It's Thanksgiving at Smerelda's...
         


          Welcome  to A Season of Thanksgiving at Smerelda's.
          I do hope you  enjoy this effort of  sharing a few
          memories,and giving thanks.
             
          ".......The turkey is in the oven, filling the air with
          the fragrance of anticipation, and my heart is glad.
          The pies are cooling on the rack, overflowing with
           the fruits of the earth, and my heart is full.

           Conversation, companionship, and love  transform the
          the rooms of this beloved home,and my heart is at peace."

                From "A True Thanksgiving"
         
           Although as a child in school we all read about The Pilgrims,
          it was not until I began to do a little research to put these
          Thanksgiving pages together, that their true plight became
          real to me.  I guess this is a good example of "bringing the
          harvest home."
          Studying the Pilgrims and the people involved in this
          "new beginning", the  characters of the people and some
          of the flavor of their hopes and dreams, ideas, work,
          and humor come to light.
          When their first winter is reflected upon, one can't help
          but feel the loss of so  many loved ones on a personal level.
          The reality of being in the middle of nowhere to maintain
          your religious beliefs, giving up what was so familiar  and
          comfortable to go to an unknown destiny was amazing to me.
          (Be sure to read the story "Pilgrim Daughter" while you
          are here.)
          They had a firm belief that sacrifices are  made for
          what you believe in, and to trust in God to lead and protect you.

          The resourcefulness and foresight of these religious outcasts
          helped lay some secure and strong foundations for our country.
          They developed  the long-lasting concept of freedoms
          and rights that we Americans enjoy and expect.
           I seem to have  a much deeper appreciation of these
          freedoms after reading about, as an adult,  just exactly
          what price was paid to obtain and protect them.

             May you and your family be abundantly blessed
            this Season of Thanksgiving...Smerelda


               Thanksgiving Stories...
              A Season of Thanksgiving by Smerelda
                A personal concept of accepting the end of a season
              Pilgrim Daughter
                One family's personal link to the Pilgrim's Plight
              A Thanksgiving Garden
                Smerelda's Cyber Thanksgiving Garden
              Bitter Winter Better Thanksgiving
                Entries from journals of The First Winter
              Squanto God's Special Indian
                Warming story of Squanto who helped the Pilgrims
              Atlantic Charter  A Thanksgiving Poem
                A Little known "Pilgrim Poem"
              Quoteable Quotes by those who said it best
                Feelings by The Famous..
              Traditional Family Recipes
              Food For The Body... And for the soul
              The Munchies
                Fritters, pineapple cheeseball, shrimp grits, pumpkin dip
                and Alabama spoon bread with pumpkin & chives
              The Turkey, Dressing, and yams
                Cajun deep fried turkey, best dressing you ever had,
                sweet potato ring, and candied yams
              The Pies and Puddings
                 Pumpkin & persimmon pie, and new slant on banana pudding
              The Salads
                Family Fruit Salads


              Homemade Crafts For Children ..

              Things to make with things you already have
                Including Indian vest, headband, drum, paper chain decoration
                and MANY more...
              Games To Play While The Turkey Cooks
                Old fashioned inside/outside games
                The Aftermath ..
              What To Do With Leftovers
                Includes Turkey Gumbo& Jambalaya..
              I Can't Believe I Ate The Whole Thing!
                Remember the old Alka-Seltzer Commercial?
              The Classics to watch and more!
                 Humorous reviews of MANY movies to rent, plus
                maybe "pruning the family tree?"
              Smerelda's Syberlogue
                An after dinner perusal of all things peculiar.
                 
            Note: The butterfly which travels with you on your journey
            through "A Season of Thanksgiving" was graciously sent to
            me when I first started Smerelda's Garden. I can no longer
            find her site online. If she is, however, still online, I hope
            she sees the butterfly is still flying.
               
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              Please sign my Guestbook,
                   so I'll know you came to call

             
             
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