Start of Advent

Today marks the start of Advent, a four week time of getting ready for Christmas. We hope to have more on it later.

Holidays in December:

1 – 31 World AIDS Month
1 World AIDS Day
2 International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
5 Blue Jean Day
6 St. Nicholas’s Day
7 Pearl Harbor Day
Teacher Appreciation Day
8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception
10 Human Rights Day
12 Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Poinsettia Day
13 St. Lucia Day
Cocoa Day
14 DNA Day
20 Eid ul-Adha
21 Hanukkah starts
22 Winter Solstice
Yule
Dong Zhi
25 Christmas
26 St. Stephen’s Day
Boxing Day
Kwanzaa Starts
31 New Year’s Eve

Turkey Day Tips-

Remember any recipe that uses cooked chicken can use turkey.

Quotes on Shopping

In honor of Black Friday here are some quotes on shopping.

- "I don't do my own shopping, my housekeeper does that for me, so I'd be doomed if I was a contestant on the show." Bob Barker

- "Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice." Dave Barry

- "The odds of going to the store for a loaf of bread and coming out with only a loaf of bread are three billion to one." Erma Bombeck

- "In department stores, so much kitchen equipment is bought indiscriminately by people who just come in for men's underwear." Julia Child

- “People will buy anything that is 'one to a customer.'” Sinclair Lewis

A Holiday Book in Review – A Different Kind of Christmas

Book Count: 94
A Different Kind of Christmas By: Alex Halley
Fiction: historic, social issues 176 pages 1988

This book is by the author of Roots. It takes place in 1855 and is about a white man whose father is one of the largest plantation holders in North Carolina. He is going to school at Princeton and there is exposed to Northern ideas including ones dealing with anti-slavery groups. He becomes acquainted with a family of Quakers who force him to look at his pre-existing ideas on race and slavery.

Happy Thanksgiving

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Enjoy your holiday

Thanksgiving Factoid: History

President FDR tried to move Thanksgiving up a week to the second to the last Thursday in November to increase Christmas shopping because at the time it was considered inappropriate for stores to advertise Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Factoid: History

The Song “Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” (commonly called “Alice’s Restaurant”) by Arlo Guthrie is based on actual events that happened to him starting on Thanksgiving 1965.

Turkey Day Tip:

Rember to thaw your turkey!

Thanksgiving Factoid: Turkeys

In 1991 the wild turkey became the official state game bird in Massachusetts. It is also its official state symbol.

Thanksgiving Factoid: Pilgrims

Five deer were part of the first Thanksgiving.

Gifts for Book Lovers- The Lamb’s Supper

Book Count: 93

For: Catholics, People into the Book of Revelation (besides pre-tribulation rapture literalist)

The Lamb’s Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth By: Scott Hahn
Non-Fiction: religion 163 pages 1999

This book is about how the Book of Revelation relates to the celebration of the Mass (in addition to the 1st century in Rome/Israel, the live of every believer, and the end of time/ heaven.) It deals with how this is a traditional way of seeing the book, correlations between the two, ways that the Jewish Christians at the time it was written would have viewed various things, and ways that this connection is more visible in the Eastern branches of the Church. Like other books by Scott Hahn it includes much documentation on the orthodoxy of the ideas in it including a Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur, quotes from saints and popes, historic content, and references to Church councils. It would be best to read Revelations before this book to refresh oneself on the contents of it. But, besides that it was a well writing book that makes one think about things in a new way.

Turkey Day Tips-

Use warm milk or cream in mashed potatoes to keep them warm until you eat them.

Thanksgiving Factoid: Turkeys

The Mayflower most likely contained domesticated turkeys on it.

Thanksgiving Factoid: Turkeys

The Aztecs considered the turkey a god and had two festivals a year in honor of it.

Gifts for Book Lovers- Hocus Pocus

Book Count: 92

For: extream Harry Potter fans, kids who like magic

Hocus Pocus: A Tale of Magnificent Magicians by: Paul Kieve
Fictionalized non-fiction- magic, biography 294 pages 2007

This book is a book of famous magicians and tricks that you can do at home. It has a intro. done by Daniel Radcliffe ( Harry Potter) and is writen by some one that worked on the set for the movies. It tells about the magicians from the golden age of magic within the framework of them appearing to a magician in training. It as has over 35 magic tricks in it.

Thanksgiving Factoid: History

The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was held in 1924.

Thanksgiving on a Diet

Replaced the mashed potatoes and sweet potato casserole with sweet potatoes mashed with a little butter, skim milk and cinnamon.

Gifts for Book Lovers- I was Told There’d be Cake

Book Count: 91

For: women in their 20-30’s

I was Told There’d be Cake By: Sloane Crosley
Non-fiction autobiographical essays, 228 pages 2008

This book is a collection of essays on different topics loosely connected to growing up. There are stories of ones first job from hell, memories of summer camp, high school friends, apartment life and many other topics. The stories are humorous and touching.

Thanksgiving Factoid: History

The first Thanksgiving in America took place in September 8, 1565 in Saint Augustine, Florida.

Turkey Day Tips-

Gravy made with a roux will thicken as it cools.

Turkey Day Tips-

Gravy made with a corn starch slurry needs to hit boiling before it will thicken.

Thanksgiving Factoid: Science

The tryptophan in turkey is not what makes you sleepy as when it’s mixed with other foods the tryptophan doesn’t react as much with the body. It’s the amount one eats and drinks that effects you most.

Thanksgiving on a Diet

Make sure to include a salad or soup starter to help you eat less.

Ten Left!!

If you looked at the book count on yesterday’s book you would have seen the number 90. That means only 10 more books to read to make my goal of 100 in a year! And I have over 40 days to do it in. Given my average of reading a book every 3-4 days I can make it!! Yaaahhhh!!!!!

Turkey Day Tips-

Let the turkey rest at least 20-30 mins. After cooking for a juicy bird.

A Holiday Book in Review – Mayflower

Book Count: 90

Holiday(s): Thanksgiving

Mayflower by: Nathaniel Philbrick
Non-fiction history, 358 pages 2006
This as you may have guessed is the story of the pilgrims. It starts with their coming to America and ends with the ending of the King Philip’s War, which actually took place after most all of the actual pilgrims were dead. It does include the first Thanksgiving after which the holiday is set up around, but it is only a couple paragraphs in a long book. It also talks about Plymouth Rock, and how it became so important years after the event. It has lots of notes at the end of the book and pictures of actual artifacts from Plymouth in the book. Over all it appears well written, with a good combination of noting how the people at the time saw things as well as current trends in history writing, notes about the events.

Gifts for Book Lovers- Fairway to Hell

Book Count: 89

For: Golf lovers

Fairway to Hell Around the World in 18 Holes By: Franz Lidz
Non-fiction, golf 239 pages 2008

This book is all about anything connected to golf, from the green way to get the grass green to stories of unusual golfers. It is in short little chapters that can be read independently of each other. It is not so about golf that a non-golfer wouldn’t enjoy it, but knowledge of golf would be helpful in reading it.

Thanksgiving on a Diet

Use smaller plates to eat on so you put less food on your plate.

Turkey Day Tips-

Adding whole, peeled garlic to your roasting pan will add flavor to your bird and give you roasted garlic to add to your gravy or mashed potatoes

Gifts for Book Lovers- Biting the Wax Tadpole

Book Count: 88

For: the armchair traveler, language lover

Biting the Wax Tadpole: Confessions of a Language Fanatic By: Elizabeth Little
Non-Fiction, travel, grammar, cultures 180 pages 2007

This book is about all different languages: current ones, dead ones, even made up ones. It explores the different rules of grammar and speech around the world as well are what language tells you about the people who speak it. It includes lots of fun sidebars on words and language. One of these points out the way that the royal we of kings and queens has over time become the editorial we of blogs, to which WE would just like to remind readers that we have been using for around 15 years now, long before blogs became popular. So you could say that we started it (even if it isn’t true, numbers don’t lie and all that.) As you may know the title referrers to the urban legend that when Coca-Cola first came to China they called the pop the characters “Ko ka ko la” which means “bit the wax tadpole.” This book goes over the truth behind this story and other translation issues in it as well.

Thanksgiving Factoid: Science

Ripe Cranberries bounce.

Gifts for Book Lovers

As you may guess there are not many books on Thanksgiving. We are busy reading one now and we have in the past read other books on the subject and related ones for WNBNI, but as we have 100 books to read this year we have decided to start reading books that may make good gifts to people you know earlier, so we aren’t reading 12 books in the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas. This new section on books will be called “Gifts for Book Lovers” and will only contain newer books and ones that we know at still easy to find on sale. In addition to the information that we normally write we will include who might like this book. (We know, we sometimes already add this info, but all of these books will have it.)

Thanksgiving Factoid: Pilgrims

There were no pies, cakes or breads are the first Thanksgiving as the Pilgrims did not have any ovens for baking in.

Thanksgiving on a Diet

Skip on the rolls with butter.

Turkey Day Tips-

Plan on at least 1 lbs. of turkey per person if you want leftovers.

Thanksgiving factiod: history

The Detriot Lions have played every Thanksgiving since 1934 excluding during WWII.

Thanksgiving Factoid: Turkeys

A wild turkey can fly up to 55 mph in short bursts and run between 15-30 mph.

Middle of Fall

Today marks the middle of fall, if your weather has been like the weather in Michigan that is hard to believe. This week it has been so warm that we’ve gone out with no jackets on. For once global warming has done something good!

A Bit Early

This week I have gone out shopping to a couple stores, to see what Halloween things are on clearance, and what is playing on the sound system? Christmas Carols!!!! Already! I get people setting up the Christmas decorations and gifts. Some people like to shop early so they aren’t stressed at the last moment trying to find things. I already have half my gifts bought, but 2 months of nonstop carols at stores could drive one round the bend. I’m glad I’m not working there. Do they think that the music is going to make people buy more or earlier? It wasn’t even good Christmas music it was the elevator music of Christmas carols.

Thanksgiving on a Diet

Eat before the main meal so you are not so hungry and over eat.

Remember to Vote Today!!!!!

Turkey Day Tips-

Adding 1 T of cinnamon to a turkey adds a nice taste and helps make a richly colored gravy.

Thanksgiving Factoid: Turkeys

Early Spanish explorers called the turkey a peacock with great hanging chins. In France it was called the rooster of India (coq d’Inde). In Arabic the Ethiopian bird, in Greek French girl (gallopoula) , in Malay Dutch chicken (ayam belanda), in Holland Calicut chicken and in Turkey its called hindi.

Thanksgiving Countdown:

There are only 25 days until Thanksgiving. Because of this we will be daily giving you information on Thanksgiving wither it be cooking tips for the big day or information on the things that are connected to it. So check back everyday for more Thanksgiving stuff.

Thanksgiving on a Diet

Thanksgiving is the one day a year that everyone is expected to ruin their diet. But it doesn’t have to be this way. There are many things that you can do that will let you enjoy the day without regretting it the next. If you are hosting a get together it can be easy to make a diet friendly dinner. If not you can try to bring at least one dish that you can safely enjoy and do other things that will help you eat well. We will be listing some of these ideas in a section called “Thanksgiving on a Diet” all this month, so look for these tips to eating well on Turkey day.

Thanksgiving Factoid: Turkeys

The turkey and the Muscovy Duck are the only New World birds to be domesticated.

Daylight Savings Time

Today at 2 a.m. marked the end of Daylight Savings Time in most of the USA. So, in honor of one more hour of sleep, we thought we’d let you know who else has to change the clocks twice a year.

Europe (excluding Iceland)
Canada (excluding Saskatchewan)
Mexico (excluding Sonora)
Greenland
Sts. Pierre & Miguelon
Cuba
Bahamas
Bermuda
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Iraq
Iran
Israel
Jordan
Lebanon
Syria
Egypt
Morocco
Tunisia
Australia
New Zeeland
Chile
Argentina
Brazil
Falkland Islands
Paraguay
Uruguay
Mauritius
Namibia
Antarctica

Saint’s Quotes

As today is All saints’ Day and because for the last two years on this day I gave you information on patron saints for odd things, I thought I would mix it up and do quotes from saints this year. You can always look in our archives if you want to know the patron saint of the internet, compulsive gambling, astronauts or undertakers.

- When in Rome, live as the Romans do; when elsewhere, live as they live elsewhere. St. Ambrose

- Give me chastity and continence, but not quite yet. St. Augustine

- He who created us without our help will not save us without our consent. St. Augustine

- If two friends ask you to judge a dispute, don't accept, because you will lose one friend; on the other hand, if two strangers come with the same request, accept because you will gain one friend. St. Augustine

- If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself. St. Augustine

- Miracles are not contrary to nature, but only contrary to what we know about nature. St. Augustine

- Pray as though everything depended on God. Work as though everything depended on you. St. Augustine

- I do not fear Satan half so much as I fear those who fear him. St. Teresa of Avila

Holidays in November:

1-30 American Indian Heritage Month
1 All Saints’ Day
Day of the Dead
Authors’ Day
2 All Souls’ Day
End of Daylight Savings Time
3 Housewife’s Day
4 Election Day
6 Midpoint of Autumn
8 I hate to cook day
Parents as Teachers Day
9 Scrapple Day
World Freedom Day
11 Veterans Day
14 World Diabetes Day
15 America Recycles Day
Nativity Fast starts
16 Fast Food Day
International Day for Tolerance
17 World Peace Day
21 World TV Day
22 Stop the Violence Day
27 Thanksgiving
28 Black Friday
Leftovers Day
30 Start of Advent
St. Andrew’s Day