Full Moon in November

As November comes to a close we're treated to a beautiful moon above us. British poet Thomas Hood often took a humorous approach to his subjects and that's very clear in his poem "No!".

"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, British poet and humorist, (1799-1845)

Turkey-free Thanksgiving

"The black turkey gobbler, the tips of his beautiful tail; above us the dawn becomes yellow. The sunbeams stream forward." Black Turkey Gobbler Chant (Apache)


The turkey centerpiece for tomorrow's day of Thanksgiving is decorative and colorful and maybe someone will eat it for dessert.

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For tomorrow - applesauce

Making applesauce is one of the simplest things you can do in your kitchen. I don't know why people are awed by the fact that we like to make our own. Just cut up apples, put them in the pot with a little bit of water and every once in a while stir it with a wooden spoon. After about 20 minutes you'll notice a lovely apple aroma filling the kitchen. It can be made with one type of apple or a variety of apples.

Today I'll use Gala, Jonagold, and Empire apples. I usually don't add sugar but that's up to you. You can also add cinnamon or you can put a small piece of vanilla stick into it as it's cooking and then remove it afterward. Serve it chunky or use a blender to make it smooth.

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"I tell you folks, all politics is applesauce." Will Rogers The Illiterate Digest [1924]

Thinking about Veteran's Day

On this day we honor the men and women who've devoted their lives to this great country. We remember and give thanks for all who served in the United States Armed Forces. Today's Christian Science Monitor suggests that all Americans can learn from our veterans' sense of duty, trust, loyalty, and teamwork.

I was thinking about all this as I began sharpening my colored pencils, red, white, and blue.