily in that order.
Family reunions may be iffy this year with a major storm wreaking havoc over the entire U.S.
Off-topic here, but I found this interesting blog about a similar weather pattern fifty years ago. Read November 1963 vs November 2013. Is Weather History Repeating Itself? for the full comparison of weather history.
Even Black Friday shopping will be difficult. I do worry about all those people camped outside stores to be first in line for the extra savings items. It’s got to be cold and wet in their tents. Are the savings really worth all the effort and discomfort?
This year things are different than they were for that first Pilgrim Thanksgiving feast. What hasn’t changed is the basis for Thanksgiving.
The celebration became an annual tradition with Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 proclamation of a national day of “Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”
As early as 1607, the inhabitants of the Commonwealth of Virginia held Thanksgiving services. Celebrations rooted in their religious beliefs and to show gratitude to their Heavenly Father.
Pilgrims were Puritan Separatists. Their journey to America began with a desire to escape religious persecution under Elizabeth I and the Church of England or Anglican Church.
Personally, I believe being thankful shouldn’t be limited to one holiday. An attitude of gratitude should be an everyday occurrence. Check my blog.
Because it is the season, I want to acknowledge my Thanksgiving treasures today:
my loving husband (who’s the hero model for my novels)
my family and friends (far and near)
my pets (who brighten every day)
my church (which is my anchor)
and
most especially you, my readers.
As you go about the preparations for your celebration, spend some time thinking about the origins of the holiday and say a special thank you for your Thanksgiving treasures.
And, if you are traveling, Godspeed.
Another November has rolled around, which means…
Daylight saving time started unless you live in Arizona, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Did you remember to set your clocks back?
We did. Unfortunately, my internal clock didn’t get the message. I’m up at 4 a.m. because my body knows it’s really 5 a.m.
November is also National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Currently 258,733 novelist have officially signed on to complete a first draft novel with the goal of 50,000 words by the end of the month.
Not to be outdone, NON-fiction writers have their own challenge, Write Nonfiction in November (WNFIN), also known as National Nonfiction Writing Month (NaNonFiWriMo)
Other writers become caught up in the spirit of the writing challenge and commit to penning 50,000 words this month through their writing groups.
Flipping the calendar to November is the signal that the holidays are fast approaching. One look at a Christmas Countdown clock and my pulse accelerates in anticipation and dread.
Fifty days until Christmas? Yikes. I’m so far behind.
If you celebrate Hanukah, your clicking counter is less. Hanukah is much closer than you think. For the first time since 1888, Thanksgiving and Hanukah converge. You’re looking at less than twenty-four days to be ready! Click here for an accurate count.
Holidays can disrupt your regular writing schedule and stifle your muse. Participating in the NaNoWriMo challenge may be all you need to motivate yourself.
On the other hand, even if you’ve joined NaNoWriMo and set a goal, you may need to give yourself a nudge to get into writing on some days.
With so many holiday preparations pulling for my time and energy, I find when I do notch out writing time I need to psych my muse into cooperating.
Four methods work to put my brain in writing mode.
1. Establish a ritual – a trigger to use right before you begin a writing session. Something that will coax your brain into the writing routine and you won’t have to make a decision on whether or not to write. You just will.
A trigger might be moving into a special area to write or sipping a cup of tea.
I brew a cup of Irish breakfast tea or grab a water bottle and go into my office.
Naturally, Toby follows and positions his very large body in the kneehole of my desk. That’s a trigger for me, but not one you can share.
Sorry.
2. Begin a writing session by quieting your mind.
Tis the season to clutter our minds with lists and busyness. Pause. Do some journaling or read a devotional to clear your mind before you start writing.
3. Engage in physical activity.
I’m not suggesting a full workout at the gym here. Only a few minutes of sun salutation and deep breathing yoga exercises or ten minutes of calisthenics to jumpstart the endorphins that lead to creativity.
A walk can work as well. That’s what I do. Toby and Buster love when I hook up those leases and walk to work through plot issues or jog my creativity.
4. Involve your senses.
Play soft music or light a scented candle, even a dish of scented soap on your desk can be a trigger for the muse.
YOUR TURN: Do you have a trigger that puts you in writing mode?
Before the school year started, I alphabetized my books in my classroom to make it easier to find what I wanted for each class.
Imagine my consternation when I went to pull “Six Little Ducks” and it was not nestled right next to “Silent Night” in the “s” section. I thought perhaps I had loaned it out and would need to track it down.
I chose another duck book, “Little White Duck,” and went on with my teaching.
Well yesterday, I wanted to read “Ten Little Indians.” It was time to start my Thanksgiving songs. It was also missing!
My first thought was “Now I’ve lost six little ducks and ten little Indians and the craziness of the holiday season has not even began. Not a good sign!”
I had to walk away from the bookshelf to collect myself.
Upon returning and carefully searching through the entire alphabet of books, I discovered that “Ten Little Indians” was actually titled “One Little Indian.”
Silly me.
Very relieved, I looked once again for “Six Little Ducks.”
I discovered the title of that book is actually “Five Little Ducks,” and it was right shelved right where it was supposed to be – after “Fire Truck.”
I slept much better last night knowing that every book and everything was in their proper spot.
Including the black hen in the chicken yard who apparently still has flashbacks to the possum episode and tries to sleep on top of the quail cage.
Have a great weekend.
Before anyone gets excited over CW (Chicken Wrangler) Sara using Ten Little Indians to kickstart Thanksgiving, I have to tell you that she grew up where Mama (me) made sure the “real” Thanksgiving celebration wasn’t forgotten.
(Image from: www.azgop.org)
The first Thanksgiving feast was to thank the Indians for their contribution to the Pilgrims’ survival.
To reinforce the concept, I wore an Indian squaw dress custom-made for me by an Apache seamstress on the White River Arizona Reservation.
I’m sure CW Sara told her young students all about a Mama’s custom.
I do wonder if she tells her classes about how I embellished the Five Little Duck story by having the Mama Duck (NOT the Daddy Duck) call the duckies back in the song’s punch line.
I’d tell her and her siblings that disobedience to Mama Duck meant the five little duckies might not have a happy ending.
On second thought, CW Sara probably doesn’t tell that story. That would be like the black hen’s flashbacks of the possum episode—recalling unpleasant memories.
YOUR TURN TO SHARE:
Any Thanksgiving traditions?
Or unpleasant possum memories?
Last Thursday many in the U.S. sat down at tables loaded with enough food to feed a third world country for a week.
And we had leftovers.
The best part of Thanksgiving for me.
I love the smell of the stripped carcass simmering with onions and celery in our traditional turkey rice soup on Black Friday. We add brown rice before serving with whole wheat cornbread. Yummy!
This year I also found great, nutritious ideas from
Turkey Taco
Click the picture for the link.
Turkey Sliders
Click the picture for the link.
Are you still moving leftover turkey or dressing or sweet potatoes around in your fridge? You need to pitch ‘em today.
Why?
Foodborne illness – Isn’t that a lovely way to say food poisoning?
In years past, I remember sitting around the table for hours talking and visiting with the food still there. Or, worse yet, moving the serving dishes to the stove top or counter so everyone could nibble all afternoon while we watched football.
Once we figured out what was causing our tummy problems, we stopped that foolishness.
Happily, most cases of food poisoning can be prevented with proper food handling.
How did you handle your leftovers? Did you refrigerate perishable foods quickly?
According to Mayo Clinic nutritionist, Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D. your goal is to minimize the time a food is in the “danger zone” — between 40 and 140 F (4 and 60 C) — when bacteria can quickly multiply. Meat, poultry, fish, dairy and eggs shouldn’t sit more than two hours at typical room temperature or more than one hour at temperatures above 90 F (32 C).
Because the bacteria doesn’t typically change the taste, smell, or look, you can’t tell until the bacteria attacks your digestive tract.
But leftovers can be kept for three to four days in the refrigerator before the risk of food poising increases.
There weren’t many leftovers at our Thanksgiving feast and what there was went quickly. If you still have leftovers after today, my advice:
PITCH IT.
