Unbelievable and Just My Luck!

How was your Thanksgiving? I've been away from the computer for days and feel so out of the loop. I've got alot of catching up to do!

My Thanksgiving was very nice and relaxing. I was able to spend some time with my son and lots of time with my sister so I was in heaven. This year was definitely different though. My son and I went in one direction and my husband and daughter went in another. Howard wanted to see what Colorado was like in the winter since we hope to be moving there this summer, and wouldn't you know it, no snow! He was able to look around at different areas though and is growing to like Colorado more and more. It was also really nice for my parents to have family there for the holiday.

My sister Debbie and her SIL are veteran thrifters so we had a ball visiting all of Debbie's favorite thrift shops on Friday. It was a perfect girl's day out! Debbie's SIL is a doll and I just love getting together with her each Thanksgiving. So different from my SIL, but that's a whole different story.

Early Sunday afternoon Debbie and I took the dogs outside before we were heading out to do some running around. I don't know exactly what happened but the next thing I knew I was sprawled out on the driveway and I wasn't sure what hurt the most, my left ankle or my right knee. After a few minutes, I hobbled upstairs and right away my ankle started swelling up. This is what it looked like Monday morning. Just look past the scaly leg. My legs are dry and peeling from Hawaii and in need of a good shave.


Stubborn person that I am, I insisted that I could drive Jake and myself home yesterday, and I did. I drove straight to my job to show them my foot and let them know that I wouldn't be in today. I then dropped Jake off at home and headed to the ER. They of course took x-rays and yes indeed, it's broken. I can't believe it! Could the timing be any worse!? I had such plans for this week and for the weeks ahead. Christmas is only weeks away and here I am with a broken ankle. Unbelievable! I go to the Orthopedist either tomorrow or Thursday for my cast. Hopefully I can get a walking cast after 3 weeks and can get things in gear for Christmas. Thank goodness I have alot of my shopping done already. As for work, there goes my perfect attendance. I just may have gotten myself an extended vacation!

I'll keep you posted!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you a wonderfully blessed Thanksgiving with family, friends, and those you hold dear.

I'll be heading to Northern California for Thanksgiving and on Friday will once again visit the crap fair, I mean craft fair. The weather will be cool, crisp, and the holiday spirit will fill the air. I can already feel it!

Thanksgiving is a special time, a time for reflection, thankfulness, memories, and family.

Let the fun begin!

Thanksgiving Weekend Recap - Part 2

We didn't buy much at the Craft Fair but I'm always able to find a few new ornaments each year to add to my collection. I was thrilled to find just the right ornament for an ornament swap that I'm in and some ornaments for a small Christmas tree that I want to put in my kitchen. I think a kitchen ornament themed tree is a cute idea and I plan on doing it this year. Here are the ornaments I picked up to put on the kitchen tree...


I'll be putting this cute one on there too...


After the craft fair, we girls went thrifting. Thrift shopping is new to Courtney and I but Debbie and Bette Jo are seasoned experts. It was fun to watch them in action. As soon as we'd enter a store, they'd disappear, each having areas that they hit first. We went to one thrift store that was having a 1/2 off sale on all Christmas items that day. Courtney sat on a chair and guarded the "piles" while we bigger girls shopped...and the piles just kept getting bigger and bigger. Our seasoned thrifters took it seriously as the back of our car demonstrated. It was packed! Oh I wish I would have taken pictures of this fun outing, especially the jam packed car!

Nights were very relaxing. We did crafts, talked, watched tv, snacked, played on the computer, and just generally enjoyed each others company. It's nice because the dining room table and the family room are right next to each other so even though each person may be doing something different, you're all right there together. Debbie and Steve's vacation home is cozy, warm, and has the feel of being tucked far away in the mountains although it actually isn't. The house is located in a "neighborhood" so to speak but take a look at the backyard. It's open, beautiful, and one never tires of listening to the sounds of the creek that's located at the base of the yard...


Debbie and Steve are the ultimate hosts. They make each guest feel welcomed, cared for, and they spoil you rotten. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and we owe it all to them!

The drive home was long but we didn't hit much holiday traffic which was a hugh relief. We were tired and didn't get the mail until Monday but I RECEIVED SOME GOOD MAIL...my first Christmas gift of the season...and I love it!

I'll share my good mail with you tomorrow and also show you what my hubby's been up to while I was busy at work on Monday and Tuesday. Until then, have a great day!

Thanksgiving Weekend Recap - Part I

Why is it that all good things must come to an end!?! Our Thanksgiving trips to Northern California are always so enjoyable that it's a little depressing to come home to reality at the end of the weekend. Who would want to leave a weekend that's filled with lots of good food, laughter, tv, game playing, crafting, picture taking, thrifting, and just plain fun! We all had an incredible time.

My sister's brother-in-law and his wife Bette Jo joined in on the weekend festivities also. We'd all spent Thanksgiving together before so I was anxious to see them again. Come to find out, Bette Jo has a blog of her own so we spent time one night talking about our blogs and sprucing hers up a bit. We even tried talking my sister Debbie into a blog of her own but she said no go. We'll keep working on her! Here's a picture of Debbie, Bette Jo, Courtney, and myself on Thanksgiving day.


Friday morning we were up bright and early for the infamous craft fair...but not before breakfast first at Humpty Dumpty, the local diner.


If you want a scrumptious breakfast, Humpty Dumpty's the place to be. I'd already eaten a good portion of my breakfast before I remembered to take a picture, sorry!


Even though they have the same old crap at the craft fair each year, it's a tradition. Another tradition is standing in front of this planter for pictures every year.




Stay tuned for Part 2 tomorrow!

Thanksgiving Wishes...

Today I'll be busy getting two Christmas swap packages ready, cleaning up the house a bit, and preparing to leave on our trip tomorrow. Alot to do, yet I sit here feeling emotional today. For various reasons, this has been a terrible year for me, and for the rest of the world as well. Things have happened this year that have turned my life upside down and have not been caused by me, but I'm still thankful.

I have alot to be thankful for!

I'm thankful this year for being introduced to blogging and for the friends that I have made through it. Friends that I genuinely care about and for the true friendships that have been lovingly nurtured along the way. Friends, I am so thankful for you!

I truly hope that all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and an enjoyable weekend with your loved ones. If any of you are traveling like I am, I pray that traveling mercies be upon you. So until next time, be safe, and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

It's Friday

And I'm nosy...

So here's the question: Next Friday is the biggest shopping day of the entire year...aka "Black Friday."

Will you be out there shopping on Friday too?

Do you get up at the crack of dawn to stand in line at Wal-Mart for their unbeatable deals or will you spend hours at the mall and Target getting all of your Christmas shopping done?

No malls or Target for me on Friday, I'll be at the CRAP fair...I mean CRAFT fair! Every year that we spend Thanksgiving with my sister up in Northern CA, we head to the craft fair at the fairgrounds on Friday. Although we affectionately call it the "crap" fair, we love it just the same and look forward to it again this year. It's become a family tradition!

Thanksgiving Decor

I have so many Halloween, Christmas, and Easter decorations that I could fill a storage unit but my Thanksgiving decor is slim pickins. Really, when you think about it, what sort of decorations could be made for Thanksgiving anyway other than turkeys and pilgrim people...both of which are the only decorations I own.

Let me show you some of my pilgrims. Pilgrim people #1...


Pilgrim people #2...


Pilgrim people #3...


Pilgrim people #3 are candlesticks. This poor pilgrim lady looks like she's wearing a tampon on her head!

Every holiday in my house includes candles and a decorative plate to celebrate the occasion...


So other than a few things left over from my fall decorating, this is it, not much for Thanksgiving. It makes me kinda sad because I love Thanksgiving but in just over one short week it will be a whole different story. I have oodles and oodles of Christmas goodies and I'll have lots to share.

In the meantime, what does your Thanksgiving decor look like? Do you have lots of pilgrim people too?

Rested and Rejuvenated

As much as I love weekends, I was glad to see this last week come to a close. These last 2 weeks have been the pits. I'm glad to report however that by the time Sunday afternoon rolled around, I was rested, rejuvenated, and ready to tackle a new week. Good friends, good food, and good conversation will do that for you.

Jake and I headed out for the camping club weekend on Friday. Howard and I, along with another couple, were the hosts of the event this time around. I have to tell you that the "welcome bags" were a complete hit and such a surprise for everyone. I included 2 bottles of water, a fall dish towel, a candle, cookies, and candy in each bag. All four of us went to each RV and handed them out together. It's always so enjoyable to see how little acts of kindness impact others...they were all just thrilled with their little gift bags!

We had over 80 people attend the potluck dinner on Saturday night and boy was the food yummy. Sometimes at these things people are kinda stingy with their food contributions but not this time. We had 5 turkeys, 3 hams, stuffing, potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, salads, vegetables, rolls, and pumpkin pies and desserts galore. If anyone went away hungry it was through no one's fault but their own. It was quite the feast.

I was a little worried about how all of my table decorating would turn out but everything looked very nice and festive and it sure got me in the Thanksgiving mood. Thanksgiving is such a wonderful holiday and for me it conjurs up thoughts of family, the craft fair, lots of food, movie watching, long walks, laughter, game playing, fire building, brisk weather, great breakfasts, and just plain ol' fun. I can't wait for Thanksgiving weekend!

We'll be driving up north to Grass Valley for Thanksgiving, which is an hour outside of Sacramento. My sister and her husband have a vacation home there and we love joining them for Thanksgiving when we can. What are your Thanksgiving plans? Are you starting to get excited!?!

(Jake is doing well and I can see his old self emerging with each day. Even though he has to lay still in a crate all day, he's such a trooper. Truthfully, he's a happy boy as long as he can look at me all day. He just stares at me with those big, beautiful brown eyes of his. Such a love affair this dog and I have!!)