1. Togetherness
Thanksgiving is America’s harvest festival—I have to be very honest; I’m still embracing the celebration because we don’t do this in Venezuela. But I truly believe it’s a time to acknowledge the help of family and friends, and a reminder of what a gift it is to be alive. It’s a day to overindulge in the here and now, even as we reflect on the past.
Since we are a small family, I’m planning to add togetherness and fun to this occasion. Storytelling time, baking some cookies, morning devotional, celebrating the Lord’s communion as family and some games are part of our Thanksgiving day. We’ll end the day having a fusion Venezuelan-American thanksgiving dinner at our friend’s house. I’m assuming we are having turkey so my craving for “Pernil Asado” have to wait until Christmas Eve.
2. Bump is back!!!!! And with a brand new episode for Thanksgiving!
Few weeks ago my friend, Jerome Green and Dave Hulteen Jr., from HulGreen Productions, started a new project that aims to “create family friendly entertainment through puppetry”
Bang and Bump are super adorable characters. They combine innocence, comedy, warmth and pure delight, suitable (and enjoyable) for all ages.
For someone like me, who love vintage and grew up on “Sesame Street;” This new idea of HulGreen Productions is the honoring of Puppetry myth and art.
When I was younger, we didn’t have cable and weren’t allowed to watch most TV shows, but it was always okay to watch The Muppet Show. The first time I saw Bang and Bump my first thought was: “Hello nostalgia, it’s nice to see you!” I know this is a great project for younger people, but who doesn’t love a trip down memory lane? If you were born in the 70s or 80s, then Bang and Bump are also for you.
They are free of nastiness. All of their jokes are in the spirit of fun. They have spirit and charm and a good-old-fashioned gee-whiz sensibility. Additionally, I love the idea of supporting new talents!!
Every year around Thanksgiving, it’s important to really take a moment to think about what we are thankful for and why. A lot of the time, if you’re lucky, there’s the obvious…good friends, great family, and in my case you get to be thankful for having the best husband and daughter. This year though, I’ve challenged myself to go a little bit deeper. Beyond being thankful for having food on the table and a warm bed to sleep in, above all else, I am thankful for having Bump back (You have to see Ep 06 as well)
3. The Melding of Cultures on Thanksgiving
We are cooking a Fusion Venezuelan-American Thanksgiving Dinner. While I was looking at some Fusion Menus I found this amazing images inspiring a French and American Thanksgiving. They evoke the Northeastern France, plenty of winter squash (red kuri squash being a favorite), as well as apples, pears and root vegetables like celeriac and parsnips. The overall menu is filled with walnuts, chestnuts and mushrooms. A simply reminiscent of France in the fall.
Thanksgiving is a perfect occasion to seek inspiration and indulge our muse with overflowing creative moments. While some of these foods will follow tradition, certainly Béatrice Peltre created a unique creative twist. The fest includes: small appetizer verrines that will showcase layers of ricotta mousse and squash purée with greens and nuts. A kabocha squash and apple soup with spices will follow. She will prepare a red cabbage, celeriac and apple salad, and will bake a potato, celeriac and butternut squash gratin with turkey and stuffing. And for dessert, they will indulge in something with chocolate and fruit, like chocolate and pear clafoutis. This menu will be a hybrid from Béatrice Peltre’s French roots and her American home – simple, delicious foods that speaks to our varied backgrounds.
Photography Béatrice Peltre
4. Food and Poetry
I also believe thanksgiving, it’s the perfect holiday for poetry! Since I was 5 years old, my mom introduced me to poetry and my dad to Spanish Literature. Poetry played a big role during my family’s Holidays. My childhood memories are full of verses, alliteration, onomatopoeia, and rhythm. Unfortunately, once I graduted from College I got so busy that I didn’t pay much attetion to the richness of the poetry during my adulthood. I’m a big fan of Chilean Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda, not to mention the Nobel laureates Gabriela Mistral and forever my favorite Gabriel García Márquez.
While a home overrun with family and friends does not fit with our popular conception of the poet as solitary brooder; I’m also trying to introduce my daughter into this beautiful art and I selected few poems for tomorrow. I believe these poem show that the occasion has provided – Joy Harjo—with plenty of food for thought. “Perhaps the World Ends Here” from The Woman Who Fell From the Sky by Joy Harjo.
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