LEFTOVER THANKSGIVING TURKEY RECIPE IDEAS, TRIVIA, RIDDLE, DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN? THE EMPTY HAND STORY THAT’LL MELT YOUR HEART.
Happy day before Thanksgiving!
Presenting Wednesday’s Reader – packed full of interestings to keep ya company in your thoughts while basting the turkey, beating fluffy mashed potatoes, taste tasting the gravy on the stove or setting the table.
I love the story of “The Empty Hand”. And the Old Newspaper Clipping of Thankfuls.
Leslie Elman, as always, finds and shares cool random facts we never knew before.
Do I remember Encyclopedia Salesmen? Yep. My parents purchased a set that were in alphabetical order in a small 2 shelved bookcase upstairs in our home that my sisters and I referred to when we had school assignments. They were super helpful.
And, yes, I remember the silver milk box on our front porch. Rusty Houchen was our milkman’s name. The good old days. Ha!
Celebrating the season of Gratitude. We are grateful for you, Readers, for your time – 3 days a week – reading us + commenting + and spreading the word.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
See ya Friday.
Same time. Same place.
POP QUIZ
- HOW MANY PILGRIMS TRAVELED ON THE MAYFLOWER IN 1620?
a) 500
b) 350
c) 50
d) 102 - HOW MANY PILGRIMS SURVIVED TO CELEBRATE THE FIRST THANKSGIVING?
a) 100
b) 201
c) 75
d) 50 - THANKSGIVING IS ONLY CELEBRATED IN THE UNITED STATES. T or F
- NAME THE 1st DEPARTMENT STORE TO HOLD A THANKSGIVING PARADE.
a) Neiman Marcus
b) Macy’s
c) Gimbels
d) Saks 5th Ave
QUICK QUESTION
WHAT SMALL ACT OF KINDNESS WERE YOU ONCE SHOWN THAT YOU WILL NEVER FORGET?
POP QUIZ ANSWERS
- d) 102
- d) 50
- FALSE
Canada celebrates Thanksgiving the 2nd Monday in October - c) Gimbels
FROM AN OLD
NEWSPAPER CLIPPING
I am thankful for:
The taxes I pay because it means I’m employed.
The clothes that fit a little snug because it means I have enough to eat.
My very own shadow that watches me work because it means that I am out in the sunshine.
A lawn that has to be mowed, windows that need to be washed and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home.
The spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking.
All the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech.
The lady behind me at church who sings off key because it means I can hear.
The huge piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby.
The alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it really means I’M ALIVE.
THE POINT IS NOT TO PAY BACK KINDNESS BUT TO PASS IT ON.
~ JULIA ALVAREZ ~
(( Do you Remember door-to-door Encyclopedia Salesmen, Vacuum Cleaner Salesmen and the silver milk box on the front porch where the Milkman put fresh milk order in the wee hours of the morning on specific day?))
RIDDLE ME THIS
WHAT BEGINS WITH AN “E” AND ONLY HAS ONE LETTER?
BYE BYE BIRDIE
One of the best things about Thanksgiving is all of the leftover turkey; and these 2 hassle free ideas are the way to make the most of it.
TURKEY HASH
INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 lb medium Yukon Gold potatoes, cleaned and left whole
1 stick butter, divided
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 green pepper, finely chopped
1 cup shredded, cooked turkey
4 large eggs
salt and pepper
PREPARE BY
Generously cover potatoes with cold water, then simmer, partially covered, until tender, 20-25 minutes. Drain. Cool slightly. Then – peel and coarsely grate with a box grater.
While potatoes cool, melt 6 TBSP butter in a 12″ nonstick skillet over medium high heat and saute onions and peppers, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, 8-10 minutes.
Add shredded potatoes, shredded turkey, salt and pepper, stirring occasionally, until browned in spots, 15-20 minutes.
TRANSFER
Hash to 4 salad size plates.
FRY EGGS
In remaining 2 TBSP butter (more if you like).
TOP HASH
On plates with one egg each.
SPOON A LITTLE
Cranberry relish on side of plates.
SERVE
~ Hippie Cowboy recipe box
BLACK FRIDAY
SANDWICHES
On halved, fresh spectacular artisan bread (think Ciabatta or baguette) assemble by:
- Liberally spreading Mayo on both halves
- Spread on a thin layer of cranberry relish – both halves
- Thinly sliced leftover turkey
- Fresh baby spinach leaves
- Slices of deli Havarti Cheese
Serve on plates with a handful of favorite potato chips.
(( ** Leftover – if there are any – dinner rolls from Thanksgiving feast are equally delicious for these sandwiches. Kinda like sliders. ))
~ Hippie Cowboy recipe box
RIDDLE ANSWER
AN ENVELOPE
A STORY OF THANKSGIVING – THE EMPTY HAND
Thanksgiving Day was near. The first grade teacher gave her class a fun assignment – draw a picture of something for which they were thankful.
Most of the class might be considered economically disadvantaged, but still many would celebrate the holiday with turkey and other traditional goodies of the season. These, the teacher thought, would be the subjects of most of her students’ art. And they were.
But Douglas made a different kind of picture. Douglas was a different kind of boy. He was the teacher’s true child of misery, frail and unhappy.
As the other children played at recess, Douglas was likely to stand close by her side. One could only guess at the pain Douglas felt behind those sad eyes.
Yes, his picture was different. When asked to draw a picture of something for which he was thankful, he drew a hand.
Just an empty hand.
His abstract image captured the imagination of his peers. Whose hand could it be? One child guessed it was the hand of a farmer, because farmers raise turkeys.
Another suggested a police officer because the police protect and care for people. Still others guessed it was the hand of God, for God feeds us.
And so the discussion when … until the teacher almost forgot about the young artist himself.
When the children had gone on to their other assignments, she paused at Douglas’ desk, bent down, and asked him whose hand it was.
The little boy looked away and murmured, “It’s yours, teacher.”
She recalled the times she had taken his hand and walked him here or there, as she had the other students. How often had she said, “Take my hand, Douglas, we’ll go outside.” Or, let me show you how to hold your pencil,” or, “Let’s do this together.”
Douglas was most thankful for his teacher’s hand.
~ Author of this beautiful heart story is unknown. From an email chain years ago.
Fascinating Stuff
FASCINATING STUFF
- In 1911, Theodore Thomson Flynn became the first chairman of the biology department at the University of Tasmania, where he studied local animal species, such as kangaroos, Tasmanian devils and bettongs, or kangaroo rats. As a boy, his son, Errol (the same Errol Flynn who starred in “The Adventures of Robin Hood” and “Captain Blood”) helped with his father’s research, setting traps to catch bettongs, which he sold to his father for a shilling a head.
- When Eugene Ely took off in his Curtiss pusher biplane on Nov. 14, 1910, he made history as the first pilot to take off from a ship — the light cruiser USS Birmingham in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Two months later, on Jan. 18, 1911, Ely became the first pilot to both take off from and land on a ship — the USS Pennsylvania in San Francisco Bay. Less than a year after that, just two days before his 25th birthday, Ely was killed when he plane he was piloting in a flight exhibition crashed in Macon, Georgia.
- Around 1700 B.C., not long after King Hammurabi of Babylon gave the world his written code of law, Earth’s last woolly mamoth died on an island in Chukchi Sea, north of present-day Russia. Now known as Wrangel Island, the mammoths’ last resting place is, today, a Russian state nature reserve. Although the mammoths are gone, the island is home to other arctic animals, including what might be the world’s largest concentration of polar bears.
- Every hero has his nemesis and for James Bond that’s evil mastermind Ernst Starvo Blofeld, who made his fist appearance in the 1961 novel, “Thunderball,” by Ian Fleming. On screen, he’s been portrayed by Donald Pleasence, Telly Savalas, Charles Gray and Christoph Waltz. What you might no know is that Blofeld has a real-life counterpart. Ian Fleming borrowed the name from John Blofeld, a former schoolmate of his.
~ COPYRIGHT 2023 LESLIE ELMAN
DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM
Especially loved the things to be thankful for. So basic, so beautiful. Also, The Empty Hand. Very touching.
Hi Carol –
Yes, I love the two stories as well. Basic, touching, full of heart.
Thanks for reading and sharing.
BEAUTIFUL
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Hat tip to you for the kind feedback.
MEANINGFUL