Thanksgiving is looking a wee bit different this year. In the past, we only had to practice social distancing from that second helping of pumpkin pie, or, perhaps our only concession was not having whipped cream on that second piece of pie.
The CDC, Dr. Fauci and even our governors, have all weighed in on our annual holiday gathering, so you’re likely still tweaking the menu and counting noses for today’s Turkey Day table.
But the Scarecrow Family does not need to heed any warnings … they just keep on doing their own thing as they always have.
The scenario goes like this:
Mama is there to put out the welcome mat and greet everyone with hugs and kisses galore.
Papa loves to welcome home the whole clan while wearing a bow tie and his best overalls.
Sandy arrives breathlessly, announcing she’s been cookin’ and tastin’ goodies all day. P.S. She confided she even had to loosen her skirt, BUT … Sandy we didn’t see any Tupperware dishes full of food!
Sophie and Stanley are newlyweds. They brought wine and a present for Mama (they re-gifted a wedding gift; a tad tacky lovebirds).
Seraphina is a bit of a diva – she’s got her head in the clouds and stars in her eyes. She struck a pose, tossed her head back and said “I’m sorry darlin’s … I had no time to make a dish to pass.”
Sebastian is the lawyer in the family. He was working this morning, didn’t have time to change, said he’d chat a while, take a turkey sandwich to go. He stopped at the drugstore and bought one can of cranberry sauce and called it done – hmm.
Sonny has a perpetual smile and a glow about him. He brought a couple of sweet potato pies and one pumpkin pie.
Slim, (who is aptly named), brought the mashed potatoes and gravy. Mama fawned all over Slim saying “Boy, you just gotta get some pounds on you soon!!”
Sylvia brought her crock pot full of yummy green bean casserole and slyly said she’s really got her eye on the pie.
Susan and Simon were dressed to kill; they brought yams.
Stacy was sure to wear flowers in her hair and brought organic dinner rolls.
And finally … smilin’ Samantha brought the stuffing. Woo hoo!
Mama looked around at her family, all a bit bedraggled-looking from the recent windstorms and almost bustin’ out of their clothes, then smiled and turned to Papa and said “we are missing the main part of our meal – oh my … Papa – we have no bird!”
Just then the front door opened and there was Stuart, the last of the clan to arrive, fashionably late and empty-handed (as usual).
“Hi y’all – happy to be here. Hey, wait a minute … why are y’all lookin’ at me that way?”
Such is the way of Thanksgiving dinner with the Scarecrow Family. After they ate their tasty meal, the womenfolk headed to the kitchen to do dishes and parcel up leftovers, the menfolk patted their straw, then snoozed or watched the Detroit Lions football game and Papa, always lovin’ a little attention, got out his fiddle.
This is my first blog and I enjoy writing each and every post immensely. I started a walking regimen in 2011 and decided to create a blog as a means of memorializing the people, places and things I see on my daily walks. I have always enjoyed people watching, and so my blog is peppered with folks I meet, or reflections of characters I have known through the years. Often something piques my interest, or evokes a pleasant memory from my memory bank, so this becomes a “slice o’ life” blog post that day. I respect and appreciate nature and my interaction with Mother Nature’s gifts is also a common theme. Sometimes the most-ordinary items become fodder for points to ponder over and touch upon. My career has been in the legal field and I have been a legal secretary for four decades, primarily working in downtown Detroit, and now working from my home. I graduated from Wayne State University with a degree in print journalism in 1978, though I’ve never worked in that field. I like to think this blog is the writer in me finally emerging!! Walking and writing have met and shaken hands and the creative juices are flowing once again in Walkin’, Writin’, Wit & Whimsy – hope you think so too. - Linda Schaub
Very clever JP! I was afraid to ask exactly how that classification might change. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours as well – I hope you came up with a plan for outdoor dining. Our Michigan weather is fairly mild today – hope yours is similar.
Ha ha – yes, I maybe should have made him a creative type, like a writer or an artist, instead. It was the tie made me say he was a lawyer. And a funny thing Joni … I don’t know if you noticed, but I decided each of their first names should begin with an “S” so I thought up a few “S” names on my name, but needed more, so I Googled around for names and came upon some really different names than we grew up with. Every since I wrote this post last Sunday, I’ve been getting lots of “suggestions” for baby accessories, the book “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” … obviously that was a bad idea Googling names!
HA! Sometimes you have to be careful what you google! I thought maybe he reminded you of your boss? Does he wear plaid shirts. My boss wore the same kind of plaid shirt (not flannel) all the time, when everyone else wore white or solid colors? Maybe plaid shirts were in for awhile? It was a cute idea anyway – looking forward to the Scarecrow family Christmas gathering.
My boss probably has gone in wearing flannel as we had no dress code. He wears island shirts in the Summer to work, no tie. He always kept a suit/shirt & tie in the closet in case he had an emergency meeting as he always got/gets dressed up for client meetings. When we were still at the Firm my boss got dressed up, but he had this unique thing going for years. He has ties for every occasion – he ordered them from a tie catalog of unusual ties. If it was Easter week, then a week of different Easter ties. Maybe I’ll change Sebastian to a creative type instead. Yes, maybe I need to use “Duck Duck Go” when I am Googling so I don’t get those type of ads … 🙂 Glad you liked the Scarecrows … I have to start putting together something fun for Christmas.
Okay, Sebastian Esquire stays then. No, my boss has not mentioned it any more lately. We’ve been busy the last few months and should be into the new year for these new matters. When he goes, I go. 🙂
Your scarecrow guests sound like the real thing! I especially love the guy who bought a can of cranberry sauce and called it a day. I had a guest do that. It’s not that it was bad but at the last minute I had to run around opening and getting it into a serving dish. After that everything brought had to be ready to serve. Oh yeah, one year the salad person brought a grocery bag with all the makings and proceeded to take up much needed counter space doing that at my house.
Ha ha – I’ve always had a small family, just my parents and me, so the most at a holiday dinner was five at my grandparents’ house many years ago So we didn’t have any of this family drama going on, but I’ve heard other people complain enough about “that one guest” or the guest who feels they are exempt from bringing a dish to pass or helping with the dishes afterward.
I liked Sylvia too Diane – it was that green bean casserole in the crockpot, that, thanks to you, I bought and am happily using! Hope your Thanksgiving was as special as you are.
That’s quite a feast! The Scarecrow Family know how to do up Thanksgiving. 🙂 I love it when everybody brings a dish. Thank you for a fun post — the story brightened my day and thanks also for the delightful e-card! Happy Thanksgiving, Linda! Many blessings to you.
Yes, they “do it up right” – don’t they Barbara? I think it is nice when dinner is potluck style and everyone brings their favorite dish or specialty. I’m glad this post brightened your day and you might have kicked up your heels a little while the e-card was playing. Thank you for the holiday blessings as well and hopefully you got to touch base with your family via Zoom or otherwise on this usually family-oriented day.
Happy Thanksgiving, Linda something we do not have in the UK. Over recent years a lot of villages here now have scarecrow festivals but often in the summer.
Thank you Andy – it is a big holiday here in the U.S., which normally kicks off the entire holiday season. Growing up in Canada, our Thanksgiving was in October, so it seemed a little more subdued. A fellow blogger who lives in Finland sent me photos of the scarecrow festival he attended a few years back. This was after I posted some another harvest-type post. I believe they call them “Turf Heads” at that scarecrow festival. It sounded fun.
Thank you Ann Marie – I am glad you like this post. I went for a long walk after the Park on a sunny Saturday, (one of the days I visited the harvest display on Emmons Boulevard) and there were scarecrows everywhere. I came home with many photos and while walking, this idea was starting to bubble around in my brain. I did another scarecrow post for Thanksgiving in the past, but not as many “family members” … thank you for the nice suggestion – that made my day!
Thanks Matti – when you and I discussed “turf heads” and scarecrows one month ago and I promised you lots of scarecrows on 11/26, I was not kidding. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed these straw characters and their holiday feast. Have a wonderful day as well.
Thanks Jeanine – glad to give you a smile … in harvest season here, there are scarecrows adorning homeowners’ property everywhere you look – I love their goofy grins.
I like that idea that they are country kitsch. 🙂 Have a good day (what is left of it).
If only our whole family could gather like the scarecrow family did. That’s quite a collection of scarecrows! Like Sophie – I had to loosen my waistband. I wear my most comfortable pants on Thanksgiving! 🙂
Yes, no worries at all for the scarecrow family.
We have a lot of people in the neighborhood that do harvest decor, so I collected these fairly quickly. We all need “fat pants” sometimes. 🙂
Glad you enjoyed this Sabine. I collected so many scarecrow shots on that walk that while walking home, I decided I needed to do something clever with them. We have a lot of homes in the neighborhoods that decorate for harvest time and start doing so right after Labor Day.
HA! Such fun! I loved all of it – the captions, the characters, the card – it gave me my smile for the day, and it’s been decades since I’ve heard that song. So imaginative Linda, I do marvel at your ability to constantly come up with new and different ideas!
I probably would be just as guilty … my prior track record for cooking would have people saying “it’s okay – just bring yourself!” I once burned slice-and-bake cookies!
That’s easy to do – as ovens are so tempermental. Last week I made one of those Betty Crocker cookie packages that only make 12, as I didn’t want a whole bunch from scratch, and it was overdone, but we ate them anyway.
Those slice-and-bake cookies were the ones that are already pre-sliced, so even worse, since I only peeled and placed them on the cookie sheet, but they were sad-looking cookies, I’ll tell you that. Ever sadder … my mom’s birthday was Valentine’s Day and I had bought the cookies with red hearts in the middle to bake for her for her birthday. She passed away two weeks before her birthday. I knew those cookies were in the fridge – wrestled with the decision … should I make them, toss them … wasn’t sure how I felt, but made them and burnt them – it was just not meant to be with those cookies. I’ve never made cookies or anything in the oven since.
Ah….that’s so sad. I might have been tempted to just throw them out – too many memories. The ready to bake mix just needs a spoon or two of melted butter and water, and I added some extra peanut butter too. Easy to make and to burn apparently!
I was pretty embarrassed and swore I’d never tell anyone about it and here I am. But that was the last time I made them. I think I mentioned this to yu before, but my mom used to make peanut butter cookies and brownies from scratch for years – we always had them in the house. I was shopping one time and brought home Betty Crocker peanut butter cookie and brownie mixes, both in a pouch. My mother said “why?” I said to make it easier. She made them and they went in around the same temp as I recall, so cookies finished, the brownies went right in, same temp. She said she couldn’t taste the difference – I’m easy to please and she never made them from scratch again. Me … I burn slice-and-bake cookies. Baby steps. 🙂
That’s the one I used – Betty Crocker – and I thought the peanut butter one was good, although I did add a tablespoon more of plain PB. I’ve tried making them from scratch a couple of times and didn’t like how they turned out – too bland, not enough PB, so a friend gave me her recipe and it had so much butter and PB in it it was so high fat I didn’t think I could make it for mom with her gallbladder problem, and the mix just makes 12 so a smaller amount. My mom used to make good PB cookies when we were kids but she never measured her ingredients, so it’s hard to get an accurate recipe out of her. I’ve also made the Betty Crocker chocolate chip package and they’re good too…..for when you need a treat!
I can remember coming home from school or work and smelling peanut butter cookies – so wonderful. Before my boss and I went out on our own, our building had a small bakery in it – they made croissants, cookies and brownies. You could buy three tiny warm chocolate chip cookies in a wrapper for $0.25. The whole building smelled of fresh chocolate chip cookies all the time. They were delicious. I would get some for a snack to have later, kind of stupid when we always had cookies at home. 🙂
Not stupid at all, esp for that price! One Tim Hortons cookie now is $1 or more probably as I haven’t worked for years. Not worth it. I sometimes wonder how people can afford to eat out. Snow storm forecast tomorrow Linda – batten down the hatches!
It was a deal even though the cookies were fairly small – nothing like having a warm chocolate chip cookie. Will I ever have one again? I have not used the toaster oven in years and it is too small to bake much. Maybe it’s better. I never knew how people could afford to eat out every day, especially in downtown Detroit when I was still working in the City. Most places were very pricey. People who are now working from home probably realize how much they spent every day, apart from gas for their commute. I had heard you were going to get slammed with snow – I hope it did not happen to you Joni. We were supposed to get 4-8 inches and ended up with 2-4 inches. I had wet snow and ice underneath – it was heavy but the driveway has melted already. Too bad we got this as it is supposed to be nice now through the weekend and into next week too. The snow spoiled our nice weather/clear roads streak.
I’m bummed because the driveway is clear to the concrete, but the street and most of the sidewalks (as far as I can see) were icy and ruts from where cars drove and people have walked. I don’t think the City plowed … maybe on the weekend by mid-day I can walk but not sure. We are not slated to have any snow all next week, so I hope it melts everything over the weekend. Hope you got all your errands done before this week – you were hoping to.
All errands done now, except groceries which are local – it’s a relief to get it all done, in case the stats get worse. All our snow has melted and I was able to walk yesterday and today too, so that was also good. Small things make me happy these days.
I know what you are saying Joni … I really could have walked Thursday but was leery of going to the Park with all the ice. We had ice on the street and sidewalks. I said they didn’t plow or salt – I later found salt in the street, so they must have salted, not plowed and it kept refreezing. I went to the Park yesterday morning. One side of the Park was full of ice on the path so I had to walk on the grass. Today most of the ice was gone. I am happy we got a reprieve and didn’t get what we were supposed to have. I’m glad to hear you are done with everything – it does feel good and I hope not to venture out, except walking and shoveling – our stats are terrible here and deaths counts and case counts are rising daily but today we had 193 deaths, but some are due to records review/reporting now, but still. We are setting daily records for all the wrong reasons.
Covid stats are okay here, but not Toronto way, but I still don’t want to go out too much. I walked today but briefly as it was just too cold and damp….just out to get a bit of fresh air. Next week looks like some sun.
I think they are going to keep our restrictions in place – the Governor gives her next press conference on December 8th. Like you, now it is just walks – it was really cold today and I went to two River parks and to my regular park (just briefly there). I have not warmed up since I’ve been home. It was 28 or 29 when I left the house this morning. I am hearing a warm-up this week, but I also heard some precip for next Saturday and maybe snow on Sunday. I took the car for a run today since it was clear out. I didn’t want to have to buy gas until the next surge post-holidays passes. Enjoy the snow-free week Joni. I am behind here again – hope to catch up soon.
Thank you Joni – your comment made my day! I like that song too and could just picture someone fiddling away and playing it with the whole scarecrow family around. I decided I had so many photos of these scarecrows from the neighborhood, that I should do something creative with them, especially that big crow! I’ve got an idea bubbling in my brain for Christmas and hope I can pull that off too. 🙂
I’ve been meaning to tell you this for a week already … last year I gave you two radio stations that go all-Christmas music on November 1st. They were WNIC 100.3 and The Breeze 98.7. The Breeze just became an alternative music station last week, so if you go there, no, you are not losing your mind.
Thanks Linda – I haven’t been listening to the radio at all lately as I don’t drive anywhere, but I have been listening to my Christmas playlist on my IPod when I walk each day, for about a week now, and am enjoying hearing all the tunes again. Kind of getting me in the spirit, also hung two outdoor wreaths today as it was so nice. I don’t think I’ll put up as much stuff as I usually do this year though.
You’re welcome Joni – I listened one Saturday and I had to shut it off as the loud Christmas songs (the newer ones) actually got on my nerves. I like the original tunes the best, but I have to say the Mariah Carey songs just get on my nerves. I have not hung the wreath up yet, but will this week … next year things will be better hopefully and we can all put more effort into decorating.
Thanks Michael – it was very relaxing … I really did nothing for four days. We are having our first major snow storm of the Winter season beginning tomorrow, so I made the most of being outside/walking.
We have had a great November Michael. We had some days that it was 70F (21C) and even yesterday we had 50 F (10C) … today we have this snow. The weather’s been crazy – we needed jackets around Labor Day. You guys have been on lockdown forever, so it probably does seem sudden to you. I hear you are getting a little reprieve though.
Weve beenin heavy lockdown since start of August. We get a few days off for good behaviour at Christmas then its back indoors until the spring . Hopefully. Im happy at home tbh. Not going back to the way it was. Nope 🙂
I didn’t realize it was heavy lockdown til Spring – wow. I think they should have done that nationwide here and it might have prevented what we have now. We are in week #2 of our latest “pause” and fully expect on December 8th, our Governor will extend it. You are lucky you have the career that you can work from home the rest of your days … good news there. And I don’t think things will ever be the same again, vaccine or otherwise. We have too many anti-vaxxers here and I will get it eventually, but definitely will take my time getting it and for us that’s next April.
ah Linda – this was a post that has left me smiling –
I have never had a Thanksgiving with the Scarecrow Family and this was such a clever idea for a post and for a pandemic Thanksgiving – well done –
Thank you Yvette – glad to give you a smile. I was walking around the neighborhood and got so many scarecrow photos I decided to do something fun with them.
You did a simply fantastic job with this!
I almost bought scarecrows this year – we have nkt had them in so long – I never got it do that and so this post brought joy for that reason too
And maybe next year when we grow out sunflowers we can add a scarecrow or two!?
Glad you liked it Yvette. I had a lot of fun putting it together. People here started putting out their harvest decor so early this year and one sunny Saturday I made the rounds and got all these scarecrow pics. Yes, scarecrows and sunflowers would make a great combo and hopefully will brighten our respective blogs next year. The last scarecrow I got was a girl, very cute and she was almost life-sized. I went to put her stake into the ground, pounded it a little and she fell apart on me … she lost half her clothes, a lot of straw. I thing the glue had become too dried out and I had to throw her away … next year will be better for shopping around more.
Or you could make some –
We used to go to a fall fest when the kids were young and the best part was they had “make a scarecrow” activity – and had a huge set up
This huge pile of used jeans
Then a huge couple piles of button up shirts
Nylons for the head, Twine, some accessories –
Like hats – etc
And bales of hay/straw
And we could each make one – it was fun
But they were sometimes heavy and had to carry them to the car
Anyhow – getting back to the one of yours that fell apart – some of the store ones really are flimsy –
That one that fell apart was really flimsy Yvette. It was almost comical really, but I bought it when the harvest decor came out in late August and was excited to put it up as it matched the house (same colonial blue color for her dress). When the second appendage fell off, I was disgusted and threw it out. I’d have been better with one of the scarecrows that stands up like they have at Michael’s. We had something cool here – an event at the Botanical Gardens called “The Scarecrow Walk” … you paid $25.00 to enter and for that you got one wooden form (which looked like a cross with a head). You picked that up in advance and took it home and decorated it, then took it to the Botanical Gardens and they placed it on the grounds with your name and the scarecrow’s name. The Botanical Gardens has these events to raise $ for upkeep of the Conservatory and grounds. I would have liked to go, but it was Friday at 4:30 and maybe next year they could have it on a weekend as it’d be fun to make a scarecrow then photograph all of them. Maybe next year we have no “gathering worries” either. Some people around here have really elaborate harvest decor with the hay bales, mums, scarecrows, gourds – very festive!
Hi Linda – I like the festive fall decor you noted in your area but do not always like the dark cemetery themed Halloween stuff – just my opinion and taste
And I hope the so offer the weekend option – a weekday at 4:30 seems not the best time
And their event sounds awesome and what a great fundraiser idea
I’m not keen on that dark-themed Halloween stuff either. I got some zombie pics as they had scary faces and I put them in a photo that was a collage designed to look like a Zoom call. I figured next year Zoom calls will likely be in the rear window … for personal use I mean – I think people will continue doing them for work purpose. There are some ghastly and gory themes that people make … I don’t “get” that either when there are beautiful themes you can make.
Yeah – the gory is part of the fun at times
We had one year where we decorated the front with spider webs and dangling items like plastic spiders and had a kit that gave us stuff – we played themed music and had a strobe light! lol
But after that year I realized the sinister and dark vibe and just felt convicted personally – want to have things that celebrate life
And we did go to Busch gardens Halloween scare week a couple times and that was super fun – maybe not everyone’s cup of tea but Linda – it was so much fun – there characters walk around and interact – it is not just scaring everyone –
Well funny all this fall
Fest talk and it is December 3rd – now my mind is on Xmas decor and lights –
Not much – just a tad and a very small tree just for the lights and mood
I have to start decorating a little again Yvette – maybe next year, maybe when retired … I took my little moose with the plaid antlers out of the cupboard and will put him up … so there is something. I’ve not even put the wreath up yet … I feel I am behind in everything. Now that sounds fun at Busch Gardens. They have something like that at the Detroit Zoo, but more a light festival. It sounds like a lot of fun too.
The lights at the zoo sound nice 1
And I recall back in the late 80s when bust with college and my holiday started on the 23rd!
Just with school and work I was busy and Christmas did not start for me until then and Linda – sometimes if I feel late to decorate or Kate in any way – I think back to starting the 23rd and I sigh — knowing I can take my time and get moving at my own pace.
Ya know?
And so how much we decorate or put out
And when we do it???
Our timeline – right?
And one year we put up our Xmas lights and tree on thanksgiving – and never again because we grew tired of it by the 25th!!
And we learned that taking our time in December makes us feel fresher between Xmas and New Years –
—
And I do know your moose with the plaid!
I know for years I put the decoration up on the day after Thanksgiving – it is a small house and so all the regular knick-knacks and collectibles, etc. (house is full of country flair items) … everything had to be tucked away or put in the boxes where the Christmas decorations came from – it was a whole event decorating. An entire day and an entire day to take it down and that was New Year’s Eve. And now I do nothing but my little moose. I know when retired I will put more energy into doing things like I did – but where do we find the time Yvette? I am thinking about the candy dishes – there were different types of candies and foil-wrapped chocolates for the various dishes bought over the years … this was and is a job for younger legs!!
Yes, I agree. I used to put a lot of effort into everything – but it was tiring, I have to admit that. I used to spend countless hours in the garden, mostly the backyard. Loved my butterfly garden, fed/watered the birds – then we got rats … had to remove all bird paraphernalia. Then we had two back-to-back Polar Vortex events … I lost a lot of plants and bushes, my entire butterfly garden. I said to myself I would never put that much effort outside again – ever. I was almost fanatical that the garden would look perfect, not a weed in sight. I don’t think I can do that even when retired although I would like to look out and see beautiful flowers again, but with the erratic weather due to climate change, I am reluctant to go through that much effort and expense again, only to lose everything out there.
Thanks for stating that! I have lost many of hours in the garden and have had different phases – especially between 2007 and 2012
And now – just a little garden time is more than enough – I enjoy it – need it – but nkt where I want to immerse
–
And rats? Yikes! That must ha e been crazy
Yes, I put more effort into the yard this year than in recent years. I may do something when retired, but never the extent I did before. The rats were terrible – we had a pest control service for several years then he got rid of the dog. Then he got another dog a few years later – the rats came back. I had to get rid of bird feeders and birdbaths due to the pest control bait boxes. It upset me a lot – I understand we still have them at night – my neighbor sees them as he has a firepit and sits out there late at night. I won’t go outside in the dark. I know they have rats in various neighborhoods and also cities around me – that was caused because they widened a major street in our City and neighboring cities and dug up a lot of property to make a wider road … not nice at all. It is a nice neighborhood other than that and I happen to have a lot of bushes (that lived) and rosebushes and this causes an outside perimeter for critters to hide. Rabbits for one. Squirrels also.
I am hopeful it is better – they say by next Fall people will gather in big stadiums to watch college football. That is a more normal schedule. I’m not a college football fan, but Dr. Fauci threw that out there to say if we are careful and mask up, socially distance, all are steps toward making next Fall normal.
Yes, I am hopeful too – not only are the events we just took for granted not happening, not all just sports, but there were lots of art fairs and now holiday fairs, parades … all cancelled, but the dire consequences of a tanking economy is downright scary. Our restaurant owners banded together to file a lawsuit against the Governor and it was dismissed. They are livid … on December 8th our latest “pause” expires – they are sure they will leave restaurant/bars shut down through Christmas.
I hope that is not the case – that they stay shut down! Yikes
And was talking with a few folks and everyone seems to agree that the worse governed is Cuomo from New York – whew – have heard nightmare stories
Well our Governor extended our “pause” for another 12 days from today and there is no doubt that she will extend now until after the entire holiday period. I don’t personally know anyone impacted by this pause as to a restaurant owner or worker. I did work through college at a diner and I was paid a small wage and counted on tips and at holiday time people were often more generous … this was a diner, so tips were not large like a sit-down restaurant, but yes there is still takeout options for bars/restaurants – I don’t know how many people are doing this though.
Yes – we passed our 10,000th death today, so flags are at half-mast for the next 10 days (one day for each group of 1,000 persons). Someone who has a restaurant in a hotel, has taken “X” number of rooms in the hotel, removed the beds, put in tables and chairs and you can rent the room for $50.00 and have your meal catered. Now that is innovative … six people max in the room. Apparently, it is an expensive restaurant and the $50.00 does not cover food/drinks/tips, just the room rental.
Thanks Janis – glad you liked it. In my travels around the neighborhood, I had collected so many scarecrow photos, I decided to put a funny spin on those photos. 🙂 I had fun creating this post. My Thanksgiving was quiet too … we had nice quiet weather and so I did a lot of walking as I wanted to finish this year’s goal which I did. Now that the big meal is over, you should definitely bake a pie and enjoy it … do you have enough berries from your yard? (I think you have blueberries?)
Janis – my mom always bought blueberries in the Summer and froze them. She’d wash them and lay them on cookie sheets in the freezer and make blueberry muffins in the middle of Winter. Well I miss those days as I’m no baker or cook. I follow a woman with a cooking blog – I sent Diane a picture of a pumpkin pie where someone had fashioned a pie crust topping of a squirrel with leaves and acorns, all from pie dough, for Thanksgiving. We had a back-and-forth and I said my mom used a lattice pie gizmo for her berry pies – Diane did too and today sent me her blueberry pie recipe from frozen blueberries … now is that perfect timing? I think so and here it is if you don’t have a recipe for blueberries pie with frozen berries: https://indianeskitchen.com/2017/07/18/easy-blueberry-pie/
Thank you for the pie recipe! That’s exactly how we freeze our berries. I’ll compare Diane’s recipe to the one we’ve used and decide which sounds yummier!
So creative, Linda, nice job! Looking at all the help the scarecrow family had to prepare the meal makes me stop wondering why I looked like a wild-haired scarecrow once I got done cooking all the dishes you listed above! LOL. Happy Belated Thanksgiving to you!!
Ha ha – you worked hard doing it all yourself. They had the right idea and got lots of cooperation. Glad you enjoyed this post Shelley. I thought it would be fun to do something different for Thanksgiving. I have an idea bubbling around for Christmas if I can get it to work. Back at you Shelley!
Thanks Zena – I took so many scarecrow pictures as I walked around the neighborhood, that I decided I should do something fun with those pictures and came up with this. I had a difficult time coming up with names as I wanted them to have names that began with the letter “S” – you will laugh at this. I Googled to find a site for girls and boys’ names starting with the letter “S” and now I am getting ads for child care and pregnancy info – oops! I am glad I gave you a smile.
Linda, I love this post!! It is like your blog name: whimsical and witty. You put great characters to these scarecrows with the Thanksgiving story line.
Thanks Esther! I had a lot of fun doing this post. I had collected a lot of scarecrow shots and thought it’d be fun to make a post about them gathering for Thanksgiving dinner. P.S. – I figured I have to fulfill my blog title every so often. 🙂
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
I loved your stories of the different ‘crows. What fun!
Happy Thanksgiving!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Anne – glad to give you a smile! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
LikeLike
So did they have to draw straws on who got to turn the turkey from a guest to a course?
Happy Thanksgiving to you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very clever JP! I was afraid to ask exactly how that classification might change. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours as well – I hope you came up with a plan for outdoor dining. Our Michigan weather is fairly mild today – hope yours is similar.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m thinking that lawyer didn’t look too lawyerly to me – a plaid shirt? I hope he wasn’t in court!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ha ha – yes, I maybe should have made him a creative type, like a writer or an artist, instead. It was the tie made me say he was a lawyer. And a funny thing Joni … I don’t know if you noticed, but I decided each of their first names should begin with an “S” so I thought up a few “S” names on my name, but needed more, so I Googled around for names and came upon some really different names than we grew up with. Every since I wrote this post last Sunday, I’ve been getting lots of “suggestions” for baby accessories, the book “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” … obviously that was a bad idea Googling names!
LikeLiked by 1 person
HA! Sometimes you have to be careful what you google! I thought maybe he reminded you of your boss? Does he wear plaid shirts. My boss wore the same kind of plaid shirt (not flannel) all the time, when everyone else wore white or solid colors? Maybe plaid shirts were in for awhile? It was a cute idea anyway – looking forward to the Scarecrow family Christmas gathering.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My boss probably has gone in wearing flannel as we had no dress code. He wears island shirts in the Summer to work, no tie. He always kept a suit/shirt & tie in the closet in case he had an emergency meeting as he always got/gets dressed up for client meetings. When we were still at the Firm my boss got dressed up, but he had this unique thing going for years. He has ties for every occasion – he ordered them from a tie catalog of unusual ties. If it was Easter week, then a week of different Easter ties. Maybe I’ll change Sebastian to a creative type instead. Yes, maybe I need to use “Duck Duck Go” when I am Googling so I don’t get those type of ads … 🙂 Glad you liked the Scarecrows … I have to start putting together something fun for Christmas.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nah, leave him as a lawyer. How is your boss by the way, any plans to retire, and thus you too?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Okay, Sebastian Esquire stays then. No, my boss has not mentioned it any more lately. We’ve been busy the last few months and should be into the new year for these new matters. When he goes, I go. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great photos and a fun story. Makes me wish I was a scarecrow. LOL! Happy Thanksgiving!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you enjoyed the photos and story Ruth. Yes, the scarecrows have it easy … no worries, just endless stuffing of their faces. 🙂
LikeLike
Your scarecrow guests sound like the real thing! I especially love the guy who bought a can of cranberry sauce and called it a day. I had a guest do that. It’s not that it was bad but at the last minute I had to run around opening and getting it into a serving dish. After that everything brought had to be ready to serve. Oh yeah, one year the salad person brought a grocery bag with all the makings and proceeded to take up much needed counter space doing that at my house.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha – I’ve always had a small family, just my parents and me, so the most at a holiday dinner was five at my grandparents’ house many years ago So we didn’t have any of this family drama going on, but I’ve heard other people complain enough about “that one guest” or the guest who feels they are exempt from bringing a dish to pass or helping with the dishes afterward.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sylvia is my favorite and I loved the card. Have a great Thanksgiving Linda!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I liked Sylvia too Diane – it was that green bean casserole in the crockpot, that, thanks to you, I bought and am happily using! Hope your Thanksgiving was as special as you are.
LikeLike
That’s quite a feast! The Scarecrow Family know how to do up Thanksgiving. 🙂 I love it when everybody brings a dish. Thank you for a fun post — the story brightened my day and thanks also for the delightful e-card! Happy Thanksgiving, Linda! Many blessings to you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, they “do it up right” – don’t they Barbara? I think it is nice when dinner is potluck style and everyone brings their favorite dish or specialty. I’m glad this post brightened your day and you might have kicked up your heels a little while the e-card was playing. Thank you for the holiday blessings as well and hopefully you got to touch base with your family via Zoom or otherwise on this usually family-oriented day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Happy Thanksgiving, Linda something we do not have in the UK. Over recent years a lot of villages here now have scarecrow festivals but often in the summer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Andy – it is a big holiday here in the U.S., which normally kicks off the entire holiday season. Growing up in Canada, our Thanksgiving was in October, so it seemed a little more subdued. A fellow blogger who lives in Finland sent me photos of the scarecrow festival he attended a few years back. This was after I posted some another harvest-type post. I believe they call them “Turf Heads” at that scarecrow festival. It sounded fun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Andy, the Finnish blogger had a post, so I searched for the scarecrows at the Turf Head festival to show you. You have to scroll down a little as he writes in several language (translating himself).
https://sartenada.wordpress.com/2020/10/27/hundreds-of-turf-heads-cientos-de-cabezas-de-turba-centaines-de-tetes-de-tourbe-cientos-de-cabezas-de-turba/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, thanks Linda – I had seen that post before they look so strange.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome Andy. Yes, they did look strange, not like the scarecrows here which are a little goofy looking.
LikeLike
Der Miss Linda……………………Why don’t you publish this Thanksgiving story??………………….it is so good……………title: “Whew………..we’re stuffed”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Ann Marie – I am glad you like this post. I went for a long walk after the Park on a sunny Saturday, (one of the days I visited the harvest display on Emmons Boulevard) and there were scarecrows everywhere. I came home with many photos and while walking, this idea was starting to bubble around in my brain. I did another scarecrow post for Thanksgiving in the past, but not as many “family members” … thank you for the nice suggestion – that made my day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Linda. What a gorgeous post. I did love also those stuffed creatures; Very cute. It always a great joy to see what you find next time.
Have a wonderful day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Matti – when you and I discussed “turf heads” and scarecrows one month ago and I promised you lots of scarecrows on 11/26, I was not kidding. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed these straw characters and their holiday feast. Have a wonderful day as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great post Linda! Thank you for the country kitsch 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Jeanine – glad to give you a smile … in harvest season here, there are scarecrows adorning homeowners’ property everywhere you look – I love their goofy grins.
I like that idea that they are country kitsch. 🙂 Have a good day (what is left of it).
LikeLike
That is the perfect title and oh so many beautiful stuffed dolls, beautiful thanks giving decorations.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, they are stuffed, literally and figuratively. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
If only our whole family could gather like the scarecrow family did. That’s quite a collection of scarecrows! Like Sophie – I had to loosen my waistband. I wear my most comfortable pants on Thanksgiving! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, no worries at all for the scarecrow family.
We have a lot of people in the neighborhood that do harvest decor, so I collected these fairly quickly. We all need “fat pants” sometimes. 🙂
LikeLike
Wonderful pictures and what a fun story to go along with it. Now I’m wondering why there aren’t any decorations like these around here!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you enjoyed this Sabine. I collected so many scarecrow shots on that walk that while walking home, I decided I needed to do something clever with them. We have a lot of homes in the neighborhoods that decorate for harvest time and start doing so right after Labor Day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
HA! Such fun! I loved all of it – the captions, the characters, the card – it gave me my smile for the day, and it’s been decades since I’ve heard that song. So imaginative Linda, I do marvel at your ability to constantly come up with new and different ideas!
LikeLiked by 1 person
PS. I’m afraid I was guilty for years of just showing up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I probably would be just as guilty … my prior track record for cooking would have people saying “it’s okay – just bring yourself!” I once burned slice-and-bake cookies!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s easy to do – as ovens are so tempermental. Last week I made one of those Betty Crocker cookie packages that only make 12, as I didn’t want a whole bunch from scratch, and it was overdone, but we ate them anyway.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those slice-and-bake cookies were the ones that are already pre-sliced, so even worse, since I only peeled and placed them on the cookie sheet, but they were sad-looking cookies, I’ll tell you that. Ever sadder … my mom’s birthday was Valentine’s Day and I had bought the cookies with red hearts in the middle to bake for her for her birthday. She passed away two weeks before her birthday. I knew those cookies were in the fridge – wrestled with the decision … should I make them, toss them … wasn’t sure how I felt, but made them and burnt them – it was just not meant to be with those cookies. I’ve never made cookies or anything in the oven since.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah….that’s so sad. I might have been tempted to just throw them out – too many memories. The ready to bake mix just needs a spoon or two of melted butter and water, and I added some extra peanut butter too. Easy to make and to burn apparently!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was pretty embarrassed and swore I’d never tell anyone about it and here I am. But that was the last time I made them. I think I mentioned this to yu before, but my mom used to make peanut butter cookies and brownies from scratch for years – we always had them in the house. I was shopping one time and brought home Betty Crocker peanut butter cookie and brownie mixes, both in a pouch. My mother said “why?” I said to make it easier. She made them and they went in around the same temp as I recall, so cookies finished, the brownies went right in, same temp. She said she couldn’t taste the difference – I’m easy to please and she never made them from scratch again. Me … I burn slice-and-bake cookies. Baby steps. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s the one I used – Betty Crocker – and I thought the peanut butter one was good, although I did add a tablespoon more of plain PB. I’ve tried making them from scratch a couple of times and didn’t like how they turned out – too bland, not enough PB, so a friend gave me her recipe and it had so much butter and PB in it it was so high fat I didn’t think I could make it for mom with her gallbladder problem, and the mix just makes 12 so a smaller amount. My mom used to make good PB cookies when we were kids but she never measured her ingredients, so it’s hard to get an accurate recipe out of her. I’ve also made the Betty Crocker chocolate chip package and they’re good too…..for when you need a treat!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can remember coming home from school or work and smelling peanut butter cookies – so wonderful. Before my boss and I went out on our own, our building had a small bakery in it – they made croissants, cookies and brownies. You could buy three tiny warm chocolate chip cookies in a wrapper for $0.25. The whole building smelled of fresh chocolate chip cookies all the time. They were delicious. I would get some for a snack to have later, kind of stupid when we always had cookies at home. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not stupid at all, esp for that price! One Tim Hortons cookie now is $1 or more probably as I haven’t worked for years. Not worth it. I sometimes wonder how people can afford to eat out. Snow storm forecast tomorrow Linda – batten down the hatches!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was a deal even though the cookies were fairly small – nothing like having a warm chocolate chip cookie. Will I ever have one again? I have not used the toaster oven in years and it is too small to bake much. Maybe it’s better. I never knew how people could afford to eat out every day, especially in downtown Detroit when I was still working in the City. Most places were very pricey. People who are now working from home probably realize how much they spent every day, apart from gas for their commute. I had heard you were going to get slammed with snow – I hope it did not happen to you Joni. We were supposed to get 4-8 inches and ended up with 2-4 inches. I had wet snow and ice underneath – it was heavy but the driveway has melted already. Too bad we got this as it is supposed to be nice now through the weekend and into next week too. The snow spoiled our nice weather/clear roads streak.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It wasn’t too bad here – just a couple of inches but the street was kind of melted bare by noonish. I didn’t walk though as it was a little slippery.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m bummed because the driveway is clear to the concrete, but the street and most of the sidewalks (as far as I can see) were icy and ruts from where cars drove and people have walked. I don’t think the City plowed … maybe on the weekend by mid-day I can walk but not sure. We are not slated to have any snow all next week, so I hope it melts everything over the weekend. Hope you got all your errands done before this week – you were hoping to.
LikeLiked by 1 person
All errands done now, except groceries which are local – it’s a relief to get it all done, in case the stats get worse. All our snow has melted and I was able to walk yesterday and today too, so that was also good. Small things make me happy these days.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know what you are saying Joni … I really could have walked Thursday but was leery of going to the Park with all the ice. We had ice on the street and sidewalks. I said they didn’t plow or salt – I later found salt in the street, so they must have salted, not plowed and it kept refreezing. I went to the Park yesterday morning. One side of the Park was full of ice on the path so I had to walk on the grass. Today most of the ice was gone. I am happy we got a reprieve and didn’t get what we were supposed to have. I’m glad to hear you are done with everything – it does feel good and I hope not to venture out, except walking and shoveling – our stats are terrible here and deaths counts and case counts are rising daily but today we had 193 deaths, but some are due to records review/reporting now, but still. We are setting daily records for all the wrong reasons.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Covid stats are okay here, but not Toronto way, but I still don’t want to go out too much. I walked today but briefly as it was just too cold and damp….just out to get a bit of fresh air. Next week looks like some sun.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think they are going to keep our restrictions in place – the Governor gives her next press conference on December 8th. Like you, now it is just walks – it was really cold today and I went to two River parks and to my regular park (just briefly there). I have not warmed up since I’ve been home. It was 28 or 29 when I left the house this morning. I am hearing a warm-up this week, but I also heard some precip for next Saturday and maybe snow on Sunday. I took the car for a run today since it was clear out. I didn’t want to have to buy gas until the next surge post-holidays passes. Enjoy the snow-free week Joni. I am behind here again – hope to catch up soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Joni – your comment made my day! I like that song too and could just picture someone fiddling away and playing it with the whole scarecrow family around. I decided I had so many photos of these scarecrows from the neighborhood, that I should do something creative with them, especially that big crow! I’ve got an idea bubbling in my brain for Christmas and hope I can pull that off too. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll stay tuned!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve been meaning to tell you this for a week already … last year I gave you two radio stations that go all-Christmas music on November 1st. They were WNIC 100.3 and The Breeze 98.7. The Breeze just became an alternative music station last week, so if you go there, no, you are not losing your mind.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Linda – I haven’t been listening to the radio at all lately as I don’t drive anywhere, but I have been listening to my Christmas playlist on my IPod when I walk each day, for about a week now, and am enjoying hearing all the tunes again. Kind of getting me in the spirit, also hung two outdoor wreaths today as it was so nice. I don’t think I’ll put up as much stuff as I usually do this year though.
LikeLike
You’re welcome Joni – I listened one Saturday and I had to shut it off as the loud Christmas songs (the newer ones) actually got on my nerves. I like the original tunes the best, but I have to say the Mariah Carey songs just get on my nerves. I have not hung the wreath up yet, but will this week … next year things will be better hopefully and we can all put more effort into decorating.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha fab 🙂 happy thanksgiving
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Michael – it was very relaxing … I really did nothing for four days. We are having our first major snow storm of the Winter season beginning tomorrow, so I made the most of being outside/walking.
LikeLike
How quickly winter he arrived… maybe being indoors so much means it seems rather sudden to me….
LikeLiked by 1 person
We have had a great November Michael. We had some days that it was 70F (21C) and even yesterday we had 50 F (10C) … today we have this snow. The weather’s been crazy – we needed jackets around Labor Day. You guys have been on lockdown forever, so it probably does seem sudden to you. I hear you are getting a little reprieve though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Weve beenin heavy lockdown since start of August. We get a few days off for good behaviour at Christmas then its back indoors until the spring . Hopefully. Im happy at home tbh. Not going back to the way it was. Nope 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t realize it was heavy lockdown til Spring – wow. I think they should have done that nationwide here and it might have prevented what we have now. We are in week #2 of our latest “pause” and fully expect on December 8th, our Governor will extend it. You are lucky you have the career that you can work from home the rest of your days … good news there. And I don’t think things will ever be the same again, vaccine or otherwise. We have too many anti-vaxxers here and I will get it eventually, but definitely will take my time getting it and for us that’s next April.
LikeLike
Its nitvas heavy as it was, the shops are open but its still pretty tight on many things. That’s good though i think. Im.still happy indoors 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m happier indoors too.
LikeLike
ah Linda – this was a post that has left me smiling –
I have never had a Thanksgiving with the Scarecrow Family and this was such a clever idea for a post and for a pandemic Thanksgiving – well done –
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Yvette – glad to give you a smile. I was walking around the neighborhood and got so many scarecrow photos I decided to do something fun with them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You did a simply fantastic job with this!
I almost bought scarecrows this year – we have nkt had them in so long – I never got it do that and so this post brought joy for that reason too
And maybe next year when we grow out sunflowers we can add a scarecrow or two!?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you liked it Yvette. I had a lot of fun putting it together. People here started putting out their harvest decor so early this year and one sunny Saturday I made the rounds and got all these scarecrow pics. Yes, scarecrows and sunflowers would make a great combo and hopefully will brighten our respective blogs next year. The last scarecrow I got was a girl, very cute and she was almost life-sized. I went to put her stake into the ground, pounded it a little and she fell apart on me … she lost half her clothes, a lot of straw. I thing the glue had become too dried out and I had to throw her away … next year will be better for shopping around more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Or you could make some –
We used to go to a fall fest when the kids were young and the best part was they had “make a scarecrow” activity – and had a huge set up
This huge pile of used jeans
Then a huge couple piles of button up shirts
Nylons for the head, Twine, some accessories –
Like hats – etc
And bales of hay/straw
And we could each make one – it was fun
But they were sometimes heavy and had to carry them to the car
Anyhow – getting back to the one of yours that fell apart – some of the store ones really are flimsy –
LikeLiked by 1 person
That one that fell apart was really flimsy Yvette. It was almost comical really, but I bought it when the harvest decor came out in late August and was excited to put it up as it matched the house (same colonial blue color for her dress). When the second appendage fell off, I was disgusted and threw it out. I’d have been better with one of the scarecrows that stands up like they have at Michael’s. We had something cool here – an event at the Botanical Gardens called “The Scarecrow Walk” … you paid $25.00 to enter and for that you got one wooden form (which looked like a cross with a head). You picked that up in advance and took it home and decorated it, then took it to the Botanical Gardens and they placed it on the grounds with your name and the scarecrow’s name. The Botanical Gardens has these events to raise $ for upkeep of the Conservatory and grounds. I would have liked to go, but it was Friday at 4:30 and maybe next year they could have it on a weekend as it’d be fun to make a scarecrow then photograph all of them. Maybe next year we have no “gathering worries” either. Some people around here have really elaborate harvest decor with the hay bales, mums, scarecrows, gourds – very festive!
LikeLike
Hi Linda – I like the festive fall decor you noted in your area but do not always like the dark cemetery themed Halloween stuff – just my opinion and taste
And I hope the so offer the weekend option – a weekday at 4:30 seems not the best time
And their event sounds awesome and what a great fundraiser idea
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not keen on that dark-themed Halloween stuff either. I got some zombie pics as they had scary faces and I put them in a photo that was a collage designed to look like a Zoom call. I figured next year Zoom calls will likely be in the rear window … for personal use I mean – I think people will continue doing them for work purpose. There are some ghastly and gory themes that people make … I don’t “get” that either when there are beautiful themes you can make.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah – the gory is part of the fun at times
We had one year where we decorated the front with spider webs and dangling items like plastic spiders and had a kit that gave us stuff – we played themed music and had a strobe light! lol
But after that year I realized the sinister and dark vibe and just felt convicted personally – want to have things that celebrate life
And we did go to Busch gardens Halloween scare week a couple times and that was super fun – maybe not everyone’s cup of tea but Linda – it was so much fun – there characters walk around and interact – it is not just scaring everyone –
Well funny all this fall
Fest talk and it is December 3rd – now my mind is on Xmas decor and lights –
Not much – just a tad and a very small tree just for the lights and mood
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have to start decorating a little again Yvette – maybe next year, maybe when retired … I took my little moose with the plaid antlers out of the cupboard and will put him up … so there is something. I’ve not even put the wreath up yet … I feel I am behind in everything. Now that sounds fun at Busch Gardens. They have something like that at the Detroit Zoo, but more a light festival. It sounds like a lot of fun too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The lights at the zoo sound nice 1
And I recall back in the late 80s when bust with college and my holiday started on the 23rd!
Just with school and work I was busy and Christmas did not start for me until then and Linda – sometimes if I feel late to decorate or Kate in any way – I think back to starting the 23rd and I sigh — knowing I can take my time and get moving at my own pace.
Ya know?
And so how much we decorate or put out
And when we do it???
Our timeline – right?
And one year we put up our Xmas lights and tree on thanksgiving – and never again because we grew tired of it by the 25th!!
And we learned that taking our time in December makes us feel fresher between Xmas and New Years –
—
And I do know your moose with the plaid!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know for years I put the decoration up on the day after Thanksgiving – it is a small house and so all the regular knick-knacks and collectibles, etc. (house is full of country flair items) … everything had to be tucked away or put in the boxes where the Christmas decorations came from – it was a whole event decorating. An entire day and an entire day to take it down and that was New Year’s Eve. And now I do nothing but my little moose. I know when retired I will put more energy into doing things like I did – but where do we find the time Yvette? I am thinking about the candy dishes – there were different types of candies and foil-wrapped chocolates for the various dishes bought over the years … this was and is a job for younger legs!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
yes – it is all about pacing and also realizing we have to say no to certain things – and it is not always about output and achievement – right?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I agree. I used to put a lot of effort into everything – but it was tiring, I have to admit that. I used to spend countless hours in the garden, mostly the backyard. Loved my butterfly garden, fed/watered the birds – then we got rats … had to remove all bird paraphernalia. Then we had two back-to-back Polar Vortex events … I lost a lot of plants and bushes, my entire butterfly garden. I said to myself I would never put that much effort outside again – ever. I was almost fanatical that the garden would look perfect, not a weed in sight. I don’t think I can do that even when retired although I would like to look out and see beautiful flowers again, but with the erratic weather due to climate change, I am reluctant to go through that much effort and expense again, only to lose everything out there.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for stating that! I have lost many of hours in the garden and have had different phases – especially between 2007 and 2012
And now – just a little garden time is more than enough – I enjoy it – need it – but nkt where I want to immerse
–
And rats? Yikes! That must ha e been crazy
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I put more effort into the yard this year than in recent years. I may do something when retired, but never the extent I did before. The rats were terrible – we had a pest control service for several years then he got rid of the dog. Then he got another dog a few years later – the rats came back. I had to get rid of bird feeders and birdbaths due to the pest control bait boxes. It upset me a lot – I understand we still have them at night – my neighbor sees them as he has a firepit and sits out there late at night. I won’t go outside in the dark. I know they have rats in various neighborhoods and also cities around me – that was caused because they widened a major street in our City and neighboring cities and dug up a lot of property to make a wider road … not nice at all. It is a nice neighborhood other than that and I happen to have a lot of bushes (that lived) and rosebushes and this causes an outside perimeter for critters to hide. Rabbits for one. Squirrels also.
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing that!!
🐀🐀🐇🐇🐿🐿🐿
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh and I am curious to see what the world looks like next fall???
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am hopeful it is better – they say by next Fall people will gather in big stadiums to watch college football. That is a more normal schedule. I’m not a college football fan, but Dr. Fauci threw that out there to say if we are careful and mask up, socially distance, all are steps toward making next Fall normal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope 2021 sees some great things unfold – with college football and other areas too
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I am hopeful too – not only are the events we just took for granted not happening, not all just sports, but there were lots of art fairs and now holiday fairs, parades … all cancelled, but the dire consequences of a tanking economy is downright scary. Our restaurant owners banded together to file a lawsuit against the Governor and it was dismissed. They are livid … on December 8th our latest “pause” expires – they are sure they will leave restaurant/bars shut down through Christmas.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope that is not the case – that they stay shut down! Yikes
And was talking with a few folks and everyone seems to agree that the worse governed is Cuomo from New York – whew – have heard nightmare stories
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well our Governor extended our “pause” for another 12 days from today and there is no doubt that she will extend now until after the entire holiday period. I don’t personally know anyone impacted by this pause as to a restaurant owner or worker. I did work through college at a diner and I was paid a small wage and counted on tips and at holiday time people were often more generous … this was a diner, so tips were not large like a sit-down restaurant, but yes there is still takeout options for bars/restaurants – I don’t know how many people are doing this though.
LikeLiked by 1 person
yes – it is tough for so many
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes – we passed our 10,000th death today, so flags are at half-mast for the next 10 days (one day for each group of 1,000 persons). Someone who has a restaurant in a hotel, has taken “X” number of rooms in the hotel, removed the beds, put in tables and chairs and you can rent the room for $50.00 and have your meal catered. Now that is innovative … six people max in the room. Apparently, it is an expensive restaurant and the $50.00 does not cover food/drinks/tips, just the room rental.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That room rental is a good idea and really hope this all ends soon
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought so too – hope it is over with this time next year Yvette.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha! Very cute! I hope you had a lovely T-Day. Ours was quiet but filling. No pie, though… darn it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Janis – glad you liked it. In my travels around the neighborhood, I had collected so many scarecrow photos, I decided to put a funny spin on those photos. 🙂 I had fun creating this post. My Thanksgiving was quiet too … we had nice quiet weather and so I did a lot of walking as I wanted to finish this year’s goal which I did. Now that the big meal is over, you should definitely bake a pie and enjoy it … do you have enough berries from your yard? (I think you have blueberries?)
LikeLiked by 1 person
We have a ton of frozen blueberries in our freezer. Hmmmmm…. you’ve given me an idea!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Janis – my mom always bought blueberries in the Summer and froze them. She’d wash them and lay them on cookie sheets in the freezer and make blueberry muffins in the middle of Winter. Well I miss those days as I’m no baker or cook. I follow a woman with a cooking blog – I sent Diane a picture of a pumpkin pie where someone had fashioned a pie crust topping of a squirrel with leaves and acorns, all from pie dough, for Thanksgiving. We had a back-and-forth and I said my mom used a lattice pie gizmo for her berry pies – Diane did too and today sent me her blueberry pie recipe from frozen blueberries … now is that perfect timing? I think so and here it is if you don’t have a recipe for blueberries pie with frozen berries:
https://indianeskitchen.com/2017/07/18/easy-blueberry-pie/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for the pie recipe! That’s exactly how we freeze our berries. I’ll compare Diane’s recipe to the one we’ve used and decide which sounds yummier!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome Janis – what a coincidence Diane sent it to me the same day. Enjoy!!
LikeLike
I love your little scarecrow family! And so aptly named, all of them. Poor Stuart though… I suppose he, uh, won’t be coming next year?
LikeLike
So creative, Linda, nice job! Looking at all the help the scarecrow family had to prepare the meal makes me stop wondering why I looked like a wild-haired scarecrow once I got done cooking all the dishes you listed above! LOL. Happy Belated Thanksgiving to you!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha – you worked hard doing it all yourself. They had the right idea and got lots of cooperation. Glad you enjoyed this post Shelley. I thought it would be fun to do something different for Thanksgiving. I have an idea bubbling around for Christmas if I can get it to work. Back at you Shelley!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I look forward to reading the Christmas post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope to not disappoint – this time it will be squirrels.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😂 I love your imagination that created The Scarecrow Family. What a lovely bunch to share Thanksgiving with ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Zena – I took so many scarecrow pictures as I walked around the neighborhood, that I decided I should do something fun with those pictures and came up with this. I had a difficult time coming up with names as I wanted them to have names that began with the letter “S” – you will laugh at this. I Googled to find a site for girls and boys’ names starting with the letter “S” and now I am getting ads for child care and pregnancy info – oops! I am glad I gave you a smile.
LikeLike
Linda, I love this post!! It is like your blog name: whimsical and witty. You put great characters to these scarecrows with the Thanksgiving story line.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Esther! I had a lot of fun doing this post. I had collected a lot of scarecrow shots and thought it’d be fun to make a post about them gathering for Thanksgiving dinner. P.S. – I figured I have to fulfill my blog title every so often. 🙂
LikeLike
You certainly lived up to your blog title! It was entertaining to read and interesting personalities for the scarecrows.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you liked it Esther – I think we need a little fun in our lives these days.
LikeLike
Very entertaining!
LikeLiked by 1 person