mosaic napkin rings

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Here's a simple craft for kids of all ages. While watching the Macy's parade on Thanksgiving morning, I helped my children make fall-themed mosaic napkin rings to place on the table for our big meal.  Katie had a great time tossing the tissue paper into the air, before smacking them into place on the napkin rings, while Alex was creative and made "3D" versions of the craft by folding the paper in half before gluing it on.

Materials: Red, orange, and yellow tissue paper, cut or torn into small pieces.  Red cardstock cut into 1.5 inch x 3 inch strips.  Glue.  For quick drying, we used glue sticks, but white glue would probably work better.  A stapler with staples.  Patience and a vacuum cleaner also come in handy.

Glue tissue squares to card stock in any pattern you desire. 

See? Nothing on the back.  That way, your ring doesn't accidentally get glued to your napkin if you're a last-minute-mama like me.  When you're finished, curl the ring into an appropriately-sized circle and staple. Cut off excess.

We also cut out and colored some leaves to use as place holders.

The finished table was pretty casual.  Everyday plates paired with paper napkins.  I did pull out the good silverware, though.  Mr. Hull set the table for me.  I think he did a great job.  The napkin rings are wrapped around the napkins and the place cards are laying on the plates.  The centerpiece is just a simple pillar candle on a solid white plate, surrounded by real leaves.  And, the runner?  Four pieces of fall fabric that I had picked up over the summer and had not yet turned into something fancy.  I like the patchwork effect and have folded these up to use again next year.

A Thanksgiving Fable

by Oliver Herford

It was a hungry pussy cat,
upon Thanksgiving morn,
And she watched a thankful little mouse,
that ate an ear of corn.
"If I ate that thankful little mouse,
how thankful he should be,
When he has made a meal himself,
to make a meal for me!

"Then with his thanks for having fed,
and his thanks for feeding me,
With all his thankfulness inside,
how thankful I shall be!"
Thus mused the hungry pussy cat,
upon Thanksgiving Day;
But the little mouse had overheard
and declined (with thanks) to stay.

too much is too much

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This weekend, my wonderful husband chose to be super helpful around the house. For that, I am very thankful. During his time off from work, he mulched the leaves, cleaned the gutters, watched the children so I could sleep after shopping all night, stayed home while I went out to the Star City Comedy Club with good friend, Jannine, got the Christmas decorations out of the attic and did the dishes. And, you know what? I didn't even ask him to do any many of these things. What a dear!

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The thing is, he hit a snag the last time he did the dishes.  The soap packet that had been put into the dishwasher for the previous run had not dissolved.  So, my handy husband decided he would add Dawn dishwashing detergent to the cup to get the job done.  I think he may have mentioned that we were also out of the Cascade packs.  I don't remember.  At any rate, he squirted a cupful of Dawn (the type you use to hand wash dishes) into the machine.  He turned it on.  A little while later, he went to get something from the kitchen and found a mess.  "Oh....." he groaned.  I asked what was the matter and he told me, "There are some bubbles on the floor."  Some bubbles?  A good quarter of the kitchen was covered in suds.  Oh my!  Deja vu, anyone?

For the second time in three months, I started to clean up a wet mess.  We bypassed the bath towel route this time because I didn't want to add to my backed-up laundry pile.  Instead, he grabbed the mop and I used the dust mop.  He would swing his tool across the sudsy floor, and I would push back, trying to keep the water and bubbles from spreading even further.  It felt like we were playing a gentle game of hockey, or participating in that weird-ass Olympic sport, curling.

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Eventually, we were able to get the floor mostly dry and we turned our attention to the dishwasher.  You see, when John walked into the kitchen, soap was pouring out of the front of the machine.  He promptly turned it off, to minimize the flooding, but we realized we would soon have to deal with the mess inside.  Opening the door, we found a wall of bubbles.  Slowly, but surely, we began to scoop them out until the were nearly gone.  When we had removed as much soap as possible, we turned on the dishwasher to let it finish the cycle.  Water continued to dribble out for much of that run, but now our machine is as good as new and cleaner than it has been in a very long time.

This whole ordeal got me to thinking (bad idea, I know!).  A lot of times, we think that if a little is good, then a lot is a whole lot better.  Like the little squirt of dawn turning into a good half cup being poured into the dishwasher.  We have a tendency to go for the overkill, especially with our children.

Christmas is coming.  I have a difficult time moderating how many gifts my kids receive.  I just love to give them things and there are so many toys and items on the market that they would love to have.  Once I get started buying presents, I find it so hard to stop.  But, is more really better when it comes to giving things to our kids?  Or, should they learn the life lessons that go along with disappointment and/or hard work?

While waiting in line to shop at Toys R Us on Thanksgiving night, I spoke with Jessica, a young mother of a two year old boy.  Her son will be receiving many things this Christmas, among them a 32" flat screen television.  Her reasoning?  He needs something to entertain him.  Feel free to roll your eyes.  Inwardly, I did, too.  My response, "My kids are getting an aquarium."  Jessica's mother, who was along for the ride, just about died laughing.

You see, over the years I have come to realize that the bigger and better presents aren't always the best.  If you get your two year old a giant tv, then what is there to look forward to as he grows up?  Hell, we don't even have a tv that big in my home.  When Alex was young, he was overly spoiled.  I couldn't wait to get him the next best thing for his "age."  However, I failed to realize that just because he was in the appropriate "age range," and I was able to buy the items, they weren't necessarily suitable playthings for his stage.

When you jump ahead and buy anything and everything for your children, they lose more than they gain.  The kids no longer become enthralled with the gifts they receive, they become spoiled, and they lose interest in their toys more quickly.  They don't learn the value of hard work with suitable rewards, nor do they experience the thrill of receiving something they have longed for. Things become disposable.  In general, items lose their value when they are given by the bucket load.  While a squirt of generosity is good, a cupful just creates a mess. 

How will you balance your desire to give it all with your children's need of moderation and value this season?  What are the top gifts on your list?  Will you go all out, or will you (attempt) to keep it simple and sane?

southern-style green beans

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Nothing says Thanksgiving like a big ol' bowl of green beans. You can keep your green bean casserole, ladies. Don't let any creamed soup or fried onions touch my beans. I serve up Southern-style slow cooked green beans in my house and that's the way it is. My granny did it and my mother does it, and so do I. This flavorful crockpot full of goodness is a tradition in my family and no feasting holiday (Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, the random birthday...) would be complete without it.

not my beans, but close enough

Southern-style green beans
4 cans of cut green beans
3 cans of shelly beans
1/4 package of fat back, side meat, or streaked meat
water
salt and pepper to taste

Combine beans in a large crockpot.  Cut meat into chunks and throw it in.  You'll want to cut your meat in larger chunks if you plan on fishing it out (my mother-in-law doesn't like beans cooked with pork, but what she doesn't know won't hurt her, so I always remove the meat before serving to her.  Do it however you want).  Stir and cover with water.  Add salt and pepper with taste, you probably won't need much salt.  Cook on low 24-30 hours or high 12-18.  I prefer to put mine in the afternoon before the meal and let them cook all night and most of the next day.  The longer you cook them, the better they taste and your home will smell SO good.

A note on shelly beans: These are really hard to find in some grocery stores.  Essentially, they are green beans with some brown beans mixed in.  So, if you are unable to purchase shelly beans, just buy pintos and rinse off the juice.  1 can of pintos would be equal to 3 cans of shelly beans, but you'll also need to add another can or two of green beans.  Lucky for you, this isn't rocket science, so combine them any way you please.

one busy week

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Okay, ladies and (a very few) gents... it's Thanksgiving Week. What will YOU be doing? If you're anything like me, you'll be:

Cleaning like a Mad Lady

Cooking Up a Storm

Keeping Up With Weekly Errands

Wiping Noses

Changing Diapers

Chasing the Dog

and

Losing Your Mind

Why?  Why do we do this to ourselves?  Oh, yes.  It is all in the name of tradition.  Our mothers did it, their mothers did it, so we should do it too.  Or, did they?  Did your mother and grandmother try to shuttle kids to a million and one different activities every.single.day while keeping the house, tending the garden, feeding the dog, and walking the husband?  No?  Hmmmm.

It's Thanksgiving week.  Let's be thankful for our blessings and our families without all the craziness.  Sure, mop your floor and bake your pies.  Make your house presentable.  But, trust me, no one is going to notice if there's a stain on the couch or the baseboards need painting.  Take a break and put your feet up once in a while.  Chill.  In the end, you'll be a happier mom with more relaxed guests.  And that, my friends, is something to be thankful for.