Happy Thanksgiving!

We Give Thanks...

For each new morning with its light

For rest and shelter of the night

For health and good, for love and friends

For everything thy goodness sends.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Wishing You well and much joy on this Thanksgiving day.

On This Thanksgiving

 

Thanksgiving is a time of fond remembrances,

Heartfelt appreciation and warm thoughts

of special people in our lives.

Teddy, Cassie, Mina, Oliver and I 

Wish YOU well and much joy this Thanksgiving.

Have a wonderful Holiday!

 

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Potpourri

It's Friday and time for some this and that.

I was up early this morning and the washer, dryer and clothes folder (me) have been busy.
Yesterday I thought I'd get up early and hit Half-Price Books at 7am. That idea didn't last long. I decided it was too cold to walk and I wanted to walk up to my village. Although a chance at a $100 gift card in one of the bags they were giving away was very tempting.

How was your day yesterday? Did you celebrate Thanksgiving? Cook a lot of food? 
The kitties and I shared a quiet day. We put up another Christmas tree. There are two downstairs (think too many Christmas ornaments????). They aren't decorated, but they are up. Mina and I shared some smoked turkey -- she begged so prettily (underfoot) all day -- the little imp. I had *stuffing* (yep, southern ya'll) for breakfast this morning. 

In and around Houston it's been freezing the past few mornings. The birds have been getting a little bit extra at the morning buffet. The squirrels have been getting in on the buffet action too.




Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

(This is a Charles Wysocki card that I embellished with a little fall bling!)

Wishing YOU and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving

 

“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

It's Been Quiet Around Here

It's been quiet around here for a few days.

I had the cataract removed in my left eye last week.

It was not as easy going as the surgery on the right eye back in September.

Probably because I was never truly relaxed!

I got the same amount of *relax juice* as the first time, but for some reason, it didn't work! 

But I have no complaints.

The new lens allow me to see well at distance and to be able to read. 

Amazing what technology can do these days. 

I'm still very light sensitive and carry my sunglasses everywhere -- inside and out.

The Halloween decorations are all back in storage and

a few Thanksgiving goodies have taken their place.

I found these beautiful orange tulips at Whole Foods.
A new shipment had just arrived.
Perfect timing!

I have three fabric pumpkins -- all in different sizes.

I've had them for years.

This year I added the little bird pilgrims.

Too cute!

A cool front blew threw last night and that means its time to

pull out Trader Joe's Pumpkin Spice Chai.

I love handmade.

I love hand thrown pottery.

This is one of my favorite hand thrown teacups.

The texture of the cup, the heat of the hot tea/chai or chocolate feels wonderful in the hands.

I'm wishing you well, much joy and a wonderful cup of tea!

A big thank you to these tea party hosts:

Tea Time Tuesday
Friends Sharing Tea
Teacup Tuesday

Tuesday Cup'a Tea

Tea Talk

Good Morning!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday Before Thanksgiving

It's been busy on Twisty Lane.

There was a wedding (photos to come).

Thanksgiving preparations are well underway.

I'm joining Natasha for some Friday Before Thanksgiving pinning!

Mr. and Mrs. Squirrel brought their own tableware.

The wine glasses have been painted to look like pumpkins.

You can smell the pumpkin spice cake when you walk in the front door.

Yum!

The dining room table has been set for the Thanksgiving feast.

A walk after dinner is on the menu!

Cuddle up under this blanket for an afternoon nap.

(All the photos are from my Pinterest site. 

For some reason I couldn't link directly.)

Good Morning!

Is it cool yet?

As you can tell, the sun is shining here.

We set heat records every day and

I'm getting tired of the weather!

So, in an effort to feel cooler,

I finished this little scarecrow.

The little scarecrow was easy to crochet.

He's lots of fun.

The design is by Sheila Leslie for Crochet World/DRG.

I purchased him as a kit from Mary Maxim.

And, NO, I don't feel cooler.

But I am smiling!

Wishing YOU well and joy filled day!

For those who might be interested, I found a pattern for 

a scarecrow online that is very similar to the one I made.

Click here to see the pattern.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving To You and Yours

Gratitude Makes You Happy

Why Gratitude Makes You Happy & Wealthy by Christine KaneGratitude is more than being thankful one day a year. Gratitude is a practice. For some, it's a way of life. Why do some people swear by the practice of gratitude? Why do these people have joy-filled andabundant lives? In other words, why does gratitude make you happy and wealthy? • Because gratitude is about presence.  It's about waking up in this moment and being here -really being here - and noticing what's around you. Most people are so busy thinking about the next thing, or about their horrid past, that they don't wake up and look around at their present moment - the only moment there is. • Because gratitude is about honoring YOUR precious life.  Do you ever compare your life with someone else's? Do you ever wish your life were better and more like [insert famous person's name here]? Sometimes we can lose ourselves in wondering how we "measure up" to some standard set by our families or by the media. Comparison is the mind killer. The antidote is gratitude. Gratitude requires that you validate your own life. (And you really don't have any other life, do you?) It forces you to say YES to the gift that is you. The choices you've made and the changes you've gone through -- they have brought you here. Even if here is a place that needs a little adjustment, that's okay. There are always gifts in any present moment. • Because gratitude is about attracting.  It's difficult to attract abundance and joy if you are constantly saying "no" to what IS. You say "no" each time you focus on the future or past, or when you criticize something that is in your present moment. Attraction is about saying Yes. When you say Yes, you shift. Gratitude says, "Yes, I love this!" And then more of this is attracted, because the this is what you're focusing on. • Because gratitude is about choice.  How you translate any situation is the situation. What you choose to see is the truth (for you). This isn't proposing that you live in denial or phoniness. It's reminding you that your translation of any life situation is your choice. We've all heard stories of people who have ignored others' translations of their talent, their projects, their art, their looks, their lives. These people chose their own translations andsucceeded. You always have a choice when it comes to how you look at things. Choose to choose gratitude. • Because gratitude is about wisdom.  I think people believe they're being smart if they criticize, complain, and focus on the problems of the world around them. Smart? Maybe. Clever? Sure. But not wise. It is wise to look for and find the knowing place in your heart. It is wise to choose joy. It is wise to honor your riches. It is wise to focus on and grow the blessings of your life. • Because gratitude is about recognition.  Use your power of focus to hone in on beauty and on what makes your heart sing. Recognize the spirit in your life. It's all around you waiting to be noticed. In the words of Franz Kafka, "It will roll in ecstasy at your feet." • Because gratitude is about receptivity.  Gratitude makes you receptive. It makes you a vessel, waiting to be filled. I carry a tiny notebook with me everywhere I go. In it, I write down song ideas. I write down quotes I hear. I write down ideas for stage stories. As I do that, I become more receptive, and more ideas and songs come to me. It's a tool that says to my subconscious, "Send more my way!" And the subconscious always responds. Gratitude is the same way. It says, "I am receptive! Send more!" And more arrives. • Because gratitude is about creativity.  Creativity is really all about attention. (So is genius.) When I write a song, I build a relationship with that song. I spend time with it. I get to know it. I pay attention to it. Artists do the same thing with drawings. They spend time in rapt attention, and the drawing is born. Gratitude is how we Live Creative. It is a creative act to notice and pay attention to the moments of your life. Some days it's an enormous act of creativity to find things for which to be thankful. Start today. And have a Thanksgiving of presence, creativity, and gratitude! Christine Kane is the Mentor to Women Who are Changing the World. She helps women uplevel their lives, their businesses and their success. Her weekly LiveCreative eZine goes out to over 12,000 subscribers. If you are ready to take your life and your world to the next level, you can sign up for a F.R.E.E. subscription at http://christinekane.com. WANT TO SEE HUNDREDS MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE? See Christine's blog at ChristineKane.com/blog. *** Snap is still on a short blogging break, but couldn't resist sharing this with you today.

Postcard Friendship Friday

The Friday before Thanksgiving and one more postcard from

the New York Public Library Digital Collection.

Hearty Thanksgiving Greetings

The card is postmarked 1915.

Aunt Ida must have sent a Thanksgiving postcard to Master Ralph 

each year as this was not the only Thanksgiving card from Aunt Ida in

the NYPL collection.

I enjoyed her comment 'I was very pleased with your letter'.

Letter writing -- a lost art.

Beth is our hostess for Postcard Friendship Friday.

I going to be taking a small break from blogging.

Think I will do some reading, crochet a little, and relax.

See you after Thanksgiving.

Everyday should be a day of thanks -- don't you agree?!

Wishing you well, a JOY filled weekend and to my American friends

a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is Coming!

Thanksgiving is coming!

The neighbors are getting ready!

Last year my blogging buddy Christina found a fun Thanksgiving MEME.

I thought I'd repeat it this year.

(Thanks again, Christina!)

1. Which do you like better: Cooking at your house or going elsewhere?

I like cooking at home. This year marks one year since Mr. Dragon's cancer was diagnosed. We are going to have a quiet day at home.

2. Do you buy a fresh or frozen turkey?

For several years I bought a fresh heirloom turkey, but was disappointed the last year I tried one. This year I'm preparing a turkey breast (frozen).

3. What kind of stuffing?

Granny's cornbread dressing and this year, I'm going to add a few cranberries for color.

4. Sweet potato or pumpkin pie?

Neither. Apple pie!

5. Do you believe that turkey leftovers are a curse, or the point of the whole thing?

Can never have enough turkey leftovers!!! So many wonderful things to make with them!

6. Which side dish would provoke a riot if you left it off the menu?

Bourbon sweet potatoes

7. Do you save the carcass to make soup or stock?

You bet!

8. What do you wish you had that would make preparing Thanksgiving dinner easier?

After all these years, I think I have it all figured out. Don't know what (or where) I'd put a new gadget!

9. Do you get up at the crack of dawn to have dinner ready in the early afternoon, or do you eat at your normal dinner hour?

I learned early on to get as much done before Thanksgiving as possible so that I just have to warm things up. We'll be watching parades and football games. We eat in the early afternoon and snack the rest of the day! 

10. If you go to somebody else's house, what is your favorite dish to bring?

Pumpkin cheesecake or apple pie

11. What do you wish your guests wouldn't bring to your house?

If you have a cold, please stay home!

12. Does your usual mix of guests result in drama, or is it a group you're happy to see?

A group I'm happy to see.

13. What's your absolute favorite thing on the menu?

Dressing!

14. What are you thankful for this year?

I'm thankful that the love of my life, my knight in shining armor, my best friend is sharing Thanksgiving with me. I'm thankful for my *family by choice* (you know who you are). I'm thankful for another beautiful day on Mother Earth.

Mosaic Monday is hosted by the lovely Mary.

Each mosaic is different. Each has its own story to tell

Thank you Mary!

Wishing you well and a JOY filled week.

Postcard Friendship Friday

Another postcard for Thanksgiving from the New York Public Library Digital Collection.

This one has memories for me.

I was raised in New Mexico, The Land of Enchantment 

and spent many a Fall feast day with friends at Jemez Pueblo.

It was a different world. Lots of good food that seemed to never end.

Colorful dances to celebrate the harvest.

Another world.

This postcard was published by the Detroit Publishing Company sometime between 1907-08 and titled Hopi Thanksgiving.


The Detroit Publishing Company was an American photographic publishing firm best known for its large assortment of photochrom postcards.

The company was founded as the Detroit Photographic Company in 1890s by Detroit businessman and publisher William A. Livingstone, Jr. The company had the exclusive rights to the photochrom process for the American market. Photochrom is a technique developed in Switzerland which allows the color enhancement of black and white photography with the means of chromolithography. It allowed the company to mass produce photorealistic color motifs long before color photography became economically feasible.

Thank you to the lovely Beth, our hostess for Postcard Friendship Friday.

Wishing you well and a JOY filled weekend.

Tea Tuesday

I'm getting the Thanksgiving decorations out.

This is the teapot I use during November.

I love the oak leaves and acorns around the lid.

 

 I'm having a cup of Tazo Wild Sweet Orange tea today while I go over some museum notes.

The *new* (remodeled and in a new space) China gallery is now open and that means I need to rethink my food and feast tour. I've found that it doesn't matter whether I'm giving a tour to adults or to children, if I can tell them a good story they'll remember the piece I'm talking about or will at least remember their trip to the museum!

One of the stories I came across is about Oolong tea. The name Oolong dates back to before the Ming Dynasty when it was still an unnamed bush. One day when the bush was in full blossom a tea planter picked some of its leaves and tried making a tea with them. He drank some and also offered it to his neighbors. His neighbors were particularly delighted with the tea, so the tea planter invited them to name the tea. One morning at dawn, a tea picker saw a black snake silently coiled around a branch of the unnamed bush. When the tea picker drew near, it slid away. Remembering the snake and thinking that it was attracted by the delicious aroma of the tea leaves, the neighbors called the tea Wu-long. "Wu" means black and "Long" means dragon or snake. (In Chinese the same word is used for dragons and snakes.) The name, black dragon tea, has been used ever since, by growers and connoisseurs alike.

That's just one of the stories. I have so many to choose from!

There are many tea parties in blogland.

For tea cups on parade, please visit Teacup Tuesday and the hostesses Martha and Terri.

Wishing you well, a JOY filled day, and a wonderful cup of tea.

"Teatime is by its very nature a combination of small luxuries arranged in social symmetry. And although tea for one is certainly a fine thing, the addition of a circle of dear friends to share it with ensures the whole is larger than its parts." ~Author Unknown

Hooking At Thanksgiving

I get several emails daily from various yarn companies.

They are all into their holiday mode sending out 12 Days of Holiday cheer!

I thought I'd share a few of them with you.

All of these were made from the Sugar 'N Cream cotton yarn by Lily.

You can go here to see some more patterns.

Red Heart is in the middle of their 12 Days of Christmas

and Caron has just started theirs. I'm a bit partial to Caron.

I think they do a wonderful job each year picking out new projects for the holidays.

With only 48 days left until Christmas, I'm thinking I'm so far behind I should start on next years crocheting!

Mary is our lovely hostess for Mosaic Monday.
Be sure to visit. Each Mosaic is different. Each has its own story to tell.

Wishing you well and a JOY filled week.

Postcard Friendship Friday

It's time for Thanksgiving postcards and once again,

I'd like to share one from the New York Public Library Digital collection.

This one made me chuckle.

It is a Raphael Tuck & Sons Thanksgiving Postcard dated around 1907.

  Raphael Tuck & Sons were proudly known to be the Publishers to Her Majesties the King and Queen, with printing houses in London, Paris and New York.

They began in London, England in 1866, selling pictures and frames.  Raphael Tuck was joined by his three sons in 1871 and published their first Christmas greeting card.   

In 1893 they were granted a Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria.

Adolph Tuck, one of the sons, produced their first picture postcard in 1894 of Mt. Snowden in Wales, which was sold to tourists visiting the site.

The first series of numbered postcards was printed In 1898 which was a set of 12 lithographed vignette views of London, numbered 1 to 12 with the "Tower of London" being postcard #1.

They entered the postcard market in the United States in 1900 with an office in New York.   American artists designed many of the postcards, but the cards were printed in Europe (Germany, Saxony, England) and then returned to the states for sale. 

Unfortunately, like many other postcard printers and manufacturers of their time, the history, records, original paintings and postcards of Raphael Tuck & Sons were destroyed during the bombing blitz of London during World War II.

Raphael Tuck & Sons were prolific printers and produced Books, Postcards, Greeting Cards, Die Cut Cards, Fringed Silk Cards, Scrapbooks, Puzzles and more.

Be sure to visit with the lovely Beth, our hostess for Postcard Friendship Friday, where you'll find a variety of postcards to visit. 

Happy PFF and have a wonderful, restful, fun filled weekend!

Good Morning!