Eh.

I have heard lots of opinions about Christmas merchandising and decorating LONG before Thanksgiving and how OUTTA HAND it is... I really have been unruffled by all the hype. Christmas seemed MONTHS away.

Then, a friend of mine posted on FB today that she had brought home 22 boxes of Trader Joe's Candy Cane Joe Joe's. If you  like chocolate mint these babies are only around for a short time and when they are gone they are GONE.  I can pass them by...but my family? They go nuts over them. SO, maybe I WILL buy early? (I will NOT be buying 22 boxes.)

Then I saw this nifty tree and I do love re-purposed decorating ideas...

Then we got a bag of these beautiful OLD bulbs and ornaments at The Shoppe and I think they are WONDERFUL. (I have GOT to tell you about The Shoppe!)

When I got home from an out of state trip THIS was neatly dug in preparation for our annual root ball Christmas tree...THAT excites me!

Our family has fallen in love with Nate's Companion/Therapy Papillon, Luka...I ordered these darling painted cards for Nate to give out this Christmas...what's not to love!? (Find these at Etsy.com)

I am REALLY looking forward to a LONG Thanksgiving weekend next week but will embrace the Christmas season too!!!!

Didn't we just HAVE Christmas though?

The plan.

In our first home I put things up on the wall that I was NOT happy with...I disliked seeing lots of blank wall space. Subsequently I found myself detesting what I had placed on the wall but not changing it.

Fast forward to our moving into Killeny Glen. I vowed I would never hang items on the wall that I did not love in some way. Our foyer/entryway at Killeny Glen is large and somewhat cavernous...as much as I do not like this stark, large stair case I did not know exactly what I wanted hanging in such a big area.

Over the last six years I gathered clippings and bits of ideas from various places and finally collected exactly what I wanted...then I solicited the help of a handsome handy man to help me out with the hanging of my foyer wall plan. He is precise and fastidious in the way he does things so I knew he would be the ONE for the job. (He also fears ME doing it as I have a fondness for jute, duct tape and "eye balling" things!)

Bob's fancy new ladder was just right for the job.

 Bob had two furry assistants always at the ready.

I collected each item with care.  I found all the frames at auction or thrift stores. 

I love that each thing is specific and has meaning to our family:

needlepoint "K", our favorite hymn, music from Nana, my favorite photo of our children, China, etc.

 

I thoroughly enjoy this grouping each and every day.

Worth the wait!

Fall thoughts...

We have thoroughly enjoyed the beauty of fall this year...gorgeous colors and fall experiences...I never grow tired of looking at hundreds of pumpkins waiting to be chosen...

One of the countless blessings of being a mom to five kids is the beautiful and VERY unique relationships each child has with his or her siblings...the love that they show each other never fails to enchant me...

The perfect pumpkin chosen...it brings a great sense of satisfaction. Sam loved this photo since the Angry Bird on his t-shirt looked like it was about to GOBBLE up his pumpkin. BOYS - love them!

This tin can robot dummy was such fun...isn't she awesome??

The colors of fall...are truly miraculous.