Our time in Denver with our granddaughters and their family was fun. We were privileged to also get to be with the extended family of our son in law. They came from California, Texas and Denver. Some of them we have not seen since our daughter got married. The one sister from Oklahoma and her family didn't get to come. So for Thanksgiving we had 19 0f us sitting at three tables all in the same large room, all  with tableclothes and china decorated with candles and the special turkey made from a pineapple.

 Everyone brought part of the dinner and it was served buffet style from the kitchen. It was a feast with still enough to snack on later for dinner. The girls donated their flowers from the play to be the food counter centerpiece. I didn't get any pictures ...just memories.

These pictures was taken while we were cleaning up. Hubby (father in law)

on the left, older brother, son inlaw(youngest brother), father, middle brother.

I am on right next to son inlaws mother, oldest sister in law behind her,

Donna in center holding hands on little sister and next to big sister,

 behind to left of big sister is middle brothers wife.The rest are cousins/nieces.

there were two of the young married guys missing from pictures. oops.

The girls and I made some cowboy ornaments. First they drew a simple pattern

that we taped on to can lids.Then we used hammer and nails in garage to make outline.

A christmas stocking ...with a ribbon ,it can be hung in a window or on the tree.

The lights will shine through.

We opened one gift each before we left. Big sister got a standing frame

 to hold her canvas as she paints.  She was very excited.

Little sister opened some pj's ...just what she wanted and in time to

 wear them to school on a spirit day !! It is good to get just the right things.

soon it was time to pack up and head home.

hugs and kisses all around and time for christmas decorating to begin.

We drove home to Illinois in ggod time. We got 53 miles per gallon in the Prius. Yeah...

We went to our festival of trees on saturday afternoon. All monies go to a local hospital.

This display was so interesting.

The cabin was all made of natural stuff. Including the moss laden miner/hunter

 sitting on the bench. Very interesting amidst the high gloss of most other displays.

The very large centerpiece tree with many old historical Santas and

 gifts from many different countrys.

This tree was decorated by two of our chorus members for our chorus entry.

 It was bought at the action at the gala event before the festival began

by people who will have it on stage at the Christmas symphony. Wahoo.

And then there is the Gingerbread village. This lady is from church and

helps all the youngsters make an entry. She won third place for Judges choice.

It was sold for $90.

Sadie is one of our teens and has a tree farm entry. Notice the pig out by the fence....

Someone paid $100.00 for this creation.

So many very creative entry. We had a lot of our kids entered ...even a 2 year old.

Now I am busying myself with christmas decorations at home  too.

The bathrooms are ready and the dinning room is mostly done.

I have my christmas concert on Sunday afternoon.

We have had dress rehearsal this week besides a  performance last night.

We have several during the christmas time. We will just FaLaLa along....

Have fun this weekend and I will see you again on monday.

It seems weeks at a time just fly by me. And then I have to play catch up besides. We had a very busy and happy time this weekend past. The special birthday turned out well. the guest of honor was very surprised. Her little granddaughter ran to her as she came in the front door. She said " NANA...I have waited all day to see you!!!!!....and we are having a party" That was so cute for a two year old. The home was huge and we easily had 50-60 people there. There was tons of food. So they kindly brought the remains to church on sunday for the potluck. We had a visiting Christian College coralaires with us also. They sang in the afternoon. We also had guest from surrounding area. We had greeted the students on saturday night with a pizza party. Afterwards many played games at the host family's home. On Sunday morning as people arrived bringing an abundance of food we were meet by the strong odor of burned...badly...barbecue. Yikes ...it was enough to make you sick. We found the culprit...The pulled pork in a large roasting pan burned. It had been left on high from very early morning or saturday night. We unplugged, took the whole roaster outside and set it in the rain on the steps by kitchen!! then let a fan blow out the slightly opened door to rid the place of the odor. We had a wonderful time with the young folk and they left mid-afternoon. We finished cleaning all the tables and kitchen that night .

I have been packing for our trip out to Colorado. We leave on thursday. I have bags of food to take for some family recipes and goodies for christmas. We are also doing some birthday party time too. Did I mention Christmas is coming just around the corner. We may press it all in if possible. But the main thing will be being together. Little sister will have her 10th birthday on Thanksgiving day. And the first weekend we will get to see both granddaughters on stage. That is going to be very exciting for us.  I have a couple of pictures and may be able to get those  on later.tonight I have more laundry to do so I can pack clothes too. I did get the fall decor put away so I will be on track to do start Christmas as soon as I arrive home.

If I don't get a chance to get back here on xanga....know that I wish you all a happy time with your loved ones. We have so much in our lives to be thankful for at any time of the year. Practice sharing your gratitude.

 My eyes have not been up to much lately. I went on last monday to my opthamologist to get a shot in my eye to clear the fluid under the retinae. He could not because my eye was so red ..he was concerned about infection. I rested ..literally... all week and went again thursday  night where he was finally able to give me the shot. I  insisted he check my eyes before they put numbing drops in to do other test..eye pressure and vision ... I seem to have a reaction to the numbing drops. They burn and itch and eyes become excessively red.  He said we would do the shot so I endured the tingling and general irritation for 1 1/2 hours till he had a room to see me. The shot went pretty easy.  I  think that the antibiotics he gives me after a shot cleared all the redness and my eye is is better now. Yeah!

Friday night hubby and I helped surprise a good friend for his fortieth birthday. It was a fun party.

Saturday I spent the morning at a card making session . We made five different christmas cards. I made two of each. Some were fast and easy and some long and tedious. But the end results were all pretty neat. Then ran home  to put antibiotics in my eye and off to next adventure. As I was leaving my street I noticed a group of young male adults walking on the sidewalk  across the street. They were not causing any disturbance but I knew they were out of place. These young men were all special needs people that are not usually in my neighbor hood.They seemed to be making a group decision at each corner which way to go next. I turned the car around and went home to call someone to give them assistance. I first tried to call HOPE school that is about 2-3 miles from my house. I thought they had gone out on a 'walk about' because it was such a beautiful day and wouldn't be able to find their way back. I couldn't find the number so decided to call 911....The operator took all the information I could give her. I waited a while. I called the lady that I was on the way to her house and explained. She said come when you can. I waited again. I called hubby and he said he would come home if they had any questions and I could go. So I did. On the way out of subdivision  I followed the direction the boys were going last I had seen them. And there they sat in the front yard around the block smiling and waved to me as I past the house. Apparently they have this group home and I was unaware of it. I guess the lesson still remains to be safe and then not sorry.

The afternoon was fun. A group of six ladies from church came together and worked on a scrap book for one of the ladies daughter who is getting married.  They will have a photo booth at the reception. We made the pages all decorated and ready to drop in pictures  As the people get the photo strip back , they will put it in the book on any page they want, sign their names, and journal any special words to the couple. It turned out great. We had fun but were ready to pull in the sidewalks by 6:30. Hubby took me to Steak and Shake and then chilled out the rest of the evening.

Sunday I got up early and sewed some small pillows for my bible class. I made red satin on one side and white fluffy on the other side. Then filled them with rice and sealed the end with stitches. They can be put in microwave to add warmth on in freezer for a cold pack. My class was studying about the Israelites following Moses in the wilderness with God giving them a cloud to follow in the day and a pillar of fire at night. The kids thought it was good that God gave them a fire to stay warm at night and a cloud to cover some of the sunshine in the day so they wouldn't be too hot. I think I agree. Last night we had a house guest so we visited last night after eating with friends at Bob Evans. He and hubby went today to a meeting about 8:30. I slept in . Yeah me!!

What took up your weekend hours.

...in case you noticed my absence...

I guess by this time you have noticed a change in the foliage about our normal pathways. This is one of my favorite roads to drive by in the fall. All of the trees here by the University by my house are a brilliant red. It was getting sunset here so they seem a little dark. By lovely just the same.

Our daughter and family made it safely back from Brazil...

so we celebrated her birthday a bit late. I made here a turkey head that

 we attach to a pineapple  for our thanksgiving centerpiece.

 Of course I made the body out of our old family joke"Potholders"

 that are passed around lovingly quite often...sometimes for no reason at all. LOL

On monday night I made three large containers of soup for our Ladies

Bible Study. This was the homemade chicken and noodles.

.

Also I made Italian wedding soup with meatball  and acini de pepi..

and ham and 15 bean soup

One of our ladies makes a ribbon sandwich using hawaiian bread sliced

 across the middle and filled with ham salad and egg salad..

 She then covers this giant sandwich with philly cream cheese tinted

 orange. with additional trimming  like a Red headed pumpkin..

We all enjoyed a slice of this sandwich. She made two so she insisted I take

the second one to work for our potluck. Again it was fun and delicious.

more food...ending with apple strudel delight.. yummy!!

Before I could catch up (and clean up)..it was halloween. I wore my

kuspuc ,eskimo dress, to work with all my hand beaded hair piece,

 earing, and eskimo doll  pin.. The next day  I wore my halloween sweater.  

My hubby's boyhood friend from Wisconsin and his wife came to visit 

for the weekend on the way home from visiting their grandkids.

.So we took them out to see the Lincoln sights..

 I meet a friend that  I thought had good taste in clothing.

She was nice enough to give me a spider ring to wear.

Here they see young Lincoln outside his log cabin . inside the

Presidential Museum.

Then over to see the first family at the white house. . They were kind

enough to pose with them.

On the front porch of the white house were some folks we have read about ....

Mary Todd was welcoming everyone to to her home ...but I couldn't

take my camera in any farther.

We took a break for late lunch then went by Lincoln's tomb.

 You may notice the shiny nose...rubbed for good luck.

inside there are many statues of him at different stages of his life.

This is the one my chorus stands by just off to the side from his tomb

 area when we sing on his birthday.. Can't reach his nose so we keep his toes shiny.

We then walked over to the Old Capitol.This is the back entrance but you

 may recognize it from the new pennys. It is also the location that our

 president opened his campaign and also came here to introduce

his vice president running mate. This is where President Lincoln served till he went to washing ton.

This is where he came back to Springfield.

 They have updated the railroad station and park area. very nice. 

Then on Sunday after worship with a very loving church family, we were

 taken to lunch at Smokey Bones by our guest to celebrate my birthday.

I opened this gift from daughter , Donna.  It is perfect!!

Daughter Vicki,sent a blouse and  called and kiddoes sang to me

We also sang to granddaughter Cynthia who shares this date of birth. 

A friend at church gave me a pig made of tiny shells from Florida.

There were several cards.

Later at home . hubby gave me a bracelet that says I AM LOVED...

Inside  the O there is a diamond.. What a sweet birthday. I told my little

children in class it was my birthday and they wanted to know how

old I was . I told them three. They said no way!! I asked how old

 they thought I would be..They said twenty. I like that. Another boy

said yeah ...my mom is 38 and she is real old!!. I love these little kids!! 

HAPPY  BIRTHDAY *

 to my younger sister ... Mary!

She is a wife, a mother to two young men, Aunt to 12, and a great Aunt to 13 in our family 'BUSH'.

She is Smart, energetic, never meet a stranger, pensive, a serious Artist, teaches at a university, tried several different professions, says she will try scuba diving next. She is loved by all she meets. And she named me theprettysister!

She is not on xanga much anymore with her very busy schedule. So lets all go by and fill up her comment section with birthday wishes. I think she will notice that.

* xanga photo server not available

edit....I went to bible study last night at our church building. Our youngest kiddoes want to help with our Great Give Away. So we saved a special job they could do. We lined all the paper sacks up in the hallway by their class rooms. Then each one had a bucket of 'stuff' (personal items),soaps, etc) and went down the hall and put 'stuff' in all the bags. They were pretty full this year. Just as we were almost finished the camera man from our local TV station arrived. He took film of the kids and then interviewed my hubby. We saw the clip on the 10 o' clock news. that should bring out the crowds. I hope we don't become 'cops' because it is all free