The Wanderlust Librarian | Thanksgiving Time

The big day is here with lots to eat

and after the feast, you'll be tired and beat.

But now, my dear readers, I think you should know

that I'm writing my blog (and I hope it doesn't blow)

I'm off to the City, the one by the Bay.

Not THAT one, the other... the one called San Jose.

The meal will be small, a decent repast

if you read my previous blog post....it won't be a turkey blast.

Potatoes, sweet corn, pumpkin pie and prime rib

It's simple and delicious (I don't want to be glib).

I can't wait to relax after cooking all day

My boredom will be quelled, "Let's play video games", I'll say!

Of course, it won't jibe with the family dynamic,

my brother will whine for football...it'll be awesome fantastic!

This holiday is one that is dear to my heart,

I'll spend it with my family, not shopping at a mart.

I'm thankful and happy for everything so dear.

To my readers, thank you for reading my blog for over a year! 

I wish you the best of your eating endeavors.

And from the Bloggess to you,

Have the Best Holiday Ever! 

:) 

The Library Bloggess

She's Crafty | Giving Thanks

When I decided to sit with a pile of card-making books I picked up from the library to help me plan my holiday greeting cards, I got distracted from the objective by a section about Thank You cards. An excited and bouncy thought popped into my head, "What about thank you cards for Thanksgiving?!" So, the objective now is to write a personal note to each recipient explaining how thankful I am that they are in my life and for being an awesome person. 

Thankfully, I have a half-made set of Thank You cards I started years ago that just need a little fixing up and they'll be ready to hand out. Score! I went to the craft store to pick up some stamp pads and came across a Thank You card kit. I walked by it once telling myself I didn't need it--come on, I have the set at home! I walked by it again, and again...and finally I just grabbed it. Now I have a mix of greetings to give.

Kit card on the left, my design on the right.

While I was at the craft store I came across a plethora of options to make quick work of giving thanks:

• Grab a set of blank, folded cards with envelopes (they come in various sizes). Write, stamp or print Thank You on the front. Then write your message on the inside.

• Make postcards out of cardstock, decorate the front, and write your sentiment on the flip-side. 

• Paper tags in little paper bags as place markers at a dinner table--write their name on the bag and the thanks on the tag. 

• And, of course, you can go super inexpensive and use any kind of paper you have at home along with some kind of writing implement and get creative. Break out the construction paper and the crayons for the young and young-at-heart for a fun activity!

For some inspiration and how-to guidance, check out these titles we have about card making at the library:

• Handmade Hellos by Eunice Moyle & Sabrina Moyle

• 10-Minute Cards To Give & Share by Tanya Fox

• Fast, Fun Cards by Emma Hardy

Thank you for being the awesome reader you are. Without your support, we wouldn't have anyone to blog to about crafts and share our passion for craftin' with. And, if you are interested in reading more about the many benefits of gratitude in your life, here are a few titles on that subject:

• 365 Thank Yous by John Kralik

• The Joy of Appreciative Living by Jacqueline Kelm

• Thanks! by Robert Emmons

• The Gifts of Gratitude by Elizabeth Baker

Happy Thanksgiving!

Kaye & Malia

The Wanderlust Librarian | Thanksgiving WHOAs

Is it November already? Wasn't it summertime only a breath ago? I guess in California, you know it's getting to be autumn when the high dips down below 75 degrees. 

As many of you are planning a meal with friends and family, so is this Bloggess. Right now, my mother and I are planning our Thanksgiving meal for our family. This will be the 4th time that my mom and I will sit and come up with a strategic plan for dinner.

I do, though, would like to share why this is only the 4th time and not the 34th time that we're having Thanksgiving dinner. 

Once upon a time, the mother of the Bloggess got married. She decided that, as a married woman, she wanted to make Thanksgiving special and cook a turkey for her husband. She found the recipe for all of the sides she wanted to make and made all of the preparations for a fantastic feast. 

On Thanksgiving eve, she thawed out the turkey. On Thanksgiving morning, she prepared the turkey as per the recipe and was excited to pop the turkey in the oven. Things went well for a little bit. Until....

***!!!!!!!!!!BOOM!!!!!!!!!!***

The sound sent her running to the kitchen where she saw smoke pouring out the sides of the oven. She turned the stove off and opened the oven door to find her beautiful turkey still fairly raw... with a gaping hole. The issue? She sewed up the bird too tight and none of the built up steam had anywhere to go. From then on, my mother decided that she would just....sidestep the issue of making a turkey. We had other Thanksgiving delights: meatloaf, pizza, steak, fried rice. 

Thanksgiving wasn't a big deal until I was a little older and wanted to start some traditions of my own. My mother had to come clean with her story. I took it upon myself to cook the first turkey our household had seen in years. Needless to say, it went well. A year later, my brother decided he wanted to make the centerpiece bird. 

It ended up looking like this: 

Inedible, fried turkey

Burnt to the very core

As a family, we decided that turkey just wasn't for us. Our family has a new Thanksgiving food tradition: prime rib. It's a delicious change to the turkey. To be honest, if I was my mother, I'd be gun shy about seeing a turkey go in the oven. 

Over the years, I've collected recipes from various books and websites. I hope you find your delicious mains and sides for this upcoming holiday season from some of my favorite places! 

Pioneer Woman: before she was a Food Network star, she had this great (WITH PICTURES) website for her recipes! 

Bon Appetit magazine: delicious food with simple ingredients. You'll be surprised at the simplicity of the dishes! 

Food Network: I love to see the different ways dishes are made. Check out the varieties of Macaroni & Cheese!

You're Doing it All Wrong: Who knew?!?!?!? I learned to make deviled eggs and grilled cheese sandwiches the right way from watching these videos! 

Share your food successes and failures here! We've all had them and we all learn from them. Enjoy the time and food with your loved ones!  Cooking adventures are out there! 

Just Life| What Are You Thankful For?

On a white board at work, a co-worker wrote this question:

"For what are you thankful?"

That made me pause and reflect.

I am thankful for many many things in my life. Life has been good to me.

So friends, 

Here is my short answer to this philosophical question:
 

• I am thankful to have an awesome family who is always there for me no matter what

• I am thankful to have a small but mighty circle of friends

• I am thankful to be healthy

• I am thankful to have a job that I love

• I am thankful to have a roof over my head

• I am thankful to have a pantry full of food

• I am thankful to live in such a wonderful country

And finally,

I am thankful that someone else besides me is cooking the turkey this year.

If you were wondering what my co-workers wrote on that white board, here is a tiny peek:

• Everything
• My health
• Books
• You You You 

So, as one of my co-workers puts it, don't forget that someone or many people are thankful to have you in their lives.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving : how to cook it well  

Kitchen revelry : a year of festive menus from my home to yours 

Signing off until next Monday- Panteha

4 Kids | Turkey, Stuffing, Pie..& BOOKS!

So after the turkey has been carved and eaten, the pies have been sliced and smothered in whipped cream, and of course, after all the dishes have been washed, what in the world is there to do?

Well, let's see....

Hmmm....

I know! READ A BOOK! Pull everyone together (young and old) and share one of these great picture books. I promise it will be a wonderful end to your Thanksgiving Day!

This first book made me laugh out loud: The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish by Neil Gaiman. After the narrator swaps his Dad for two goldfish, he and his little sister embark on quite an adventure to try and straighten things out. Please note, however: do not try this at home. Do not try to swap your Dad for goldfish. It's just not a good idea. 

This next book is a bunch of very funny, twisted fairy tales: The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Scieszka. In this book you'll find such titles as "Really Ugly Duckling," "Little Red Running Shorts," and one of my personal favorites, "The Princess and the Bowling Ball." This is another laugh-out-loud book. And if you like it as much as I think you will, look for other funny books by this author, such as The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs.

Last but not least: E-Mergency! by Tom Lichtenheld and Ezra Fields-Meyer. This is the story of what happens when the most important letter in the alphabet gets a big owie. What's the most important letter in the alphabet, you ask? Let me give you a hint with this sentence from the book: "How aro you guys doing without your friond?" Do you know what letter is missing? And don't forget to check out the great illustrations. I think we'll all learn to appreciate this letter a whole lot more!

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody....and Happy Reading!

Teens Only | Top 10 List of Things To Do

In anticipation of the Thanksgiving holiday -- and days off from school -- I thought I would find 10 things to DO. 10 things that are good for you (and the first one is also good for the community!). So here we go!

1. Join runners and walkers and help out the Emergency Food Bank of Stockton by being part of the Run & Walk Against Hunger on Thanksgiving morning, November 22, 2012.  I did it last year (I walked, just to be clear) and will be out again this year. Takes away the guilt from eating 4 pieces of my sister's great pecan pie later in the day!

2. Catch a Stockton Thunder game! Click here for a schedule of games at the awesome Stockton Arena.

3.Visit Stockton's Haggin Museum. There's so much to see there, including the current exhibit Charreria: The Artisanship of Mexican Equestrian Culture. 

4. Catch a movie! San Joaquin County has some great movie theaters, and there are lots of new movies to choose from. To find a theater near you, click here.

5. If you're not too stuffed after your Thanksgiving dinner, check out Dell'Osso Family Farm Holidays On The Farm. It opens Friday, November 23rd. Fun guaranteed!

6. Listen to a book on CD! This is especially helpful advice if you're going to be in the family car for a long trip over the holidays. Want a suggestion? Ok. How about a wicked mash-up of fairy tale and Terminator, set in a Star Wars kind of world? Listen to Cinder by Marissa Meyer. 

7. Try a little ice skating! Yes, I said ice skating. The Oak Park Ice Arena in Stockton has lots of public sessions...and you can rent skates there too! It's fun AND it's great exercise!

8. Alright, c'mon. I'm a librarian. I've GOT to include some books on this list of things to do. I asked my friend Christine and she suggests Divergent by Veronica Roth. It's the story of 16-year-old Beatrice Prior who lives in a future Chicago where she must choose between five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life. This decision is only made more difficult when Beatrice discovers she is an anomaly who doesn't fit in to any one group...and that the society she lives in isn't perfect after all! this sounds pretty good....so I'm going to read it. 

9. I can't help it. I have to recommend another book. This time it's a classic: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. My friend Suzanne suggested this one, and I can't agree with her more. Young Scout Finch, the narrator of the story, relates the impact of a trial on her small Alabama town -- a trial of a black man accused of rape who is defended by Scout's father. If you've never read it, read it NOW! It's so good. And it really makes you think. 

10. This one's really easy and it doesn't cost a cent. Just find a quiet moment and think of a few things, or people, that you are truly thankful for. That's what Thanksgiving is all about, after all.

And speaking of which, have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

The Wanderlust Librarian | Inspired Travel

Getting lost in a good book or movie transports you to a time and place far away from where you are...but what about if what you're reading or watching inspires you to visit that place?  

Every so often, I see something that calls to me. The writing is so vibrant and rich that it not only transports me, but invites me to visit. The visuals posses me long after the movie is over. While you get ready to enjoy a pleasant Thanksgiving with your family, I'd love to share some of my favorite "Inspired Travel" choices with you.

I am a California girl, born and raised. While I've traveled a lot, one of the places that eluded me was The South. I've heard the slow, melodic accent before and was entranced...but nothing called me to the The South faster than reading Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt. In Savannah, Georgia, there are secrets inside the walls of the gorgeous homes and in the dark of the magnolia scented nights. A murder, a cover up and a drag queen add to the whispers. 

While this book took place many decades before I went to Savannah, it left its mark on my traveling heart. I was not disappointed when I finally visited!

Love, Actually is one of my favorite Christmas movies. While it's not particularly new, it shines as the star of my holiday movie watching. It has many of my favorite British actors in it...and is set in London!  There's nothing prettier than an iconic city with snow all around. I don't want to give much away, but Hugh Grant is in it. Who doesn't love Hugh Grant?

It's a lovely reminder of how magical the season is and how great love actually is (See that? See how I worked that in there?). Keep an eye out for Sheriff Rick from the Walking Dead television show. I only watch it between Thanksgiving and December 26. It's a lame rule, but I've been really strict about it!! 

 

I traveled to Paris before Midnight in Paris came out in theaters. This movie captures the magic and allure of Paris. The music is amazing, the characters are fun and the writing is simply charming. It makes me want to go back again! I wish the movie showed more French bakeries. I love, LOVE French bakeries. 

I read a review that Midnight in Paris was Woody Allen's "love letter to Paris". It shows the city in such a whimsical and classic way! 

Armchair travel can be just as fun as traveling to that special destination. I hope that these items and others that you may read or watch, light your path to an amazing adventure!

Adventure is out there! 

 

Book Bucket List | For Thanksgiving

I cannot believe that next week is already Thanksgiving.  This year has gone by way too fast!  So in honor of Thanksgiving next week, I want to feature a book that reminds me of what I have to be thankful for.  Next Thursday, while I am waiting for dinner to finish cooking, I will be picking up John Steinbeck's classic The Grapes of Wrath.

After Tom Joad is paroled from prison after serving time for homicide charges, he returns to his family farm in Oklahoma to find that it was abandoned.  After reuniting with his family at another abandoned farm down the road, the decision is made to move to California for the better opportunities available.  The Joad family packed up their pickup and began the trek west, but soon realized that what they thought would be an easy drive was wrought with more problems than they could have possibly realized.  Once the Joads finally reach their destination, they find none of the opportunity they thought would be in the Sunshine State, but thousands of other migrants facing little employment options and little hope for the future.

The Grapes of Wrath has become an American classic. The situations he describes in this book were very real and would be a great book to pick up for a quick read, especially over the Thanksgiving holiday.  It makes me realize how lucky I am and how little I really have to worry about compared to those who lost everything in a disaster like the Dust Bowl.

On a happier note, I cannot wait for Thanksgiving.  If you're looking for awesome things to cook, then check out Holly Garrison's The Thanksgiving Cookbook.  It includes all of the traditional recipes like turkey, stuffing, and gravy, but also new twists on them too.  Our library system also carries the magazine Bon Appetit, which I use all the time for finding new recipes to share with my family.  This year I found candied cranberries with mandarin oranges in Bon Appetit, and can't wait to have that instead of the usual canned cranberry sauce!