Many Reasons To Be Thankful

It's a little late for a Thanksgiving post but I had to share what our feast looked like. Pottery pieces all made by myself were scattered about the table. Herbs from the garden were clipped for the last time this year, and proudly displayed in the center of table. The kids kept running back and forth from the kitchen to the living room, sometimes helping me measure ingredients for the sides. Our oven decided to fail about a week before the actual meal, so this year my mom made all the oven related food - including the big turkey. There was lots of mashing up the sides on our end and some how, some way it all came out picture perfect, even better than expected. 

The day after, we started putting up our Christmas tree and put mason jars with tea lights in the windows. It's not your typical New England winter here, as we have yet to see more than a small dusting of snow, but when it does finally arrive I want our house to have the look of a cozy little cottage on the hill. Books raise the mason jars in the windows, and the tree was put in the dining room so people driving by can see the twinkling lights. Nothing but white lights. In fact if I could fill the whole house with them I would. 

This year we gave thanks to opportunities that were new or ones that would soon come, our family - we always feel so blessed to have happy chattery children that make this house come alive, and our home. We love this castle on the hill and when there was even a thought this year that we might have to leave the area, our hearts were sad. The opportunities that we were waiting on have arrived, so that idea is long gone, another thing we are thankful for. 

Now we are off collecting nature to make wreaths for our doors and drying fruit to make garland. I'm still working on my cross stitch, pottery pieces, and other crafty bits. Holidays are just around the corner!  

Pumpkins, Apples, Oh Pie!

We have picked our way through fall. There is still a pile of apples sitting on the corner of my dining room table waiting for something to be done with them. There has been over 4 apples pies made, applesauce, and a large pile given away.

The leaves are making quite a show around here. Some trees look like they are working inside out, changing their leaves to a bright yellow leaving the rims still green, while others look as if they are mimicing a flame. Once they have given into the wind they twirl about in the air to do one final dance - which in turn makes the cats all wide eyed and crazy.

Our giant pumpkins are proudly displayed by our door and the house is all decorated for spookiness. The oldest decided he was too "old" for trick-or-treating this year, which secretly is breaking my heart into a million pieces. But the other little ones are excited to bring home their bounty of candy to gobble up and have their costumes all ready. 

This time of year always begs me to sit down and start some projects. Right now I am working on a baby quilt for a co-worker and preparing our garage to turn into a clay studio. There are projects I've pinned, ideas jotted down, and every week go to pottery class. Tomorrow I get back another batch of items from the kiln, some of the best I've done so far. 

While I seem to be documenting my day to day far better on Instagram then on here lately - I can't wait to share all my fall projects.

Found

We visited the site of an old pottery mill this weekend. The kids had fun running on the pier, looking for broken pottery that still remains on the shore from the 1800's. Sail boats seemed to dot the blue crisp water, while puffy clouds drifted over head. It felt good just to get out of house. To take a drive into an unkown town, explore, and spend a day together.