Wednesday, November 7, 2012

New York Tablescape- Tribute to Storm Victims


I know you are like me if you didn't live in the storm
ravaged states, you watched with horror as
Superstorm Sandy raged its way up the east coast.

I decided to set a table this week in honor of
those who suffered from the storm, realizing that
it was much more than New York City that was
hit, but focusing my table on New York.


New York, the Big Apple. 
My husband and I had almost made plans to go
there in a couple of weeks.  I have friends who live there and Pat
did a beautiful post on it at Mille Fiori Favoriti.
She focused on what we can all learn from
this and how we can prepare. Visit her blog and read it.


While I live in a place that doesn't have to worry about
hurricanes, we do have to worry about major earthquakes.

Have you ever wondered about losing all of your beautiful
things in a storm or an earthquake?

Yet, certainly none of that is worth losing a life
and we do need to be prepared.


I love how I caught the light off this spoon and it made me 
think of the Broadway musical Annie -
"The sun will come out tomorrow!"


Haven't you been proud of most of those who have been
hit and how they have been helping each other?
Truly, if we help each other, the sun will come out.


New York, the Big Apple.
These big apples came from my tree.



And I always think of red when I think of New York,
maybe because I have been there so many times
at Christmas.


We are Americans and we hurt when others hurt.


In our hardest times we can shine.


I just so happened to have volunteered to go help
at the Lindon cannery this last week before the storm
had hit.  I belong to 
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints
nicknamed almost 200 years ago
The Mormons.

I bet you have heard more about us in the news this 
election year!

The Church teaches us to be prepared with
water, food, fuel, and an emergency supply
of money just for cases like this or unemployment,
a change in health, or whatever might come unexpectedly.
Click on this link to find out more about storing food
for an emergency.

Part of what I can do is to help at the cannery so that others
who don't have the means to feed themselves can get
food.  The Church also sends money, clothes,
medical supplies and food in cases of disaster like
this.  It seemed fitting to be helping on something like
this during this week.

We were canning pork and beans this day.  My job 
was to stand there and watch a machine punch a blob
of ground bacon mixed with beans into a can.  If the
bacon blobs stuck together so that one can didn't
get it, you had to make sure the next person put a
little blob in the can.  I would sing to myself and count
the cans, anything to keep from being bored.  The
machine only missed one in about 100 (I know, I counted!)

It also made me think of hubby's grandmother who worked
until she was in her 80s in a cannery in Idaho.  I don't think I
could do something like this day after day, week after week.


But as I sat there, I felt wonderful because I knew that
this food would go to help those in need.  I specifically thought 
of those who had been affected by the storm.

After, we were
allowed to buy some salsa and peaches that others had canned.
The peaches were "seconds" as some had little bits of pits
left in.  I have worked at the cannery for years, doing peaches,
chili, apples and dry goods.  

In my next post I am going to make a wonderful
Peach Raspberry Crisp that I made using the
canned peaches.

Think of ways you can help,
 organizations you can donate
to, etc.  If we all do something, it will lift the lives of many.
They may have disappeared from the front of the news,
but they still are in great need.

I will be posting this with




Jacqueline
Jacqueline

Chocolat - French for Chocolate. I adored chocolate from a young age when I had to sneak in the cupboard to find where my mother had hidden the Nestle's Chocolate Chips. Having read about the famous chocolat shoppes in Paris, when I finally got there I was determined to try a chocolate from every Paris shoppe. I invite you to share my adventures in creating, in travel, and in life.

24 comments:

  1. What a great post, Jacqueline. If more people volunteered and donated, we'd all be in better shape.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for this post, Jacqueline. It is so easy to stay in a cocoon if you are not directly impacted, or know a family member or dear friend who is. I have been posting regularly about it also. Not as eloquently as Pat (whom I love dearly) but just from my heart. xo

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jacqueline, this is a thoughtful post. I like your beautiful tables cape and the message of this post. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your post is very sweet, Jacqueline. And your table just beautiful. The lighting is perfect and does remind us that the sun will come out. Bravo to you for your volunteer work. You're a great example of what we can do if we work together. Thanks for reminding us as the days go on.

    XO,
    Jane

    ReplyDelete
  5. very nice tribute!! and those apples from your tree are amazing!! anne

    ReplyDelete
  6. An interesting post Jacqueline. I have a friend who is Mormon and I have learned so much from her, especially the emergency supplies plan.
    It's nice to see the cannery where you work making use of imperfect fruits to can as well.
    Judith

    ReplyDelete
  7. Jacqueline, the "cannery" salsa that you brought us is almost gone as Skyler must have used about 1/2 of it on a six egg, I kid you not, omelet he ate late at night the other day. I too have worked in the cannery and am so proud to belong to a church that looks out for the poor and helps us prepare for an emergency. Thanks for the reminder about preparing. Your table is fun and I love those red glasses that you and Jean gave me. What a nice tribute and reminder to help out our fellow Americans at this time of need. Love you, Joni

    ReplyDelete
  8. I s believe in paying it forward. We have very good friends who's daughter lives in Bay Head, NJ. Her home was OK but her store was TOTALLY RUINED! It is so sad, it was a beautiful little boutique. Today I sent her a check after checking with my friend as to what they needed. They have to start all over again. But that is just what she plans to do, so my little cntribution was the least I could do. My heart aches for all those who lost so much. XO, Pinky

    ReplyDelete
  9. That's a nice post Jacqueline, it feels good to help out! Pretty table and I agree, the little blob of bacon is important:@)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you ,Jacqueline, for this beautiful tribute telescope for NY, and all the other areas that suffered devastation from Hurricane Sandy. I've been been volunteering to help as much as
    I can. I feel so fortunate that my home did not have any damage.

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a neat post, Jacqueline! I am sure our friends in the NE can feel the love. Hurricanes must be horrendous. Living in the Midwest, we are prone to tornadoes that are in and out within a few minutes. I just can't imagine that going on for hours and days at a time! Yes, I HAVE thought of some natural disaster literally blowing through and taking all my pretties with it. Very unsettling. In the end, though, I'm sure I'd just be glad to come out of the whole thing with my life and the lives of my loved ones intact. Beautiful table with beautiful thoughts and feelings as the foundation!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Great post for those in need in our country because of Hurricane Sandy. It's good to be prepared to help...

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love the openess of your heart. I'm sure there are many people in the stricken areas of the northeast that don't even have a table to set.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Lovely post, J. Your table is lovely. Loved your story about the canning too. I don't think we could find a finer man than Mr. Romney. Such a generous person who helped so many. A true gentleman.
    Thanks for your words of kindness for the people of NY. So many without heat or power and now 6 in of snow on the ground and 60 mph winds.
    I believe in being prepared too! We have plenty of food and water, filled up the cars, but now 10 days later, the gas is getting low and there is a big shortage. Nerve wracking.

    ReplyDelete
  15. A great post.
    If only South Africans would do more to get involved...I am so impressed.
    Love your tablescape.
    Shel

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great tribute! Love the big apple tie in. Your canning adventure sounds interesting! I have to admit I don't think about being prepared enough for a disaster. The worst that happens to us here are major snow storms. We do try to make sure we have enough food and staples on hand in case we can't leave to go to a storm. Earthquakes? I thought you lived in Florida for some reason?? Duh... I guess not!

    ReplyDelete
  17. What a kind, caring, thoughtful post, dear Jacqueline. You not only honored our northeastern state friends, but gave sound advice in helping others and preparing for disasters.

    ReplyDelete
  18. What a great post!
    Beautiful autumn tablescape with gorgeous fall colors.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Hope to see you on my blog:)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Oh how nice of you to volunteer, Jacqueline, and what a nice tribute! You set a very beautiful table, I love the colors and the plate layers....Christine

    ReplyDelete
  20. Great idea, Jacqueline, to honor New York with your table this week! The elements you chose to combine work wonderfully together. Love the color scheme!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Nice tribute to the people on the east coast...my heart goes out to them...it is cold and some are still without power.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Very inspiring post, plus a super cute tablescape to boot! I am a Yankee born, Southern Cal raised and an Alabama Gulf Coast girl now and I have seen a lot of BAD weather. You are right, there is nothing you can do about it except to try and be prepared, have faith and help each other. Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  23. Pretty NY table and what a great idea to honor those who are struggling to put their lives back together. laurie

    ReplyDelete

Your comments are the highlight of my day! Leave a comment and then I can come and visit your blog. Have a wonderful day! Unfortunately I have had to block anonymous comments, hope you understand.

Follow me on Instagram