A Haven for Vee

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Over the River and Through the Woods

Over the river and through the woods,
To grandmother's house we go;
The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh,
Through the white and drifted snow, O!

Over the river and through the woods,
Oh how the wind does blow!
It stings the toes, and bites the nose,
As over the ground we go.

Over the river and through the woods,
To have a first-rate play;
Oh hear the bells ring, "Ting-a-ling-ling!"
Hurrah for Thanksgiving Day, Hey!

Over the river and through the woods,
Trot fast my dapple gray!
Spring over the ground, like a hunting hound!
For this is Thanksgiving Day, Hey!

Over the river and through the woods,
And straight through the barnyard gate,
We seem to go extremely slow.
It is so hard to wait!

Over the river and through the woods,
Now grandmother's cap I spy!
Hurrah for the fun! Is the pudding done?
Hurrah for the pumpkin pie!


Believe it or not, I can remember singing this song for the first time away back in my first grade classroom. That classroom was a large rectangular space in the little brick schoolhouse, which was over 100 years old even when I attended and that was a good many years ago. There was a wall of huge windows that went from just above the row of bookshelves all the way up to a very tall ceiling. As it was an upstairs classroom, we were always roasty, toasty warm, which is such a wonderful memory on this chilly morning. On the back wall, there was a large framed print of a Pilgrim family hiding behind a great big tree as an Indian passed by. (I have tried without success to find this painting to include, but perhaps some will remember seeing it.)

One blistering cold November day when snow began to spit, our beloved teacher Mrs. Pulsifer taught us this song and we sang it with all the gusto that first graders can muster. Mrs. Pulsifer provided me with my first sense of wonder at the Thanksgiving story. Thanksgiving remains my favorite part of American history and my favorite holiday.

Maybe all of this is why I find myself longing for these bowls. I really don't need the bowls; I really don't have the space for the bowls, but I want the bowls. What do you think? Are they great bowls or is it just me?



Source

10 comments:

  1. Really love the bowls! I love things that are intriguing and make you want to pick them up!

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  2. Thanks for birthday wishes. Yes Oliver is my dear one and only Grandson.
    The bowls look unusual.

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  3. I love those bowls too....are you deciding whether to purchase them or have you already??
    Blessings,
    Robin

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  4. Love the song.

    Love your memories.

    As to the bowels... GET 'EM!!!

    Mari-Nanci

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  5. Vee, those are great bowls. When stuff really speaks to you, you need to nab it. So much stuff is "nice" and "pretty" but when you see something that really resonates with YOU, it should be yours!

    P.S. I keep forgetting your Thanksgiving is in November. I love it too (favorite holiday I think) but ours was in October. I don't know why the two countries don't just align the holiday!!

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  6. THOSE are great bowls! : ) Very unique!
    Take care!

    Jan

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  7. Vee,
    Thank you for your recent visit, I am so glad you found me and even more glad that I found you! I too learned this song in first grade! Love the bowls, they ARE great. I'm off to read some more!
    Miss Sandy

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  8. The bowls are great. Thanks for stopping by. Your old school room sounds like one of the classrooms I attended as a child in New England. You blog makes me a little nostalgic. I will really get misty eyed, if you blog about ice-skating on the local town pond, one of my favorite child hood memories of New England.

    About the garden blog, I was thinking the same thing. Now I just have to figure out what my favor type of garden is.

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  9. I can identify with 'wanting the bowls'...they are great!!! I can't identify with snow in November though...since I'm in Tucson at the moment & it's nearly 90 degrees out. Do these people ever have winter? By the way...can you sing the song for me? I need a tune.

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  10. Hi, Judy! Click on the words...you'll hear the tune.

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