Thanksgiving Blessings

I have had the feeling for a while now that it seems more and more that we (as a nation I mean) skip right over Thanksgiving. Feels like we go from Halloween straight into Christmas, doesn't it?? Where in the world did Thanksgiving go?? Now, I have to confess, Thanksgiving does not rank up there with me like it does with some. It is some people's most favorite holiday of all. Me? I loooovvvee Christmas. And Halloween is so much fun now that I have a child. But Thanksgiving....eh.....not all that for me. But, having said that, it is still a requirement to participate in my family, and I always, well, usually, have a good time once I'm there! Well, the food is great, anyway!

So anyway...in the spirit of doing my part to resurrect the holiday, I am the one cooking the turkey this year. Yes, my first. Wish me luck. So I get it out of the freezer the other night and as I am making room for it to defrost in the refrigerator it hits me...we are so blessed. I am moving food around to make room for more food. Wow. So so very blessed. And I turn around with actual tears in my eyes and say as much to Eric. And all of a sudden everything is moving in slow motion. I am in the moment. I am humbled. Literally brought to my knees. And the reason for the holiday is right there in that moment with me.

Thanksgiving.

No, it's not bright and shiny and no, there is really nothing about it that lures us to the stores. (grocery stores don't count!) There are no costumes, no widely celebrated rituals, (beyond the meal that is) no over the top decorating to be done. Nope. None of that. It is quiet. It lives in our hearts, and our rituals are simple and private. The gifts we give each other are the gifts of the beautiful preparation of food and the sharing of that same food with the same people year after year. If we are lucky, that is.

If we are really lucky and really blessed.

And most of us are.

Even when it seems as if everything is wrong we are given this day to remember all the things that are right. So my wish, my prayer, for you as you travel to be with family, or prepare your home for guests, as you stand and lovingly prepare the turkey and the dressing and the pumpkin pies, is that you are in the moment. Really in it. Experiencing each part in the now. That you make up your mind now, just as I did the other night as I stood in the open refrigerator, that this is not going to be just another "have to", something else to get through on the way from Halloween to Christmas, but that this Thanksgiving will stand on its own. And it will stand on its own because we are each standing in the moment...feeling oh so thankful and oh so abundantly blessed.
Happy, Happy Thanksgiving to you all.

Halloween Revisited

So to continue catching ya'll up on what has been going on....and better late than never, right?? Here is my little Fairy Princess trying out her powers on the very curious Gabbie...and I think she is under her spell! This is the first year that she came up with her own outfit. She picked the whole thing out, she decided she wanted her face painted with the fairy wings, all of it, and I think she did a pretty great job! Of course, I am a little prejudiced...I think she's darling no matter what!

She had a great time that night, too! She really got into the trick or treating for the first time. We walked all around the neighborhood...gotta love living where you can expect the same homemade popcorn balls from the same lady every year...and if you don't show up at her house and others they will just bring it to you the next day! We also drove around a bit and found another part of the neighborhood where folks had gone all out on the spooky front porch decor. She loved every minute of it! And here, 3 days before Thanksgiving, we are still adding to our jean sizes from that same bowl of candy!

Hope yours was fun! And here's to a great holiday week ahead! (hey, a girl can hope, right??)

Words To Live By....

So, LK Ludwig (www.gryphonsfeather.typepad.com) decided to do a blog collaboration...we were all to post words that meant something to us (to greatly paraphrase the idea) on our blogs yesterday.  Yes, yesterday.  Why is it, as my Dad says, that I am always "a day late and a dollar short"?  Oh, well.  Nevermind.   I will post it today....along with the photo above, a few of the tiny things that are treasures to me....this is just a few words that I am sort of living by right now from "Oneness" by Rasha....

"Recognizing the power to create your reality is your key to turning the page and beginning a new chapter in your own life story."

Love that.

Also, this...

"The key to all you would accomplish in this lifetime hinges upon your willingness to embrace all that you are, for the chance that you may come to experience - in Oneness - all that you truly Are."

hmmm, 2 quotes with the word "key" relating to life...maybe I should ponder on that a bit more!  

Sleep, Sleep, and More Sleep....

So I am so tired all the time lately I am seriously beginning to wonder if a.) there is something really wrong with me, or b.) I am simply becoming a feline. And lord knows they don't worry about sleeping too much, or wanting to sleep, Hell, they don't even worry about where the sleeping might occur!! Apparently, the only problem they have is when they are awakened...be it ever so brief a moment...

That's it. I've decided. I am coming back in my next life as a house cat.

Almost one week later....and I think I have almost recovered. Almost. Ya'll, I have been TIRED. The kind of tired that hits you in the face when you wake up in the morning and makes you not want to move for the rest of the day. But it was worth it! We worked our little hineys off setting up on Friday, and it was a long day Saturday, but everything looked great!

These little urns stood guard by the back door, greeting visitors as they toured the house.... This is my dear, talented friend Lori. We had so much fun! And as different as our work is, it worked really well together!The snacks we offered.... The tree, a little autumnized, full of Art Girls....

A little shelf displaying my work....

One of Lori's new designs...yes, it's a planter! How cute is this??

One of my tables....

And a slightly different view of the same table...

And even more close-up... Some more new designs from Lori....

One of Lori's tables...

My potting bench turned Lori's pottery display area....

My little bench turned display....

My little plant stand turned art display...yes, we put every single thing to work!

And my friends Carmen (soon to be sister-in-law!) and Lani...I count myself lucky to be able to call these two amazing women "friend".

And last, but certainly not least...my family. They put up with all the craziness of the preparations for this day, and of me for so many weeks! And they love me still! Amazing. They are my support, my heart, and my biggest fans. I am so grateful for them. Eric even took all of the pictures you see above...thank goodness someone had a brain cell left that day!

I also want to thank all of you for being patient with me as I have had a one-track mind for quite some time now! But I have some new and exciting things to tell you about...so stay tuned! Show's over...and I'm slowly getting back to normal (whatever that is, ha!)...but I will be back here on a more regular basis, anyway!

Happy Weekend, Everyone!

It's Almost Here!!

Looks fairly quiet, right? Just remember....looks can be deceiving! Inside these walls I am feverishly working, cleaning, and making list after list of things that are still to be done. Then more working and cleaning, cleaning and working. It'll all be worth it, right??

Of course it will!! We're gonna have a blast!

What??? Don't know what in the world I am talking about??

It's an Open House! This Saturday, November 8, 2008, from 10am until 8pm! I, along with some friends, will have lots of goodies for sale, we'll have goodies to eat while you shop, and my home and studio will both be open for tours! Come join us!

(Need more info?? Just shoot me an e-mail!)

And don't give up on me! I will be back here, posting on a regular basis, once all this madness is over! Halloween was a blast this year...have photos of that...I have unearthed the top of the drafting table in the art-room....(yes, I know!) the stacks of prints, the rows of art girls, the pile of bags of "stuff" in preparation for this thing, and of course, there will be lots of pictures on the day of! Ya'll keep your fingers and toes crossed for me....(you know, that I make it throgh the week, ha!) Hope to see you in person on Saturday, and I will see you back here real soon!