Year of Gratitude - Day 330 - Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving has always been a little strange to me. Some in my family dreaded it, because it made them miss family. Others, like myself, LOVE Thanksgiving. I love being with my family and eating. Even though my Thanksgivings sometimes are associated with some sad happenings, this is still a holiday I hold dear.

This year Thanksgiving was an adventure as the power cut off at about noon. The bird had to be moved to a relative's house to finish. The stuffing was barbecued, then finished on the stove. We ate by candlelight and enjoyed ourselves no less. At the end of the night, leftovers were abundant and delicious and we all had a fun story to tell.

Year of Gratitude - Day 319 - Friendsgiving

If you follow the hashtag #friendsgiving on a social network, you will likely find a whole bunch of hipsters having a feast of some sort. One of those groups of hipsters is likely my gang of buddies. Forged in Ferndale and then relocated to Hamtramck, this feast includes a huge turkey, a crowd that brings only the finest dishes to pass around and we party like it's Thanksgiving without family - BECAUSE IT IS. It is a lot of fun and a great way to reconnect with old buds and meet new ones. And it's not just hipsters, but rather an eclectic and growing mix of awesome people to know.

Today's Knowledge: Michigan's Agriculture

Actually, this is last month's knowledge, but I wanted to revisit in time for Thanksgiving. Michigan's Department of Agriculture head, Don Koivisto, says that Michigan's agriculture industry is the nation's 2nd most diverse. That means that this Thanksgiving, Michiganders should tap its own bounty and buy local.

An October article on Michigan.gov also said that if each Michigan family spent $10 a week on local foods, that would keep $37 MILLION dollars in the state. How about that for food for thought?

Meals on Wheels program needs your help!

From Detroit Free Press (11/14/08):

COUNTY-WIDE: Meals on Wheels help is needed

The Detroit Area Agency on Aging Holiday Meals on Wheels program is seeking volunteers to pack, distribute and deliver fresh-cooked meals to homebound seniors in metro Detroit.

Volunteers are needed from 8 a.m. to noon Nov. 26 to assemble the cold portion of the meals, and from 6 to 10 a.m. on Thanksgiving to package the hot portion of the meal for distribution to 11 sites.

Volunteers will work out of Valley Services, 1980 Bagley in Detroit, which is at the corner of Rosa Parks, south of Michigan Avenue near Tiger Stadium.

To volunteer call 313-446-4444, ext. 5857.