Views of the Neighborhood – Thanksgiving Decorations?

November 20, 2022November 20, 2022 ~ John W. Howell ~ 81 Comments

Today’s tour is in search of Thanksgiving decorations. It seems the thanksgiving holiday gets short shrift when it comes to decorations. Halloween and Christmas get the lion’s share, but Thanksgiving? Not so much. Today we are catered by Hoover’s Cooking of Austin, and our entertainment is Carrie Underwood although there is a technical problem pasting a YouTube video.

So lets all hop on the bus.

Here we have a fall banner that reads ‘Hello Fall.'” Not quite Thanksgiving but a step in the right direction.

Not really sure about these wreaths. It could be Thanksgiving.

A wooden wreath and some pumpkins? Maybe

A crow, strawman, and fir tree with a fall bow? I’d say nice try.

I would call this the all-season approach.

A pile of gourds on the mailbox holder? Yeah sure.

A lit snowman and two pumpkins? Nope.

A turkey in the flower bed? Now you are talking.

A pilgrim on the mailbox? Yeah, let’s give it to ’em.

Now here is a Thanksgiving decoration with no questions asked.

I hope you enjoyed the tour and will have some food. Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving and a super week. If you would like to listen to Carrie Underwood’s Thanksgiving song click on the link. It seems I’m having trouble with a direct paste from YouTube.

https://youtu.be/Eo5ZLdbcZsk

Thanksgiving Eve is as Thanksgiving Eve Does

November 27, 2013November 22, 2013 ~ John W. Howell ~ 25 Comments

Thanksgiving

Wednesday seems to come quicker every week. I guess that is a good thing considering it is the first time in the week we think about being able to make the weekend. This week is kind of special in it is Thanksgiving Eve. I’m not sure anyone really thinks of a particular day in this manner. Hey, it is better than just letting the day before Thanksgiving go by without notice. In honor of Thanksgiving Eve I’m going to tell a little story on Fiction Favorites about “The Night before Thanksgiving.” Before I start, I need to set the mood. Ready? Okay here goes; a nice fire is in the fireplace, cats, dogs, kids and family gathered around. Cranberry scone and a mug of hot pumpkin spice toddy (give me some slack, this is fiction) is in your hand. The CD player is set up with one-hundred of your favorite Thanksgiving songs and the soft Thanksgiving lights are twinkling on the Thanksgiving tree. I think we are there. Here is the story:

The night before Thanksgiving,

All around the place.

The family has gathered,

In every inch of space.

The turkey is soaking,

To thaw in water base.

The drinks, food are bought,

Stored, guarded by mace.

Teenagers seem quiet,

New games of face?

Mother-in–law has advice,

Need a fly to chase.

Dad in the cups,

Never liked that vase.

Sis is complaining,

Husband left, no trace.

Still it’s good,

Thanksgiving embrace.

Happy Thanksgiving y’all.

Top Ten No No’s is as Top Ten No Nos Does

November 25, 2013November 22, 2013 ~ John W. Howell ~ 22 Comments

Here is the 21st installment of Ten Top Lists of What Not to Do by Marie Ann Bailey of 1WriteWay at http://1writeway.com and John W. Howell of Fiction Favorites at http://johnwhowell.com. These lists are simu-published on our blogs each Monday. We hope you enjoy

Top Ten Things Not to do with Your Thanksgiving Turkey

10. If you get a live bird for Thanksgiving, do not let your kids dress it up as a pilgrim. At best the bird might actually look good. At worst you’ll probably be having carry out for dinner after the kids discover what is going to happen to their new best friend

9. If you decide to get a live bird for Thanksgiving, do not listen when it starts singing “gimmie three steps . . . gimmie three steps mister. . . Gimme three steps toward the door.” Chances are that your kids are playing Lynard Skynard too loud and you’ve already had too many celebratory drinks.

8. If you decide to get a live bird for Thanksgiving, do not watch the “Presidential Pardon” ceremony on TV with your kids. You will likely end up with the same problem as item #10.
7. If you decide to go hunting for your Thanksgiving turkey, be aware the turkey population has ways of fooling you into shooting a cow or your hunting partner. The turkey won’t care who gets hurts as long as it’s not a turkey.

6. If you plan on deep-frying your Thanksgiving turkey, do not drop a cold icy bird into a giant vat of hot peanut oil. At best you will have an overflow of hot liquid that will take a lot of elbow grease to clean up. At worst you may burn down your house.

5. If your turkey is still frozen on Thanksgiving, do not invent a game where the turkey is used as a bowling ball with empty beer bottles as pins. It may sound fun after you’ve had all those before dinner drinks, but the clean-up of thawed bird and broken glass will be hell.

4. If you plan to serve fresh turkey on Thanksgiving, do not let the bird sit out as you would a frozen one. At best you’ll wind up with a precooked bird; at worst, you will all wind up seeing the friendly ER doctor in the early morning hours.

3. If you plan to serve tofu turkey for Thanksgiving, do not try to dress it up to look like an actual turkey. Your guests won’t be fooled and might actually wonder if you have lost your mind.

2. If you find that your turkey is too big for the refrigerator, do not put it out in the cold garage on the hood of the car. At best your cat may help itself and you’ll have shredded turkey for dinner. At worst you may forget the turkey is there until you’re making that frantic dash to the store for eggnog at which point you slam on the brakes, your turkey rolls off the hood and into the street, and then is run over by a Hummer.

1. If you have leftover turkey for Thanksgiving, do not try to disguise it in other forms. You are not on “Chopped” and good ole turkey is best served as itself.

Top Ten No Nos is as Top Ten No Nos Does

November 11, 2013November 9, 2013 ~ John W. Howell ~ 13 Comments

Here is the Nineteenth installment of Ten Top Lists of What Not to Do by Marie Ann Bailey of 1WriteWay at http://1writeway.com and John W. Howell of Fiction Favorites at http://johnwhowell.com. These lists are simu-published on our blogs each Monday. We hope you enjoy. This list is in recognition of those who are planning to travel during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Top Ten Things Not to Do When Traveling

10. If you decide to drive your car when traveling, do not pack the trunk and backseat so that all the passengers need supplemental oxygen to stay alive.

9. While traveling in the car, do not think your favorite onion and Limburger cheese sandwiches will go unnoticed when you go for a snack. If you do, you may find yourself on the roof with grandmother.

8. If you are the designated driver for a portion of the trip, do not think you can rest your eyes for even a moment. If you do, you may find permanent rest as well as a handsome marker on the side of the highway with your name on it.

7. If you should experience a flat tire while driving on a trip, do not attempt to instruct your spouse or traveling companion on the intricacies of changing a tire while you stand-off to the side observing. If you do, you may be wearing the spare for the rest of the journey.

6. If you decide to take an airplane when traveling, do not try to tell security why your religion forbids taking off your shoes. If you do, you may find a full body search applied as the viable alternative.

5. When on an airplane while traveling, do not call a flight attendant by repeatedly pressing the flight attendant call button. If you do, your reward may just be a visit from Mr. Coffee in your lap.

4. When on an airplane while traveling, do not complain loudly and frequently about the lack of food or water. If you do, the flight crew might insure that you may get the same experience as you would on the ground at Guantanamo.

3. When on an airplane while traveling, do not attempt to recline your seat without asking the person behind you if it is OK. If you don’t ask, the passenger behind you may choose to see you later in the terminal where no air marshals are present.

2. When getting off the airplane and you are seated in the back row, do not try to push your way forward while other people are trying to retrieve their carry-on bags. If you do, you chance being kidnapped by Somali pirates and held for ransom. (Oh, if it only worked that way.)

1. When walking as a group through the air terminal while traveling, do not walk five abreast while counting the steps to baggage claim to see who wins the bet. If you do, here’s hoping a baggage cart slides sideways trying to stop, but connects with your group like you are ten-pins in a bowling alley.