Thanksgiving 2019

"We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures..." Thornton Wilder



*Breakfast started with cinnamon rolls made from the same dough I had just made for our Thanksgiving rolls (and the parade)





*There was turkey basting and the smells in our home I wait all year long for



*I made my pecan pie and Christmas sugar cookies the night before, but my apple pie I made that day



*Lots of greens in our home this Holiday season - a real nature feel





*A whimsical, baking themed kitchen



*Her (my baking center) first Thanksgiving in our home



*Apple pie in the cutest little pie cooling window Scott built me



*Us, Anna 16, Abigail 13... my heart in that frame





*This is her very favorite holiday





*My blessings, my heart could burst it's so in love with those two girls





*And her dress made me pretty happy too... never grow up...





*And the next series are all from Anna picking up my camera









*We do a kitchen dance like no one I know - not literally dancing (although sometimes), more like we love to both cooking at the same time, it's out thing and hosting this holiday brings out the best in us









*Dad's 80th Thanksgiving







*Christmas music playing - time for tea and sweets



*A basket of Christmas cookies makes me oh so happy - and so does pie









*Cousin love





*They were down here in the playroom for hours while Scott and I got a chance to finally catch up with my brother and sister in law all cozy in front of the fire



*I had a lot of help cleaning up in the kitchen from my Mom and sister in law. So when everyone was gone I quickly vacuumed, swept, turned on the fist round of the dishwasher (and left the rest til tomorrow) and Scott and I kissed our girls (chatted extra with Anna who comes alive after 11 and we love that new 'grownup' talk with her) and climbed into our Christmas bed, and fell asleep with the glow of two little trees on our nightstands. I love this holiday so much that I wish we could do it all over again next week...

The Excitement Before

There was so much excitement in our home the weekend before and the days leading up to Thanksgiving.



We truly started getting ready on October 31st... and it was so worth it.

The house was all Christmasy.

And I rolled out my favorite pie crust recipe...



...made sugar cookie dough



and Abigail and I had fun making the first Christmas cookies in the baking center...









Scott and enthusiastic Abigail put the Christmas twinkle lights on the outside of the house -



and a wreath on the front door.





Anna helped me with the Pecan pie... yum!



(while the sugar cookies cooled)



Yes, it was Merry and bright in our home the days leading up to Thanksgiving!

It's Beginning...

I don't know about you but I'm sooooOooooo in the mood this year! Pine smells and twinkle lights here we come!

I love November -- it's "the holiday's" without the stress of it all. I 'play house' with all of my pretty things, making vingettes here and there as I start on decorating for Christmas.



I officially start decorating on October 31st. Yes I do. And I don't care what other people think. It takes me a loooooong time to get it all set and I like to enjoy the month of December. When I'm in the 'middle' of deorating, my house is parts bare, parts decorated, and all parts messy. I don't want messy in December. I want to come home to twinkle lights and little displays ready to greet me. So I'm in full decorating now.

It's dark and cold, really cold in Connecticut, just the way I like it!