November Pagan Family Circle

[Maiasaura]

I win, I win! First to start the thread, unless someone else beats me to it and we end up with two

What are y'all doing, if anything, for Thanksgiving? Y'all KNOW what I'm doing (or who )
How do you feel about setting aside one day for giving thanks? Do you practice an attitude of gratitude every day? Is Thanksgiving relevant? Is it relevant in light of Mabon being our celebration of thanks? Is it a traditional family get-together for you? What is the dynamic in your family?

Also...is it time to kick off the Yule season, or do you wait till after Thanksgiving?

[earthmama369]

Gratitude is part of my daily life, but I love Thanksgiving as it is now -- you know, separated from its questionable historic roots through cultural amnesia, something Americans are particularly good at.

We celebrate with my extended family and it's one of my favorite holidays. No TV, no football, no drama. We just get together at my parents' house, eat a ton of really good food, talk, tell jokes, the kids run around outside, maybe play some croquet or badminton, we clean up together, then go for a ramble in the woods. Pretty relaxed. Full of happy harvest hormones. Or something like that....

[SunshineJ]

Happy November! From about September on we're running over here. Hmm actually thinking about it, it's moved back to August now. In August we start with Ren Fest events (WI ren fest is in Aug, MO/KS was Sept) plus when money permits we try to hit GenCon which is Aug. September we're still doing Ren Fest and I'm starting the prep for Halloween costumes. Now that Halloween is over, it's Thanksgiving and the Yule celebrations that tend to get rather extensive. We also celebrate Christmas here, and I do a lot of homemade things for that, so we call this my busy season. I love it, but always look forward to January as well!

Last night was great! We had more trick or treaters in the 4 hr assigned time block (still shaking my head over "scheduled hours" for ToT! LOL) than we had in 8-9 yrs combined in KC. DH took the kids out while I stayed home, actually got the house picked up, baked pumpkin seeds and had apple cider going on the stove and gave out candy. Both kids went out for 1 hr. Came back for a quick stop - bathroom and dinner break, back out for another hour. Came home, girl was worn out. DH and DS went BACK out for another hour. You wouldn't believe how much STUFF these kids got! Candy out the yin yang, about a dozen granola bars, bags of chips, you name it. I had my elf ears on, and DH stole the shadow idea to go with the kids. After the kids were home and in bed DH and I had a really nice night with the fireplace going and watching Brothers Grimm.

We have a fishtank. It's a little 10 gal deal, but works for what we have. There are 2 goldfish in there, nasty, dirty fish but they're the kids and easy enough to take care of. Got a plecostamus (sp?) a while back to help with algae control. Woke up this morning to a dead sucker fish. Seemed an interesting day for it.

Ok off to wash off the rest of the face paint and get the littles to dance class.

[Valerie.Qc]

Woohoo, November!

[DaughterOfKali]

Ds is celebrating November with a christmas book that plays christmas songs.

[Aeress]

*hides head*- I let the kids watch A Christmas Story last week.

Quiet day here- think I am going to knit.

I try to be grateful everyday- it sometimes works. Our sermon last week was on being greatful, and acknowledging the gifts others give us (no material gifts) but writing a thank you note. Very timely!

As far as Thanksgiving goes-we are studying the Little House books, and also Native American culture and their story so that the kids get both perspectives. It has been very eye opening. Cobblestone magazine for kids has a great issue on both stories and we have had may talks about this.

Gotta run- poopy baby. be back later

[Peacemamalove]

November!!

[LionessMom]

Today marks the day Dh and I started dating in 2003. that is 6 years! we have been married for 6 months. he says it doesnt count anymore. what a party pooper. :> he was just teasing me.

Last night was great. i stayed home while DH took the older 2 girls out. DS stayed home too. He said it was too cold out. it is a good thing i bundled up the girls. they wore pajamas under their very thick sweats. they were bunnies so they wore white sweats and ears. they were the warmest kids out there. still came home with red cheeks and stuff. they didnt really bring home too much candy, which is cool. i have a hard time getting rid of it.

I love Thanksgiving. I dont think about the history behind it. i just go to grandmas house and get stuffed. DH gets the day off and it feels good to visit family I havent seen for awhile.

[liza-s]

Originally Posted by Aeress

*hides head*- I let the kids watch A Christmas Story last week.

I'm letting my boy watch Shaun the Sheep Little Sheep of Horrors. I feel guilty, but time to myself is priceless right now. (Besides, it is really funny)

Moose are cruising the neighborhood eating pumpkins. It is probably their last good meal before 6 months of just bark and twigs. DS had fun driving around the neighborhood looking for them - not a day to be walking until the pumpkins are gone - plus it is 15 degrees and I don't have any long-johns that fit my belly. I might be hitting up a discount store to buy a couple pairs of XXXL big boy's.

[mary3mama]

too busy to post right now but wanting to sub.

[Ambystoma]

Originally Posted by Aeress

*hides head*- I let the kids watch A Christmas Story last week.

I LOVE A Christmas Story. I watch it numerous times every year, but usually not until after Thanksgiving. Bumpuses!!

DH and I had a lovely little ritual last night for our departed relatives. Also got some tarot done, since I've been really lax about stuff lately. It was nice-I've felt too busy to really get in tune with my spirituality as much as I've wanted as of late.

Hmm...it is about time for Thanksgiving, isn't it? We won't be around any family, so we'll just be doing a small turkey, etc here by ourselves. I really get into the food, but am not thrilled about the history behind the holiday.

But then it's time to get ready for YULE! I've been excited about this for months now--and we finally have a fireplace! If only it would stay cool here....

[OceansEve]

Yule tree is up can't wait to decorate it over the coming months w/ DDs

[southernmommie]

I'm sitting here at the computer nursing my little girl that turns 2 weeks old today. Had a wonderful time last night taking the kids trick or treating in our neighborhood. Lit the firepits while the neighbors ate/drank 690 jello shots... well and gave some out to the parents with their kids... and made pumpkin runes and 4 Pumpkin Abundance Lights for my neighbor friends also. The kids loved the pumpkin runes and the neighbors loved the idea of the mini pumpkin lights for a money spell. I got both "recipes" out of the Halloween book. I have a Yule one also that I will be looking through for some ideas for the kids.

Looking forward to Thanksgiving at our house. We normally have a big meal planned and invite a bunch of the single sailors that don't go home for the holidays to come and eat at our house since you aren't allowed to cook in the barracks. We've been doing this since we started dating 8 years ago and this has been our Thanksgiving tradition ever since. The Christmas holidays we save for our family time, but for Thanksgiving we adopt the "more the merrier" mentality and love it.

[DaughterOfKali]

Originally Posted by OceansEve

Yule tree is up can't wait to decorate it over the coming months w/ DDs

WHAT?! Are you serious?

[Peacemamalove]

Yule tree is up can't wait to decorate it over the coming months w/ DDs

Wow I haven't gotten that far yet!

[DaughterOfKali]

I've just discovered that there are some Bewitched (original series) episodes On Demand. I loved it as a kid but like it even more now!
Ds is enjoying the magic.

Oh, and I love a lot of the clothes.

[mary3mama]

Originally Posted by Aeress

As far as Thanksgiving goes-we are studying the Little House books,

We're working our way through the entire Little House series here. We just started Little Town on the Prairie. Reading all of them has been awesome and enlightening. It makes me really sad, though, to see how much they changed such good stories for the 70s tv series. They changed TONS!

Reading those has inspired lots of conversations with eldest about all the things we have to be grateful for.

As for thanksgiving...not at all sure...we are far away from all of our relatives and haven't made many friends yet. I'm considering seeing if we can, as a family, volunteer at a local soup kitchen to make sure others have a good meal that day.

Yesterday our samhain/fall harvest festival was wonderful. We had one family over and that worked out wonderfully and we all had so much good fun and food.

Classes starting with TPOC no not sure how much I'll be around. Enjoy!

[Vojerleda]

Ah, November. This is my favorite month. Wait. Maybe December. Or May. Crap.

Anyway, dd2 was born today last year. I'm enjoying watching her grow, she's so different from my other child.
I also taught a lesson in my UU church today, for the kid's religious education... it was about the New Year; and we made a 'witches' brew' where we mentally infused a cup of juice/soda with good thought about the new year and then mixed it all up- then drank a cup of the mixture- Great fun, and we only had one spill

[CariOfOz]

pardon the confusing multiquote.. some posts are being carried over from the October thread hehe.

Originally Posted by Aeress

It's just a jump to the left!

Annual Rocky Horror Picture Show viewing starting in 15 ish minutes!

woot! my IL's went to one of the interactive theatre shows on Halloween. They had a ball

Originally Posted by liza-s

We had a pretty good day - if you extract the screaming meltdowns by DS. A tree came down in my backyard yesterday evening in a windstorm. Amazingly, while it grew just 8 feet from my house, it fell just about perfectly parallel to the house and managed to pretty much miss the house entirely.

Wow very lucky indeed! Glad your house wasn't squashed! The great pumpkin cute!

Originally Posted by DaughterOfKali

Anyway, ds woke up way too early. Even by his normal standards.

Rather rude of him mine are starting to wake up absurdly early too, and end up cranky and awful by 4pm. Of course, the sun is up before 5am... and will be rising earlier until full dawn is around 415am around the solstice Time to look for some blockout curtains I do believe.

Originally Posted by Maiasaura

What are y'all doing, if anything, for Thanksgiving? Y'all KNOW what I'm doing (or who )
How do you feel about setting aside one day for giving thanks? Do you practice an attitude of gratitude every day? Is Thanksgiving relevant? Is it relevant in light of Mabon being our celebration of thanks? Is it a traditional family get-together for you? What is the dynamic in your family?

Also...is it time to kick off the Yule season, or do you wait till after Thanksgiving?

Bwhahaha at the bolded bit! Geez we would get along so well IRL with our senses of humor hehehe. I TRY to practice having the attitude of gratitude, but am not always successful. Getting better though

I COULD do a thanksgiving dinner, but usually I don't. I may buy a turkey roast & cranberry sauce etc and celebrate along with you mamas this year though. I have a LOT to be thankful for!

I start THINKING about the holiday season about now (I placed an order with the kindy's toy fundraiser and we have the 'family' pressie on layby (a wii with a game for each of the bigger boys) and have picked out a few things for the kids (neice & nephew included) at the early learning centre (best toy store!) but no tree etc till at least 'thanksgiving' time for me.

Originally Posted by SunshineJ

Last night was great! We had more trick or treaters in the 4 hr assigned time block (still shaking my head over "scheduled hours" for ToT! LOL) than we had in 8-9 yrs combined in KC. DH took the kids out while I stayed home, actually got the house picked up, baked pumpkin seeds and had apple cider going on the stove and gave out candy.

Got a plecostamus (sp?) a while back to help with algae control. Woke up this morning to a dead sucker fish. Seemed an interesting day for it.

We had 2 lots of 3-4 tot'ers.. which is a record here really lol.

Bummer.. dead plecostamuses are

Originally Posted by LionessMom

Today marks the day Dh and I started dating in 2003. that is 6 years! we have been married for 6 months. he says it doesnt count anymore. what a party pooper. :> he was just teasing me.

hehe we have been married since 2001, so 8.5yrs now, and we STILL 'celebrate' our first meeting anniversary of May 26 That's the day he flew into SFO and I picked him up. We'd known each other for months and months online/by phone. But that is our 'anniversary'

Originally Posted by DaughterOfKali

WHAT?! Are you serious?

hehee I agree... I'd HATE my tree if I had to look at it from now till new years lol.

[Aubergine68]

Liza, I love the image of the moose eating all the jack-o-lanterns. We compost ours but it still feels wasteful of food, actually. And your pictures are adorable.

Sending good-apartment-getting vibes DoK And we have our copy of Elfland. I'm rationing it because I really need homework time.

We begin Yule holiday preparations and decorating the weekend after Remembrance Day (Nov 11). We already did Thanksgiving (Cdn), but I still haven't made the turkey carcass soup

I got a lot done on online memorials for departed relatives yesterday, which makes me happy, and we had a fun session of TOT, kids up in the night sick and nosebleeding, and not a lot of sleep.

I loved the moon last night -- hope it is as clear for the full on Monday. We've had a couple of months of cloudy full moons

Someone close by set off fireworks at midnight last night.