A Very Thankful Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving --and enjoy celebrating all of the things in life which I am truly thankful for. This year, since George's parents were with his sister in Tullahoma, TN and since none of our other family members could join us for the day, George and I decided to do something totally different. We called a good friend in Kingsport, TN (who has MS and who also lives alone) and asked her if she had plans. She had none ---so we drove up there and took her out to dinner. She told us that we provided her with a fabulous Thanksgiving this year, but believe me, the blessing was OURS.


We had a fabulous day ---and the dinner at Cracker Barrel was excellent. But---even better than the dinner (if that is possible) was the long ride we took all over Kingsport and that area. Reida doesn't get out much these days---so she enjoyed showing off her little city to us. AND--we surprised her by taking her out in the country in search of a new waterfall (which she didn't even know was there). We found it---and Reida was amazed!!!! We all had a wonderful day---including seeing the wild turkeys on Bays Mountain.


Hope you enjoy some of our pictures from this perfect day with a special friend. Above is a picture of two childhood friends, Reida and me. We are standing in Reida's newly renovated kitchen. It is gorgeous! Below are more pictures.







George took our picture --while we waited for our delicious Thanksgiving Dinner at Cracker Barrel. And believe me, dinner was delicious--and the company was better!!!









Wild turkeys on Bays Mountain --where we took a ride on Thanksgiving afternoon; don't you know those guys were happy not to be on someone's table on that day!!!! ha ha









There were three of them in this group... Pretty, aren't they? They are quite colorful--so I assume they are all males.







Here's two more --in another area. I could almost hear the one in the rear saying: "Hey, wait for me." ha







This is the waterfall we saw on Thanksgiving Day... It was in the country -and the drive was fabulous. This waterfall is named Bays Mountain Falls. We showed it in a previous post--but wanted to show it one more time.







It was a cold afternoon ---and this girl was freezing --while getting her picture taken beside that 'weird' tree..... Is that tree PREGNANT????? ha ha







George did what he always does when we visit waterfalls... He got 'up close and personal'...


We truly had one of the nicest Thanksgiving Days we have ever had. I love doing things for others---and visiting Reida on this day was truly a blessing for US. After leaving her home that afternoon, we headed for Erwin, TN ---for a couple of fabulous days hiking and 'waterfalling'.


Hugs,

How Many More Days?????

When my three sons were young in the mid '60's and early '70's, they'd ask me over and over how many more days it was 'til Santa would be here. They would drive me crazy with that question. My sister-in-law Evelyn came to my rescue. She made us a gorgeous wall hanging consisting of a little calendar and tree (shown above).

We would put the wall hanging on our wall on December 1st. The tree started out bare except for the star on top, since all of the little ornaments were individually stored at the bottom, in the little individual pouches. On December 1st, the boys would put the ornament from the first pouch on the tree. And then---each day through December 24, the boys would add one more ornament. Once they added the last ornament, they knew that Santa was coming SOON. By this wonderful method, my sons knew how many days were left---so they didn't have to ask Mom over and over!!!! This was a wonderful December routine in our home for many years.

Well--it's been about 40 years ---and I still have that wall hanging. I'm careful with it--and because of that, it has lasted all of these years. It is one of my special Christmas momentoes. I still put it on my wall--even though there are no little ones around to move the ornaments to the tree these days.

In my pictures today, you'll note that all of the ornaments are already on the tree!!!!! Without little ones around, I just leave them on the tree all month. But--I do have great memories of watching my sons move those ornaments to the tree each day. Below are a few more pictures.



Here is a close-up of the little felt tree with its felt ornaments. Note that there are three red stockings on that tree---one for each of my sons.




Here's a close-up of the bottom of the wall hanging. Behind each number (date), there is a little pouch where the ornaments were stored (one in each pouch). Evelyn used snaps to get the ornaments to stay on the tree. (This was before the days of velcro. ha ha)




Here's one last picture of the wall hanging. Evelyn used burlap for the background fabric. Unfortunately, Evelyn is no longer with us (she died in 2007) ---but her handiwork is with me and I'll remember her for things like this FOREVER.

Have a great December---and remember what happens in only 23 days!!!!! YEAH!!!

Hugs,

P.S. We had a rare occurrence at our home yesterday morning. We woke up with what looked like snow on the ground and roof-tops. But--it wasn't snow... Can you guess what it was????? They called it FREEZING FOG. Unusual, huh????