What a way to ring in December

With December came the weather

and a tree so fresh and green.

Memories old and new we added

to its branches freshly cleaned.

Then we bid good-bye to mother;

my guys turned to tasks outside.

Since forecast rain was not yet pouring,

my cooped-up horse I hoped to ride.

For just a sec I checked computer

to give my back and feet a break.

I had no clue that the next moment

would any hope of horse time take.

Our 12' tree – to my horror –

chose to lay rather than stand.

And with its landing there was crashing....

Pretty shards spread round like sand.

It's silly for such things to matter

but I'll admit I shed some tears

while I mopped and swept the mess up –

"mess" collected through the years.

Okay, that's all the verse I can manage; my body is aching and my emotions are spent. The tree is once again standing and looks fully decorated in spite of all we lost; just goes to show you (and us) that we have an embarrassment of riches. Still, this is not how I would choose to 'downsize'!

Now, before I crash like a Christmas tree (ha!), I have a Jacquie Lawson Advent Calendar to give away. Seventeen different people commented, and www.random.org chose...

Congratulations, Ruth; that's YOU! Your Advent calendar should be waiting in your inbox; I hope you enjoy it!

That's it for now from . . .

Feeling virtuous

I got up this morning and worked off Thanksgiving dinner with a two-mile walk/jog – and I really didn't overindulge as it was! I was rewarded with a lovely sunrise . . .

Leaving

Returning, with fog rising along with the sun

and apparently inspired my husband as well, who got up and worked on one of the machines in the basement when I got home.

This weekend is the beginning of our Christmas season, so today I did my first holiday baking: Drop Sugar Cookies with Mint Chocolate Chips. They will be part of our contribution to our Christian trailriding club's Christmas party Saturday night. On Sunday morning, Rick's mom is coming out to help us decorate our Christmas tree, which we will cut from a neighbor's lot.

One of the things Rick and Brian did today was to move some furniture. My MIL moved it here from AZ but did not have room for it in her new house, and she wanted it out of her home before her house-warming tomorrow afternoon. Brian got the desk and chair that goes with the bunkbed he got from grandma earlier, and we got the pie safe that was my husband's great-great-grandma's wedding present. This family heirloom now graces our dining area:

Don't forget to leave a comment on Thursday's blog post if you want a chance to win a Jacquie Lawson Edwardian Advent Calendar. If more than 20 people leave comments, I'm giving away two!

That's it for today, from . . .

Giving thanks

If the only prayer you ever said was "thank you," it would be enough. 

~ Mesiter Eckhart

One of the things I am thankful for is the interaction I get from you on this blog, so I have decided to hold a little Thanksgiving giveaway. Jacquie Lawson and team create the most wonderful e-cards and Advent Calendars; this year's calendar theme is "Edwardian." (I already have it on my computer thanks to the generosity of a friend, and discovered an addictive little marble game in the pavilion; there are several activities available before December 1.)

To encourage more of you who visit to leave a comment, here's the deal: I will give away one Jacquie Lawson 2013 Edwardian Advent Calendar if up to 20 people comment on this post; if more than 20 leave a comment, I will draw two names to receive calendars. Just tell me one thing for which you are thankful in the comments below before I go to bed on December 1. (I will need an email address to send your calendar, and you need to have a computer on which you can download the app.)

Counting blessings instead of sheep at . . .

Messy little details, and dogs

One the of blogs I follow participates in a series called Messy Little Details. I thought of that theme when I took the following three photos yesterday morning:

Freezing nights have finished off the dahlias, but this spot of color lingers

Ivy claims two unused doghouses

It's been a looong time since any dog of ours needed a doghouse. For the last 20 years, our dogs have been part of the family, and we enjoy having their companionship wherever we are, inside or out. Earlier today Dozer lay at my feet,

while Jackson lay at the foot of the stairs waiting for Brian to finish his keyboard practice on the old computer up in the bonus room.

I can't imagine a life without the companionship of dogs!

That's it for Thanksgiving Eve at . . .