Happy Thanksgiving

Pilgrim Mother Monument, a photo by midgefrazel on Flickr.

 Pilgrim Women

Symbol of the Families Who Came on the Mayflower

One of the four adult women to survive the first winter of 1620-21 to be able to make the harvest meal in the fall of 1621 was my ancestor Eleanor Billington. We don't know her maiden name.

I doubt that she looked anything like this demure woman as the Billingtons were a rough and hardy family. This monument called The Pilgrim Mother, erected by the DAR, is one of my favorites in Plymouth, MA. She looks solemn and is holding a Bible.

I like to think about how those women must have felt preparing and serving food (for several days) to all those men and the Native American men too. No matter how hard we work at a meal; they worked harder.

Pause for a moment  today and remember your ancestors and give thanks for all that you have. Blogging will resume next week!