Cajun Corner - Vol. 1, No. 27

Cajun Corner – Vol. 1, No. 27 – NOVEMBER 27, 2009


Bon Jour! Welcome to Cajun Stitchery’s weekly email and welcome to our family.

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Thanksgiving Day in the neighborhood. If there was a modern version of the pilgrim experience, we had it yesterday. Our neighborhood group got together for Thanksgiving. Everyone brought some contribution to our Thanksgiving meal. Yes, even I made a green bean casserole. There were 9 of us at the long table. The best I recall we had 3 turkeys and a pork roast. That was only the meats. Each of us had 2 plates, a salad plate and a dinner plate. As the food passed by, I filled one plate, then the other. Finally, I found myself refusing even a bit of food because the plates were so full. The word for it is “scrumptious.” The meal ended when no one could force another bite into their mouths. We then went into the process of cleaning the table and picking up the food. We needed this exercise to help deal with the large amount of calories just consumed. Of course, throughout were wonderful conversations. We met the parents of one of our neighbors. They were interesting and delightful people. With so much food, cleaning off the table and putting the leftovers into containers took more time than setting the table. We realized that we still had dessert. That came much later in the evening.

The weather was getting chilly and a fire was started in the chiminea. We all had some wine. Then the karaoke began. There were two microphones. Words probably cannot sufficiently describe the karaoke experience. Two of our group used to be professional musicians/singers. They have lovely voices. The rest of us can barely hold our own singing in the shower. I love music. I love to dance. And, I love to sing. However, I am fully aware that I cannot carry a tune. It’s genetic. Neither Nancy nor Mama had beautiful singing voices, and I certainly am not an exception. We still loved to sing along. Knowing this, I nevertheless joined in the karaoke fun. Apparently, some others felt the same way. It’s all in fun, anyway. It was not a situation where one person would sing. We were all singing together and the microphones were being passed around. The singing began with some old country tunes, Hank Williams’ “Your Cheating Heart”, and others along that line. Then the song “The Tennessee Waltz” began. I love that song and said so. I suppose that when you have been a professional singer, loving a song must mean that you know the words and can carry your own. That is not necessarily true. That is definitely not true in my case. Well, we had the words in front of us and we all were singing at the top of our lungs. Even when you don’t have a beautiful singing voice, knowing the words goes a long way in convincing yourself that you can sing. Somehow I went from knowing that I can’t carry a tune to Celine Dion in one magical moment. As the evening progressed we had dessert and coffee with Kahlua, and of course, more wine. Then they put on the CD with my songs. You know, the songs from the 60’s, Little Peggy March’s “I Will Follow Him”, “Chapel of Love”, “My Boyfriend’s Back”, and so forth. I was so excited to hear songs that I do know and like that I’m afraid I included a dance routine in the sing along. By the time they hit “Johnny Angel”, I was thinking to myself , “Hey, you’re sounding pretty good.” Finally, I took a break and went out to see what the guys at the chiminea were doing. I walked to the back of the yard, behind the beautiful landscaping to see George and Kenny sitting by the chiminea with little grins across their faces. I could hear the karaoke still going on in the house, as clear as though they were standing next to me. That’s when I realized that I’m not Celine Dion after all. George and Kenny were holding back their laughter. I asked if they heard all of the singing and they responded in the affirmative. I think I saw little tears trickling down their grinning faces. The karaoke continued for awhile longer before we all thanked our hosts for a lovely day and went home.

Today is Black Friday, the notorious “busiest shopping day of the year”. No way am I getting out and into that madness. However, I have friends who got up as early as 2 a.m. to get the “deals”. The radio stations have begun playing Christmas music. The Christmas Season has officially begun.

This week we’ve been working on bottle aprons. I found a beautiful Christmas font to write “Merry Christmas” and have adorned the aprons with the simple message.

We also worked on a football patch to go over another patch on a friend’s football vest.

Garters became an idea this week when we discovered that football teams have garters as part of the ever growing football paraphernalia. Yes, we can make garters in your team colors and with your team’s name on them – not the licensed logos or anything requiring a license. A simple garter begins at $10.00 each. This would make a unique gift for the football lover in your life.

Don’t forget the GIFT CERTIFICATES. They make a great stocking stuffer. They are so simple. Just fill out the information and put them in an envelope – instant gift. Especially nice for gifts that you would normally mail or ship, since you only need a stamp and can give a nice gift without the high shipping costs. The gift certificates are in any denomination that you like, for any occasion. No hidden charges, just the amount you want on the certificate and sales tax, if you live in Florida.
Always remember that we are just a call or email away at cajunstitchery@yahoo.com or 850-261-2462 and place your order.
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• Boudreaux goes shopping for a bargain

Boudreaux and Fontenot are walking down a street in Houston when they see a sign on a store that reads, 'Suits $5.00 each, shirts $2.00 each, trousers $2.50 per pair.'

Boudreaux says to his pal, 'Look here! We could buy a whole gob of these, take 'em back to Abbeville, sell 'em to our friends, and make a fortune. Now when we go in there you be quiet, okay? Just let me do the talkin' 'cause if they hear your accent, they might think we're ignorant, and try to cheat us. Now, I'll talk in a slow Texas drawl so's they don't know..'

They go in and Boudreaux says with his best fake Texas accent, 'I'll take 50 of them suits at $5.00 each, 100 of them there shirts at $2.00 each, and 50 pairs of them there trousers at $2.50 each. I'll back up my pickup and ....'

The owner of the shop interrupts, 'Ya'll are from Louisiana , ain't ya?'

'Well...yeah,' says a surprised Boudreaux. 'How come you know dat!'
'Because this is a dry-cleaners.'

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French phrase of the week: oignon (n.m.) onion

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Ideas For An Eco-Friendly Christmas
• Give memories rather than gifts. Give tickets to a favorite concert, community theatre, or museum. How about a season pass to a local park. Look in the newspaper, tour guides, local websites for parades or events that you usually don’t attend and gift attending these events with the recipient.

• Recycle holiday gift wrap. Better yet, avoid using holiday gift wrap and wrap your gift in an alternative. For instance, give a tote bag as part of your gift and put the remainder of your gift inside the tote. Wrap your gift in a re-useable tote/gift bag. Wrap your gift in a towel, blanket, or piece of fabric. For the arts and craft lover, wrap your gift in newspaper that you have stamped or decorated with Christmas sayings or art.

• Give a donation to the gift recipient’s favorite charity in their name.

• Give a U.S. savings bond.

• Give a recipe and include the ingredients in the bundle. “Wrap it” by using a tote bag or wrapping in a towel or apron. There are several of these type gifts pre-packaged at most stores to give as gifts. Avoid the pre-packaging by putting the ingredients together yourself. Try giving a mug with a packet of cocoa mix and a spoon. Wrap it in personalized napkins or put in a basket. Give a frying pan or some other type of pot or pan and put the recipe and ingredients inside and give as a basket.

• Give a batch of your homemade cookies, cakes, candies, pies, or other baked goods.

• Wrap your gift in a Santa Hat or stocking. For an extra special touch, have the hat or stocking personalized.

• Give a bottle of wine with a personalized wine apron.

• Give gift certificates.

• Give a plant. Make a gardening basket with seed packets, gloves, apron, and a spade or other garden implements and wrap in a tote bag or basket.
Please let me know if there is something that you would like to see in the weekly email. You may always call me at (850) 261-2462 or email me at cajunstitchery@yahoo.com.
If you are not a subscriber and would like to receive Cajun Corner weekly, please email cajunstitchery@yahoo.com and let me know to put you on our email list.

C’est tout, mes amis

Peggy Henshall

Cajun Stitchery

(850) 261-2462

cajunstitchery@yahoo.com

P.S. You are always welcome to stop by and look at all of the new catalogs and pass some time with me, cher.

Christmas is right around the corner – have you done your shopping yet? Take advantage of this week’s special and get ahead of the shopping rush.

Cajun Stitchery