Ok, so I completely ripped off that Christmas song… but it works! Are you ready? Thanksgiving plans are fast underway here. I’m in charge of the bird, the stuffing, the mashed potatoes, the bread rolls and the pumpkin pie. My husband’s family will be joining us here at our house (and I only have a toaster oven) so I’m going to be cooking our turkey the day before at my mom’s house. You know… I’m thinking that might actually be pretty smart anyway. ; ) I don’t have any recipes to share because I pretty much do things straight and simple (it’s the way hubby likes his food!)

I’ve got lots of house cleaning on the schedule for the upcoming week, but also, I want to try to fit in some Thanksgiving related activities, for school, too. We’ll create our Thankful Tree and spend the week adding to it until Thursday.  I have several Thanksgiving books to read with the kids and I want to make sure that we read one each day — including the story of Squanto. I love the story of Squanto…. God’s providence always stands out to me and amazes me.

Monday is Little Prince’s birthday!! He’s not so little anymore, he’ll be six. (Pause a moment for mommy sentimentalism right here.) Of course he’ll always be MY little prince. = ) One family tradition we have here is that birthdays are school holidays so there will be NO SCHOOL! The kids always love that part. I think in addition to getting some cleaning done we’ll use that day to make our thankful trees and decorate for Thanksgiving. That night we’ll be celebrating with our families and with Star Wars birthday cookies (and presents.. shhh!!)

I’m looking forward to the coming week! Don’t be surprised if I’m not around much.. (I won’t be surprised if you aren’t!) = p

Happy Thanksgiving my American friends! (My Canadian friends, I know you’ve already had yours!) I will leave  you with a few links from my Pinterest board, Holidays. Click the pictures to see some of my favorite Thanksgiving pins that I want to fit into our celebration this year.

Meaningful Thanksgiving Celebrations, Frugally

I love holidays! Thanksgiving is one of my favorites. Several years ago the kids and I recreated an authentic Thanksgiving meal. Two years ago we made American Indian costumes to wear while we ate a traditional meal. All of our research and ideas came from the internet, free of charge! With a little bit of creativity you can go Thanksgiving CRAZY without going “spend crazy.”

painting by Jean Louis Gerome Ferris; Source: Wikimedia Commons

From recipes to crafts to decorations to lesson plans to movies to costumes.. there is an abundance of free and frugal Thanksgiving holiday ideas to help you save money, learn about Thanksgiving, practice thankfulness, study history and cook up a great Thanksgiving day celebration. I’ve gathered a cornucopia of links and resources over the past five years and finally decided to put them all in one place, plus a few more that I’ve found while putting this all together. Enjoy!

Thanksgiving History and Other Information

Think you already know everything there is to know about Thanksgiving? Maybe not! Start here:

Thanksgiving on Wikipedia - generic information about our Thanksgiving holiday.

The First Thanksgiving at History Channel - A look at what the first Thanksgiving was probably like for the pilgrims.

Thanksgiving History & Other Information at GoNewEngland.About.Com - Did the pilgrims eat popcorn? Hmmm…

Take a virtual field trip! The First Thanksgiving at Scholastic.com - thirty minute online field trip to meet a Pilgrim and a Wampanoag—straight from Plimoth Plantation.

By Jennie A. Brownscombe (1850-1936) via Wikimedia Commons

The First Thanksgiving – You Are The Historian at plimoth.org ~ The student becomes the historian, digging through history and legend to learn what the first Thanksgiving celebration was really like.

Downloadable, Mayflower Dinner PDF (through Doorposts) ~ Create a historical Mayflower dinner in your own home!

From my research, here’s a handy list to help you plan your own original menu!

The Pilgrims’ Menu

Foods That May Have Been on the Menu

• Seafood: Cod, Eel, Clams, Lobster
• Wild Fowl: Wild Turkey, Goose, Duck, Crane, Swan, Partridge, Eagles
• Meat: Venison, Seal
• Grain: Wheat Flour, Indian Corn
• Vegetables: Pumpkin, Peas, Beans, Onions, Lettuce, Radishes, Carrots
• Fruit: Plums, Grapes
• Nuts: Walnuts, Chestnuts, Acorns
• Herbs and Seasonings: Olive Oil, Liverwort, Leeks, Dried Currants, Parsnips

What Was Not on the Menu
Surprisingly, the following foods, all considered staples of the modern Thanksgiving meal, didn’t appear on the pilgrims’s first feast table:

• Ham: There is no evidence that the colonists had butchered a pig by this time, though they had brought pigs with them from England.
• Sweet Potatoes/Potatoes: These were not common.
• Corn on the Cob: Corn was kept dried out at this time of year.
• Cranberry Sauce: The colonists had cranberries but no sugar at this time.
• Pumpkin Pie: It’s not a recipe that exists at this point, though the pilgrims had recipes for stewed pumpkin.
• Chicken/Eggs: We know that the colonists brought hens with them from England, but it’s unknown how many they had left at this point or whether the hens were still laying.
• Milk: No cows had been aboard the Mayflower, though it’s possible that the colonists used goat milk to make cheese.

Click to view and download this fall leaf template from Enchanted Learning.

Thanksgiving Unit Studies & Lessons

• LessonPlansPage.com - in addition to crafts you can find Thanksgiving themed language arts, math and social studies lessons grades K-12.
• Thanksgiving centered lesson plans at A to Z Teacher Stuff. Levels K-5.
• Pilgrim Unit, 7 Lessons, Grades 3-8 or browse all Lessons plans, Pre-K-12 at TeacherVision.com
  
• Thanksgiving Lesson Plans & Worksheets at LessonPlanet.com, Levels K-12

Thanksgiving Lapbooks

25 Days of Thanksgiving for only $1.99

A low-cost selection of Thanksgiving Lapbook printables at Knowledge Box Central

Thanksgiving Lapbook by Amanda Bennett on Homeschool Share

Thanksgiving Printables and Other Activities

Websites chock full of Thanksgiving resources:

Kaboose                            FamilyFun.Go.Com
DLTK                                EdHelper
abcteach.com                   Parents.com
RadRoadTrips.com

Make the Most of Your Pumpkins

• Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins: Crafts, recipes and more! A Classic Housewife in a Modern World
  Pumpkins, a symbol of harvest and a Thanksgiving staple, are useful for baking, decorating and so much more! For pumpkin related crafts & recipes, check out this blog post I wrote for Fall 2009.

Thanksgiving Crafts and Projects

• Indian Chief Headdress & Paper Sack Vest
  
• Paper Lunch Sack Turkeys
• Paper Cornucopia Craft
• Paper Pilgrim Bonnet
• Paper Pilgrim Boy’s Hat
  
• TeePees & Houses
• Thanksgiving Banner
• Woven Fall Placemat
• Fall Leaf Spiral Mobile
  
• Paper Bag Scarecrow
• Paper Plate Scarecrow
• Pilgrim Paper Finger Puppets
• Coffee Filter Thanksgiving Bouquet
• Thankful Pumpkin Craft
• Thanksgiving Coloring Pages
  

Source: Wikimedia Commons

For Fun: What’s Your Thanksgiving IQ?

• What\’s Your Thanksgiving IQ Quiz: Thanksgiving Trivia about Turkeys and More
  How much do you know about Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving Recipes

A variety of Thanksgiving menus and recipes can be found at Parents.com

Fun Thanksgiving Snacks & Recipes

• Baked Cornucopia Bread Centerpiece
• Handprint Turkey Cookies
• Harvest Blessing Snack Mix
• Holiday Cranberry Punch
• Popcorn Ball Turkey
• Pretzel Tailed Turkey Treats
• Thanksgiving Recipes for Kids
  A long list of creative Thanksgiving themed snacks for little hands!

**Click Here for a FREE eCookbook from Mr. Food, “Thanksgiving Feasts” **

• “Mr. Food Thanksgiving Feasts” free eCookbook | mrfood.com
  It’s time to talk turkey! Yep, with Thanksgiving around the corner, we’re all hustling to get ready for one of our biggest meals of the year. Check out my latest free eCookbook, “Mr. Food Thanksgiving Feasts…”

Good Books for Thanksgiving and Harvest

	Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving This entertaining and historical story shows that the actual hero of the Thanksgiving was neither white nor Indian, but God. In 1608, English traders came to Massachusetts and captured a 12-year old Indian, Squanto, and sold him into slavery. He was raised by Christians and taught faith in God. Ten years later he was sent home to America. Upon arrival, he learned an epidemic had wiped out his entire village. But God had plans for Squanto. God delivered a Thanksgiving miracle: an English-speaking Indian living in the exact place where the Pilgrims land in a strange new world. Amazon Price: $4.15 List Price: $9.99
	Thanksgiving (A FamilyLife Book): A Time to Remember (Family Life Books) A holiday for celebrating faith, family, and freedom, Thanksgiving Day is both distinctly Christian and exclusively American. Barbara Rainey has created an excellent resource for enabling you and your family to remember the past, recognize God’s hand in our history, and express thankfulness to Him for His goodness today. Amazon Price: $14.50 List Price: $21.99
	Thanksgiving, What Makes It Special? Unfolding the history of a blessed tradition, this delightful picture book explores the role God played in our country’s earliest history and how His blessings endure today. From hungry Pilgrims and generous Native Americans to the ample feast of a modern-day family’s Thanksgiving, author Harold Myra helps children — and parents — learn how to enjoy this holiday to its very fullest. Amazon Price: $10.00 List Price: $7.99
	Thanksgiving: A Harvest Celebration Explains the Thanksgiving story and traditions on how they remind us that every day is a good day to thank God . Amazon Price: $1.99 List Price: $7.99
	The First Thanksgiving Feast Recreates in accurate detail one of the most popular events in American history, with photographs taken at Plimoth Plantation, the living museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Amazon Price: $1.99 List Price: $6.95

Thankful Tree Instructions From Disney Family Fun

All About Thanksgiving Thankful Trees

• Thankful Fall Tree, Thanksgiving Crafts
  Free standing thankful tree craft with paper and craft foam.
• Thanksgiving Craft: Thankful Tree | Paper Crafts Ideas for Kids | FamilyFun
  Let your family put their gratitude on display with a classic tree of thanks.
• How to make a Thankful Tree | eHow.com
  How to make a Thankful Tree. Want to start a new Thanksgiving tradition. A Thankful Tree is a beautiful and cheap way to count your blessings, literally. This project quick and easy and it is a wonderful way to connect with…
• How to Make a Thankful Tree with Handprint Leaves : Craft Blog
• Make a Thankful Tree
• Family Crafts: Make a Thankful Tree – Life123
  This thankful tree is a family crafts project that will make Thanksgiving more meaningful.
• How to Make a Thankful Tree for Thanksgiving | eHow.com
  How to Make a Thankful Tree for Thanksgiving. When gathering with friends and family during the Thanksgiving season, be sure to take the time to give thanks and show how grateful you are for everything you have. Here is a fun way to do it…

Quotes About Gratitude

• Gratitude Quotes, Sayings about Thankfulness, Quotations about Appreciation
  Quotations about gratitude, from The Quote Garden.

“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.”  ~Epictetus

Thanksgiving Movies and Music

	Thanksgiving: A Windham Hill Collection Amazon Price: $6.97 List Price: $8.99
	William Bradford- The First Thanksgiving DVD Amazon Price: $11.49 List Price: $12.95
	Desperate Crossing: The Untold Story of the Mayflower Amazon Price: $9.99 List Price: $24.95

Thanksgiving Downloadables at Currclick.com (All or Mostly Free!)

• Thanksgiving Cursive Copybook
• Thanksgiving Notebooking Pages (With Recipes & Label Cards)
• Gratitude Notebooking Pages
• Thanksgiving – A Creative Writing & History Elective
• Thanksgiving Notebooking Pages

Painting by Joan de Joanes via WikiMedia Commons

Bible Verses About Thankfulness

• What Does the Bible Say About Being Thankful?
  A variety of bible verses on Thankfulness.

Christ-Centered Thanksgiving Celebrations

Wrapping up the one-year bloggiversary celebration, I’m finishing this up with a giveaway of sorts. Inspired by other giving bloggers around the blogosphere this month, and also by the 30 Day Giving Challenge, I’ll be giving away a donation, to the winner’s favorite charity. At the same time, I’ll be passing on to the selected winner a small token of my appreciation – a $25 gift card to Gevalia Coffee that I have but am choosing to pass on rather than keep it for myself.

I am going to make this REALLY simple. You like simple don’t you?

Here’s what you need to do to enter:

1. Leave a comment telling me which charity, ministry or organization you would have me make a donation to if you win. You must include a link to the charity, and they must have a way for me to make a donation online. You must also enter a valid email address so that I can contact you about you Gevalia gift card.
2. An alternative way to enter: If you would like to join me in my final gust of giving for this carnival…I offer to you, the opportunity to turn around and do the same thing on your blog and offer to give away a donation of a reader’s choice. If you choose to do so, write a post and leave a link in the comments. Don’t forget to leave a link to your own favorite ministry and your email address.

The “rules”:

1.) If you don’t leave a link to the organization website, accept online donations, or your email address your entry will be invalid. (Leave your email address in the comment entry form, not necessarily the comment itself – your email address in the entry form will not be publicly displayed, only allows me to reply by email to your comment and will not be used for any form of solicitation in the future.)

2.) The charity donation is open to bloggers and non bloggers alike, worldwide. Gevalia may or may not make shipments to your destination. It’s up to you to determine if Gevalia coffee is available in your area.

3.) Comments will close Friday, November 27, 2009 at midnight central standard time. At that point in time a winner will be chosen by random draw.

That’s pretty simple, right?

If you have enjoyed any part of my Give-Thanks-Giving Bloggiversary party, consider subscribing to updates from Classic Housewife, joining the fan page on Facebook or following me on Twitter. Thanks for celebrating with me!

UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed. Find the results here.

The most fun part about the holidays as far as  my kids are concerned is the crafts, the decorating and the activities. Well, unless there are presents. But otherwise it the crafts and fun stuff. To be honest, I quite like it, too.

And I always like finding new crafts and ideas online to keep things fresh & exciting. The kids and I are doing something new this year and they are all going to Thanksgiving dinner dressed as indians. Oh yes they are. We’ve already made our necklaces and bracelets. Over the course of the week they are going to also get headbands, painted (paper sack) vests, and the girls will get dresses but the boy will wear brown shirt and pants under his vest and headdress.

Yesterday we kicked off our Thankful Tree and we’ll work on that all week long trying to fill it up as much as we possibly can. I’d also hoped to find time to make some additional Thanksgiving decorations, like these paper bag turkeys.

Here’s a few other ideas for easy Thanksgiving crafts:

1. Corny Cookies: look like mini corn on the cobs (but the M&M’s are sure to please any kid.)
2. Paper Cornucopia Craft
3. Girl’s Paper Pilgrim Bonnet
4. How about these teepees and houses (from little milk cartons and paper plates)
5. Paper & Nature Thanksgiving Banner
6. Woven Fall Placemat (you could do this with construction paper too)
7. Fall Leaf Spiral Mobile
8. Thanksgiving Bingo
9. Paper Bag Scarecrow
10. Paper Plate Scarecrow
11. Pilgrim Paper Finger Puppets
12. Coffee Filter Thanksgiving Bouquet

Websites chock full of Thanksgiving resources:

1. Kaboose
2. FamilyFun.Go.Com
3. DLTK
4. EdHelper
5. abcteach.com
6. Parents.com

Plenty of good stuff, there huh? Let me know if you’ve made any of these and how they turned out. Or do you have links to other crafts and activities that you’ve done with your kids?

Remember, this post is a part of the Give-Thanks-Giving bloggiversary party. And for grins and giggles, what is YOUR Thanksgiving i.q.? Do you know how many pounds of turkey is consumed in America on Thanksgiving Day? (I didn’t!)

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2nd Corinthians 9:7

It seems the opportunities to give and to serve come crawling out of the woodwork when the holidays roll around. But the majority of those ministries have needs year round. All year long you can donate your time or your money to those in need.

There are so many really good ministries, organizations and charities out there that need year round support. Closer to home, there are also many ministries and individuals in your local community in need. There are so many ways to give to others, so many opportunities to show the love of Christ.

The truth is — the holidays are just when we think about it.

But don’t let that stop you. Many of them do need additional help during the holidays. As the Spirit leads, may you give and serve in love and with a cheerful heart!

Below is a small list, a tiny fraction, of the many, many opportunities online for giving to others. I know there are many, many more. Please, if you have a special ministry or organization that is close to your heart, please leave a link in the comment section and I will add it to the list. And thanks!

Online Resources for Giving:

1. Samaritan’s Purse - “For over 35 years, Samaritan’s Purse has done our utmost to follow Christ’s command by going to the aid of the world’s poor, sick, and suffering. We are an effective means of reaching hurting people in countries around the world with food, medicine, and other assistance in the Name of Jesus Christ. This, in turn, earns us a hearing for the Gospel, the Good News of eternal life through Jesus Christ.”
2. Women At Risk International – “Women At Risk, International unites and educates women to create circles of protection and hope around women at risk through culturally sensitive, value-added intervention projects.”
3. Hannah’s Socks – “Hannah’s Socks is a non-profit organization focused on providing clothing necessities to the less fortunate in Toledo, Ohio; Cincinnati, Ohio; and their neighboring communities. Hannah’s Socks collects donated materials in the form of men’s, women’s and children’s socks and undergarments, then leverages partnerships with local shelters for distribution to both the homeless and to victims of domestic violence. In addition, we support programs serving under-privileged children. Hannah’s Socks firmly believes that in a country as prosperous as the United States, no man, woman or child should want for something as basic as a warm pair of socks.”
4. Hannah House Maternity Home / Promiseland Ministries Inc – “Our Mission…to reach out to teens and young women in a crisis pregancy situation; to provide an alternative to abortion such as adoption or parenting; to develop better decision-making, life, and parenting skills; to further education; to build stronger belief and understanding of the family; to glorify God and share His word and answers for today’s world.”
5. Feeding America – Feeding America is the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity.  Our mission is to feed America’s hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger. Each year, the Feeding America network provides food to more than 25 million low-income people facing hunger in the United States, including more than 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors.
6. Feeding America Partners – Many corporate sponsors partner with Feeding America to help the cause, including companies like Honeysuckle White and Snickers.

Also, don’t forget Christmas Change – a website dedicated to changing the way you think and spend this Christmas, encouraging you to spend less and give more. Included: A list of charities and a place to share personal stories.

And also, the 30 Day Giving Challenge – a place to find LOTS of ideas on ways to give this holiday season, including many suggestions for free ways to give.. ways that none of us have excuses not to do! Take part in Alyssa’s challenge to give something, somewhere every day in November (or what is left of it – there is still time to give!)

And last but not least, there are many bloggers who we may come across through our online busyness and browsing, bloggers like Ali @ My God Given Mission Field. Ali & her family are saving up for an adoption and have a very unique fundraiser going on right now. Ali has purchased a large puzzle. When someone sponsors a puzzle piece for five dollars, a puzzle piece (with the sponsors name on the back) is put into place. Once the whole puzzle is complete they will have the funds for the their adoption. Once the whole puzzle is complete, it will be framed and hung in their new adopted child’s room as a symbol. Isn’t that a beautiful idea?? It touched my heart when I first read it and it still gets me now.

What charities, ministries and organizations has God placed on your heart? Leave a comment in the comment section with a link, and a little bit about why it’s special to you or how you found it. If you know about other online resources like Christmas Change or the 30 Day Giving Challenge, or about other bloggers like Ali, tell us about those, too.

Proverbs 3:27 – Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.

This post is a part of the Classic Housewife One Year Bloggiversary Give-Thanks-Giving celebration.

Good food isn’t a requirement for good holiday celebrations…

Okay, yeah, it IS pretty important, isn’t it? You can enjoy your family time without it, but a delicious menu makes it even better!

I’m guessing we all have our favorite holiday “staple” recipe. That one that “it just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving” without. My husband is pretty simple. As long as he has turkey, mashed potatoes and dressing he is happy. I like a little more to my Thanksgiving meal than bread and meat.

It should be obvious by my expanding waist line that dessert is included in my list!

It should come as no surprise that my great-grandmother’s cherry pie recipe is one of mine (and my family’s) favorites. And what a thought to think that this recipe has been in our family for so many generations!

Of course – they didn’t leave out all the calories and sugar either! And while I am all. for. making healthy versions for some foods, there are some things that just need to stay the same. Like my Nannie Dot’s cherry pie. Just sayin.’

This is one of my mom’s favorites too I’ll admit, it’s 2nd or 3rd on my list – my Nannie’s pecan pie is number one. Hands down. No contest. And though I *could* share that recipe with you, the cherry pie is the one that my mom requested for her birthday instead of a cake. The one that we made and took pictures of. =)

So without further ado, I present to you, the best cherry pie you have ever put in your mouth:

Nannie Dot’s Cherry Pie

1 cup sugar
2 heaping T flour
1 can red tart pitted cherries
2 crusts

1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the liquid from the cherries with the sugar and the flour, set aside.
2. Pour the cherries into the bottom pie crust; pour the liquid mixture over the cherries until covered (you may not use it all).
3. Cover with a top crust, vented, or a lattice crust if you prefer.
4. Bake @ 400 for 10 min, then 325 for 30 minutes (or until the top crust is golden brown.)
5. Let cool til warm before eating so the filling can gel a little. Cut, serve, enjoy!

Of course, eating it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream is a MUST!

I took these two pictures the next morning after the pie was well-cooled. You can see this isn’t the kind of pie that is going to fall apart on your plate. It also isn’t artificially dyed red with tons of food coloring or over-the-top sweet with too much sugar, since you used the tart cherries instead of the cherry pie filling. The difference between the two is amazing, trust me!

My Nannie Dot (Dorothy) also had a pie crust recipe, and an ice cream maker. And we often made ice cream in the summer but sometimes during the holidays, too, to eat with all our warm pies. Is it just me or do the simpler, traditional recipes of the past just taste so much better??

You know what?? – Hubby has challenged me to make a holiday recipe book of my family’s best recipes handed down over the generations. He doesn’t think I will finish it, that’s what it is. My family has okay’d me using the recipes though, so I’ll just have to show HIM, huh?! I’m actually a lot farther on it than what he thinks.  *snicker*

Another recipe that has been in my family since my childhood (I don’t know how long) is our Christmas Cocoa.

I don’t know why it’s called CHRISTMAS cocoa – we make it at the first sign of cold weather and keep it in the pantry all winter long. This recipe was actually my FIRST blog post at my previous blog and it moved over here when I merged my blogs at Classic Housewife. You can find that recipe here.

What’s your recipe (or recipes) that you just can’t live without this holiday season?

Won’t you share with us? Add your posts to the linky below and let us all “give” our best recipe posts a little linky love, and “give” each other some good and new recipes to try at home this year. Who knows? You could discover your new “must have” recipe that your grandchildren will be talking about generations from now. If you’d like to link up more than one recipe post, that is fine – the more the merrier! Add a link back here at the bottom and don’t forget to grab the button!

This post is a part of my Give-Thanks-Giving Bloggiversary! Check it out.