Since I will be out of blogging range for the Thanksgiving holiday, I thought I would leave you with this image of what passes in my family for an inside joke and heirloom all crocheted into one kitschy little turkey. Affectionately known as Helmut due to his helmet-like red cap, he somehow made the jump from childhood tchotchke to cherished family member. At some point when I was in college or graduate school my mother was getting rid of stuff from the basement and decided to send me Helmut as a bit of a joke. Being away from home at the holidays, I actually appreciated this vestige of past family holidays. And despite John’s good taste and keen eye for good design, he has also taken a shine to Helmut on his yearly Thanksgiving appearance.
So, happy Thanksgiving to all of you.
For those of you bored with football or shopping this long weekend (or those of you outside the US who don’t give a fig for Thanksgiving), I thought I would give a few suggestions.
On Bookish Things
You can peruse my reviews of The Year of the Flood and The Queen of the Tambourine.
Check out this fantastic classics-only bookstore/salon in San Francisco.
Read about the film Helvetica and my love of fonts.
My 2008 reading wrap-up gives a glimpse into My Porch before it turned its focus to books.
Or maybe just some cool pictures of a used bookstore in Chicago.
Travel to the Beach on My Porch
Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia a few years back.
Pacific coastline in Big Sur, California.
Pink sands of Bermuda.
Travel to the Mountains on My Porch
Whistler, British Columbia, home to the 2010 Olympics.
Grand Tetons in Jackson, Wyoming.
And, or course, the recent trip to Switzerland.
Paying Tribute to The Womenfolk
For those that haven’t seen it, you should really check out my tribute to The Womenfolk, a fabulous folk group from the 1960s. It still gets lots of page hits and it even led to an article about me in the local press.
Or what about my “Best of” series?
Best Chip Dip Ever
Best City in the USA
Best Whoopie Pie in America
Best Bar in the World
Best Book Ever
hogglestock 
Happy Thanksgiving Thomas!
LikeLike
let me know when you are back! i want to meet helmet.
LikeLike
Have a Happy Thanksgiving and tell Helmut I said “Hi!” We have something similar made out of a pine cone but we just call it Mr. Turkey. Not very original.
LikeLike
Helmut is cute. My family doesn't have any Thanksgiving mascots.
LikeLike
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Thomas. BTW…Helmut is adorable….LOL
LikeLike
Verity: Thanks for the wishes.
Dartemel: I'm back. Helmut is back in hibernation until next year.
Ti: Mr. Turkey is a fine name for a pinecone turkey.
Jeane: I think my mother thought I would throw it away when she sent it to me. Little did she know.
Diane: Thanks, hope yours was nice too.
LikeLike