Collecting

In rereading a few old blog posts, I've taken note of how often I've asserted that I'm not a collector. But here's where I admit that not only is my Nutcracker ornament collection expanding, my creche collection has a new addition too.  

As a belated high school graduation gift, my sister graciously took our daughter to Europe this summer (who knew being an only niece would have such great perks?).  A stop in Austria yielded this precious gift for me:

Created inside an actual matchbox.  

Just 1 inch x 1.5 inch.  I think it's my miniaturist miniature.  

It's taken it's rightful position alongside my other sweet Nativities.  

Decorating Doubts

This year, Thanksgiving — always on the fourth Thursday in November — was November 22nd.  That’s the earliest possible date the holiday can fall (for the record, November 28th is the latest).  We usually wait until the first full weekend in December to do most of our festooning (don't often get to use that word), but it seems that Christmas decorating has been in full force around town almost since we bid adieu to Halloween. That being said, I didn't waste much time getting our Nutcracker tree  up and decorated two days ago. I wrote about our tree two years ago, here and here, should you doubt my fanaticism.  This year there are some exciting new developments:

The Rat King and his cohorts have taken up residence in the Dining Room.
They've spent the last few years in the upstairs hallway and were ready for some
more attention.

This continues to be my favorite ornament on the tree.

This small Christopher Radko nutcracker ornament was a gift to my daughter
from her 6th grade Latin teacher who had attended her Nutcracker performance.
(Thanks Mrs. Culbertson!)

Oddly, I know, the mouse king is my favorite character.  Consequently, this
is the newest ornament on our tree.

Most of my nutcracker collection loves their new HQ; standing at attention on top of
our dining room china cabinet.

The tree skirt won't be ignored.

Maybe I'll be sick of all this Christmas adornment by the second week of December.  I can say with certainty, it won't be up until the Epiphany, well . . . except perhaps this little tree.

Today

Thanksgiving Plans

Our plans this year for Thanksgiving are a little less than traditional. Most significantly, we'll be missing one important family member.  

She's spending the holiday with my parents not far from the college she attends.  

That's not the only thing different about this year. I won't be cooking a turkey and all the side dishes and I won't be decorating the table. 

Last year's table for 4.

And, I won't be making these delicious homemade rolls (but I promise to share the recipe in the coming days, because they are perfect for the holidays).

Blessedly, this year I will not be forced to contemplate the merits of store-bought versus homemade gravy (since that seems to be my real culinary failing).

We will be, however, engaging, in one important time-honored holiday tradition and we'll be doing that here:

Cowboy Stadium

We aren't Cowboy fans though.   We'll be there to cheer for our beloved Redskins and, Texas-raised Baylor graduate and Heisman trophy winner, Robert Griffin III. 

 We're looking forward to it!

Going to the Polls

It's a great day to be an American.  Go vote today, if you haven't already. I'm not an early voter. To me, there's something about voting on the actual day.  My Type A self doesn't even mind standing in line.  It's a small price to pay to exercise my 14th and 19th Amendment rights.  

Voting in the primary.  

My baby girl will be casting her first vote for President today.  I'm happy for her.  

Democracy at work.  It's a beautiful thing - especially if your [my] guy wins! 

Halloween's Popping Up All Over

It's going to be a "crisp" 78 degrees outside tonight for Trick or Treating, but that doesn't mean folks here aren't in the mood for All Hallows Eve.  As promised, here are just some of the crazy inflatable decorations (most of them gigantic) making an appearance today in and around my neighborhood.

Halloween in triple

A ghostly pirate ship

Frankenstein

This jack o lantern was so big it covered 1/2 this front yard . . . 

this enormous cat covered the other half.

Sweet Snoopy

Scary grim reaper in a Grinch-pumpkin horse drawn carriage?

A giant witch.  She's smiling because it's Halloween.

Pumpkins and whimsical black cats . . . 

just seem to go together.  

Pumpkin Carols

While I'm still doing some reconnaissance on the best Halloween house decorations in the area (photos to come), I thought I would share with you this lovely little Halloween card.  Did you know approximately 10 million Halloween cards were sent last year? I even sent a few of my own this year.

This pumpkin-shape card, however, was sent from my aunt decades ago to me and my sister.  I don't know the actual year, but the price on the back indicates the card cost 75 cents so, needless to say, it was a long, long time ago.  

I've never seen a card quite like it - a book of Halloween songs intended to be sung to the tune of Christmas carols.  I've included a few for your amusement the words don't quite seem to fit in every case, but still this little vintage card makes my heart happy (click on the image and they should be easier to read).

Sung to the tune of Jingle Bells, of course.

Sung to the tune of Winter Wonderland

Sung to the tune of Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Happy Caroling!