(George Winston playing his beautiful and inspiring piece, “Thanksgiving.” My mother adored George Winston.)
My parents always came for Thanksgiving. Now that they are gone, I always think of them at this time of year.
PSALM 95:1-5 (NKJV)
Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the LORD is the great God, and the great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the heights of the hills are His also. The sea is His, for He made it; and His hands formed the dry land.
PLEASE NOTE: I WILL NOT BE POSTING ANYTHING UNTIL SOME TIME NEXT WEEK.
Have a joyful and blessed Thanksgiving!
~
Dawn Pisturino
November 23, 2022
Copyright 2022 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.
My autumn decorations are up, and I’m already planning menus for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. My husband was recently diagnosed with borderline diabetes, so cooking will be a little more challenging this year. But we can enjoy the changing season and all that nature brings us. One of my favorite jazz standards that I always think of at this time of year is “September Song.” Originally introduced on Broadway in the 1938 musical, Knickerbocker Holiday, it has been performed by Frank Sinatra and other acclaimed crooners. Chances are good that you’ve heard it.
(Frank Sinatra – September Song)
September Song
When I was a young man courting the girls I played me a waiting game If a maid refused me with tossing curls I’d let the old Earth take a couple of whirls While I plied her with tears in lieu of pearls And as time came around she came my way As time came around, she came
When you meet with the young girls early in the spring You court them in song and rhyme They answer with words and a clover ring But if you could examine the goods they bring They have little to offer but the songs they sing And a plentiful waste of time of day A plentiful waste of time
Oh, it’s a long, long while from May to December But the days grow short When you reach September When the Autumn weather turns the leaves to flame One hasn’t got time for the waiting game
Oh, the days dwindle down to a precious few September, November And these few precious days I’ll spend with you These precious days I’ll spend with you
Songwriters: Kurt Weill, Maxwell Anderson. For non-commercial use only.
And then, there’s the beautiful “September Morn” performed by the fabulous Neil Diamond:
This year, the autumn equinox will occur on Thursday, September 22, 2022. I’ve already treated myself to a generous cup of hot chocolate, which sounds crazy in the heat, but the temperature was actually pretty cool this morning.
And right now, we’re enjoying the last of the harvest moon in-between cloud covers.
(Photographer unknown)
Happy September! Autumn will be here soon!
Dawn Pisturino
September 14, 2022
Copyright 2022 Dawn Pisturino. All Rights Reserved.
In 1955, pianist Roger Williams recorded the pop hit, “Autumn Leaves,” which became the biggest selling piano recording of all times — even today. The song hit #1 on the Billboard pop music chart and earned a gold record. Williams, born in 1924, was a popular pianist who scored 22 hit singles and 38 hit albums during his lifetime. He died of pancreatic cancer in 2011.
“Autumn Leaves,” performed by Roger Williams. Incredible mastery at the piano!
“Autumn Leaves,” performed by Nat King Cole.
Jazz version sung by Eva Cassidy.
Autumn Leaves
The falling leaves drift by my window The falling leaves of red and gold I see your lips the summer kisses The sunburned hands I used to hold
Since you went away the days grow long And soon I’ll hear old winter’s song But I miss you most of all my darling When autumn leaves start to fall
Since you went away the days grow long And soon I’ll hear old winter’s song But I miss you most of all my darling When autumn leaves start to fall
I miss you most of all my darling When autumn leaves start to fall
With the holidays here, I started thinking about my Grandma Dora’s recipe for Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake with Caramel Frosting. The mayonnaise part sounds yucky, but actually, this cake turns out so rich and moist, you can’t even taste the mayonnaise. It used to be a staple in our house for special occasions. I haven’t made one for years, but I got out my mother’s old recipe box and found the recipe. If you try it, I would use regular mayonnaise.
Chocolate Mayonnaise Cake
1 cup salad dressing (regular mayonnaise)
1 cup sugar
4 tablespoons coca.
Mix well and add:
2 cups sifted flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup warm water
1 teaspoon vanilla
Blend together, pour into a sheet cake pan, and bake at 350 degrees until done, when knife inserted into the center comes out clean. (Don’t you just love those old-fashioned directions?)
Quick Caramel Frosting
Melt 1/4 cup margarine or butter (I would use butter) in a sauce pan.
Stir in 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar and a pinch of salt.
Cook 2 minutes over low heat, stirring constantly.
Add 2 tablespoons milk — stir constantly until mixture comes to a boil.
REMOVE from stove.
Stir in gradually 1-1/4 cups sifted confectioners sugar. Add 1/4 teaspoon vanilla and mix well.
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