Martha, Santa, Turkeys and Me

 I am not Martha Stewart.  Not by a long shot.
If I were, there would not have been a Swiffer duster
left behind in the study on Thanksgiving Day,
nor a bottle of window cleaner on the floor of the sunroom.
True story! 

I don't think you'd see these

   in Martha's house on Thanksgiving either . . .  .

 A man in a turkey-printed shirt, about to attack the bird:

 A tableful of 20-and-30-somethings raising their glasses in a toast to GRAVY:

 A paper cutout of a Pilgrim boy and girl taped onto a dining room window.

It's turkey twin was on the opposite window.  

We specialize in elegant decor . . . .

Ah, there's that turkey picture on the window, below.

And leaning in the corner?  Something else you wouldn't see at Chez Martha:

the bolt of new fabric for the dining room drapes.

I didn't even get a chance to phony them up before the holiday!

And at Christmastime, I doubt you'd find this in Martha's house:

A plastic Santa with a bellyful of snowglobe.

It's a treasured family heirloom.

No, really -- it is!

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But that's what holiday decorating is all about, at least to me.

Beginning with Halloween and stretching to Epiphany on January 6th,

it's a chance to make our homes

silly and sentimental,

tacky and traditional,

bizarre and beautiful;

there are no rules.

And too much is often not quite enough.

I am looking forward to breaking out the bling!

Howard and I missed our chance to get our daughters, with their young knees, to do the annual and endless hauling of the Christmas Boxes down from the distant attic.  The girls are both gone now and won't be home till mid-month.  Dang.

The only Christmas decorating done so far?

A little family of light-up white geese on the front lawn,

an homage to our former riverfront home and it's flock of honkers.

 Also, Howard has strung the little white lights along the top of the sunroom; so pretty.

But I have misplaced my camera -- no new pictures today; I'm recycling from '09.

I'm looking forward to finding all sorts of Christmas delights

when those boxes do come down from the attic.

Is any time of year more beautiful?

Christmas balls and sparkle.

Ribbons and fresh greens and crystal clear lights.

Outdoors . . . .

 And in!

 I can't wait to see your holiday decor, from simple to sumptuous.

Already so many bloggers' houses are bursting with Christmas joy.

I am in awe of their organization.  Now they really are Marthas!

As we turn the calendar to December, I am preparing myself for a Christmas of hope and faith.
I had much to be thankful for during the Thanksgiving weekend.
My father was released from the hospital on Saturday and is doing all right.
Howard's parents were with us for the holiday, and we had a lovely weekend of visiting.
Both our daughters were at home for Thanksgiving; that was a priceless gift.
My husband is simply the best of men. 
And Dion, our dog, got gifts from Happy Frank.  If you don't know who Happy Frank is, Dion will fill you in --
but that will have to wait a day or two.  He is so slow on the keyboard!

Happy Chanukah to all who celebrate the Festival of Lights;

the first candles are lit at sundown tonight, and then every night for 8 days.

 We will reserve our Chanukah latke (potato pancake) celebration till our girls are home,

because otherwise they will never speak to us again,

but we will light the menorah tonight as families have done for so many generations. 

Blessings -- Cass

Linky Parties:

Outdoor Wednesday, hosted by Susan at A Southern Daydreamer; click here!

Wednesday is Rednesday, hosted by Sue at It's A Very Cherry World; click here!

White Wednesday, hosted by Kathleen at Faded Charm; click here!