November 2008~ Giving Thanks
Here we are well into the Autumn season. We have Halloween behind us, then November starts with El Dia de los Muertos, that wonderful, colorful Mexican festival honoring the dead. This year Kim & I have decided we would try our hand at making sugar skulls.
Sugar Skull Recipe
For a 5lb bag of sugar, use 1/4 c of meringue powder and 10 tsp of water. This quantity will yield 5 large skulls or about 30 smaller ones.
Form skulls by hand or use molds. Decorate with royal icing or add paste food coloring to the water to add color to the sugar mixture itself.
This is a beautiful time of year except that the days grow shorter and the temperatures are going down. This old Crone's birthday is this month and the wonderful family gathering holiday of Thanksgiving, of course! Fun and feasting ala famiglia!
I plan to get back into the Art Doll thing as it's been some time since I worked on some of those. They are a good Winter project! Of course, I will continue with collage and assemblage as I love to create those. Also in Art news, my friend Sabrina has organized a charity art auction to be held at Back to the Grind Coffee House in Riverside, Ca. I have donated 3 pieces to the show and the proceeds will go to helping the local homeless shelter. If you are in that area, stop by and support their efforts and buy some art! The auction will be held on November 2nd.
Last month I added the Bose theater system to the large screen TV which makes perfect timing for the long dreary Winter! I'll stock up on good cult flicks and documentaries. Those are my fave to watch and then, of course, the Yule specials that will be coming soon. I love those!
Auntie Jeannie is back to sending me Italian care packages like her homemade pizza, cheese, pasta and olives from Molisana's. Now that the weather is cold again it's easier to ship that stuff. Thanks!! Hugs & love, Jeannie!
Jinx Proof Tattoo's renovation and expansion is complete and it looks beautiful! I brought Ox some art pieces as shop gifts and helped him hang one of the gallery walls a few weeks ago. The space is gorgeous and the colors are wonderful! The vintage brick which has been exposed looks absolutely amazing and gives the place an old city feel. Grand Re-Opening Bash will be November 2nd (Dia de los Muertos!)
Eric found Coney Island Lager here in Jersey so we were pretty excited about that and he has promised to save the bottles for me for the label art. They are the coolest labels ever. They were done by artist Dave Wallin. We are always on the hunt for new Micro and Artisan brews.
Kim and I did take our old cemetery crawl and got some great pics. That cemetery is the oldest in our area and the second oldest in the state of NJ! Lot's of history in there and General Poor's Tavern is a stone's throw away! General Poor is buried there in the cemetery and I am quite sure he haunts his namesake pub!
Kim gave me 2 fabulous old photographs and a REALLY cool very old Tiki keychain that she came upon in her Antique Dealer Mom's stash. I was thrilled! She also gave me some vintage fortune teller soap and made some fabulous Sugar Skull cookies with her daughter!
I love the Autumn and Harvest Festivals that are around now. Warwick hosts Apple Fest as does Chester NJ. Sugar Loaf Craft Village has an annual Fall Fest and many other quaint country towns have celebrations as well. The drive on NJ country roads or up the NY state thruway is spectacular at this time of year especially as you approach the Catskill Mountains. I plan to hit New Paltz and Woodstock in the next couple of weeks to do some Yule shopping.
One really great Autumn jaunt I took recently was to the Valley Shepherd Creamery which is a fabulous sheep farm in Morris County. They make artisan sheep milk cheeses that are out of this world and give tours of the farm. It was a glorious, crisp, clear Autumn day and the drive on beautiful country road Rte 517 through Morris and Hunterdon counties is amazing with all the trees changing. The same day I stumbled upon a very old German cemetery and had a great time reading the stones and taking photographs. I also learned the legends of the Tewksbury Witches! The farm stands were fabulous out that way as well. I can't wait to get back there and peruse the cemetery again. (There are actually THREE on that road!!)
Every year the Saturday before Halloween is the Nyack Halloween Parade. We usually hit that every year but this year the rain ruined the event! It's usually very cold up there by the Hudson and we always liked to duck into one of the pubs to warm up. After the parade it was always the River Club for a festive Halloween dinner. I missed that this year!!
I am longing to get back to the Hell's Kitchen flea market before the bitter cold sets in. The flea market is year 'round but I imagine only the die hard vendors are out in the Winter! We had a very magical day the last time we were at that market and finding that charming, romantic place right across the street, Casa di Isacco! I do love NYC in the Winter, though. All the Yule decor and the Rockefeller Center tree. I would LOVE to do a horse and carriage ride in Central Park! I haven't done that in years! This is SO the time of year for that!
Our friendProfessor Ouch is holding another of his FABULOUS Mondo Flea Markets! Last year we found some fun things at the Mondo flea and I hope to get to Philly for that again this year and see Ouch's new location.
Here's a recipe for Hot Mulled Cider that is SO perfect at this time of year when the nights get chilly or after a fun Autumn day trip! I also love this the day I put up the Yule tree. I am debating on whether or not to put a live tree up this year or go totally retro with a tinsel tree...Haven't decided yet. I like to keep my tree up for awhile so a live one may not be the best idea. We'll see! I like to make this grog and put it in a crock pot to keep it hot for hours. I imagine you could actually make it right in the crock pot.
Tink's Witch's Brew Grog
1/2 gallon apple cider
1/2 c packed light brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp balsamic or cider vinegar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cinnamon stick
6 whole cloves
1/2 c (or whatever your taste) applejack or bourbon
Combine all ingredients except liquor in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered 10 minutes. Put in crock pot and stir in liquor and simmer gently all evening!
So, Thanksgiving is drawing near and one thing that I love so very much is arriving at my parents house and as soon as I open the door being hit with the glorious smells of my Mom's feast cooking! I hope you will all have beautiful gatherings with those you love. There is very much to be thankful for in life and we must never take anything for granted. Each day is a magical gift which we must open with great wonder and awe.
Please remember the Cafe Press store where you can get the magical new Art Card by Tink© Our Lady of the Sideshow imprinted on a number of fun products including t-shirts (men's, women's, children's, and even maternity! Also bags, mugs and doggy shirts!) Just click the Fun Stuff by Tink button! These make fabulous Yule gifts. That's about all, I think. I want to wish all of you and your loved ones a beautiful, magical Thanksgiving.
Tante belle cose! (Many beautiful things!)
Tink
Tink's Recommended Item for November:
Hoodoo Voodoo Sock Creatures
~
If at any time you wish to be removed from the mailing list or need to change your address just drop me a line!
Your wish is my command!
~
Please visit Prior TWC News Letters.
{ October 2008 }
{ September 2008 }
{ August 2008 }
{ July 2008 }
{ June 2008 }
{ May 2008 }
{ April 2008 }
{ March 2008 }
{ February 2008 }
If you do not see navigation buttons to your left,
please click here to be directed to the beginning of my site.
|
| |
|
|
|
