12 Days to Thanksgiving!

Everywhere I go all I see is Christmas.....I still need to get ready for Thanksgiving. My whole family will be here. My daughter is home, her three children, my son will be back after a month of training. His daughter will be here too. He leaves for Afghanistan after Christmas, so I want to enjoy every minute of the holidays. I just want to enjoy Thanksgiving first. I will start my countdown, I made my list...I need to get my linens ready, dishes and silver polished .

Our Menu

Roast Turkey

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Gravy

Peas

Cranberry Sauce

Harvard Beets
Sweet Potato Rolls

Biscuits

Lemon Meringue Pie

Pumpkin Pie

Indian Fudge

Cranberry Bread

It is plain and simple, but most abundant, no one leaves hungry or empty handed.

We are very lucky to all be here together, many families will be apart for the holidays. My son's unit will replace another unit. They will home soon. Each one sacrifices so that we can have this time together and live with freedom. Many young families are apart. I want to be grateful for every moment we have as a family. Thank you God for this blessing!

Tablescape Thursday

Welcome to Tablescape Thursday hosted by Susan from Between Naps on the Porch. Check out her blog and join the fun.Time for a little Halloween tablescape, it all started when I found these web placemats at Pier 1
Then I added some black napkins and white pumpkins.

Cute cone I found in Homegoods! Gotta love Homegoods.

Then there is Wicked Wanda, sitting on the mantel overlooking the table!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

~Welcome to my porch, Halloween version~

While we were away my Grandchildren did a little decorating for Halloween. This is how my porch looks now. From the frowning pumpkin~ To the ghost that hangs in the center of the porch~

To the gauze curtains~

To the singing skull~

My happy scarecrow~

Not forgetting the Wicked Witch that sits at the back door~

We could tell they had fun. There is a graveyard outside and another flying ghost. I am not a big fan of Halloween decorations, but oh the kids love it. I would be happy with my Harvest and just a touch here and there, maybe this is why they took it upon themselves to decorate for me.
My oldest child has always said Halloween is his favorite holiday and he usually does all the decorating ever since he was too old to Trick or Treat.

Fort Worth, Texas

The first day we got to Texas, my sister took us to a garden center, well, I actually go there with her when ever I visit and always bring something home. There is a great selection there. I love all the pots and seasonal decorations. It is called Calloways They are usually burning pinon wood. I have never seen that up north here...it smells so good. The entrance is so pretty.

There is a large greenhouse where they keep the seasonal stuff. I'll show you what I got later.

I would love to take it all home, do you think they would let me carry it on the plane? I love all the blue pots here. Last time I was here they had bright yellow and orange pots that screamed harvest.

Aren't the scarecrows and cornstalks cute?

That was my first day there. I did not take as many pictures as I should have. Do any of you just forget to pull out your camera? I get caught up in the visit and forget about pictures.

I would love to have this garden center near me.

Just back from Texas

Hi Ya all'

My hubby and I just returned from a 4 day visit in Texas! We went because my one and only sister lives there. That and hubby was hoping to catch a few warm days and some warm Texas sunshine. Let me just say we had great company, but it rained and was gray the whole time we were there!

Can you see the foggy mist in this picture??
I need to get some work done and get settled, I will post more later.

Fall at my home

The pumpkins are picked, the leaves are turning....it is cold in the morning and warm in the afternoon, there is a smell to the air that can only be fall. Apple crisp in the oven, candles lit, firewood stacked, time to close the pool, pick up the patio furniture and bring in any plants I want to save. There has not been a killing frost yet, but some plants are just going by. The vegetable garden needs to be cleaned up. This is such a bittersweet time of year, when summer leaves and Fall begins. I love fall, but hate to see the summer days pass. I had many of these pumpkins this year. Love the reddish orange of them.

My urn is filled with mums and cabbages and the green pumpkin came from the garden too.
More pumpkins adorn the deck. My son just pulled out the Halloween decorations, I think I have as many of these as I do Christmas. Shhhhh, don't tell.

The Wreath

OK, to make this hydrangea wreath was one of the easiest things I have done. First you cut your hydrangeas just before want to make your wreath, they dry quick and are more manageable while still damp. So after you cut the blooms you can lay out the colors in a pleasing manner. The Supplies you need are as follows:

About 50 blooms, give or take.

One straw base, whatever size you prefer.

50 U pins (1 pkg) to hold your blooms on. Base and pins available at Michael's or any craft store.

Clippers to snip your stems.

That's it. Easy Peasy

Start laying stems one overlapping the other all the way around, push u pins in to hold

Fill in around the center and outside, leave back empty, except for the u pin you will use as a hanger. You don't even need to take the plastic off the base.

The blooms will dry quickly and will last for the year. I don't spray them or anything, just leave them natural. This is a good way to get my hydrangeas all year round!

Of course my garden club made about 30 wreaths and I did not bring my camera, too much else to carry, bags and bags of blooms and other stuff too. This is fun to make and a way to extend the season a bit. Not to mention the 50+ mind that seems to forget stuff more and more.