Play with those Talking Veggies!

Welcome!

Pumpkin Kaleidoscope by inkspired 

As we enter the month of November 

my thoughts turn to the upcoming American holiday of

Thanksgiving.

Cred: Cartoonist Jon Russo

While it may seem that retail has pushed Thanksgiving aside 

it remains a unique American tradition.

1940 - 1950 illustration, artist unknown

Just don’t ask any Native Americans what they think about it,

as you might find out they have drastically changed their views on the subject after the first one.

😢

November 1937 magazine cover

Artist unknown 

Let’s talk of vegetables today,

an essential ingredient to any Thanksgiving meal.

Really.

Vintage seed catalog cover, 1901

I just love vintage illustrations!

Did you notice the turn of the century gardening tools?

Vintage seed catalog cover, 1899

Apparently in the past, we had different ideas

about advertising....

I mean nothing says 

“Buy me! Plant me! Eat me!”

Like these:

MOM!

MY VEGETABLES ARE TALKING TO ME!

“Yes dear, now eat your vegetables..”

Here’s a favorite,

Anthropomorphic vegetables, smoking!

Yep, nothing says healthy like smoking vegetables!

Kaleidoscope by inkspired

‘Better to eat vegetables and fear no creditors,

Than eat duck and hide from them.’

- The Talmud

Vintage vegetable advertising, 1898

‘It’s no use boiling your cabbage twice.’

-Irish proverb 

On that thought, I will close for today.

Let me know what you think about talking vegetables

in the Comments section!

‘Til next time,

inkspired 

Vintage seed catalog cover, 1903

Silky Sharks and giving Thanks

Pyong'hwa

Korean for 'Peace'

a painting of North Korea by a North Korean artist

There was news today about the silky shark

and an international co-op committee of sorts

that met to discuss oceanic ecology

and the prevention of species extinction.

Declines of the silky shark have been recently showing up as much as

a 90% drop in populations.

Their findings and new laws you can find out about here:

http://news.yahoo.com/conservation-body-agrees-protect-silky-sharks-104556772.html

http://www.camerasunderwater.info/



So, it's a shark right?

Sharks are bad, right?

'Jaws' taught us that a dead shark is a good shark, right?

So why would I care if there is a decline?

Less sharks to eat people, right?

WRONG!

"When the last individual of a race of living things breathes no more, another heaven and earth must pass

before such a one can be again."

- William Beebe, scientist

silky sharks off Malpelo Island, near Cocos

found at http://www.uwphotographyguide.com/

The silky shark is the second most common shark caught as bycatch.

(The blue shark is the most common.)

So, what's bycatch?

That is all the other sea life that are caught in a fishing net

that is meant for another kind of marine fish.

Like blue tuna.

A favorite food for silky sharks and dolphins.

In centuries past and not so past, the fishermen would just throw the mostly dead

or dead unwanted sea life (fish, mammals, whales, etc.) back in the ocean.

This has caused a large decline in the population of dolphins and whales.

There have been international laws in place for a little while

(thanks to Green Peace and other animal rights groups)

to protect some species of whales, and dolphins.

First time for silky sharks.

a silky shark caught in a net, www.arkive.org

SOME SILKY SHARK FACTS:

A silky shark has a slender, streamlined body and typically grows to 8'2" (2.5 m).

It is called a silky shark because it has a smooth texture of its skin!

Silky sharks are very mobile and migratory.

Individual sharks have been tag-tracked to travel as much as 37 miles per day (60km) and covering distances of up to 832 miles (1,339km).

That's a whole lotta' swimming.

diagram of a silky shark, www.dpi.quld.gov.au

Silky sharks are open ocean sharks and are found from the surface to 660 ft (200m) down, however they do dive to 1,600 ft (500m) or more.

They spend 99% of their time cruising within 10 ft.(50m) of the surface.

They like their water temp at 79 - 86 degrees F (26 - 30 'C).

They hang out over deep water reefs and around islands

for around 82% of their time.

So again, why should we care if they are becoming extinct?

I believe that all things are created by G-d.

We are all connected through our Creator.

If one strand is disturbed, then unbalance occurs.

If G-d made this world complete (which I believe He did)

then losing a species of any kind will create unbalance

and chaos.

Not to mention being incredibly rude to G-d who has given all of this for us to protect and to use wisely.

picture taken off the coast of Cuba

"The loneliness of man is the loneliness of the animal.

We must have one another.

The baboon seeks his troop, the book keeper his busy office,

the buffalo his herd,

the weary bricklayer his fellows at the corner pub,

the herring his schools in the cold North Sea -

all for quite the same reason:

because we cannot survive without one another."

- Robert Ardrey "The Social Contract"

I have gathered quite a bit more info on the silky shark, but this isn't really

a scientific blog, now is it?

Much of the info I have found is from Wikipedia.

What a marvelous source of information!

We should all know however that silky sharks, like many other sharks, are deliberately killed for their fins.

Shark fins are highly valued and a main ingredient in 'shark fin soup'.

Captured sharks are often 'finned' at sea, and the rest of the body

discarded.

Why does this make me think of rhinocerous'?

The American buffalo?

The African elephant?

The black bear?

Each of them have been hunted for only one body part,

the rest is left to die and rot.

Doesn't sound like a very good use of the gifts God has given us.

Silky sharks are also hunted for their meat (sold fresh or dried/salted), skin, and liver oil. The dried shark jaws are sold as curios to tourists in the tropics.

Fins from these silky sharks are traded an estimated

500,000 to 1,500,000 per year.

(That's half of a million to one and a half million for those of you

who don't like to count zeros!)

The Hong Kong fin market represents over half of the global trade.

The silky shark is the 2nd or 3rd most common species auctioned.

a dried shark jaw, www.elasmo-research.org

People, people, people -

we've GOT to get our priorities straight.

You know the next threat to the silky shark?

Sport fishermen and tourists that fish for them.

Is it really worth putting a stuffed shark on your wall,

or a photo of you and a dead shark on your home website

to cause the extinction of a species?

"Teach your children what we have taught our children -

that the earth is our mother.

Whatever befalls the earth,

befalls the sons of the earth....

Earth does not belong to us;

We belong to the earth."

paraphrased from a speech by Chief Seattle

As we enter this time of Thanksgiving for all the bounty we have received from the past year,

let's give a prayer for us all to respect nature.

To thank God for what He has given us.

And yeah, that includes sharks.

http://www.kilkykipevansphotography.photoshelter.com/

and PLEASE,

think twice before you go on a sports fishing adventure,

or you see shark fin soup on a menu,

or 'just picking up mementos' from a vacation.

'There is always hope

when people are forced to listen

to both sides.'

- John Stuart Mill

Thanks for listening to one of my 'rants' about the earth,

and our individual responsibilities to the world around us.

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

http://www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com/

please post comments here

It really is easy!

Thanksgiving history, Pilgrims, Indians and vintage postcards

Waki ljiwebis-l

(There is a little 'hat' above the first a)

'Peace' in Algonquin, a North American Native Tribe

and no, I have no idea how to pronounce that!!!

vintage postcard

Thanksgiving plans are in the works.

Turkeys are on sale.

Oven baking bags are stocked.

And Christmas decorations are ready to be sold.

Yep, must be Thanksgiving time!

1950's hostess from

http://www.missretroblog.blogspot.com/

I found this absolutely FABULOUS blog about the Pilgrims from their first landing;

relationships with Native Americans and Pilgrim rules.

I knew Thanksgiving started as a way to say 'Thanks to God' and to thank the Indian tribes that had shown them how to survive, how to plant

and how to gather.

'First Thanksgiving 1621'

by J.L.G. Ferris, 1863 - 1930

Dr. James Galyon has done his research and done it well.

It would be worth your time to check out his blog:

http://drjamesgalyon.wordpress.com/category/pilgrims/

Here is just a little sample:

"Squanto helped the Pilgrims immeasurably. They received a wealth of information from him. He taught them such things as how to distinguish between plants that were helpful and harmful, how to plant corn and other crops, and how to tap maples for their sap. The 1621 harvest in October was quite successful. There was much to celebrate: peace with their native neighbors, an abundance of food and stores, the completed construction of homes and village buildings, and life itself. Governor William Bradford proclaimed a day of thanksgiving for the settlers and invited their Native American neighbors to join the celebration. The chief of the Patuxets, Massasoit, led 90 of his braves to the three-day feast. In addition to the feast, the celebrants played various games, demonstrated their archery and musket marksmanship, and shared music together."

excerpt by Dr. Galyon

'Interview by Samoset with the Pilgrims'

I thought I would have some Pilgrim fun today,

and a little Native American fun  and maybe

some turkeys!

vintage 'Thanksgiving pilgrim' found at www.mommylife.net

Here are a few vintage postcards that you can print out on cardstock and send!

I have included the back of a vintage postcard that you can use too.

found at www.abduzeedo.com

I love these old vintage poems and sayings on these postcards!

a little beading pattern for you, to do in peyote stitch or brick stitch:

If you are a little more experienced, the corn pattern would make a nice earring. You could even make 3 per earring,

and have them dangle on a beaded string or wire, your preference.

To bead just what the pattern says,

you can make a simple chain to make it become a necklace,

or you can stitch on a bar pin back.

:0)

Dolly Dingle Does a Pilgrim Thanksgiving:

for private use only, I believe

Betsy McCall

a sweet Joan Walsh Anglund prayer:

"44 Pilgrims boarded the Mayflower with 66 other passengers, dubbed “the Strangers” by the Pilgrims, on September 6, 1620. They landed 65 days later."

from Dr. James Grayson's blog

vintage Gurley pilgrim candles found at www.lovingmom.blogspot.com

It has been nice for me to remember the early beginnings of our heritage as Americans. We owe so much to the Native American tribes,

and oh how we forget that.

We also forget that the early Pilgrims wanted to worship God

in their own way. Free from persecution.

There are MANY countries around the world that still do not allow that.

Specifically India, Kenya and Nigeria have been brutal in their persecution of people in the Christian faith.

But they are only a few countries mentioned - there are many more.

The following web site has very current updates about this evil:

http://www.persecution.com/

I am so grateful for the freedoms that I am privileged to have in America.

c.1914

I look forward to sharing more Pilgrim paperdolls with you,

and more wonderful vintage graphics

and perhaps even a recipe or two!

see ya'

:0)

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

http://www.myinkspired.com/

http://www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com/

dominoes@myinkspired.com



Thanksgiving Hymnology We Gather Together

Vrolijke gedenkdagen

(Happy Thanksgiving in Dutch)

vintage Pilgrim illustration

We Gather Together Thanksgiving Hymn

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;

He chastens and hastens His will to make known.

The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.

Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,

Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;

So from the beginning the fight we were winning;

Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!

We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant,

And pray that Thou still our Defender will be.

Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;

Thy Name be ever praised

close up of a Chrysanthemum, November Flower of the Month

'We Gather Together' is a traditional Dutch hymn sung in Thanksgiving Day services. It is as an expression of thanksgiving to God as defender and guide throughout the past year. The original text writer is unknown, written at the end of the 16th century to celebrate the Dutch freedom from the Spanish domination.

vintage Dutch children illustrations

To appreciate this hymn, it is necessary to know its historical background. For many years, Holland had been under the scourge of Spain. In 1576, Antwerp was captured and sacked by the Spanish armies. Nine years later, it was captured again by the Spanish and all of the Protestant citizens were exiled.

'Wreck of the San Felipe - 1576'  by Gordon Miller

These historical events can be seen from the references within the hymn's text,

 that God will continue to defend:

"The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing," (in first stanza)

"so from the beginning the fight we were winning," (in second stanza)

"and pray that Thou still our defender will be." (in final stanza)

Many other Dutch cities suffered similar fates. William the Silent, one of the revered leaders of the struggle against Spain was eventually murdered by a Catholic assassin.

'William the Silent'

Loutherbourg, Spanish Armada against the Dutch, 1568-1648

 His youngest son, Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, assumed the leadership for more than a quarter century. His rule was called the great golden age of prosperity where rich post-reformation culture developed throughout Holland.

 

'Motley's Dutch Nation' by John Lothrop Motley

 with photo of first royals of the 'Dutch Republic'

Commerce was expanded, and this was the period of great Dutch art, with such prominent painters as Rembrandt and Vermeer. In 1648, the Spanish endeavors to control Holland were finally destroyed beyond recovery.

'the Guitar Player' by Jan Vermeer, 1672

"We Gather Together"  was first published in Adrian Valerius's Nederlandtsche Gedenckclanck, in 1626, in Haarleem. Initially, the singing of this hymn was limited to the Dutch people, until more than two centuries ago, in 1877, it was discovered by Edward Kremser, a Viennese musician who published it in his collection Sechs Altniederlanddische Volkslieder. The English translation of the text was done by Theodore Baker in 1894 and set to a Netherlands Folk Melody.

'Pilgrims' Prayer of Thanksgiving'

Theodore Baker was born in New York, and was a highly respected music researcher. His famous 'Biographical Dictionary of Musicians' became THE authoritative reference book for all serious students of music.

For those of you a little more into music publications, Mr. Baker served as the literary editor for the G.Schirmer Music Company from 1893 - 1926.

Mr. Baker returned to Germany - where he had received his earlier musical training. He died in Dresden, Germany in 1934.

'We Gather Together' was first seen in hymnals in 1903.

'Good News Hymn' compiled by Benjamin Franklin Butts, 1914

This charming paper doll is from Holland, with traditional costumes:

I hope you have had fun with this little slice of history today.

I know I have!

We in America have such a rich and diverse background

given to us from countries all over the world.

I feel so privileged!

I love to learn about how some of 'our' customs

are actually customs from other countries, just like this hymn!

See you tomorrow!

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

http://www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com/

http://www.myinkspired.com/

(my web site is certainly a work in progress....)