I'm Starting Early

Hi everyone!  I hope you had a great weekend!  Our son, Will, got up lots and lots of leaves here while my husband waxed Will's car for him.  I made a double recipe of chili in the crockpot, and sent some home with our boy.  ;)  Here in North Carolina, there have been serious forest fires in the western part of the state, and we're all hoping the fire fighters will soon be able to get those under control.  It's so dry here in our Piedmont region; we just really need to get some rain soon.

Well I've always said I wouldn't start on Christmas until after Thanksgiving, but every year I find it harder and harder to get everything done in time, so this year I'm going to start early.  It feels a little strange, but next week is Thanksgiving week, and wow, I already feel like I'm behind.  I know, right?!

I put our Christmas CDs on the player this weekend, and I'm listening to Christmas music as I write this.  That's one thing guaranteed to help me get in the Christmas spirit and the mood to decorate.

My dear husband gave me this two Christmases ago, and I love it!  These young people are incredibly talented.  :)

We most certainly won't skip over Thanksgiving, even if I am starting on Christmas already.  We're thankful for many blessings here every day, but especially so in this traditional month set aside for giving thanks.  I have a Thanksgiving tablescape set up in the dining room; I just have to get it photographed before I can post it.  We'll be joining my family for the Thanksgiving  meal this year.  My sister and I will help my mom with early cooking at my parents' house on Wednesday, plus we'll be bringing some contributions of our own on Thursday.  This may be the last year my mom is able to host Thanksgiving, and that makes me sad.  As we get older, the holidays really are bittersweet, aren't they?

There are still random spots of gorgeous fall color, and the sky has been this same shade of blue for days.  As much as I love the blue skies, we need rain, and soon.  However, this beauty makes me truly thankful for the gift of sight.

Are you looking forward to Thanksgiving?  Have you started getting ready for Christmas yet?  I want to say a big "Thank You" to those of you who continue to visit and read here; I know my posting has been sporadic lately.  It seems like I just have to go with the flow these days.  Wishing you all a good day and a lovely week.

Hugs,

Denise