Our Feathered Friend Who Gets Away

The yearly tradition of the presidential pardoning of the turkey.

“President Ford reprieves a Thanksgiving turkey presented by the National Turkey Federation. November 20, 1975. Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library”

http://www.whitehousehistory.org/history/white-house-facts-trivia/facts-thanksgiving-turkey-pardoning.html

Every year before Thanksgiving the president of the United States of America pardons a turkey from being cooked for the festive holiday meal.

The greatest part of the whole story in my opinion is that the turkey that the presedent pardons isn’t just any old turkey. The turkey that gets to live to see another day is from a long line of special show turkeys that are ok with large crowds and flashing lights.

As the story goes the tradition started back when Abraham Lincoln was the president. A turkey had been brought the grounds of the white house to be prepaired for the Thanksgiving meal but the presidents ten year old son, Tad, befriended the bird and even tought it to follow him around the white house grounds and named him Jack.

When the time came to prepare the turkey for the holiday meal, Tad convinced the “executioner” to delay slaughtering the bird, so he could bring Jack’s case before the President. Tad ran and burst into one of his father’s Cabinet meetings. Crying loudly, Tad told his father that Jack was about to be killed. “Jack must not be killed; it is wicked,” Tad pleaded. President Lincoln replied, “Jack was sent here to be killed and eaten…I can’t help it.” Tad, sobbing, said, “He’s a good turkey, and I don’t want him killed.” Abraham Lincoln, president of the United States of America, paused in the midst of the Cabinet meeting. He took out a card, and on it he wrote an order of reprieve. Jack’s life was to be spared, and Tad raced out of the Cabinet meeting to present the presidential order to the executioner.*

*A footnote to the story: On Tuesday, November 8, 1864, Abraham Lincoln was elected to a second term as president. A special polling place had been set up on the White House grounds especially for soldiers who chose to vote. Jack, the turkey, actually strutted in front of some of the soldiers and cut in the voting line. Seeing this, the president looked at Tad and asked if Jack was going to vote. “He is under age,” Tad replied.

Thanksgiving Tablescape Ideas

Hey everyone it is the week before Thanksgiving and I just wanted to share with you some amazing tablescape ideas for the holiday.

Of course if we are talking about them here they are going to be feather tablescape ideas but take a look at some of these sites and see what might work for your table.

First off this extremely simple place setting idea, it`s so simple that you can do so much with.

Just add some feathers an olive sprig and some cloves to the top plate.

 Here is a picture of how it can look.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/142215300706757587/

Here is another simple way to add feathers to your tablescape, just place them next to the silverware.

http://www.bystephanielynn.com/2013/10/thanksgiving-table-setting-setting-a-fall-tablescape-with-better-homes-and-gardens.html

This post that I found gives you the links to all the items to put together  this place setting.

Everything that is but the feathers.

The feathers used are pheasant feathers order them here.

http://www.stylemegreen.net/2012_11_01_archive.html

Last is this beautiful tablescape that also puts the feathers on the backs of the chairs in addition to each of the place settings.

http://honeywerehome.blogspot.co.il/2011/11/our-thanksgiving-table-giveaway-roros.html

If you would like to add some feathers to your Thanksgiving table this holiday order them today. 

Feather Napkin Holders For Thanksgiving

If you are looking to add just a bit more life to your holiday dinner table this year, you may want to consider feather napkin holders.

There are so many kinds of feather napkin holders out there that you will be sure to find at least a second post about them.

 But here what I want to concentrate on are the feather napkin holder ideas that are more directly focused for Thanksgiving. 

First up are these beautiful feather napkin holders with burlap and earrings.

Repurposed earring burlap and feather napkin rings.

See how they can be made simply at http://www.diyinspired.com/repurposed-earring-burlap-feather-napkin-rings/

Next for a simple and fun project for the kids to help them feel more a part of the holiday preparations you can make these Indian headband napkin rings with them.

I found these at http://www.crafts-for-all-seasons.com/Indian-headband-napkin-rings.html

Even though the plans for this set of pilgrim and Indian napkin holders’ call for felt feathers instead of real feathers, they are so cute that I had to show them to you.

See how they are made at http://www.sisterssuitcaseblog.com/2012/11/pilgrim-indian-table-decor.html

And last off I bring to you this amazing place setting with a feather napkin holder along with a feather placemat.

This place setting is just a small part of a spectacular table setting that I saw at http://chickelalas.blogspot.co.il/2011/11/thanksgiving-table-inspiration.html

I you have any other beautiful feather inspired thanksgiving ideas please share them with us.

Abbey Crouch In A Feather-lined Sequined – Strictly Come Dancing

Strictly come dancing is the British television show where celebrities pair up with professional dance partners and compete in dance contests.

They mostly compete in ballroom and Latin dancing.

If you take a look at some of these pictures on dailymail.co.uk you will see some absolutely stunning costumes for the show.

Of course the question always is, is it the costumes that are stunning or is it the ones wearing them?

 There were two pictures that I saw that I just had to share with you.

Of course the first is the model Abbey Crouch with her partner Aljaz Skorjanec, here she looks fantastic in her feather lined sequined gown.

Then there is this one which juts made me smile.

 Mark Benton with Iveta Lukosiute.

I cant say why it makes me smile but it just does.