Giving Thanks

I could live without all the other Holidays...even my Birthday. Especially my Birthday.

But never everrr Thanksgiving

Family, beyond delicious food, no presents stress

but most importantly

A time to gather and give thanks, to be grateful for every breath I take, and for all that is in my blessed world

Up early for the annual 3 mile

Turkey Trot

 Hundreds gathered at the Inn

 My crew

xox

 Even furry friends

who really just wanted to play and sniff

 Ready 

Set 

GO

 Finish Line

 Medals

YAY Jason!

HOME JUST IN TIME!

The BEGINNING of Christmas!

 Of course the Dog Show after!

Teaching future Thanksgiving makers how to stuff the bird

Nottt my fave part at all for this used-to-be vegetarian

 All kinds of help

<3

 My cooker girl to the rescue

I was getting POOPED

Waiting...

Dad looks like a little rag doll hanging off the couch
Orrr that he's trying to get away from Lacy and JP
But he's really trying to get Carolyn...in the little pink striped sweater, to come by his hand so he can sneak her some food.
Which he isn't supposed to!

and waitinggg

Finally!

Come ye thankful people come

Raise the song of Harvest home

All is safely gathered in

Ere the winter storms begin

...written around the walls of our dining room

 What I am most Grateful for in all the world

<3

x o x

100% Organic and Gluten-free

:)

...don't tell my Dad 

he thinks all this "crap" is just "in my head"

He eats Texas Toast for breakfast

Case closed.

 Toasting my Dad

For all that he is and does for sooo many and for the reason I am here

Love you so much Dad 

 Desert

After dinner...

We sent these out into the world

 Guess where my helper Elf is headed?!

Look up

Look down

Look allll around

Runaway Elves

Out on their own

But it's cold outside and they'd rather be home!

Help them find their way back home to Creekside Books and Coffee

for a special REWARD!

Friday morning kick off to the beginning of Dickens' Christmas!

World's smallest parade!

The Dickens' Characters will be out every weekend from now until Christmas
Come Visit and meet them all!!

FIRST Elf found!

Let the Magic begin

Too pooped to pop.

Too pooped to pop as my Mama would say.

The Holidays are just now upon us and I'm soooo pooped already

I can barely even do this this week
Overwhelmed. Can't breathe right. Extra hot flashes.
ALREADY

Decided I must let go and coast as much as I can. Say yes to fun. Say no to the should's but don't want to's. Let others help. Stop trying to keep everyone's happy balls in the air. Have a little wine each night.

Look for the sparkle wherever I can find it. 

Wednesday night celebration of my Dad's arrival and Lacy paying off one of her student loans!

:)

:)

Friday evening Holiday Open House at 

The Colonial Housefitter

What a way to start the season!

I don't know how Chris manages to always keep the shop looking spectacular!

Saturday my dear friend Janet's 2nd Country Antique Show

Even more fabulous dealers than in the Spring

This has been a dream of hers for years and she finally reallyyyy did it!!

So happy and proud of her!

I cried the whole way there with each sweet sign I saw leading the way

Nothing makes me happier than when dreams come true

LOVE you Janet!!

 I bought so much from this booth

...including that old red table!

 These delight me from head to toe

All made with early textiles

Loved the violin but didn't know what to do with it

Someone bought it to put in the center of a wreath

I sooo wanted it then!

The prices in this booth were amazinggg!

cheap cheap cheap!

 Bought that Herb box

Soooo wanted him

 Saturday afternoon we all went down to my Dad's camp for a family sleepover before closing up for the season

It was FREEEEEZING in there when we arrived

My Dad HATES the cold...leave it to him to come up with this

 Letting go and letting my cooker girl make dinner

 The yummiest meatloaf everrrr

 And gluten-free mac and cheese made with cheese and SQUASH

Amazing!!!

 She really neeeeds to have a restaurant

Anyone out there with money to help her? :) 

 ALL the chicks in one nest

Ahhh xox

Love them all with all my heart <3

cute :)

After dinner charades 

 Got it up to 80 degrees in there!

Early Sunday morn

x o x

 Have never been to the camp when we didn't listen to Carol

:)

When I was a teenager and my boyfriend would break up with me (he did that a lot) I used to put this on and cry til I threw up

So pretty and peaceful

Dave cooking breakfast

He's the best!

After breakfast we made our beds and put the camp to sleep for a long winters nap

 So NOT sorry to say good bye to this

I really think I'd rather have an outhouse instead of this composting toilet

Really EWWW

Bye Bye 

See you next year!