Most stories of Thanksgiving history start with the har-

vest celebration of the pilgrims and the Native Americans

that took place in the autumn of 1621. Although they did

have a three-day feast in celebration of a good harvest, and

the local natives did participate, this "first thanksgiving"

was not a holiday, simply a gathering. There is little evi-

dence that this feast of thanks led directly to our modern

Thanksgiving Day holiday. Thanksgiving can, however, be

traced back to 1863 when Pres. Lincoln became the first

president to proclaim Thanksgiving Day. The holiday has

been a fixture of late November ever since.

However, since most school children are taught that the

first Thanksgiving was held in 1621 with the Pilgrims and

Indians, let us take a closer look at just what took place

leading up to that event, and then what happened in the

centuries afterward that finally gave us our modern

Thanksgiving.

The Pilgrims who sailed to this country aboard the

Mayflower were originally members of the English Separa-

tist Church (a Puritan sect). They had earlier fled their

home in England and sailed to Holland (The Netherlands)

to escape religious persecution. There, they enjoyed more

religious tolerance, but they eventually became disen-

chanted with the Dutch way of life, thinking it ungodly.

Seeking a better life, the Separatists negotiated with a

London stock company to finance a pilgrimage to America.

Most of those making the trip aboard the Mayflower were

non-Separatists, but were hired to protect the company's

interests. Only about one-third of the original colonists

were Separatists.

The Pilgrims set ground at Plymouth Rock on Decem-

ber 11, 1620. Their first winter was devastating. At the

beginning of the following fall, they had lost 46 of the origi-

nal 102 who sailed on the Mayflower. But the harvest of

1621 was a bountiful one. And the remaining colonists

decided to celebrate with a feast - including 91 natives who

had helped the Pilgrims survive their first year. It is be-

lieved that the Pilgrims would not have made it through

the year without the help of the natives. The feast was

more of a traditional English harvest festival than a true

"thanksgiving" observance. It lasted three days.

Governor William Bradford sent "four men fowling"

after wild ducks and geese. It is not certain that wild tur-

key was part of their feast. However, it is certain that they

had venison. The term "turkey" was used by the Pilgrims

to mean any sort of wild fowl.

Another modern staple at almost every Thanksgiving

table is pumpkin pie. But it is unlikely that the first feast

included that treat. The supply of flour had been long di-

minished, so there was no bread or pastries of any kind.

However, they did eat boiled pumpkin, and they produced

a type of fried bread from their corn crop. There was also

no milk, cider, potatoes, or butter. There was no domestic

cattle for dairy products, and the newly-discovered potato

was still considered by many Europeans to be poisonous.

But the feast did include fish, berries, watercress, lobster,

dried fruit, clams, venison, and plums.

This "thanksgiving" feast was not repeated the following

November 2012

Rules Reminder:

If you plant around your area next spring, remember you are re-

sponsible to keep the area weeded. If you don’t the landscaping

company will do it, but you will be billed for it.

Under NO CIRCUMSTANCE should tables or chairs be borrowed

from the club house.

Winter is coming. Be sure you have removed any hoses from your

faucets. There should be a bucket of “ice melt” in front of your ga-

rage. Any time you have a problem with ice; sprinkle some of the

ice melt” on the problem area. Rock Salt should never be used be-

cause of its destructive effect on concrete.

Christmas décor may not be displayed before Thanksgiving and

must be removed and stored no later than the last day of the first

week of January of the following year.

If you haven’t checked on the GE Dish Washer recall, the number

to call is 1-866-918-8760. You will need your model and serial

number. They are located on the inside of the dishwasher on the

left tub wall.

If there is something you want put in the newsletter, please send it

to sibann2000@yahoo.com. Also if you would like the have an e-

mail copy of the newsletter, please send your e-mail address.

Once again the Board e-mail address is

springbrookvillas@gmail.com. Calendars

& Newsletters will also be posted on www.parker-

brown.com/springbrook

year. Many years passed before the event was repeated. … A hun-

dred years later, in October of 1777 all 13 colonies joined in a

thanksgiving celebration. It also commemorated the patriotic vic-

tory over the British at Saratoga. But it was a one-time affair. ...

George Washington proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving in

1789. In 1863

President Lin-

coln proclaimed

the last Thurs-

day of Novem-

ber as a na-

tional day of

Thanksgiving.

From

wilstar.com/

holidays

The Voice of the Villas

November 2012 Page 2 The Voice of The VillasThe Voice of The VillasThe Voice of The VillasThe Voice of The Villas

VILLAS TRAVEL CLUB :

Contact Sue Kelemen for details

801-616-3038

“Branson’s Magical Christmas.”

Five different dates in November

& December. Ten Shows, Ten Meals, Hotel, and Round

Trip Air. $1,385 per person.

7 Night Calif. Coastal Cruise on Princess Cruises

“Sapphire Princess” April 6th—13th, 2013. Inside

Cabin $749. Balcony Cabin $1,199. Round trip air from

Salt Lake City to Los Angeles. Quote will be made at

time of booking.

If there are other trips or cruises that you would like

to take, you may also contact Sue and she can help you. Marie M. Thomas

Marie was born and grew up in Devonia, Ten-

nessee. She has many wonderful memories of

her growing up years there. She has many won-

derful memories of my childhood and friends.

She also left many friends that she had to leave

behind when we left Oroville, California to move

to Utah.

She was married to her late husband for fifty-

two great years. As many know the passing of

your spouse is a very difficult time, but she is

thankful for all the great memories she has.

She also spent much time with her children, but

it has been a long time since they live so far

away. She has three cats which help keep her

company and give her much pleasure.

She would love to spend more time working in

her church as at the present time she has no

hobbies. She loves reading the King James Bi-

ble.

Beloved times are those when she has made

trips back to Tennessee and to see again all the

beauty that she was used to seeing as a child.

She is an ordained minister, but is not an active

minister at this time. She

served as pastor for a beautiful

church in Oroville, California

for approximately three years.

It was a most wonderful experi-

ence.

HUMOR CORNER Ross Smith

.

Don’t go huntin’ with a fellow named Chug-A-Lug.

Don’t wrestle with pigs: You’ll get all muddy and the pigs will

love it.

Now that I’ve learned to make the most out of my life … Most

of it is gone.

How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?

When you are dissatisfied and would like to go back to your

youth, remember about Algebra.

I don’t know how I got over the hill without getting to the top.

One of the many things no one tells you about aging is that it

is such a nice change from being young.

Ah, being young is beautiful, but being old is comfortable.

Old age is when former classmates are so gray and wrinkled

and bald, they don’t recognize you.

If you don’t learn to laugh at trouble, you won’t have anything

to laugh at when you are old.

.WELCOME TO OUR NEW NEIGHBORS:

21 C Sherwood & Marie Bridges

25 B Gay Mackey

29C Carol Laycock

Unless someone wants to volunteer to be in charge, there will

be no HOA Dinner in November. Josh said he would help.

There will be one in December as Reed and Sylvia Bennett

will do it with Josh’s help. THANKS JOSH for all you do.

LINE DANCING is at the Clubhouse at ten o’clock on

Thursdays.

The Voice of The Villas The Voice of The Villas The Voice of The Villas The Voice of The Villas November 2012 Page 3

An elderly woman decided to prepare her will and told her

preacher she had two final

requests. First, she wanted

to be cremated and second,

she wanted her ashes scat-

tered over Wal-Mart.

‘Wal-Mart?’ the preacher

exclaimed. ‘Why Wal-Mart?’

‘Then I’ll be sure my daugh-

ters visit me twice a week.’

LUNCH BUNCH:

We will be going to ZUPAS (next to

the Olive Garden on University

Parkway). They have wonderful

salads, soups and sandwiches. The

date is Monday, November 12th.

We will meet at the Clubhouse from 11:15 am to 11:30

am. We will be leaving in carpools.

OPERA AT THE VILLAS

Wednesday, November 21st at 6:300 p.m.

Clubhouse Theater

Opera “La Boheme”

DVD with English subtitles

DOMINOS:

Tuesdays at 2 PM in the Clubhouse.

RESIDENTS’ CORNER

Donna McKay fell and broke her arm. We wish her a speedy

recovery.

We express sincere sympathy for the Robert Mitchell and his

family as his mother MaryBeth Mitchell passed away on Octo-

ber 20th.

Faye Miller and her husband are still in the Provo Rehabilita-

tion Center.

Rhonda’s Corner:

Riddle:

I am bound in a book but you cannot read me,

I sm struck and played but not musically,

I am your equal in skill and also in stature,

I am used in heat and light manufacture.

What am I? (see below for answer)

What animal has two humps and is found at the North Pole?

A. A lost camel!

Where does a hog keep its money?

A. In a piggy bank!

What nail doesn’t a carpenter like to hit?

A. His thumbnail!

What does a farmer put on a pig with skin problems?

A. Oinkment!

What’s the difference between an elephant and a flea?

A. An elephant can have fleas, but a flea can’t have ele-

phants!

Ever heard of furniture’s disease?

A. It’s when your chest falls into your drawers!

What country is popular on Thanksgiving?

A. Turkey

If April showers bring May Flowers? What do May Flowers

bring?

A. Pilgrims

What is there about a yardstick that is very remarkable?

A. Though it has no head nor tail, it has a foot at each end

and another foot in the middle.

Why are a river and a clock alike?

A. Because neither of them runs without winding.

What falls often, but never gets hurt?

A. SNOW

Pumpkin Drop Cookies

1 box spice cake (unprepared)

1 can (15 oz.) pure pumpkin

1 bag (12oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees

2. Mix together dry spice cake mix and pumpkin until

completely blended.

3. Fold in chocolate chips.

4. Drop onto sprayed cookie sheet.

5. Bale for 8—9 minutes.

Enjoy!

November 2012 Thu Fri Sat

1

LINE DANCING

10 AM

HAND & FOOT

3 PM

2

3

4

HEGER

12 — 8 PM

5

6

DOMINOS

2 PM

7

CARD GAMES

2:30 PM

8

LINE DANCING

10 AM

HAND & FOOT

3 PM

9

10

11 12

Lunch Bunch

11:30 AM

13

DOMINOS

2 PM

14

CARD GAMES

2:30 PM

15

LINE DANCING

10 AM

HAND & FOOT

3 PM

16

17

18 19

20

DOMINOS

2 PM

21

CARD GAMES

2:30 PM

OPERA

“LaBoheme”

6:30 PM — 10 PM

IN THEATER

22

23

KELEMAN

4 PM — 10 PM

24

25

26 27

DOMINOS

2 PM

28

CARD GAMES

2:30 PM

29

LINE DANCING

10 AM

McNEIL

12 — 6 PM

30