Carl Sandburg's poem, from Cornhuskers (1918), is "Written to be read aloud, if so be, on Thanksgiving Day."  In the poem, he recalls the Pilgrims' original harvest feast, how with their "iron jaws" and "tall hats" they thanked God "for life and soup and a little less / Than a hobo handout to-day."  This year when we gather for holiday dinners, our tables straining under a bounty of food and drink, we would do well to remember the sacrifices and meager means of this country's forefathers, and their gratitude.

SHINE ON
Landscape lighting does more than illuminate the pathway to your door - though, as the days get shorter and you find yourself returning home from work in the dark, that may be your main concern.  Outdoor lighting, with lamps that hang or stand on posts, also accentuates and decorates areas of the yard or garden.  All the rage are solar-poweredlights, many of which can shine for up to 15 hours, given exposure to maximum sunlight.  Choose LED (light-emitting diodes) lights, which are brighter than incandescent bulbs - producing 50 percent more light per watt - and are much more efficient.  Ask at your local hardware store or garden supply store, or visit Green Culture, at www.eco-gardening.com.

FOR THE BIRDS
A turkey is not the only bird to watch this month.  Even if you missed the annual migration over our patch of the Appalachian Flyway last month, you can still catch the last of the migrating birds - and get ready for those feathered friends who stick around for the winter.  Bird Watcher's Country Store, in High Falls, Ulster County, has everything you need, from birding books to seed, binoculars to feeders, including the Copper Stopper Squirrel Resistant Feeder, from New Paltz-based manufacturer T.M. Hoff Handmade.  With its patent-pending, spring-loaded base, the feeder provides a secure perch for birds, but unceremoniously dumps the squirrels.  (845) 687-9410.  www.birdwatcherscountrystore.com