#JUSTDOIT

When I created Tie One On Day fourteen years ago, I had hopes its essence – that giving from the heart made someone else’s day brighter – would be embraced worldwide. And if ever there were a need for a worldwide hug, it’s now.

A few weeks ago, our little Temple in Pueblo, Colorado, was the proposed target of Nazi hatred. Thankfully, the FBI and local police thwarted his plan. Tho’ the attack did not take place, the idea of such violence against our Jewish community left us shaken. Friends from around America reached out, and in doing so, made us feel safe and loved. That’s kindness.

Thinking kind thoughts is empathizing. Acting on empathy is kindness. #JUSTDOIT

I like most people and enjoy showing them as much, especially with a delivery of a homemade food.

My first Tie One On Day delivery was to an artist. Upon attending a pop up art exhibit by neon artist Scott Young (find him and his talent on instagram @scottyoungstudio), I  was immediately caught up in the excitement of his work and his genuine niceness. It was his description of a hectic schedule through the end of the year that led me to one thought: this man needs the sustenance of a hearty soup.  Yes, that’s how I think.

A reusable wrapping of cloth and a handwritten note are tenants of Tie One On Day

The bean soup recipe I use is easily made in a crock pot. Freezing the soup and delivering in a container that does not need returning is always a good idea. Here we are at the pop-up. That we’re both smiling is the win-win of Tie One On Day, for the giver and recipient.  #JUSTDOIT

Delivering in person is a Tie One On Day bonus

 

Following the thwarted attack, a neighbor to one of our children gave our Jewish community a gift that required more than the requisite thank you note. For them, I baked Pecan Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls…from the latest cookbook by my friend, Eliza Cross.

Whether store-bought or home-baked, a pretty plate will be used later and serve as a                                                                                   reminder of thoughtfulness

Because the delivery was on a Thursday, I chose this days of the week toweling. The note expressing gratitude was tucked beneath.

The rolls were first covered with plastic wrap to prevent sticking

Kindness is taught, not by talking but by example. Accompanying me on her first Tie One On Day delivery, my granddaughter.

There is no age too young to begin teaching kindness

Gestures of kindness during the month of November are especially relevant. With all my heart, thank you for making Tie One On Day a part of your Thanksgiving tradition.

Gratefully, EllynAnne

KINDNESS MATTERS

According to Oprah, “Kindness matters.”  Her sentiment is ever so timely, especially in light of recent events to the contrary.

Despite the turmoil, kindness does abound!

To lift spirits, be encouraged, and find inspiration, join in celebrating the 13th annual Tie One On Day!

Leave a comment at the end of this posting

 

 

sharing how you will participate in this year’s Tie One On Day.

Thanksgiving is a holiday of sharing, recollection and traditions, and the apron symbolizes these concepts.

Please join in and tie one on…an apron, of course! and make a difference in someone’s life with a gesture of kindness.

TIE ONE ON … GIVE FROM THE HEART … THEN GIVE THANKS

 

Gratefully, EllynAnne

 

THE APRON BOOK : Podcast #9 – Erin Owens

THE APRON BOOK Podcast

THE APRON BOOK : Podcast #9
The women in Erin Owens’ family were renowned as good cooks and gracious hostesses, attributes Erin embodies. She is also a born storyteller, as evidenced in her colorful recollection of the miniature Coke bottle aprons she inherited from her mother.

Everyone knows what an apron is and everyone has a story to share!

Contribute your written apron story and pictures at apronmemories.com/stories
Share your apron story recordings and videos at facebook.com/apronmemories
#theapronbook on Instagram & Twitter

Listen:

» Right-click and download here (9.8MB / 4mins 05secs)

About The Apron Book:

The Apron Book

Warm and inviting, but (like an apron) quite practical, The Apron Book is a celebration of a great American icon. Apron enthusiast Ellynanne Geisel, who curated the traveling exhibit, Apron Chronicles, returns us to hearth and home in this updated edition of the award-winning book. In this paperback edition, EllynAnne reflects on the grassroots movement of apron love in a new introduction, and a new foreword by the former editor of Apronology magazine expounds on EllynAnne’s mantra that aprons don’t hold us back; they take us back because the connection to the past is a strong one.

The Apron Book showcases full-color photos of new and vintage aprons from Geisel’s vast collection, patterns for four basic apron styles and myriad variations, recipes, tips on collecting and preserving vintage aprons, and heart-tugging stories from the traveling apron exhibit. The book also explores the history and heyday of aprons and looks at the various roles aprons still play when worn in the kitchen, around the house, by the backyard grill, on the job, or for a special occasion.

Available To Order:

Order at Amazon.com

Order at Barnes & Noble

Order at Indiebound

Order at Booksamillion.com

Order at Andrews McMeel

THE APRON BOOK : Podcast #8 – Lynn Holle Moore

THE APRON BOOK Podcast

THE APRON BOOK : Podcast #8
Lynn Holle Moore inherited Grandmother Lynums aprons, as well as her hardy Norwegian spirit and instincts. Her grandmother’s aprons strengthen Lynn’s sense of heritage and roots, traits she shares in her writing and storytelling.

Lynn Holle Moore
Everyone knows what an apron is and everyone has a story to share!

Contribute your written apron story and pictures at apronmemories.com/stories
Share your apron story recordings and videos at facebook.com/apronmemories
#theapronbook on Instagram & Twitter

Listen:

» Right-click and download here (9.85MB / 4mins 04secs)

About The Apron Book:

The Apron Book

Warm and inviting, but (like an apron) quite practical, The Apron Book is a celebration of a great American icon. Apron enthusiast Ellynanne Geisel, who curated the traveling exhibit, Apron Chronicles, returns us to hearth and home in this updated edition of the award-winning book. In this paperback edition, EllynAnne reflects on the grassroots movement of apron love in a new introduction, and a new foreword by the former editor of Apronology magazine expounds on EllynAnne’s mantra that aprons don’t hold us back; they take us back because the connection to the past is a strong one.

The Apron Book showcases full-color photos of new and vintage aprons from Geisel’s vast collection, patterns for four basic apron styles and myriad variations, recipes, tips on collecting and preserving vintage aprons, and heart-tugging stories from the traveling apron exhibit. The book also explores the history and heyday of aprons and looks at the various roles aprons still play when worn in the kitchen, around the house, by the backyard grill, on the job, or for a special occasion.

Available To Order:

Order at Amazon.com

Order at Barnes & Noble

Order at Indiebound

Order at Booksamillion.com

Order at Andrews McMeel

Tie One On Day 2015

“Women clad in aprons have traditionally prepared the Thanksgiving meal, and it is within our historical linkage to share our bounty.”
November 25, 2015 - Tie One On Day
Tie One On…Give from the heart…Then give thanks

On the eve of Thanksgiving some twelve years ago, I wrapped a pie in an apron with a handwritten note of sympathy slipped into the pocket, and delivered it to a neighbor experiencing more heartbreak than should be. Her response of delight and warmth was unexpected and very touching.

In offering a small gesture of recognition to the family’s situation, I was surprised at the unexpected joyfulness that I experienced. The win-win of the exchange was so memorable, I knew it had to be shared. So I created TIE ONE ON DAY™.

Celebrated on the eve of Thanksgiving – Wednesday, November 25 this year – TIE ONE ON DAY is an annual opportunity to share our good fortune by wrapping a loaf of bread or other baked good in domestic cloth and tuck in a sweet note; then tie one on…an apron, of course! and deliver the offering to a neighbor, friend or charity in need of a bit of kindness.

ENTER! ENTER! ENTER! ENTER! ENTER! ENTER! ENTER!

To encourage y’all adding TIE ONE ON DAY to your holiday tradition and embracing its message of sharing and gratefulness, a dedicated group of generous SPONSORS are putting some fabulous “give” into the TOODAY 2015 Goodie Giveaway!

To enter the TIE ONE ON DAY Giveaways, leave a comment at the end of this blog posting, sharing with others how you plan to be a part of this year’s TOOD. Your comment is your entry into the November 24th drawing for the giveaways.   Four (4) Giveaway winners will be randomly selected and contacted via their provided email.

*TIE ONE ON DAY Giveaways are open only to entrants living within the United States


Thanksgiving is a holiday known for recollection, making new traditions and sharing. The apron symbolizes these concepts. A small bit of your time will make someone else’s day brilliantly brighter. And the more who participate, the more who receive. Such is the win-win of TOOD.

So please join me and tie one on…an apron, of course! and through Tie One On Day, make a difference in someone’s life.

Tie One On…Give from the heart…Then give thanks

xoxEllynAnne

To accompany your Tie One On Day delivery, this complimentary note card is available to download HERE.

November 25, 2015 - Tie One On Day
The more who participate in TOODay, the more who receive!

 

PLEASE INCLUDE AN EMAIL WITH YOUR COMMENT, SO I CAN LET YOU KNOW IF YOU’RE A GIVEAWAY WINNER

NATIONAL TIE ONE ONE DAY™ 2011 IS HERE!

NATIONAL TIE ONE ONE DAY™ 2011 IS HERE!

Five years ago, I embarked on a personal campaign to put the “give” back into Thanksgiving through a gesture of kindness. Little more than wrapping a baked good within an apron and writing a note of encouragement, I was unprepared for the uplifting feeling I experienced upon delivering the bundle to a neighbor going through a difficult time. Such is National Tie One On Day a win-win for giver and receiver.

To encourage your participation in National Tie One On Day™, a fabulous group of sponsors are putting some “give” into the NTOOD Goodie Bag Giveaway! Five national winners will be selected to receive from

American Sewing Guild, a special edition tote bag benefitting the Maliki Mums in Kenya, Africa and membership package

Colonial Patterns/Aunt Martha’s Transfers , an assortment of transfers, toweling, embroidery floss, needles and hoops and aprons

Creative Machine Embroidery and SewNews, CME and SewNews magazines

Apron-iCity and FabShop, a fabric lovers gift pack

Simplicity, a copy of Simplicity Pattern’s Simply the Best Home Dec Sewing

Haralee®, a $25 gift certificate

IceMilk Aprons, the Rolling Pin Oatmeal waist apron

Mary Mulari Productions, Sew-Green Pattern and a personalized copy of Appliques with Style

MikWright, a MikWright apron and 1 dozen MikWright greeting cards

Andrews McMeel Publishing, signed copies of The Apron Book, The Kitchen Linens Book and Apronisms

National Association of Baby Boomer Women, a membership package

Pillowcasegram & Other Things™, an apron and $14.95 gift certificate

Rebecca Ruth Designs, a selection of Rebecca Ruth Designs patterns

Sew,Mama,Sew! , a $15 gift certificate

Small Town Living, a compilation cd of STL articles and a gift certificate

Stampington & Company, issue 3 of apron●ology magazine

To enter the NTOOD 2010 Goodie Bag Giveaway, just leave your email address and a comment here – I’d so love to know how you will be participating in National Tie One On Day™, what you’ll be making, baking or sewing, the beneficiary of your act of kindness, how you’re putting the give back into Thanksgiving…that sort of thing!

The five Goodie Bag winners will be selected early Thanksgiving morning using an automated random number chooser. I’ll be contacting the winners via email – without an email, however, another winner will be selected.

Thank you, thank you for participating in National Tie One On Day™, for spreading the word and posting the National Tie One On Day logo on your site.

xxea and NTOODay sponsors

Women in aprons have traditionally prepared the Thanksgiving meal, and it is within our historical linkage to share our bounty.”

Tweaking Tradition

A holiday rolls around, and I immediately begin searching for new recipes to shake up the traditional table spread, I of the mind set, that recognizing the occasion is tradition enough. 
Since only the holidays most widely celebrated are treated to massive recipe makeovers or menu innovations by the media and its celebrity chefs, my holiday, Passover, receives little attention when it comes to recipe reinvention of the seder particulars.  
A late start left me with only a day and ahalf to devote to the endeavor, and after scrolling through dozens of on-line sites, I happened on a recipe for chocolate covered matzoh. The perfect tweak, it turned out, because not only is it easily prepared, it is over-the-top delicious! Addictively so. And when paired with a colorful trio of sorbet scoops… 

In this photo, the bowl of dessert matzoh is  side by side with a gravy boat holding freshly made apple/pear sauce, yet another recipe so simple and delicious it’s ridiculous not to make it every day! (saute peeled & sliced fruit in water until soft. drain. in a bowl, sprinkle with a small amount of sugar and mash with a fork)

And now the finale photo to the evening – a red wine stain on the hand stitched tablecloth.  

I’m sure it will wash out or at least fade through subsequent laundering.  Such is the risk of using a beautiful cloth, but better to use it with joy than to keep it stored in a drawer and out of sight. 

xxea
3 weeks left to enter the FABULOUS (not-a-contest) GIVEAWAY!

Tie One On…a vintage Christmas apron, of course!

Oh, which to tie on this Christmas eve? Perhaps a softly pleated waist apron with a holly berry and pine cone motif…

Aprons_vintage xmas 3 (Medium)

Poinsettias, embroidered or flocked, are always in style…

Aprons_vintage xmas 1 (Medium)

Maybe cotton or chintz, fancied up with rick rack…Aprons_vintage xmas 2 (Medium)

Then there are aprons with fabric so adorable, oh, how to choose…

Aprons_vintage xmas 4 (Medium)

Flocked panel aprons in different colors and designs…an apron change out is a must!

Aprons_vintage xmas flocked 6 (Medium)

As for me, I must wait one more day before tying on Jingle Belle

Aprons_vintage xmas jingle belle (Medium)

my one and only Christmas apron creation and jingling ’round the block to Heidi and Phil Marin’s home for a holiday dinner. To only wear this confection once a year is a pity – then again, what comes but once a year is also most anticipated.

Aprons_vintage xmas belle closeup (Medium)

As I imagine the women who once tied on the vintage Christmas aprons in my collection, I’m thinking of all y’all, and sending you and your families my best wishes for the merriment and rejoicing that is Christmas.

xxea

Hanukkah Jingle Bells


On the eighth night of Hanukkah, our tradition is to invite non-Jewish families to celebrate the final night of our holiday. Once the candle lighting and latke eating are over, we all sit in the living room, the glow of the menorah’s candles the only light, and sing the dreidel song. A child’s song, it’s easily adapted to a round, like row, row, row your boat, and within one go, everyone knows the words. As far as catchy holiday tunes go, the dreidel song is the Jewish Jingle Bells.

This year’s celebrants included Mimi, Isabelle and Amber, a trio clad in their Hanukkah aprons, and a rambunctious quintet of five little boys. Every year, I take a picture of each family, a photographic growth chart, which becomes a part of our collective history.

Menorahs are their own art form, with artists worldwide uniquely interpreting the 9-candle candelabra. Terrie and John, who joined us for night number six, gifted us with a ceramic menorah handcrafted in Mexico, which we filled with candles and lit night eight. They also brought a lovely merlot. Menorah & Merlot, my favorite M&M’s.

Tomorrow I’ll clean the menorah of candle drippings, put away the decorations and file the latke recipe. Next year, may our celebration be in a world at peace.

xxxea
Tie One On…an apron, of course!