While you are waiting for the turkey to cook, why not do a Pilgrim activity and make homemade butter? How, you may ask, do you do that? Simple. Here are the directions.

Fill a small jar half full of whipping cream. Mini-sized jam jars work wonderful because they fit a grandchild’s hand size. Screw the lid on tightly. Let your grandchildren take turns shaking the jar. Depending on how enthusiastic your grandchildren are, yellow lumps of butter will form after about 5 minutes. Drain off the liquid and stir in a dash of salt. And there you have it! Fresh butter for the rolls for your Thanksgiving meal.

I’m an advocate of singing fun songs with your grandchildren. Back in August, I posted two videos of fun songs to sing — Grasshopper Alphabet Soup and Little Pile of Tin. Here’s a link to that posting so you can refresh your memory and be ready to sing them on Thanksgiving Day.

At the time I was recording those songs, my future daughter-in-law taught my son a fun song. I loved that song and asked them to record it for me. However, their wedding was imminent and they were busy with other important activities. So, I postponed recording it. Sunday night, I asked if I could record them. They wanted to record themselves and they promised to make it and send it to me this week. I was delighted when I got it. I laughed and laughed as I watched it. Thank you Tyler and Lisa! (I think that Tyler has found his perfect match . . .)

And the bloopers . . .

Written in 1945, this popular song celebrates New England cooking – shoofly pie and apple pandowdy. Shoofly pie is a molasses pie that the Pennsylvania Dutch make. Mighty fine. (Been there, ate that . . .) Here’s a recipe for it. Apple pandowdy is a simple dessert of apples baked with a sweet cake dough top. Here’s a link for apple pandowdy.

Here are the words to the song:

Shoofly Pie and Apple Pandowdy
Makes your eyes light up,
And your tummy say “Howdy.”
Shoofly Pie and Apple Pandowdy
Never get enough of that wonderful stuff.

Shu-Shoofly pie. (Clap hands 2 times.) Shu-Shoofly pie. (Clap hands 2 times.)
Shu-Shoofly Pie (Clap hands 2 times.)
Never get enough of that wonderful stuff!

Oh, Mama! When you bake,
Oh Mama! Don’t bake cake;
Just go to the oven make some ever lovin.’

Shoofly Pie and Apple Pandowdy
Makes your eyes light up,
And your tummy say “Howdy,”
Shoofly Pie and Apple Pandowdy
Never get enough of that wonderful stuff!

Shu-Shoofly pie. (Clap hands 2 times.) Shu-Shoofly pie. (Clap hands 2 times.)
Shu-Shoofly Pie (Clap hands 2 times.)
Never get enough of that wonderful stuff!
Yeah!!

So, for activities with your grandchildren on Thanksgiving Day, make a little butter. Sing a little song.

Digi-Gram

Grandma Ideas

Finally. I’ve been able to video two songs that grandmothers can sing with their grandchildren. I needed to video tape them because there are actions with them.

I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve have attempted to film the songs. One time the neighbor’s grandchildren were playing outside. (Read that to mean they were LOUD and could be heard in the background of the taping.) Another time the neighbor’s sprinkling system in the field next to us was on (and was loud and could be heard in the background). Another time the neighbors had a volleyball game going. Another time it was too dark by the time I got around to doing the filming. Another time the camera’s battery went dead.

Tonight it was windy.  Oh well . . . So, here are the two songs. Finally.

Grasshopper Alphabet Soup

Here are the words.

Grasshopper alphabet soup oh yaw. Grasshopper alphabet soup. Boing. (Make a motion like you are hitting a gong.)

Grasshopper alphabet soup oh yaw. Grasshopper alphabet soup. Boing. (Make a motion like you are hitting a gong.)

Grasshopper head. (wiggle head) Grasshopper body. (Wiggle body) Grasshopper in-a my soup. Boing (Make a motion like you are hitting a gong.)

Grasshopper wings. Grasshopper legs. Grasshopper in-a my soup. Boing (Make a motion like you are hitting a gong.)

Grasshopper alphabet soup oh yaw. Grasshopper alphabet soup. (Bow)

Here’s the second song.

I’m a Little Pile of Tin

Here are the words.

I’m a little pile of tin. Nobody knows what shape I’m in.
Got 4 wheels and a running board. I’m a Ford, oh I’m a Ford.

Honk honk (hold your hand up, palm facing away from you and make the honking motion)
Rattle rattle (rattle — or shake — your head side to side)
Crash (put the palm of your hand underneath your chin)
Beep beep (tap your nose each time you say beep).

Honk honk (hold your hand up and make the honking motion)
Rattle rattle (rattle — or shake — your head side to side)
Crash (put the palm of your hand underneath your chin)
Beep beep (tap your nose each time you say beep).

Honk honk (hold your hand up and make the honking motion)
Rattle rattle (rattle — or shake — your head side to side)
Crash (put the palm of your hand underneath your chin)
Beep beep (tap your nose each time you say beep).

Honk honk (hold your hand up and make the honking motion).

I still want to get a video of another song — either with my son and his new bride or her mother. Maybe when they come for the open house on Saturday. . .

Digi-Gram