As an American woman who has lived her entire life in the United States of America, I am thankful for all the opportunities this great country has afforded me. I am (partly) a second generation American. My Gram Frieda came from Germany in 1911 as a ten year old child - just the age Julia is right now. Gram met another new immigrant from England in the factory she was working in when she was done with grade school. She married Archie in 1921. Several years later my Uncle Harry and Dad Archie Jr. were born to Frieda and Archie. I consider myself a second generation American because Gram was the one who helped to raise us, cared for us when Mom had other obligations, and instilled in my sisters and me her hard-working German habits and non-sensical attitudes.
I know this story is so similar to so many of you reading this blog. The USA has offered us the opportunities that are not available in so many other countries in this world. Tomorrow, as you and your family, and my family and I celebrate Thanksgiving, may we wish for - and work towards - the continuing prosperity and promise that the USA has always offered in this giant world of ours. Things are not always easy - nor should they be.... New people come, old people go.... Nothing is quite right or wrong.... There is always another way to look at things. Stay open and ready to accept the new, whether you think you want to or not.
I have had the great fortune to live in the Pioneer Valley in western Massachuestts for the past 10 years. It is a place rich in beauty and land and spirit, although not in monetary opportunities. Our house is said to be built in 1751 - several years after the Pilgrims we celebrate Thanksgiving Day landed upon our continent. Almost every day I marvel that I am so lucky to be living in a building that was built so long ago. And every day I thank my lucky stars (and My Farmer who introduced me to this beautiful place) that I can try to make the world a better and prettier place - whether through our gardens, sunflowers, knitting, embroidery, pastures, animals or this here virtual blog!
I am also so thankful to all of you - my faithful blog readers and sometimes commenters. You give me a place to express my views, share my passions, and write without being edited to bits. And oh, my goodness, I didn't mean to get so philosophical here - but holidays do have a way of making me think about how life is and what it brings.
The Farmer, Julia, and I (and our assorted critters) wish you and yours a Happy and Beautiful Thanksgiving wherever you are in this world.
19 comments:
Have a lovely Thanksgiving! Thanks again for your beautiful blog. (I'm one of those always readers but seldom commenters. :) )
Dear Kristin,
Thank you for all of your lovely posts, for sharing the beauty of your surroundings and the exquisiteness of your wonderful creative talents. Thank you for this wonderful entry, like so many others that you put "out there"...they add such positive moments to my life.
Sending warm Thanksgiving thoughts to your whole clan from the other side of this amazing country.
Oh! The sheep look so majestic against the sky! Have a happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving, Kristin! And I love your blog!
Aren't we lucky to live in a country where there are so many possibilities? We all have so much to be thankful for and, for me and many others, one of those things would be your blog and all you bring to it. Have a peaceful and happy Thanksgiving.
I never thought of it until this post, but I guess my husband could be considered a first generation American. His nana was pregnant with his mother when she emigrated from Italy to Canada. His mother than emigrated from Canada to the US a few years before he was born. And although his dad was born in the US, he actually didn't grow up here...his family had moved to Canada when he was a baby. Huh, never gave it a thought before today. Have a blessed holiday!
Happy Thanksgiving to you. I am thankful I found your wonderful blog recently.
A very happy Thanksgiving to you as well. Your Blog is a bright spot on the internet
Thank you for your contributions to this great world of blogging. I don't often comment but want you to know I come to read and be inspired.
Happy Thanksgiving to you, The Farmer and Julia!
I never have though about how freeing it must be when you write your blog posts, in comparison to writing for a publication. Until now. Interesting perspective.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Although I (because I'm German) do not celebrate Thanksgiving, I want to wish you and your family (and, in fact, all Americans who read this) a very happy Thanksgiving day.
And I want to thank you, Kristin, for a wonderful, inspiring, colourful and thoughtful blog.
I like tor ead here very much.
Greetings from Germany
Ulrike
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you.
a
That is a fab photo! Would make a great thank you card!
I finally met your sister-in-law at the mail room at work! :) Deb is a very nice lady. Happy Thanksgiving!
Your blog inspires me with color and the breadth of the creative expressions you show. From stamping fabric for chairs at the shed to your embellished walls, knitting and sunflowers, I love your stories and photos.
And the animals are fascinating. I'm very much a citygrrl and have had only one pet in my life. I am deeply grateful for those who do the physical labor outside in the elements, so that I can have lovely fiber to knit. You give me a glimpse of what it takes.
Thank you for taking the time to share a corner of your life with us who have a much different routine. I love every post.
LynnH from Lansing, MI
This definitely rang true for me. My parents and I emigrated from the UK in 1951. This is a wonderful country full of choices and the freedom to be whomever and whatever we wish. I became a citizen at 18. Since then I've lived in 2 other countries and moved around this one quite a bit. I sincerely hope we retain those choices and the freedoms that I, and so many others, value and regard as so necessary happiness.
Thanks for reminding me! - WendyE
Thank you for a wonderful post full of everything we as Americans' need to be thankful for in this very stressful world. I don't often comment and I can only knit (not purl) so I am relegated to the simplest of baby hats and scarfs but I do love admiring all your projects and ideas.
This is a wonderful Thanksgiving post. I just read the article in Country Home and wanted to come and check out your blog. I too am a lover of sunflowers. What a great site and blog even for somebody that is not creative when it comes to knitting and fabric. It is coming I am sure.
My grandfather's name was Harry and his brother, Archie. Wouldn't it be funny if...
Have a wonderful holiday.
Dana
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