Taking a Thanksgiving Break

I thought I'd take a little break from Thanksgiving chit chat and talk about something else, especially with Winter and all of it's wonderful holiday's.

Have you ever thought about the way your house smells? Is this a question you even want to contemplate? If you are a vigorous or even moderate homemaker, your house most likely smells like whatever you clean with. And thus I give you this idea, gleaned from Brocantehome, in which Alison proposes giving your house a signature scent.

When I read of this idea I though it was brilliant. I make my own cleaners anyway and it would be easy enough to add wonderful fragrence to them. However, I of course had to go one step furthur. With my love of the Seasons and the way they are different, each having its own uniqueness, I decided to find a signature scent for each Season in my home. I have chosen lavendar for Spring, orange (or lemon) for Summer, rosemary for Autumn, and peppermint for Winter. Think about the scents you like and how they may fit into your home for a signature scent.

My favorite is a very simple recipe. It's for carpet fresher (like Love My Carpet, ect.) Simply fill a container (an old parmesean cheese container works fabulously!) with baking soda. Add 11-15 drops of essential oil of your choice. Shake. Let sit overnight. To use, simple sprinkle generously on the carpet and let set an hour. Vacuum up.

A Tip!

"Think you could freeze it with one slice missing???"

This was a question posed to me recently in response to my pumpkin pie recipe that I posted. Here's a little tip I got from Paula Deen...

Cut a small sliver of pie to taste it, cover the top with whipped cream and no one will ever know!

Centerpieces

Here are a few great ideas for Thanksgiving centerpieces!

1. Hollow out small sugar pumpkins. Fill with water and Autumn flowers!

2. This idea comes from Nick Jr. Magazine and is one that I am going to use this year. While dinner is cooking, let the kids go outside and gather nuts, leaves, berries, twigs, ect. Put all the findings in clear vases and set on the table. Not only is it a fun activity for kids, but it produces an attractive centerpiece too.

3. Place a small glass inside of a larger one. Fill the space between the glasses with cranberries. Fill the smaller glass with water and flowers.

And while it's not a centerpiece, I must say I *love* this idea from Monica over at Homespun Heart!

Well, guess what I did today? I made the pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. Already?, you may ask. But of course! Making pies ahead of time is one of the things you can do to get ahead of the game. Other things you can make ahead, freeze, and serve on Turkey day without stressing are stuffing, mashed potatoes, rolls, and other desserts. Heck, you can cook the turkey, slice and freeze it too, but I like to cook that on the actual day.

Here's the pumpkin pie recipe I used today:

1 9" graham cracker pie crust
1 cup pumpkin
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 small box instant vanilla pudding (I used sugar
free)
1 egg

Preheat oven to 350*. Whisk together the pumpkin, sugar, egg, and milk until well blended. Add in the pudding mix. Mixture will start to thicken. Pour into crust. Bake at 350* for 30 minutes. Allow to cool. Cover (I used the plastic piece that comes with the crust) and freeze. Take out the day before serving and place in the refrigerator to thaw. Serve with real whipped cream for a homemade touch!

Decorating for Thanksgiving!

I love to decorate for the Seasons as well as for different holidays. I try to keep it simple! Here are the Thanksgiving decorations. This is a simple cornucopia that I made.






Here is the lovely Mrs. Staggs in her new home! Isn't she beautiful? She has made herself quite comfortable amongst the pumpkins and mums. I just accuired the metal pumpkins, turkey, and Give Thanks sign recently. I got them at a party supply store on sale! The mums were .88 cents a bunch and I think there are three bunches in there. The candles were $1.00 a piece. The candle holders were a gift several years ago from my mom. Mrs. Staggs, of course, came over from Merryville!

History of Thanksgiving Part 2

At the turn of the century, retailers were using Thanksgiving to get a jump start on Christmas sales. Newspapers would count down number of shopping days until Christmas and, in 1921, Gimbel's held the first Thanksgiving Day parade to kick off the shopping season. In 1939 however, trouble arose. Thanksgiving was the last Thursday of the month and though that was usually the fourth Thursday, in 1939 it was the fifth. That meant only 20 shopping days until Christmas! So, still trying to dig themselves out the Depression, the National Retail Dry Goods Association asked PresidentFranklin Roosevelt to move Thanksgiving back one Thursday, saying it would boost sales. He agreed and announced the change. Political debates abound and since his change was only binding with federal employees and in DC, govenors of individual states had to ratify the decision for it to apply [to their own states]. In the end, 23 states celebrated Thanksgiving on November 23 and another 23 celebrated on November 30. Texas and Colorado celebrated both days and Minneapolis celebrated from November 23-November 30. However, retail sales did not go up as predicted. In fact, some retailers believed all the confusion caused the sales to drop. Fearing future presidents might do something similar, several congressmen introduced legislation to make the change (making the fourth Thursday in November Thanksgiving) permanent. So, Roosevelt signed the compromise and Thanksgiving has been celebrated on the fourth Thusday in November ever since!

I hope you've enjoyed this look at the history of Thanksgiving. In upcoming weeks we'll be looking at ways to enjoy a relatively stress free Thanksgiving, traditions, and recipes!

Thanks again to Uncle John!

History of Thanksgiving Part 1

Today we continue our fascinating look at the history of Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving started as a Northern holiday. All the Northern states celebrated it, but no Southern ones did. This isn't to say it hadn't been tried. Congress tried in 1777 and George Washington tried in 1789. Then, in 1863, Abraham Lincoln proclaimed two days of Thanksgiving. One, on August 6 for Union victories and one on November 26 to celebrate a year "filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies." He did not intend to celebrate another Thanksgiving, however when General Sherman captured Atlanta in 1864, he again proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving. After Lincoln was assassinated, other presidents turned it into a tradition as a way to honor him. By the 1890's Thanksgiving was celebrated in almost every state in the Union.

On November 26, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt signed a compromise bill: that Thanksgiving would always fall on the fourth Thursday in November, whether it was the last Thursday of the month or not. Why? Find out tomorrow as we go to part two!

Thanks again to Uncle John!

Happy November!

I thought I would start out the month with talking a little bit about the upcoming holiday. Today, I'll be dispelling some myths that you may or may not know about Thanksgiving!

Myth #1:The settlers at the first Thanksgiving were called Pilgrims.

Truth:Early Americans called all early colonists "pilgrim" and it wasn't until the 20th century that it was used exclusively to name the folks at Plymouth Rock.

Myth #2:It took place in November.

Truth: It was between September and mid October, after the harvest. It was a three day festival too!

Myth #3: They had a feast every year.

Truth: There is no evidence supporting this. The harvest was bad and they had new Pilgrims to deal with.

Myth #4: They ate turkey.

Truth: They ate deer, fish, clams, oysters, berries, plums, water, and beer.

Why is it celebrated in November? Why on the fourth Thursday? Why do we eat turkey? Join me tomorrow as I delve into the first part of the fascinating history of Thanksgiving!

all myths and truths presented today were taken from Uncle John's Ultimate Bathroom Reader

She's Here!!!!!

I'm so excited! I recently won a contest that Mrs. Staggs was having over in Merryville. The prize? A beautiful Mrs. Staggs doll! And she arrived this morning. Bonnet tied, basket full, and pumpkin plump. She is absolutely adorable and I love her! Thank you so much, Mrs. Staggs! I just love her. I will be posting pictures soon! Now I just need a Mr. Staggs to go with her! lol!

Eureka!

I think I've figured it out! You may remember when I was whining in a previous post about having nothing of note to blog about. Well, I have thought of something. Why I didn't think of it before, I don't know. Anyhow, in addition to blogging about my journy from Horrible Housewife to Domestic Diva, I will be discussing Celebrations!

Although I don't do much of it, I love to entertain. I have lots of fun ideas for different celebrations, some frugal, some not. Ideas that encompass food, games, decor, favors. All sorts of things. It's a bit late for the upcoming holiday, so I will begin next week with Thanksgiving, starting with a fascinating history you may not know about. Until then, look for my thoughts and recollections on Halloween, coming soon.

Just because

I have been bothered of late with certain vibes I am getting from some people. I think (and I do believe I am correct in this thinking) that certain "friends" do not want me hanging around simply because I have four young children. Now, all of these "friends" are female, they are all married, however, only one of them has any children and she just has one. They often get together and do things. I know this because one "friend" will sit and talk to me about what they all do. Am I wrong to be hurt by this? Just because I have four children doesn't mean I can't go do things too. Just because I have four children doesn't make me any less of a person. It's not like I talk about them ad nauseum. It's just frustrating to me and I'm not sure what, if anything, to do about it. Just needed to vent.

Progress is still being made! Currently I am working on stripping a freestanding cabinet and a freestanding drawer unit. Also repainting a shelf. A few other things to tidy and the kitchen will be done!!! Then I will move on to the downstairs bathroom.

In other news...youngest DD took a tumble and got a gash on her forhead. Took her to the emergency room and they glued it. It's looking a lot better!

Had conferences for oldest DD and oldest DS. They are both doing great!

Gearing up for the holidays. Really need to get started on some of my gifts!

Progress!

Here it is! The after photos of my kitchen. At least, for the cabinets! lol! Still working on other areas. Don't those glass jars look wonderfull? I love them! I have a jar for white sugar, brown sugar, flour, powdered sugar, cream soup mix, dry milk, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, chocolate chips, baking coco, and solid baking chocolate.

Also from the thrift store...

A few other goodies found at the thrift store! First, these wonderful vintage patterns. I love the shirt dress! Now to find some fabric! lol!








I also found these: a skirt for me and three pairs of pants for my youngest.

Phase One

Inspired by Mrs. Cat's blog, I decided to put my dry goods into pretty glass jars. I hit the jackpot at my favorite thrift store! Aren't they fabulous? They've been washed and dried. I hope to fill them later today and get an after picture up here!

A taste of Autumn has arrived. Woke up to cooler than normal temperatures today and while it has warmed up a bit this afternoon, it still isn't as hot as it has been. To celebrate this early Autumn day, I decided to make Pumpkin Soup for dinner. It's a new recipe but it sure does sound tasty!

Pumpkin Soup

1 Tbsp olive oil
1 onion, chopped
4 cups chicken broth
2 cups pumpkin puree
3/4 cup green onions, chopped
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp curry powder
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cups milk

Heat oil in a pot over medium high heat and saute
onion until very sort. Add rest of ingredients, except
for the milk. Cook uncovered for 15 minutes. Add milk
and continue to cook for another 5 minutes (do not
boil!) Salt and pepper to taste.


Salad, rolls, and some chocolate pudding will round out the meal.

Bluebirdblogs! If you haven't checked this site out, you must! Susie does some wonderful work (click on the Gallery link to see) and right now you can enter a drawing to win a design!

I'm a sheep...

*Sigh* I've been thinking and thinking about what to blog about. There are lots of really good blogs out there and I've resigned myself to the fact that mine is not one of them. lol! Nonetheless I still want to keep it up as it is something I do enjoy doing. So, I thought to myself, Self, what is that we do? What can we blog about? Well, I do some craft things. I do crochet. I knit. I bake and cook. I clean. Nothing exciting. I'm certainly not an expert on anything. I game, but I doubt anyone wants to read a blog entirely about pen and paper RPG's or LARP's. Especially since I don't play in many. And alas, I'm not that witty either.

So, I thought I'd follow the masses and just share some things. I will start with the decluttering/organizing of the house. Join me as I go from Horrible Homemaker to Domestic Diva!

DH was home last night. Complete shock there! lol! Anyway, we had a nice little date night. After we (well, actually, all the credit goes to him!) got the younger kids to bed, we watched MirrorMask. Very good movie. I highly recommend it if you ever have the opportunity to see it.

The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics
By Francis Scott Key 1814


Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!