Sunday, November 20, 2011

Thanksgiving Giblets ~ Damsel Style

Thanksgiving is a day when many Americans gather together with family for an afternoon of food and football, but just how far do people travel to spend turkey day at Grandma's house?  The AAA estimated that 42.2 million Americans traveled more than 50 miles over Thanksgiving weekend last year. 
Here are some fun factoids...errr...giblets for you.

1.  The National Turkey Federation estimated that 46 million turkeys—one fifth of the annual total of 235 million consumed in the United States in 2007—were eaten at Thanksgiving.

2.  Cranberry production in the U.S. is expected to reach 750 million pounds in 2011. Wisconsin, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington are the top cranberry growing states.


3.  According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the largest pumpkin pie ever baked weighed 2,020 pounds and measured just over 12 feet long. It was baked on October 8, 2005 by the New Bremen Giant Pumpkin Growers in Ohio, and included 900 pounds of pumpkin, 62 gallons of evaporated milk, 155 dozen eggs, 300 pounds of sugar, 3.5 pounds of salt, 7 pounds of cinnamon, 2 pounds of pumpkin spice and 250 pounds of crust.



4.  The sweet potato is most plentifully produced in North Carolina, which grew 972 million pounds of the popular Thanksgiving side dish vegetable in 2010. Other sweet potato powerhouses included California and Mississippi, and the top producing states together generated over 2.4 billion pounds of the tubers.


5.  Though many competing claims exist, the most familiar story of the first Thanksgiving took place in Plymouth Colony, in present-day Massachusetts, in 1621.  Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared a harvest feast, acknowledged as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations.  The first Thanksgiving celebration lasted three daysMore than 200 years later, President Abraham Lincoln declared the final Thursday in November as a national day of thanksgiving. Congress finally made Thanksgiving Day an official national holiday in 1941.



6.  The top five most popular ways to serve leftover Thanksgiving turkey are: sandwiches, soups or stews, salads, casseroles, and stir-fry.

7.  Only tom turkeys gobble. Hen turkeys make a clucking noise.  A large group of turkeys is called a flock.





8.  Several Thanksgiving day parades are broadcast on television. These parades are organized by big stores in several American cities. The parade organized by the Macy's store in New York is the biggest. Giant balloons 200 meters high float above the street. The balloons are in the shape of creatures from popular cartoons and television programs. People on the ground hold heavy ropes so the balloons do not fly away.  Hey...Look!  It's Mr. Potato Head!!

Stemming from traditions seen in Europe, the first parade was put on by Macy’s employees who were first-generation immigrants wanting to have festivals similar to the ones their families experienced growing up in Europe.









9.  Thanksgiving also is a time when Americans share what they have with those who do not have much. Churches and other groups provide free meals for old people, the homeless, and the poor. Many Americans give turkeys or other food to these groups. Some spend part of the day helping to prepare and serve the meals.  Several families in my neighborhood go downtown in the morning to the homeless shelter.  It is a great experience to volunteer and share time with those that are so truly appreciative.







10.  Did you know that the River Damsel started her blog on November 24, 2010?  Yes, my friends, the blog has done it's best to bring you some type of reading enjoyment this past year.  This will be the 156th post.  I know that it wouldn't have been as successful if it wasn't for my wonderful readers and commentors.  So, thank you from the bottom of my heart.  And a special thanks goes out to two people that really got me started by linking my blog in their posts.  Owl Jones and Howard (Cofisher) ...THANK YOU!
I have thouroughly enjoyed my time with my fellow bloggers.  Your stories and postings are often inspirational to me.  The friendships made are definitely a bonus...I thank Owl Jones for carting me all over GA/NC to show me the GSMNP and it's many wonders.  I thank Dustin and Stephanie for showing me the RMNP in Colorado.  And last, but not least...I thank Rebecca (Outdooress/OBN Co-chief) for letting me join her on a few wonderful trips to River X and taking my first shot at steelheading in Idaho!   




It's been a great year.  A very memorable one.  At this time, I must announce that the River Damsel will be taking a temporary hiatus...hopefully, it will only be that.  It's time for a hibernation of sorts.  I will still try to stop by and read my favorite blogs every once in awhile.    Be good and enjoy your time with family and friends during these next couple of months.  And keep those tippets in the water!  RD out... 

19 comments:

  1. Great well thought out post! You will be missed till you come back!

    ReplyDelete
  2. My dear friend Emily, I truly hope this will be a short break from the hectic, frenzied life that seems to befall all of us at one time or another. You know how to get a hold of me, keep in touch.

    ReplyDelete
  3. First off, Congrats on your first year...time zips.

    Also this is a great post. Your Thanksgiving thoughts are reflective of many of us.
    Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Ah, have a great holiday season, Emily! And your posts will be missed during their hiatus!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love opportunities to say things without fear of retribution that normally might get me smacked....

    NICE GIBLETS!

    Also, congrats on the one year! You have had quite a first year!! 160+ google followers, over 32k page views, and 26 networkedblogs followers. It puts my stats to shame! I still have a couple of months to play catch up though :P

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday by far...we're looking forward to having the family in from MN and ND, it should be a lot of fun!

    Congrats on the first year! It's definitely a lot of work, and you have done a wonderful job. I look forward to your return, whenever that may be.

    Have a great Thanksgiving!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Very Nice...Have a great Thanksgiving!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks Emily! That was a great Thanksgiving Post!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Dustin ~ Well, you went away for awhile too...glad you are back!

    Howard ~ You are too kind. I won't be too far away...

    Brk Trt ~ Thanks for being a faithful reader this past year...it's been fun.

    e.m.b. ~ You know that I won't miss any of your posts while I am gone. Glad to have met you at the Frenzy! I definitely want another outing...

    Nick ~ You are too funny!!! I appreciate the kudos.

    Sanders ~ A yummy holiday for sure! And family and friends getting together, makes it even better. Thanks for the compliments.

    Brian ~ I hope that you and your family have a wonderful long weekend as well. I'm guessing that you are one to fish a little bit longer in the colder weather!! : )

    ReplyDelete
  10. Nice Giblets??? I'm offended! Sorry I had to post a response to Nick. Have a happy Thanksgiving Em.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Everybody needs a vacation now and then. I'm pretty sure we've all had one. Blogging is tougher than you think. We await your return.

    Mark

    ReplyDelete
  12. Owl ~ I'm glad you enjoyed the post. I hope that you and Mrs. Owl have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

    Howard ~ Isn't it past your bedtime?? : ) Happy Turkey Day.

    Mark ~ Blogging is tougher than you think, even when you are having fun with it all. Thanks for the understanding! A time out is needed...

    ReplyDelete
  13. RD
    After all that food, I feel a gym workout coming. Happy Thanksgiving

    ReplyDelete
  14. @Howard(Cofisher) - Don't lie...you know it made you blush

    ReplyDelete
  15. Made me blush? I was embarrassed that the nurses saw me naked when I was born.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Bill - Trust me...go to the gym the day before!

    TNFishDaddy - Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

    Nick and Howard...ugh, nevermind.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Enjoy your writing and wish I'd found your blog when you first began! Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to you and your family!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Pam ~ Thanks so much for the kind words... : ) Merry Christmas to you also!!

    ReplyDelete