November Farewell

 Well, that went slick as snot on a doorknob!  November has earned it's farewell for 2024.  Thanksgiving was a smaller than normal affair here.  A few kiddos showed up later for dessert and we all had a lovely time catching up, planning for Christmas, and enjoying a few new members.  Jordan's girlfriend, Brittany, and her daughter, 2yr old Haylee.  I will try and get picks later because I really blew it this year and never got any!  What? Yep,  Oh well, there will be plenty of Kodak moments next month.  That's tomorrow my friends!  So I will bid November farewell.  We had our first snowfalls and now it's super cold.  But that's Ok as we have the woodstove humming along and we are toasty and comfy.  Today I went shopping with my daughter-in-law, Evelyn, Granddaughter Summer, and her Mom...my son's ex wife Stephanie.  Yes we are one big get along family!  My son Jack and my hubby Jack went with us for a bit but took off to buy food for lunch and watch the Ohio State game that turned out to be the real turkey this year.  Oops.  We girls stayed downtown and shopped for small business Saturday and I got a few things for gifts and we laughed a lot and had fun.  Here's one pic I did take of Summer.  She had brought her dog Happy along and he was so darn good. Never heard a peep or bark out of him.

Nobody in the stores minded that he was there and I bet many didn't even notice.  After some hours of fun Summer and her Mom went their way and Evelyn and I headed back to the Pines.  We did take a quick stop at the Parsley Pot and found some things we couldn't resist.  At home Evelyn and myself enjoyed a quick snack of all the wings the guys had bought!  We were starving since we hadn't eaten all day.  We had fun and I'm going to be decorating for Christmas starting tomorrow.  I can't believe how quickly this year has gone but I shouldn't be surprised as every year seems to fly by quicker.  I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving.   Bye Bye November...you didn't disappoint!

Almost Turkey Day!

 If I don't get posting soon it will be 2025!  It's been a busy time for us with Jack getting the office closed and my working more days than normal.  Our Docs are taking off lots of time in December so they're trying to get as much done now.  Poor Jack has folks always asking how he's liking retirement.  They don't understand that he has 47yrs of practice to close out that involves patient records, equipment that needs to be sold or disposed of.   We've sold a few things and will be giving some things away to a local church that has a thrift store that folks can come and get things for free.  What things would we have?  Well, chairs, tables, file cabinets, decor...and the list goes on!  When you are self employed it's not like you can just walk out the door with your gold watch and forget it.  When the company that shreds documents came and took his patient records for shredding it was hard to see his professional life heading out the door.  Jack loves his patients and what he does but time moves on and we have to flow with it and find a new adventure.  So hopefully by the first week of December we'll be there.  This past week brought the first snow of the season:

Just a dusting here even though it snowed all day it just didn't stick more than this.  For some reason the first snow is almost magical and Annabelle and I had a fun walk in the woods and enjoyed the crisp air and pretty flakes.  Come February it will probably have lost its magic! 

 

Annabelle put on her winter duds for the walk.  You can see it melted pretty quick
 but the forecast is looking very cold with more snow starting on Thanksgiving.  That will make travel a bit iffy for those driving or flying. Also that means wood burning season will begin to keep us cozy and warm and the electric bill down!   This Thanksgiving we won't have as many around the table  because our grandkiddos from our oldest son will be going to their other Grandmother's house.  We trade off every other year.  The feast will go on here for those who will attend and then we'll be shooting pumpkins as usual if the weather doesn't turn too bad.  The squished up pumpkins will be put into the woods and creek for the animals to enjoy.  I hope everyone's holiday is great and filled with warmth, love and mostly gratitude for blessings.  Happy Thanksgiving!

The Quiet Month

 I always call November my quiet month.  The brightness and beauty of October with fun and sometimes craziness of Halloween is over.  The trees have lost their luster giving way to brown and dull color.  But many times on walks or drives I spy a tree with bright red or orange refusing to give it up just yet.  There is beauty though in dusky afternoons and a walk in the Creepy Woods.  Sunday it rained buckets which was so needed since we've had very little rain all summer and Fall.  It was a day that would have been great to snuggle up with a good book and just enjoy the sound of the rain.  However, I signed up to help decorate the Historical Society house for Christmas and we got it done but now I'm not super excited to think about decorating my own house! I'm one who likes to enjoy each holiday on it's own and don't want to gloss over Thanksgiving with Santa. So I'm planning my menu (which doesn't really change from year to year) for Turkey day.  Some of my Grandkids are going to their other Grandparents so not as many gathering this year at the Pines.  I know we'll enjoy the day with whom ever shows up. Plus there will be pumpkins to shoot!    Jack and I went to a craft show on Saturday that we always try to make each year.  It's a fun tradition we have and Jack is good about going with me to watch me look at stuff I really don't need but seem to find a little bit here and there to buy!

What I bought at the craft show...it will be put away until December.

I bought this set of salt and pepper shakers.  I thought they were pretty cute. They will find a place in a few weeks. 

I thought this cane was cute too and would look nice on the fireplace hearth.  I also bought some homemade soaps from one of my co-worker's wives who has her own home business.  I can put them into baskets as gifts.  My Father-in-law always said I was a sucker for anything cute or smelled good.  He was right!   I scored homemade ornaments too.  I put them on a present for each person every year.  Hopefully it will give the Grandkiddos some ornaments for their own trees some day.   Well, this quiet month is moving by quickly and it's almost at it's middle.  I did mow today when I got home from work.  It gets dark early and it was chilly but it's the last mow of the season and I just needed to also mulch up some of the leaves.  Rain is heading our way tonight and a little prediction of snow for next week.  Not really ready for all that yet! 

Annabelle and I have been walking a lot in the Creepy Woods.  This was a few weeks ago and now most of the leaves are down.  Soon it will be hunting season and we don't venture up there in case someone is hunting without permission.  Don't want to take any chances!  Until then I'll try and enjoy my quiet month and I hope you do too. Shhhh