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Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree is one of the many books that our generation has rediscovered upon becoming parents. It's ubiquitous -- found in every library, bookstore, and preschool classroom. And yet, rereading it again for the first time in thirty (or so) years can come as a bit of a shock. Many parents we know have commented: "It's so depressing!" And on one level, that is perfectly true. A boy and a tree have an idyllic, playful, nurturing relationship that is forever transformed when the boy, inevitably, begins to grow up. Now he doesn't want to play; he wants apples for money. And then wood for a house. And then a tree trunk to make a boat. And then, finally, a stump to rest upon. The tree offers him everything he needs, and each time he accepts, the progressively shorn and mutilated tree is "happy." Read More »
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Have you seen Sharon Stone's new red carpet outfit? It reminds me of cafe waitress meets the Fonz. I hope you are all having a great Saturday. Its a little cool and overcast here in Cave Springs, Missouri. I am happy to report my son Andrew has lost another 20 pounds so says his…
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Ah, it's the holidays. A time of year when friends and families spend lots of quality time together. A time when bad habits and annoying relatives can surface and leave a bad aftertaste. With this in…
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The other day I posed (what I thought was) an important question to my Canadian boyfriend: When do Canadians start decorating and shopping for the holidays if they don't have Thanksgiving as a benchmark?
(Quick historical background: Canadians do have Thanksgiving, but it's in October for some reason, far too early to serve as a threshold for the holiday season.)
His answer was woefully unsatisfying (it amounted to a confused head shake and a doubtful "December first?"), but I guess that's not entirely his fault. Even here in the good ol' US of A we've thrown that whole "holiday decorations up after Thanksgiving" tradition out the window. These days there are wreaths on doors by early November and stores are already chock full of cool gift sets like these.
What do you think, are we jumping the gun on the holiday season or do you welcome the ever-earlier return of decorations, carols and gingerbread smells wafting in the air?
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Continuing our month of answering your Thanksgiving-related questions, I'd like to address the subject of dry-brining. There's…
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Thanksgiving is one of those holidays firmly planted in the realm of "the bigger, the better": large family gatherings, lavish dinners and no small amounts of hustle and bustle. But what if, by some wayward circumstance, you and your significant other find yourselves just a duo this holiday season? Here are three simple and fun ways to partake in the spirit of Turkey Day, when it's just two of you. Read More »
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I remember my first turkey.
I was 25; it was 20 pounds. I had no idea what I was doing, so I
snagged a recipe from a glossy food mag that promised to produce
the perfect turkey. The ingredients required for the stuffing and
the glaze cost exactly two dollars more than the turkey itself,
not… Read More »
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Thanksgiving turkey roasting tips and recipes are swirling around now that the big day is approaching, and of course our Turkey Primer offers shopping,…
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With apologies to the original and to its author (either Clement C. Moore or Henry Livingston, Jr., the authorship is apparently disputed) I present “‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving,” as seen through the eyes of my son.
‘Twas the night before…
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The number of calories
consumed at an average Thanksgiving dinner is 3,000. Yes, you read
it right. 3,000. That's nearly twice the number of
calories you're supposed to consume in a whole day. To
avoid a turkey day pig-a-thon, and the weight gain that comes with
it, keep… Read More »
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