HAPPY BELATED THANKSGIVING

Goodness, the holidays are  approaching at warp speed and I haven't even wished you a Happy Thanksgiving. Our house and table were full, and I'm guessing our guests enjoyed themselves, as they ate twice, stayed late, and then opted not to take home leftovers but to come back the next day and do it all again. Good times.
Caught up with old friends, visited Outstanding Dreams Alpaca Farm to see the crias, shop the farm store and buy a load of hay, and walked off some of our pie at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.

Twister, the sweetest alpaca ever!

Going to make a scarf from this super-soft alpaca wool.

This week, I'm taking a bit of time to work on this, from my photo of Old White Marsh Church.

The sun, the moon, and the high stars, make all my mortal dreams come true. Mixed-media on linen.

That Christmas tree sneaked in there while I wasn't paying attention. It happens, when you're trying to work while a thousand holiday to-do's are banging around in your head.

Here's a helpful holiday hint for you...if you are sitting on the floor and your foot falls asleep, give it time to wake up before you make a dash for the phone. You could give yourself a nasty sprain, which won't make all that shopping and to-doing go away. You'll still have to do it. With a limp. You're welcome.
Now I'm getting ready for more guests to arrive next week. Can't wait, though it would be super helpful if the rain would stop and give me a break from muddy paws.
Talk soon. XO.

BELATED HAPPY THANKSGIVING

I have been a neglectful blogger these past two weeks, so first let me say that I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, with plenty of friends, family, and treats to be thankful for.

My push to empty out the unfinished room over the garage, so that Barn Bug can have a brand new studio, had me working frantically right up until time to work frantically on Thanksgiving preparations. Before I knew it, my house was full and I gave myself up to enjoying the friends and family gathered here.
Now, with the last guest delivered to the train station, I am turning my attention to dismantling fall and preparing for Christmas. It feels good to be back, though it is eerily quiet here today. Ran errands, stopping at the feed store where I found this cheesy little light-up pony which inexplicably put me in the holiday spirit. So I brought him home.

I am not normally one who decorates for Christmas while the Thanksgiving leftovers are still in the fridge, but this guy has inspired me to get on with it, and as soon as someone brings the boxes down from the attic I will. In the meantime, I will enjoy the glow from my little pony while I finish putting away the good dishes, stripping beds and washing tablecloths. 
I do have a poinsettia that someone sent to Mike's office. It is the size of a small tree. Hard not to feel festive with this in the house!

We'll talk again soon. I want to tell you about young Gus's first Thanksgiving. There is some dog shaming in order.
Happy Thanksgiving. XO.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING WEEKEND

Well, I meant to get back here yesterday, I really did. But the Thanksgiving festivities went on until late in the evening, and I had just enough energy left to fall into bed.
We had a wonderful day. Great food, family around (and dogs under) the table, and a picture perfect fall day. We all moseyed down to the river, to watch the sunset, then wandered home again for dessert, and games. The "kids" (aged 8-30) played flashlight tag under the stars.
Hope you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving, as well.

Angel Biscuits are a family favorite at our holiday gatherings. Keeping little (and big) fingers out of them until dinner is always a challenge. I didn't realize until just now that someone had taken a bite out of one of the biscuits in this pic. We have to make 3-4 batches of these little lovelies to be sure everyone gets a take home bag.
I do have one more Thanksgiving quote, which I intended to post already, but family first, right? I'm a little disappointed that I didn't take more pics of the day, but I was too busy living it, and that can't be a bad thing.
"To give thanks in solitude is enough. Thanksgiving has wings and goes where it must go. Your prayer knows much more about it than you do." ~ Victor Hugo

My girl along the Choptank.

THANKSGIVING QUOTE

Who knew there were so many lovely Thanksgiving quotes? 
"Best of all is it to preserve everything in a pure, still heart, and let there be for every pulse a thanksgiving and for every breath a song." ~ Konrad von Gosner
That being said, I anxiously await my offspring to help with the peeling of these...

Today, I am especially thankful for the UPS man and... the dog crate/end tables that we had endlessly back ordered (since spring!), then given up on, then found they were being delivered today! Hurrah!!

See you tomorrow, with another Thanksgiving quote. If you're the cook, I wish you a restful night's sleep, and someone to help you peel. XO.

GIVING THANKS

Hey, blog friends. It has been 5 days since my last blog post. What can I say? I have been feathering my nest for Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday. I have vacuumed, dusted, mowed, shoveled manure, pulled weeds, pruned, de-cluttered, re-decorated, sewed, plumped, laundered, and shopped. All of which, will be wrapped up by tomorrow afternoon, so I can begin to chop, dice, roast, slice, saute, baste, bake, and simmer. 
Amidst all this homemaking chaos, I am taking the time to be thankful.
For the way the light filters through my new linen curtains...

For the red ultra-suede remnant I found at Jo-Ann's, allowing me to make this little big button  pillow. Inspired by the one I saw at Pottery Barn, but was too spendy.

I know, it needs a touch of ironing. I'll get to it tomorrow when I'm ironing tablecloths and napkins.
When I finally have a chance to sit and relax (thinking that might be Friday), here's where I'm going to park it...Thankful for my new chair.

Also thankful for dogs who remind me it's important to breathe...

More of what I'm thankful for tomorrow. I love you guys. Thankful for you.

GATHERING

Summer has finally gone.
Swept up in the swirl and soar.
Of crisped leaf and goose wing.
She flew...

Black-Eyed Susan.

Tiny, weightless, pieces of driftwood with Blue Jay feathers.

Sedum.

Lamb's Ear blossoms and miniature iris.

Beach combing again.

Hope you gathered some summer treasures at your house this weekend. The biggest treasure? Our boy was home. Our girl is due next week and by Thanksgiving our house will be full with gathered friends and family. Can't wait, and even though I know that by November 22nd, I will have cooked and cleaned until I've lost my will to live, it will all be worth it. XO.