A wonderful surprise

Today when I got home from work, there was a package on my door step. I looked down to see the return address of a sweet lady who reads my blog. We have emailed back and forth a few times. She sent me some great recipes and pictures and then told me my front door was her wallpaper.....flattered I was for sure. I have admired her beautiful needlework.
So I opened the pretty card, frame worthy, for sure!

and then............in this pretty bag, LOOK!! Isn't this beautiful? It has 2011 stitched on the back too. I was just so touched, there are no words to describe how her kindness has touched me.

So a big Thank You Carole!  Merry Christmas to you my friend.

Busy, busy.....

Lots of yard cleanup was done here this weekend, pumpkins added to the compost bins, and fake pumpkins and gourds were stored. I know I have way too many decorations and need to release some to a better home. I have been dragging out Christmas and know I need to purge here too.

I have a twig tree that goes in the dining room and I used to have lights that were green and red. I found them years ago in a shop that is no longer in business. The green and red looked so nice in my white light world. It was just the right touch. I have looked everywhere and even online...to no avail. Well, today I was in the attic and I found a basket of things I brought home from my Mom's home eight yrs ago. I had bought her the same tree and lights and she had switched to the white. The tree was sent off to her sister after Mom left us. I had not given it much thought.....until I found one single set of red and green lights,  just what I need<3  Thank you Mom! I do know you are my angel and always with me. I think I will pack up some of her things and send them to my son, her first grandchild.

So my little twig tree is not quite done, but I will post it later this week.

 While turkey soup simmers on the stove and the fresh bread cools I will continue to decorate. Hubby is watching the Patriots and by the sound of it, life is good.

~Happy Thanksgiving~

I want to wish each and every one of my Blogger friends a Happy Thanksgiving!

I am so grateful that my son is home from Afghanistan, safe and sound this year...we missed him last year.

I am grateful for  my wonderful children and grandchildren.

I am grateful for being married to my best friend for close to 39 years.

I am grateful for my sister who lives 2000 miles away, but remains close in my thoughts and heart.

I am grateful for my sweet pets.

I am grateful for my home.

I guess that is summed up to say I am grateful for my family.

I am grateful that we will all be together at some point on Thanksgiving.

So with that I wish you all the happiness you deserve and hope you have a truly wonderful Thanksgiving.

~Autumn Visit~

Look Mom!

Here comes Auntie!

This is to you Margie! My only best sister lives in Texas and loves to come home in the Autumn. Due to work she had to come home a few weeks early. It was a quick visit~and don't you know it rained the whole time she was here. We took an overnight trip to Maine and the time just flew by. Not one picture of the two of us was taken, but a some of us as couples.

                       In front of Kendall Tavern Inn where we stayed. This is my sister and her sweetie.

 Freeport, Maine, Ken and I

 Lands End, Bailey Island Maine

 Come on in....the front yard has a red-orange glow from the oaks, these are photos taken today and I wish my sister was here to see the beautiful color.  My little potting shed tucked in for the winter. Margie, see Dale's tree...

                               The reds and orange pop against the green of the hemlock trees.
So Margie I raise my cup of warm spiced cider to you and wish you were here to sit down back in the chairs and enjoy it with me.

Margie, I know you remember when none of this was here, just trees. There are so many memories for us all. Family makes it all special! I am glad you came home and shared your new joy with us, most of all I am glad you are my sister!

It is still Autumn.

Ok, so the windows are washed and sparkling in the sunshine. I have cleaned the glass on the onion post lights and all the porch windows along with the house windows. All the oaks in the front yard are casting a wonderful warm red glow. They are the last to turn color...it starts with the maples and birch in the back that turn yellow. The red of the oaks will turn brown after the red. There is a sweet smell of Autumn in the air. Wood is stacked and gardens are almost all cut back.

As I look at the blogs I see Christmas everywhere. I want to think about Thanksgiving first. A bit more Autumn...although I did pick up some Christmas gift bags and have got my list together. I am just not ready for decorating for Christmas yet.

My kittys are staying in more with the nip to the air. I like them around the house. ~In the summer they are about in the gardens and when I go out to work they will pounce and run.

There will be snow and ice before we know it and the scent of pine will be in the air.

Let's just savor these last fall days while we have them.

I'll let you in on a secret...

Today is November 1st. I am so happy to say all my Halloween decorations are packed away. I love when there is just Harvest decorations, right up until Thanksgiving. This morning before work I grabbed a couple of plastic tubs and went from room to room picking out the Halloween stuff and putting it away. I put all jack o lanterns and witches and ghosts into the attic. They joined the many items I never brought out this year. 

My little secret is that my oldest child loves, loves, loves Halloween. It has always been his favorite holiday. He came over last night and greeted Trick or Treaters in his Frankenstein costume. He used to decorate like crazy. fog machine , scary stuff, you name it. Well he decorated his house this year, but he dosen't get enough kids, so he came here. There were a few disappointed kiddo's that the porch wasn't all done up. I was quite content. I enjoy it  a bit pared down. the other half of the secret is I could live with out Halloween. I just don't remember it being a big deal when I was a kid...it seems to have grown into a big holiday. Am I just getting old? Maybe.

So here are a few photos of my "Just Harvest"