Wo'okeyeh ('Peace' in the language of the Sioux, Native American) Sioux leader, Chief and Medicine Man - Chief Sitting Bull How could we ever celebrate Thanksgiving without giving honor to our fellow brothers - the native Americans, or Indians, of North America? I completely understand why some Native Americans do not share that feeling! We haven't been very 'brotherly' since that first Thanksgiving. Misunderstandings, greed, false religious fervor, false view of any others that were not 'white', deceit, murder, oh the list goes on. It makes me sad. But let us go back to a happier time - that first Thanksgiving when there was peace, and thanks to God for food and friends and family. vintage postcard I have some Native American paper dolls to share with you today. I know I have found some from Karen's Whimsy and OrigamiBears. Check out their websites for tons of fantastic paper dolls of all kinds! Now please, don't fuss at me about details. I am just sharing with you some great paperdolls. I am NOT saying the clothes and accouterments are historically correct. That would depend on the artist's research. But I do think these are wonderful paper dolls! Here is another small set: I like that the artist here specifies different traditional dress for different tribes. Just like the previous artist specified a geographical region. Now for something completely different - (thanks to Monty Python's Flying Circus humor) Time for Pie!!! My brother-in-law is one of the greatest cooks I know. He also is a super baker, especially with pies! This is not his original recipe for Kahlua Pecan Pie,but it has similar ingredients. I still remember once on my birthday he baked me a HUGE Kahlua Pecan Pie. What a treat! Kahlua Pecan Pie: 3 eggs, slightly beaten 1 cup Karo Light or dark corn syrup (or Karo maple flavored syrup) 1/2 cup sugar 2 Tablespoons butter, melted 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 cups pecans 1 unbaked pastry shell 2 Tablespoons Kahlua (optional) In medium bowl, stir together eggs, corn syrup, sugar, butter and vanilla until well blended. (If desired, add Kahlua.) Stir in pecans. Pour into pastry shell. Bake in 350 oven 50 to 55 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between center and edge comes out clean. Cool. Now make another pie for everyone else. That way you don't have to share yours!!! You can use these patterns for tube painting, or embroidery, or painted clothing. You can use t-shirts, tablecloths, sweatshirts, napkins, table toppers, table runners - really anything you can think of! This would also make a good wood burned plaque pattern.... vintage postcard Here is another 'blurb' from an article written by Dr. James Galyon. Here is the website to the entire article: http://drjamesgalyon.wordpress.com/category/pilgrims/ an excerpt: [after the 1621 Thanksgiving shared celebration]... "The following year, the Pilgrims did not experience a harvest as successful as the first. During the year they shared their stores with newcomers, resulting in a food shortage. The next year brought extreme heat and drought. Bradford called the Pilgrims to day of prayer and fasting. Rain soon fell. A day of thanksgiving was proclaimed on November 29. The annual custom of celebrating thanksgiving after the harvest continued after that year." an interview between Samoset and the Pilgrims an illustration of the Pilgrims and Squanto A nice Betsy McCall paperdoll for you: November, 1970 more from Dr. Galyon: "During the American War of Independence an official day of national thanksgiving was suggested by the Continental Congress. In 1817, the state of New York adopted Thanksgiving Day as an official annual custom. Other states followed suit, and in 1863 Abraham Lincoln appointed a national Day of Thanksgiving. Each U.S. President since has issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation, appointing the fourth Thursday of each November as a holiday for giving thanks to God for His blessings." President Theodore Roosevelt signing the Thanksgiving Proclamation in 1902 vintage postcard "Nothing will ever please me, no matter how excellent or beneficial, if I must retain the knowledge of it to myself. No good thing is pleasant to possess without friends to share it." - Seneca proverb (The Senecas are a Native American tribe) Here is a fun little maze for you. note: I don't think there are cactus anywhere near Plymouth!!! The Sioux tribe were also Plains Indians, found in parts of Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas. vintage postcard found at http://www.mommylife.net/ Please forgive me if I have duplicated graphics/art/paintings/etc. As you know from yesterday, BLOGSPOT was not friendly to me. I do hope today's blog will post in entirety! Today in Colorado we are having beautiful weather with little wind, bright blue skies and some white puffy clouds. The mountain ranges to the West are shades of purples and blues, with white cloud cover obscuring the tops. I hope your day is as beautiful. :0) inkspired http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/ http://www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com/