Thanksgiving Hangman created by The Dimension's Edge, Inc.
November
Sketch Notes
The Book Mark
November 2008
Welcome Back!
Articles:   "George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation"; "Easy Way to Cook a Pumpkin"

Poetry:  "November, now..." by Leann; "Old Man Rocking on the Porch" (song lyrics) by Stephen W. Pollard; "Scarecrow" by Leann;
    "Singing Trees" by Donelle M. Knudsen; "Almost My Time Again" by Felix LeRoy Perry

Recipes:  Baked Pumpkin Side Dish

Games:  Thanksgiving Hangman; Snow Line; Scarecrow Jigsaw Puzzle

Cartoons: "Geez Louise" by Leann
Geez, Louise!                        by L.M. 2008

How To Cook Pumpkin (the easy way)
Why do jack-o-lanterns have stupid smiles on their faces?
You'd have a stupid smile, too, if you had just had all your brains
scooped out!
(An old joke maybe, but there's a way to prepare the pumpkin for your
favorite recipe and still have the last laugh.)
To cook pumpkin the easy way, cut it in half—scooping out all the
seeds and fiber goop, of course—and then put the halves (cut side
down) on a rimmed baking sheet. (The sides keep any juices from
dripping into your oven.)
Bake for 1 hour on 400 degrees until pumpkin is tender. Now you
can just scoop it out of the shell and dice or mash according to your
recipe. Who's smiling now?
___________________________________________________________

Recipe for a Side Dish
Now that you've cooked a bunch of pumpkin, you can make a pie--
or not! Instead, you can use pumpkin as part of the main meal
instead of sweet potatoes. You'll look like a genius.
Here’s a recipe that uses baked pumpkin along with cinnamon,
almonds, and caramelized onions to provide a unique
Side Dish that serves 4:

2 pounds pumpkin
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 onions, sliced thin
4 tablespoons slivered almonds, toasted
1/4 cup seedless raisins,
soaked in warm water and drained
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
_______________________________

Bake pumpkin as explained above.
Remove flesh and set aside to cool.

Preheat Oven to 375 degrees

Sauté onions in oil until tender in a large skillet.
Add  3 tablespoons of the almonds, and all the remaining ingredients.
Cook, stirring constantly, until onions are caramelized, about 15
minutes.
Cut the cooked pumpkin into chunks and put into a casserole dish.
Spread the onion mixture evenly over the pumpkin and bake until
heated through, about 15 minutes.
Sprinkle the rest of the almonds on top and serve.
2008
SketchNotes
Archives:

November, now...









Memories, brilliant
As autumn leaves swirling
Against a fallen oak
Remind me of your laughter
Of your smile
Of the light that shines
Within your eyes
Golden like the sun
That seems to dance
Upon the water
All of these miracles
Astir today
Here at Autumn's ending
She tries hardest
To fulfill them
And I shall memorize
November now
'Ere frost from Winter’s kiss
Can still them

--Leann Marshall 2008

Sketch Notes
is my Web site's
seasonal page
where I can just
get creative and
have fun.
(No rules.)
In This Issue-



       Song lyrics by
         Stephen W. Pollard


"This song poem lyric came from a dream that I had some years ago.
Amazingly, this dream had everything to it, the musical melodies floating
in the breeze, the rainbow trout splashing out in the pond, and of course
the rocking chair rocking and creaking on the porch.
Where ever this place was, it must have been a magnificent sight for
travelers to view from the road.
In 2007 I had this made into a demo by Nashville Song Service.
Nashville Song Service created an absolutely great demo for it captures the
feeling and sounds that I described to them that were in the dream..."

"Old Man Rocking on the Porch"

(Verse 1)
Look there is this old man
Sitting out on the porch
Rocking out on the porch
Out there in the rippling pond
The huge rainbow trout are jumping out
Out on the highway beyond
The travelers are looking about
(Chorus)
There he is rocking away
Sitting out there on his porch
He's rocking the day away
Rocking out on his porch
Sitting there as time will fly
As he watches the world go bye
(Verse 2)
Look there is this old man
Sitting out on his porch
Gazing out at his land
Rocking out on his porch
Across the field there is a stirring breeze
He’s listening to the radio and the melodies
Sounds on the radio floating in the breeze
He’s absorbed in listening to the melodies
(Chorus)
There he is rocking away
Sitting out there on his porch
He’s rocking the day away
Rocking out on his porch
Sitting there as time will fly
As he watches the world go bye    


--Stephen W. Pollard
I've  had a lot of fun putting these
"Sketch Notes" pages together. If you
missed the first two "issues" click on
ARCHIVES at the top right of this
little notebook page.
This November page features the work
of other writers along with my own,
making for a richer and more
interesting page all around. A special
thanks from me to them!
This page is experimental and won't
last forever, but I plan to at least have
a December Sketch Notes. The goal is
to create a fun page that people enjoy
revisiting.
I hope you enjoy it!
I've heard and very much enjoyed both
music and song from Appalachia...this
one by Stephen W.Pollard paints a
simple and moving picture of classic
Americana.
-Leann

Thanksgiving Proclamations in the First Thirty Years of Nationhood
As President, on October 3, 1789, George Washington made the
following proclamation and created the first Thanksgiving Day
designated by the national government of the United States of America:

“ Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly
to implore his protection and favor, and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People
of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of
Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that
great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. That we may then all unite in rendering unto
him our sincere and humble thanks, for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation, for the signal
and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war, for the
great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled
to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and
religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and
various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to
pardon our national and other transgressions, to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties
properly and punctually, to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and
constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed, to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown
kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord. To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue,
and the encrease of science among them and Us, and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to
be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
I'm Thankful to be an American!
The first Thanksgiving was a celebration of harvest and plenty, dissolving, if only for a little while, the differences between those who sat
down together to share the bounty of this land in a wonderful feast.
The article below is from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. I was looking up information about Thanksgiving and came across it. I'd never
seen it before, and was struck by the principles expressed there. Rather than try to duplicate that impression in an article, I posted the
writing instead. It's timely, and not only because it's an election year. With all the crises, frustrations, uncertainty and misfortunes many of
us as Americans have experienced in recent years, we aren't the first to go through the harsh pangs of change within our great country, and
will not be the last. It helps me to remember the principles that helped to form our country's foundation--the great men and women who
made it so then, and those who sacrifice so much to make it so today. It helps me to remember everything that I have--along with those I
love, of course--for which I will be eternally thankful.
--Leann
What are YOU thankful for?
funny
head dangles
at an odd angle
....O.....o....
burlap face with
mismatched
buttons for
eyes
Shoulders all askew but he can't help that at all because
his floppy arms hang heavily over old poles
just an old                   flannel shirt                     and hands
are really                          ragged old work                      gloves stuffed
with dry                                   straw from one                             field over
he’s got suspenders
holding up those
denim britches
brass buttons, worn
but still kind of shiny
in the sun but even with
his stuffed       legs hanging
down the               ends of them
stuck into                    big clompy
old brown                          work boots
laces untied                     (but the soul's
still intact)                         he doesn’t
fool the                        crows that
gather in                        the corn
they know                          his crooked
smile is meant                          just for them

                                                 
Scarecrow
Did you enjoy this experimental issue of
Sketch Notes?

Got any Suggestions for future Sketch
Notes?

Have you got a poem, story, or article
you'd like to contribute to the December
issue?

Just want to say Hi?

Drop me a line by clicking on
"Herman" (Below)
To see "Geez, Louise!" archives click on the strip above.
Click to Mix and Solve
Cool Games
click on one of these three games to play:
Geez, Louise!                        by L.M. 2008
Here in North Carolina the Fall season lasts well into November. The air
becomes crisp, the leaves still crunch underfoot and the sun hangs low and
golden in the sky. Of all the seasons, Autumn is still my favorite. To some it
means an ending, of sorts. But to me the cool winds bring renewed vigor.
The changing landscape symbolizes a time of reflection; a renewed
appreciation of what the year has brought us so far, and the promise of
holiday gatherings filled with loved ones and friends, soon to come.
Almost My Time Again
By: Santa Fee (Felix LeRoy Perry)






Now my beard is almost grown in
I’ve been practicing my Ho Ho Ho’s
It won’t be long now I tell you
That I’ll be dressing in my red clothes

When the kiddies come a calling
To tell me what they want this year
You’ll find me at the local mall
Sitting comfy in that big red chair

My happy elves assisting children
To climb up upon old Santa’s knee
To whisper what they like this year
I’ll listen close to each and every plea

I’ll make my list and check it twice
So I can email it off to the pole
Oh goodness gracious modern tech
Now plays a part in Santa’s role

From November right till Christmas
Eve
Each day spending time at the mall
In between answering children’s letters
And each night Mrs. Claus I will call

Now say Merry Christmas one and all
I double parked my reindeer out of
sight
They are anxious to ride the skies
again
Like they do each Christmas night…

Ho Ho Ho
Merrrrryyyyyyy Christmas to all and
to all a good night…
A taste of things to come...


The December Sketch Notes will be the best
one yet, filled with poetry, recipes, games,
and more fun! Here is an example by F.L.
Perry, a fellow author on AuthorsDen. Fee
(as we affectionately call him) has written
over one thousand poems on AD and
continues to amaze us with his creative
spirit. He is beloved by all and I'm so proud
to be able to include some of his writing on
the upcoming page. So be sure to book mark
Sketch Notes and visit again very soon!

Singing Trees


Orange and red leaves rustle in the breeze
a chorus floats magically across the field . . .
but leaves don’t sing so where is the source
of nature’s symphony so generous to yield?

At just the right moment I was brought here
to hold my breath, tilt my head and see . . .
not five, not ten, maybe two dozen or more
small birds emerge and fly to a tall pine tree.

How joyous to know that God’s tiny creatures
could touch my life in this unique way . . .
a blessing to learn that miracle of miracles
when maple trees sing it’s a perfect day.


By Donelle M. Knudsen
November 2008
Note: The original writings and cartoons belong to those who created them and
should not be used without their permission. Some are copyrighted.