TALES FROM THE BAYOU: Turkey Day Means Turkey Tails

 

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I consider Thanksgiving week to be about the middle of my holiday season. It starts with the month of October and hopefully cooler weather, leading into Halloween. Then comes November with the dip in temperature, frosty mornings, and the sense of time running out before the big man in the red suit arrives come December.

Friends close to me know I’m rather touchy about Thanksgiving. Some people gloss over celebrating during this month, saying, “Thanksgiving’s only one day”. I would argue Halloween is “only one day” as well, but I know a lot of people who decorate or celebrate that spooky holiday all throughout October. 

When I was growing up in Louisiana, I would wring out every ounce of holiday celebrating I could so the more reasons to celebrate…Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas…the better my childhood!

My mother really threw herself into the holidays…allowing us to celebrate each month in it’s own way. Turkey day on the bayou would include traditional side dishes like mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, green beans, etc.  However, you could also find things like jambalaya, or dirty rice on the menu. But the one thing you would ALWAYS find at our table is the turkey tail. 

My father and I were the main enjoyers of this particular part of the bird. We would have a yearly debate over who would get the prize and most of the time I would win. Even as an adult today, I get excited when November comes around. I go to one of the grocery stores in my area that actually carry multiple turkey tails in a package…just like they knew I was coming!

There may even be some people out there reading this post in horror at the mere thought of trying that poultry delicacy, but the way I look at it, I’d trade you a leg for that turkey tail any day…

 

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books

They make great stocking stuffers!

HISTORY’S MYSTERIES: Ship of Dreams
HISTORY’S MYSTERIES: The Chocolate Train Wreck

 

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donna - Copy

 

 

Best selling, award-winning author, Donna L Martin, has been writing since she was eight years old. She is a 4th Degree Black Belt in TaeKwonDo by day and a ‘ninja’ writer of children’s picture books, chapter books, young adult novels and inspirational essays by night. Donna is a BOOK NOOK REVIEWS host providing the latest book reviews on all genres of children’s books, and the host of WRITERLY WISDOM, a resource series for writers. Donna is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators and Children’s Book Insider. She is a lover of dark chocolate, going to the beach and adding to her growing book collection. Donna’s latest chapter book series is called HISTORY’S MYSTERIES. Book One, Ship of Dreams, is available in eBook and print form from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, and other online retailers. Also, coming to the Titanic Museums in Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Book Two, A Chocolate Train Wreck, was released in November.