Friday, November 23, 2007

Black Friday

It sounds like an ominous name but I guess the merchants call it that because today is the day the they turn a profit...so instead of in the red, they are in the black today.  Went shopping with Jenny and stopped at the museum and for lunch.  It was a pleasant morning but tiring.  Jenny got some real good bargains.  I got a package of candy canes for my hot chocolate.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

TEST YOUR
KNOWLEDGE OF
KNOVEMBER

Inspiration Online Magazine - Thanksgiving Pals

1. In the ancient Roman calendar, November was which month?
First — because "novem" meant "new"
Ninth
Tenth
Eleventh
The Romans didn't have "November" — it wasn't a month until 1422

2. Who was the Pilgrim leader that invited neighboring Indians to the first Thanksgiving?
William Penn
William Bradford
Miles Standish
John Bunny
Button Gwinnett

3. November 1st is "All Saints' Day" ... what is November 2nd?
Saint Patrick's Day
Saint Christopher's Day
Saint Swithin's Day
All Souls' Day
Nothing

4. Who is commemorated with Bonfire Night on November 5th in England?
William Shakespeare
King Arthur
Guy Fawkes
Winston Churchill
Lord Byron

5. What is the birthstone for the month of November?
Diamond
Topaz
Ruby
Sapphire
Emerald

6. Name the Native American chief who was invited to the first Thanksgiving feast?
Squanto
Chingachgook
Massasoit
Jamiraquoi
Pocahontas

7. What famous speech was given in November, 1863?
"I Have a Dream"
Emancipation Proclamation
"Go West, Young Man"
The Gettysburg Address
"Yes Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus"

8. What is the flower for the month of November?
Poppy
Morning Glory
Chrysanthemum
Primrose
Calendula

9. The end of what ... is celebrated in the U.S. every November 11th?
Daylight Savings Time
World War I
World War II
Autumn
Baseball season
.

10. Which country first adopted Thanksgiving as a national holiday?
Canada
Mexico
England
United States
Spain

11. What mountain climber reached his peak on November 15, 1806?
Admiral Byrd
Sir Edmund Hillary
Zebulon Pike
J. Tuzo Wilson
James Audubon

12. What astronomical event happens in November?
Halley's comet
Perseids meteor shower
Lunar eclipse
Leonids meteor shower
Solar eclipse

13. Which Thanksgiving dish is known to scientists as "Meleagris gallopavo" ?
Cranberry sauce
Turkey
Stuffing
Ham
Mashed potatoes

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANSWERS
(access each link below for lots of interesting details)

1... Ninth
2... William Bradford

3... All Soul's Day
4... Guy Fawkes
5... Topaz
6..
. Massasoit
7.
.
. The Gettysburg Address
8.
.
. Chrysanthemum
9.
.
. World War I (Veterans' Day)

10. Canada
11. Zebulon Pike
12.
Leonids meteor shower
13.
Wild Turkey

Saturday, November 17, 2007

This year's Christmas Parade

It was a cold (34) windy day and the snow started to fall right on schedule.

Friday, November 16, 2007

    

       My Grandchildren

What are little boys made of?
What are little boys made of?
Frogs and snails,
And puppy-dogs' tails;
That's what little boys are made of.


What are little girls made of?
What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice,
and all that's nice;
That's what little girls are made of
.
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Sweet Potato Casserole

3 cups mashed sweet potatoes
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup melted butter

Topping:
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/4 cup melted butter
1 cup chopped pecans

 

Peel and cube the sweet potatoes. Bowl them in water until they are tender enough to pierce with a fork. Drain and mash

In a large bowl mix the sweet potatoes, 1 cup brown sugar, eggs, vanilla, spices, milk and melted butter.

Pour the sweet potato mixture into a buttered 2 quart casserole dish.

Combine the topping ingredients and sprinkle over the sweet potato mixture.

Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree F oven for 40 to 50 minutes. The center will be almost set when done. It will continue to set as it cools.

Serves 6 to 8.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

OLD SCHOOL DESK


We learned to read and write
And we learned to spell
At the old school desk
With a hole for the inkwell.
We scratched out our initials
To say that we were there,
But it's been so long now,
No one would really care.

Funny thing memory - I often think of something that
actually took place when I was a kid and it seems like last month - what is more amazing I want to talk about it
with my daughter or son and I am taken up short
realizing they were not there - it is so hard to take in
that they do not share the same stories and history
that float in my head.

 

I will dig up the Cannas soon...and maybe even clean the garage

so I can fit my very old car in it when the weather is too cold

 and snowy for it to be outside.  Tomorrow I will take Owen

to the dentist, he needs caps, last time he had a tooth pulled

 and a spacer put in.  He does very well with the dentist. 

The dentist office has two computers for the kids when

they are waiting and in 'the chair' there is a tv on the ceiling

that plays kid videos.  I stay with him and he whispers to me

to make sure I am still there.  My sweet boy.



Thursday, November 1, 2007

No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
No comfortable feel in any member -
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds -
November!
-   Thomas Hood,