Happy Thanksgiving 2010 :)

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to charity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.

~ Melody Beattie


It's a beautiful Thanksgiving day here in California. Alan and I are together, and we are having a ball with out two little guys. I am making a big Thanksgiving feast today, but first Alan and I are going to cuddle up and watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. He has had to work every Thanksgiving for the last 8 years, but this year he decided to take the day off. Can you guess what I am most thankful for this year?

If you follow me on Twitter, you probably know my oven died the day before yesterday! YIKES! There was some concern that the part that was needed to fix it wouldn't be available in time, but it did happen to come in and now it's back to it's old reliable self again, and Thanksgiving is indeed back on! Can you guess what I am thankful for this year?

Jennifer Grey won season 11 of Dancing With The Stars! I have been a big fan of hers for years! It was really nice to see a woman, about my age, win the competition. She is a talented lady, and I must say, I admire her for a lot of reasons. She is a good role model for ladies my age. Hey, don't look so surprised, it's true, even ladies my age look for role models. Can you guess what I am thankful for this year?

In November, Californians went the polls and turned California a lovely shade of BLUE. I like to call it CLEAR SKY BLUE. :) Can you guess what I am thankful for?

It took California a little longer this year, then it has in other years, to start showing it's autumn colors, but it kicked in just in time for Thanksgiving! It's really cold right now in the Bay Area, but it's GORGEOUS! The leaves are in bloom! LOL. Alan and I are going to go out, after lunch, and do some leaf picking. I have some projects all lined up for them, to keep me busy on rainy days. I am going to back an autumn leaf bed tray, and maybe some platters. I love autumn! Can you guess what I am thankful for?



If you would like to share what you are most thankful for, please feel free to share it with me in the comment thread. I would love to hear about what makes you happy!

Don't forget, The Monday Photo Shoot will be returning on Monday, January 3rd 2011! I will be looking forward to seeing all of your beautiful photography when resume the photo shoot project! I hope you will be able to join us! Be sure to check back here for holiday updates between now and New Years! Can you guess what I am thankful for?

FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOURS...

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

:)

-Carly

Autumn Leaves Must Fall

Beautiful, messy, fragrant, delicious autumn. I can't get enough of it!



"I am rich today with autumn's gold
All that my covetous hands can hold;
Frost-painted leaves and goldenrod,
A goldfinch on a milkweed pod,
Huge golden pumpkins in a field
With heaps of corn from bounteous yield
Golden apples heavy on the trees
Rivaling those of Hesperides,
Golden rays of balmy sunshine spread
Over all like butter on warm bread;
And the harvest moon will the night unfold
The streams running full of molten gold.
Oh who could find a dearth of bliss
With autumn glory such as this!"

-Gladys Harp

As you begin your week...

If you are feeling stressed out this week, take a couple moments to stop and watch the leaves turn and fall silently to the earth. You will be surprised by how calming it can be. Let your mind wander, not on all you have to do, or all you haven't gotten done, but instead think about those you love, maybe even those you miss, and for once, let yourself feel all those feelings you would usually put aside. Let yourself feel, for as long as you need to. Breathe in, and breathe out the stress until you feel yourself relax. You deserve it. :) It works... trust me.

-Carly