 |
| Carousel, watercolor, 2012, collection of Ms. Allison Friedman |
Son #2 and his lady are visiting for a week. When we wave goodbye, I have another week to add some sunshine to these fading tresses, some sparkle to these phalanges and shut down the house. Then two weeks of watercolor on the beach in Mexico. All and all a month of fun-- first hugs, then the intoxicating aroma of sun screen in the salt air. It's time to put My Guys aside and get the turkey started.
 |
| Roth Thanksgiving 2010. Son #1 did the honors. |
Wrong food. Nothing as gourmet as turkey was served at the first Thanksgiving. I'm jumping the arrow.
Held in 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts, the celebration was one of thanks for making it through the first year. Only half the Pilgrims survived that year of hardship. The feast was thrown by Governor Bradford and lasted three days. They ate ducks and geese and drank the beer they brought over the Atlantic on the Mayflower. The Wampanoag Indians, who were kind enough to teach them how to cultivate the soil, were invited of course. The Pilgrims couldn't possibly have served their honored guests turkey.
Turkey feathers were too valuable. The Wampanoag used them on their arrows to stabilize them in flight. True aim was a priority and wild turkeys were difficult to kill. They could run twenty miles per hour and fly fifty miles per hour. The ones we buy, can't fly at all. A more authentic dish would be something I could catch--like a chicken. I caught one at the Kroger just last week; it's in the freezer. We're set.for Thursday.
Whatever you eat to celebrate your coming to America and surviving to tell your tale, have a lovely holiday my fellow countrymen. Happy painting my fellow bloggers. Y romper el tequila mis amigos, Linda se encuentra en su camino.
* An easy recipe for turkey, so the chef says: http://www.howtocookathanksgivingturkey.com/
Linda,
ReplyDeleteMy thrill and great pleasure to be the first to comment.
Love, love the colors and excitement of "Carousel!" Great movement and fun! You chose wonderful colors and you placed them on well on the paper!
I love your story about Thanksgiving. I am not sure you are aware of this but where I live is Wampanoag land. We in the south coast of Massachusetts are very proud of the Thanksgiving tradition. Being thankful is so very good for the soul! Halloween and Thanksgiving are two of my favorite holidays!
Happy Holiday to you and your family!
Michael
Thanks Michael. I do think that Carousel was one of my watercolor successes this year. I thought it would be a better painting to leave here while I'm involved.
DeleteI loved researching Thanksgiving and finding those facts. As children, drawing turkeys and Pilgrims and then stuffing our faces, we really couldn't fathom the hardships those first colonists went through for religious freedom.
We are planning a feast as well, even though we are both vegetarians. Have a wonderful holiday!
ReplyDeleteWe've given up turkey as well!... What a relief...
DeleteWhat do vegetarians eat.? That's always been a mystery to me. I know there are different degrees of vegetarians, but I don't know what distinguishes one group from an other. I need a little meat, but mostly we eat fish and chicken. I think red blooded animals keep complexions rosy and iron levels up. I am very curious though on the practice.
DeleteA vote was taken last night and chicken is the bird we've decided to stuff with Georgia's excellent stuffing recipe.
Deleteu r right about the iron levels.. my daughter couldn't give blood a few weeks ago because her iron was low... even tho she eats a lot of kale, spinach it doesn't quite cut it... there are vegetarians who don't eat fish, some who don't eat any dairy products and vegans who abstain from all animal products. personally, i eat fruits, grains, veggies, some fish and some chicken.. i avoid all red meat and certain cheeses- stomach is sensitive... my daughter stays away from cheese because she became more sensitive after coming back from Italy... My diet is almost equivalent to the Mediterranean diet minus the lamb that they incorporate...I think JJ is more vegan..
DeleteA beautiful watercolor, Linda! I LOVE this Carousel..so many colors and love the looseness of this piece!! You did a wonderful job with it!! and of course, Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. This year, I feel so thankful for still having my home after "Sandy". I only hope that the flashbacks of the surge of water leave my mind and pray that my neighborhood starts to heal.!!
ReplyDeleteSandy was a horrifying experience. I pray your neighborhood recovers quickly and your dreams be only sweet again. Time heals, but sometimes it doesn't pass quickly enough. It will though. You can count on it. Till then, all you can do is to be thankful you and yours are safe. The rest will take care of itself.
DeleteA Carousel full of life and color,well done, that makes me think of a good party,
ReplyDeletein the family.This turkey will be for a Roth-thanksgiving really gourmet!
Enjoy together these moments.... is very good for the heart,dear Linda!
I wish happy days for all Roth!!!
I think this was the happiest painting I did this year. And I wanted to leave you all with something happy to look at while I play with my 'kids.' Tomorrow, Georgia and I will attempt to roast the scary bird we bought defrosting in the fridge. Neither of us is confident in our turkey roasting skills. But Georgia did bring a recipe of hers here for stuffing she wants to make and it needs a bird to be the best. So.....
DeleteSon #2 looks a hello fallout better in person than he does in my painting. So after all the hoopla has passed, I'll have my work cut out for me on that painting. I look forward to it. For now, I'm enjoying watching him go after the horrifying computer virus I have with joy. It's his field of expertise. I am a very lucky turkey. Thanks Rita. Every moment spent with loved ones is a moment to cherish. They make my heart smile.
Finally I have a little time to comment. Have a good Thanksgiving with your family, Linda, and then a wonderful time in the Mexican sunshine! That is a lot to be thankful for!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad things are settling down for you. Thank you for your good wishes. I am very blessed and very much aware of that. I take nothing for granted anymore. In that respect, aging is great. Now if it just didn't involve jowls and frown lines and sagging backsides. :-)
DeleteThat's a very striking abstract! So full of life and joy. Perfect for a holiday, especially a holiday in dreary November. (which hasn't been dreary at all so far...) I admire your ability to cook a whole turkey. I have never done that! I'm always traveling to a relative's house for the holidays, luckily! All I have to bring is some pumpkin bread, or a green bean casserole. Mexico sounds awesome! I want to see lots of pictures when you go! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving, you are a dear sweet person and deserve every happiness that life can offer.
ReplyDeleteIt was one of my better efforts this year. Thank you. --I haven't cooked a turkey yet my dear. That adventure will happen tomorrow. Today My daughter in-love and I have to go buy a turkey pan and something called a meat thermometer. Georgia wants to stuff the bird. Wish us luck.
DeleteI love your watercolours. This abstract carousel is wonderful. Your painting are to much strong and colours. I love the colours Linda. Congrats for your works because they are very good done and georgeous. Warm regards
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words Eva. When you get back to painting late, encouragement is encouraging. I appreciate your kindness.
DeleteWonderful post as always, Linda! It's so full of imagery. I can just see you running after a chicken inside a huge freezer!!! A very warm and Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kathryn, it was fun looking up all the stuff, stuff I should have remembered. As it turned out, standing in the market, we decided on a turkey, instead of chickens. My daughter in-love wants to try out a new recipe she has for stuffing and it's got to be cooked in the bird. Now I'm researching how much longer to add to the cooking time to make sure that stuffing is cooked properly. How can such a simple meal be made so complicated? Have a lovely holiday yourself. I do hope you're not going to be in the kitchen as we are. If you are, wine helps.
DeleteHet is een vrolijke geheel geworden lieve groetjes Danielle
ReplyDeleteThank you Danielle. Painting is color and color is a joy. Have a happy and safe holiday season.
DeleteWell we don't have Thanksgiving Day over here, although My daughter and granddaughter will celebrate it as they work for an American company. Interesting your mention of a shilling and a half-a-crown, because when I was a kid there were 12 pence to a shilling and 20 shillings to a Pound. This was great because the exchange rate was $2.40 dollars to a £1... therefore one cent equalled one penny (and you call a cent a penny I seem to remember).
ReplyDeleteThe second point is that the nickname for a half-a-crown was always 'a half a dollar' and five shillings (two x half-crowns) was called a dollar!
Now if you want a taste of why the Americans pulled out their hair over British currency before we decimalised (100 pence = £1),,,here is the reason:
Two farthings = a half-penny (hape knee)
Two half pence = one penny
Three pence = Threepenny piece (Thrupp Knee Bit or a Joey)
Two Threepennies = Sixpence (a Tanner)
Two sixpences = a Shilling (a Bob)
Two shillings = a Florin (a two-bob bit)
A florin + sixpence = Half-a-Crown (Half a dollar, or '2 and 6')
4 Half-crowns = ten shillings (a ten bob note)
Two ten shillings = (one Pound)
a pound and a shilling = A guinea
I did read all of this and got so confused, I changed my search. I looked up A Christmas Carol and found the dialogue between Scrooge and the boy in the street.
DeleteHave a great holiday with your family....I love the carousel painting too--so colorful...! Your son strikes a dashing figure over that Turkey.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't he? He looks like he's playing some sort of musical instrument, other than an electric knife. Thanks Celeste. The same to you and yours.
DeleteFinally I get to comment - your posts seem never to warrant one or two words and it is more than my little fingers can handle on my phone. I have no idea why my time on the computer has been so limited lately. Well, some idea. Anyway, I am always amazed at the looseness of your watercolors. Son #2 looks great - just as he is - fabulous!. Wife of son #2 - hope you get to paint together - and the drawing of her looks magnificent - the feeling you portray in that drawing is incredible.
DeleteAnd Happy Thanksgiving!! Good luck with that bird. To avoid cooking a bird, I'd pay at least a guinea!
It was quite an experience, an experience I plan never to have again. I hope your celebration went smoother than ours; we cose the worse recipe for turkey ever. And forget about 'a fresh bird.' Make mine Butterball, every time.
DeleteThanks Dan. He's coming. She's done and Carousel has left the building.