Today, we're going VERY vintage.....as far back as we can go in this country and still be speaking English--with a Dutch accent, that is!
I LOVE the Pilgrims...those hardy, God-loving people who came here in 1620 on a very small ship, The Mayflower. We all know the bare-bones of the story so well, but I've studied them quite a bit in my life. I've always loved these people. My family history has been done pretty far back...I was lucky to have a lot of it already done for me by the time I was a girl and fell in love with it (genealogy). The vast majority of my family came from England in the 1600s and settled in New England. And quite a few of my direct ancestors were on the Mayflower.
It's interesting when you get a small group of people that live in one place, set down deep roots and don't move around much....they start to inter-marry, and pretty soon, most of them are related! My husband and I are descended from many of the same families way back then, and as a result, our children are directly descended from 16 of those original Pilgrims...which is why I love them. Very grateful for all they did, so I --and many of us--could be where we are and who we are today. (I'm sure I've got MANY Pilgrim cousins out there!!!)
Don't worry...not going to give you a history lesson today! Just wanted to remember them in my post, as they've been on my mind lately...
Our Thanksgiving celebration is so much different from the one they celebrated in 1621, but I'm so grateful that we have it...to be together, to share our thankfulness with God and with each other, and to remember these wonderful souls.
There is a wonderful place very near the original Plymouth settlement called "Plimoth Plantation"--have you ever been there--it's amazing! Costumed actors go about their duties and conversations with each other, and they interact with you, but they don't "know" or speak about anything past 1627, I believe. It's really fun! I've been there a few times--without my girls, though, and I can't wait to go again with them!
Here's a link to Plimoth Plantation--so much wonderful information for your kids and for an authentic Thanksgiving meal!
I found a delicious recipe in one of my books, "Giving Thanks", which was done in correlation with Plimoth Plantation. This is for Stewed Pompion, or pumpkin! Ready? Here you go:
"The Housewives manner is to slice (the Pompions)when ripe, and cut them into dice, and so fill a pot with them of two or three Gallons, and stew them upon a gentle fire a whole day, and as they sink, they fill again with fresh Pompions, not putting any liquor to them; and when it is stew's enough, it will look like bak'd Apples; then they Dish, putting Butter to it, and a little Vinegar. (with some Spice, as Ginger, &c.) which makes it tart like an Apple, and so serve it up to be eaten with Fish or Flesh; It provokes Urin extreamly and is very windy."
Well...what do you think? Are you going to give it a go for your Thanksgiving Dinner next week?! Just in case, here's the recipe again in more modern terms!
Stewed Pumpkin
4 cups cooked and mashed pumpkin
4 Tbsp. butter
1-2 Tbsp. cider vinegar
1-2 tsp. ground ginger (or any combination of nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, and pepper, to taste)
1 tsp. salt
Place the pumpkin, butter, vinegar ginger, and salt in a saucepan over low heat. Stir and heat until all of the ingredients are well combined and hot. Adjust the seasonings to your liking and serve.
Sounds a bit like a pumpkin pudding--I'm going to try it! I like trying historical recipes--helps you feel a bit of a connection, doesn't it?
I made a simple little pilgrim card to share with you today. Got this beautiful, old image from Cora on her lovely blog Clearly Vintage. Thanks, Cora!
Didn't get very glittery with this one...just wanted to stay simple. Sorry--can't seem to quit using this brown/cream gingham ribbon--I promise I'll stop after Thanksgiving...or when it runs out, which will be soon! I just LOVE it!
Before I go, just wanted to say thank-you to Maureen at Celestial Charms ...I won a couple of beautiful vintage aprons yesterday that she was giving away--so excited about that! I'll show you when they arrive! Thanks, Maureen! Go visit her at her beautiful blog--you'll love it!
Another big THANK-YOU to the sweet Jessica at Chronically Vintage for awarding me her own special Chronically Fantastic award--I'm thrilled --and what an adorable award--she's just so clever! (You can see it on my sidebar!) When you go for a lovely visit, tell her I said hello!
(Thanks to Karen, the Graphics Fairy, for sharing this beautiful image!)
Julie, what wonderful information on the Pilgrims and tribute to what's coming forward so quickly - Thanksgiving Day. So you and your husband have relatives from the Mayflower, how cool is that? You did a lovely job and have a wonderful blog. Thank you for taking the time to leave sweetness on my blog; it is so much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteJoyful Friday greetings, Julie, thank you for this terrific post about the pilgrims. Though our history books don't focus on it (that period in US history) quite as much in school as those in America do, I've always been a huge history buff and enjoy reading about the harrowing stories related to the first European settlers in the New World, such as those who landed at Plymouth Rock. I definitely learned a few new facts here, thank you!
ReplyDeleteMany heartfelt thanks, too, for your sweeter-than-a-million-pumpkin-pies words about Chronically Vintage. You just made my afternoon, dear friend!
Huge hugs & blissful weekend wishes,
♥ Jessica
Oh wow...how cool to trace your heritage back to the Pilgrims! Isn't there a group you can join similar to the Daughter of the Revolution?
ReplyDeleteI've been to Plymouth Plantation and Plymouth. In High School one of our teachers took us back east from Boston to Washington. We were *IN* Plymouth on Thanksgiving Day and had dinner there. Wow...the memories of that. I haven't thought about that in years.
I think I'll have to pass on the stewed pumpkin. I only like pumpkin pie and jack-o-lanterns. :D
Loved this post. I am American transplanted to the UK and live near the Pilgrim Fathers Memorial, just outside of Boston (where Boston, USA got it's name). The original pilgrims were from our area and left our shores in Fishtoft (my village) in their first attempt to travel to America via Holland. You can read more about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilgrim_Fathers_Memorial
ReplyDeleteThanks for your wonderful post and the interesting recipe...
Great post and gorgeous card Julie. The recipe looks great too. Might try it as I got sugar pumpkin in my veggie box.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend. Fliss xx
What an interesting post Julie. How fantastic to know that you are directly descended from some of those on the Mayflower. Fascinating. My son, aged 7, has just been studying the origins of Thanksgiving at school, so I have been hearing all kinds of snippets of information!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your cntinued visits and your lovely kind comments. x x x Anne x x x
hi julie,
ReplyDeletewhat an interesting post! how cool to know that you and your husband are mayflower descendents!
did you happen to see the thanksgiving dinner article in the past week's parade magazine? a writer tried to recreate the original thanksgiving meal -- which included things like lobster -- it was a fun read.
xo
Sooooo, it was you guys who screwed up the country......LOL just kidding. Wish we still had some of the GOOD things they brought over.
ReplyDeleteBy God's GRACE we do
Loved the history lesson.......so MANY blessing to thank God for!
Wonderful vintage images........your card is fabulous as always. Love the teal.
WOW!!! this is STUNNINg.. of course you are the VINTAGE QUEEN ;) I Love the look of this card.. it truly takes me back to all my history lessons and learning about the pilgrims.. :) hugs
ReplyDeleteWell, the only claim to fame I have found so far is that my mom's side of the family are descendants of Johnny (Chapman) Appleseed.
ReplyDeleteLovely post as always...can't believe it took me all day to get here! Must be all those emails I'm sending ; )
Greetings Julie,
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for stopping by my blog & for taking the time to leave such a sweet comment! We do have similar tastes, I see you follow alot of the same blogs as I do. I would be so excited if I could trace my family back to the Mayflower. I think I've taken mine back as far as a little drummer boy in the civil war. You are a true decent of a Pilgrim...that's just COOOL!!! :)
Another great card Julie and a wonderful post! I, too, am a direct descendant from one of the original pilgrims. Isn't that just so cool! Something else we have in common!! I just love geneology. I find it so fascinating and interesting. It's cool to see where we came from! Love you loads! xxoo
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post.Love the pigrim image of the girl. So pretty. How fun to have someone have done your family geneology all the away back to the 1600's. WOW!! I wish we had that.
ReplyDeleteThe card you made is gorgeous!!! I love all of your cards.
Have a lovley Saturday, friend.
Xo,
Tammy
what a wonderful post, thanks for all the information. a perfect read on a wet afternoon !
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the post.... Blessings...
ReplyDeleteSo great to see the image in action. Would it be ok to post it on Clearly Vintage with a link back here? Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteCora
It's up. Thank you so much.
ReplyDelete