Thanksgiving is a week away. Answer honestly, now: Are you excited for the holiday? Or are you dreading the cooking, the cleaning and the attempt to live up to magazine-perfect standards?

If you fall into the latter category, then Lebanon resident Carrie Franzwa has an idea for you: time travel.

Not literally, of course. But Franzwa is a veteran of and advocate for celebrating Thanksgiving as the Pilgrims experienced it in 1621.

She's the author of a how-to article, "7 Quick Tips for Thanksgiving Time Travel," and a book, "The American Patriot's Treasury of Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas."

"I have discovered that this is definitely the first book ever published that teaches Americans how to 'time travel' for Thanksgiving by adding fun elements of living history to holiday celebrations," Franzwa said.

Though Franzwa has her hands full doing most of her own promotions, she's been having success spreading her message. The "American Patriot's Treasury" book can be ordered through such national retailers as amazon.com and target.com, plus her own website, www.letsplayhistory.org.

"The hard part is marketing on my own as an unknown author without an agent, especially on a shoe-string budget during such a small window of holiday time," Franzwa said.

But the self-described quiet writer is determined to keep moving forward.

"I passionately love what I'm doing, which definitely helps to offset the intimidation of public speaking and financial challenges," she said.

Recently, Franzwa gave a presentation at the Bend Public Library, giving information on games, pirates and costumes.

"I was just representing the idea of putting 1621 back into Thanksgiving," she said.

In 2007, she re-created an authentic meal for her family, down to the utensils. For this year's holiday, she plans to have some fun.

I've got several costumes now, so we'll have costumes," she said. "I'm thinking if it's nice out, our family will be playing stoolball outside."

Stoolball, she explained, is the predecessor of modern cricket and baseball.

If the weather doesn't cooperate, the family will play Mawe or Hubbub. Mawe is a card game; Hubbub is a Native American dice game. Franzwa made her own die out of deer antlers.

She's enthusiastic about the information on period games found in "The American Patriot's Treasury."

"I would have to say my favorite part is the section on the games, just because it's inexpensive to put together, easy to find or make the components," she said.

She's emphasizing ease for her family's 2008 Thanksgiving dinner as well, mostly so she can get in on the games.

"It will be traditional, but it will be potluck so I will get to play Mawe," she said.

The feast hinges partly on the weather, too. She'd like to cook a portion of the meal outside, but if that's not possible, she plans to make a Native American cornbread with strawberries, using something she describes as a clay griddle on the stove top.

Long-term, Franzwa would like to bring Native Americans back into the fold of Thanksgiving, acknowledging their side of the event and the resentment that some feel towards its interpretation and history.

"I'd really like to kind of mend those feelings," she said.

A less sweeping goal is to bring back lacrosse as a "national Thanksgiving sport." French explorers reported the game was played in New England as far back as the 1630s, Franzwa said, though in a different form than it is now. Originally, she said, lacrosse was played over miles of terrain. It's something she can picture tuning into after turkey.

"I just think that would be really interesting to watch on television as an alternative to football," she said with a laugh.

All of her plans are steps in her attempt to reinvigorate a holiday that is steeped in

history.

Thanksgiving tips and ideas

The "American Patriot's Treasury of Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas" is available in digital format with lifetime updates for $7.95 through LetsPlayHistory.org or in paperback format for $19.95 through Amazon.com. The book also may be ordered through bookstores (ISBN 1-4392-0586-8).

"7 Quick-Tips for Thanksgiving" is available at www.letsplayhistory.org/3squaresaday/carries-chat/7-tips-tg.