Gardening with Lora: Decorations for your Thanksgiving Table

 

In addition to using your nicest plates, glasses and silverware, you can create a festive Thanksgiving table with items from your garden.

Plants and Flowers: There are many ways to incorporate flowers into your table decor. You can cut fresh flowers, if you have brought your plants inside for the winter. You can dry flowers in the summer and keep them for the fall. You can even place potted plants on the table and decorate around them.

Gourds: Pumpkins, squash and other gourds of various sizes can be used to make your table Thanksgiving themed. You can even repurpose some of your Halloween pumpkin decor (just turn them around if they have a jack o' lantern face). 

Fall Leaves: The leaves are still changing before they fall off for the winter. You can save them and dry them in various color stages and use them as table decorations. Reds, oranges and yellows make for perfect Thanksgiving colors.

Horn of Plenty: Any of the above items can come together in a Cornucopia or Horn of Plenty as an impressive centerpiece. You can also include dried corn and any vegetable left over from your garden, like zucchini, tomatoes and root vegetables like potatoes. Dried grasses, like wheat, can be added to complete the look.

 

Arts Connections Advice #6

 

Q: As with every year, this Thanksgiving, I am most thankful for my family and friends. But I'm struggling with the recent loss of a loved one. How can I stay thankful?

A: There are many ways to express your love and your grief, while also remaining thankful. If you are religious, you can offer a special prayer before your Thanksgiving meal. If you celebrate Dia del los Muertos, you can create an altar honoring their memory and keep it up through Thanksgiving. You can leave a seat at the table for them and decorate their chair and place setting with mementos and pictures. And one special way to remember them is to go around the table and have everyone who knew them tell a favorite memory of your loved one.

Q: I have a small family and there will just be a few of us this Thanksgiving. How do we best celebrate a small, quiet holiday?

A: If you have any family traditions, like watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade or the football game, you can still enjoy watching together as a small group. You could do a craft project together to decorate the table while you watch. Instead of cooking a huge turkey for just a few people, consider a roast chicken or just the turkey breast. Some people like roast duck as well. Ask the people attending what their favorite sides are and skip the rest. You can be just as thankful for a quiet Thanksgiving with a few of those closest to you, instead of a huge, loud gathering.

Mark's Movie of the Week #8: Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump 

 

(Steve Tisch/Wendy Finerman Productions; Paramount Pictures; July 6,1994; 142 minutes)

Screenplay by Eric Roth

Based on the novel by Winston Groom 

Produced by Wendy Finerman, Steve Tisch and Steve Starkey 

Directed by Robert Zemeckis 

Forrest Gump is a 1994  American comedy-drama film, based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom and stars Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson and Sally Field.  The story depicts the life of Forrest Gump,  slow witted and kindhearted man from Alabama.  As a boy in 1956, young Forrest has an I.Q. of 75 and is fitted with leg braces to correct a curved spine.  His mother runs a boarding house and encourages him to live beyond his disabilities.  Among their temporary tenants is a young Elvis Presley, who plays the guitar and incorporates the boy's jerky dance movements into his performances.  On his first day of school Forrest meets a girl named Jenny Curran, and the two become best friends..  Bullied, Forrest flees from a group of children, but when his braces break off, he is revealed to be a fast runner.  With this talent he receives a football

 scholarship to the University of Alabama in 1962, where he is coached by Bear Bryant, becomes a top kick off returner, is named to the All-American team travels to the White House and meets President John F. Kennedy.  In his first year of college he witnessed the governor, George Wallace, stand in the schoolhouse door refusing to admit Vivian Malone.  After graduating college in 1966, Forrest enlisted in the army.  During basic training he befriended a fellow soldier named Benjamin Buford Blue (nicknamed Bubba) who convinced Forrest to go into the shrimping business with him.  Later that year they are sent to Vietnam, while there their platoon is ambushed and "Bubba" is killed in action.  Forrest saves several wounded platoon mates.  Forrest is awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism by President Lyndon B. Johnson.  Discharged from the army Forrest returns home endorses a company

 that makes ping pong paddles and used the earnings to buy a shrimping boat in Bayou La Batre, fulfilling his promise to "Bubba."  Initially the company has little success.  After their boat becomes the only boat to survive hurricane Carmen, they pull a huge amount of shrimp and he created the profitable Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Dan, one of the men he saved in Vietnam, became partners and the two became millionaires.  Forrest gave half of his earnings to Bubba's family for having inspired the shrimping venture.  Jenny and Forrest were separated for a very long period of time and when they got back together a son was the result of their union.  He was named Forrest Gump Jr.  Jenny dies a year after they were married.  The film ends with Forrest sending his son off on his first day of school.  Forrest Gump also stars Haley Joel Osment, Dick Cavett (as himself),Geoffrey Blake, Hanna R.  Hall,

 and many others.  Forrest Gump was nominated for 13 Academy Awards and won 6 Oscars, including Best Picture (Wendy Finerman, Steve Tisch and Steve Starkey), Best Director (Robert Zemeckis), Best Screenplay based on material previously produced or published (Adapted Screenplay)(Eric Roth), Best Film Editing (Arthur Schmidt) and Best Visual Effects (Ken Ralston, George Murphy, Allen Hall and Stephen Rosenbaum) and known for these quotes: "Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get." And Mama said "Stupid is as stupid does." Forrest Gump had 32 songs including "Hound Dog", Blowin in the Wind," California Dreamin' ","What the World Needs Now is Love", Mrs. Robinson", "Turn, Turn, Turn(to everything there is a season), "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on my Head", "Sweet Home Alabama ", "On the Road Again ","Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree", "Get Down Tonight", "Free Bird" and more. You'll never more about Forrest Gump. 

Dia de Los Muertos in New Mexico

 

Dia de los Muertos, translated as Day of the Dead, is primarily a Mexican holiday. But New Mexico used to be part of Mexico and the tradition is still strong here today. In Albuquerque's South Valley, the Marigold Parade happens every year, with participants dressed up in traditional, brightly colored Mexican clothing and calacas (skeleton masks) or face paint. People carry signs and mementos honoring their ancestors and throw candy to the children. 

Altars or ofrendas honoring the dead are an import part of Dia de los Muertos celebrations, but unlike European altars, they are very colorful and celebratory. According to mexican-folk-art-guide.com, "Altars make the souls (animas) feel welcomed and show them that they have not been forgotten." 

The website also talks about the meaning of different levels in the ofrendas: "In some areas altars are made with two levels that symbolize heaven and earth; in others they are made with three levels for heaven, purgatory and earth; and there are places where altars with seven levels are placed, each of these levels represents the steps a soul has to make to get to heaven."  

The altars can include many different elements that vary by region or from altar to altar. Some of the elements include:

Pictures and personal items of the dead are often included to show who is being honored.

Fresh and colorful flowers, particularly marigolds, are used to decorate the ofrenda in order to welcome returning soul with their scent. 

An arch is often a part of an ofrenda, symbolizing the entrance to the world of the dead.

Chiseled paper (papel picado) flags depicting saints, skulls and skeletons can also represent the element of air, because of the way they move in the breeze.

Candles (often pillar candles depicting saints and religious figures) are an essential element. "Candles show the souls their way to the altar and back to the dead world; they symbolize the light, hope and faith," according to the Mexican Folk Art Guide.  

Other religious elements, such as crucifixes and images of the Virgin Mary and other saints are included.

Food is also an important element of an ofrenda: a glass of water to quench the souls' thirst after their journey, a plate of salt as a purifying element, pan de muertos is a fraternal offering. And many other food items and sweets vary by region.

Mark's Movie of the Week #7: American Graffiti

 

American Graffiti 

(Lucasfilm Ltd./Coppola Company; Universal Pictures; August 11,1973;112 minutes)

Written by George Lucas and Gloria Katz & Willard Huyck

Produced by Francis Ford Coppola 

Co-Produced by Gary Kurtz

Directed by George Lucas 

 

American Graffiti is a 1973 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film, and starring Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard (billed as Ronny Howard), Paul Le Mat, Harrison Ford, Charles Martin Smith, Cindy Williams, Candy Clark, Mackenzie Phillips, Bo Hopkins and Wolfman Jack.  On their last evening of summer vacation in 1962, high school graduates and friends Curt Henderson and Steve Bolander meets two other friends, John Milner, the drag-racing king and Terry "The Toad " Fields, in the parking lot of Mel's Drive-in in Modesto, California.  Curt and Steve are to travel "Back East" the following morning to start college.  Curt has second thoughts about leaving Modesto.  Steve gives Terry his car to care for until he returns.  Laurie, Steve's girlfriend and Curt's sister, arrives.  Steve suggest to Laurie that they see other people while he is away to "strengthen" their relationship.  Though not openly upset, she is affecting their interactions through the night.  Curt, Steve and Laurie attend the back-to-school sock hop.  En route, Curt sees a beautiful blonde woman driving a white Ford Thunderbird.  She mouths the words "I love you " to Curt before turning.  Curt becomes desperate to find her; one of his friends tells him "The Blonde" is the wife of a local jeweler, but Curt does not believe it.  After leaving the hop, Curt is coerced by a group of greasers (The Pharaohs) into hooking a chain to a police car and ripping out its back axle.  The Pharaohs tell Curt that "The Blonde" is a prostitute, which he does not believe.  Curt drives to the radio station to ask disc jockey "Wolfman Jack" to read a message for her on the air. Curt encounters an employee who tells him the Wolfman does not work there and that the shows are pre-taped for replay.  The employee accepts the

 message and promises to try to have the Wolfman air it.  As he is leaving, Curt sees the employee talking into the microphone and, hearing the bout, realizes it is the Wolfman, who reads the message, asking "The Blonde" to meet Curt or call him on the pay phone at Mel's.  Curt is awakened by the phone the next morning.  "The Blonde" does not reveal her identity but tells Curt maybe they will meet that night.  Curt replies that they probably will not because he's leaving town.  Terry and John cruise the strip.  Terry picks up flirtatious and rebellious Debbie.  John inadvertently picks up Carol, an annoying, precocious 12 year old who manipulates him into driving her around all night.  Bob Falfa is searching out John to challenge him to a race.  Steve and Laurie continue to argue and make up through the evening .  They finally split and ad the story lines intertwine, Bob pickup Laurie then finds John and goads him into racing.  Many follow them to "Paradise Road" to watch.  As John takes the lead, Bob's tire blows out, causing him to lose control.  His car swerved into a ditch, rolls over and catches fire.  Steve and John leap out of their cars and rush to the wreck while Bob and Laurie crawl out and stagger away just before it explodes.  Laurie grips Steve tightly and begs him not to leave her.  He assures her that he will stay.  At the airfield, Curt gazed out the window and sees the white Thunderbird driving in parallel to his plane.  An on-screen epilogue reveals that John was killed by a drunk driver in 1964.  Terry was reported missing in action near An Loc in 1965, Steve is an insurance agent in Modesto and Curt is a writer in Canada.  American Graffiti was nominated for 5 Academy Awards including Best Picture.  American Graffiti has 41 original hits including "Rock Around the Clock ", "16 Candles", "Runaway", "Why Do Fools Fall in Love", "That'll Be the Day", "Fannie Mae", "At the Hop", "She's So Fine", "The Stroll", "See You in September ", "Surfin' Safari ", "(He's) The Great Imposter", "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes ", "Little Darlin'", "Peppermint Twist-Part 1", "Barbara Ann", "The Book of Love ", "Maybe Baby", "Ya Ya", "The Great Pretender", "Ain't That a Shame", "Johnny B Goode", "I Only Have Eyes For You", "Get a Job", "To the Aisle", "Do You Want to Dance?", "Party Doll", "Come Go With Me", "You're 16", "Love Potion No. 9", "Since I Don't Have You", "Chantilly Lace", "Teen Angel", "Crying in the Chapel", "A Thousand Miles Away", "Heart and Soul", "Green Onions", "Only You (And You Alone)", "Goodnite Sweetheart, Goodnite" and "All Summer Long". Except the 3 songs "Gee", "Louie, Louie", and "Some Enchanted Evening", which were already hits. American Graffiti: the movie of the 70s, about the 60s.