V o lu me T h i rt y F o ur , N umber 6
Let’s talk turkey By Irene Borgogno
The traditional Thanksgiving meal has many components, including roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, sweet corn, various kinds of squash, and pumpkin [pie]—all foods native to the New World. The meal that is referred to as the first American Thanksgiving occurred in 1621 and probably consisted of an assortment of Old and New World foods, with emphasis on New World. It was a matter of availability. There were no potatoes, white or sweet. Potatoes are from South America and were unknown in New England in 1621. Also missing was turkey, which equates to Thanksgiving for most people. Turkey probably did not appear at that first feast. From the records that exist, the local Indians (the Wampanoag) brought deer. The Pilgrim settlers brought “wild fowl,” which historians think was ducks or geese. Turkeys are native to the Americas. They were domesticated twice, independently, once by the Anasazi in the Four
November 2020 Corners region of the Southwest, and once by the Aztec forebears in Mexico. Domestication occurred more than 2,000 years ago. When the Spaniards first arrived, turkeys were available in the markets of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec city-state that existed where Mexico City is located today. There were many Aztec recipes that used turkey FREEDOM FROM WANT, by Norman meat, including Rockwell, 1942 mole (pronounced
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Baldwin East project is complete Text and photos by Lynn Ayres
Pumpkin decoration by Linda Madara; photo by Lynn Ayres
PUMPKINS EXEMPLIFY AUTUMN: decorations for Halloween and pie for Thanksgiving. Out from Under the Virus: A humorous “Boo” mask is just as protective as a plain one. The “eyes” have it!!! Look carefully at this poured-paint lady. In addition to her enticing, lash-lidded eyes, there are dozens of tiny black-and-white eyes all over her head. (Beauty or beast?) I Just Can’t Remember Your Name: Thank you! Alan and Marv (photo in the hatband).
Phase 1 – demolition. In the October issue, we reported on the removal of five maple trees from the section of Pasture Lane between the Health Center and the eastern entrance to Baldwin garage. The result was a large, open and very barren space. Phase 2 – restoration. In late September, the restoration process began when the landscapers dug six large holes 15 feet in from the curb on Pasture Lane and planted six large trees (none of them maples). American elms were planted in the middle, flanking the sidewalk, and cherries filled out the row. With cherry trees on both sides of the street, we should have a cheery cherry-pink spring. Around and among the trees, a variety of shrubs and perennials were planted: azaleas, hydrangeas, iteas, lilacs, roses, viburnums, astilbes, coneflowers, coral bells…. Many are native species, and all were chosen to offer sequential visual interest all year. In a few months,
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