What Your Mother Meant When She Said "Don't Eat Like a Pig"

As I sit here gathering my thoughts,

the house is filled with the aroma of roasting pumpkin.

This year I snagged one of the big Cinderella pumpkins that I had found

for Autumn decorating...

cut it into segments (only using about a third of the pumpkin...it was a monster!)

and roasted them in the oven for Thanksgiving baking.

As you read this post Wednesday morning, 

the flour will be flying as I make my flaky, buttery pastry crusts and pumpkin pies.

If the pie tastes half as good as it smells in this house...

we will be in pumpkin Heaven on Friday.

Yes, Friday.

Our family tradition is fondly known to us as...

Black and Blue Friday.

We have placed a moratorium on Christmas shopping that day,

and instead spend the day feasting and playing and enjoying each others' company...

four generations of us.

It's my favorite holiday of the year... all the good of Christmas, without the shopping.

Just good ole family fun and fellowship.

It is on this day that I am filled with so much thankfulness that I can hardly contain myself.

Thankfulness for family ties...

for all of the souls, young and old, whom I cherish the most.

Parents, children, grandchildren, Hubbs ...all my favorite people in this whole wide world....

all together in one place... surrounding me with love and warmth.

Perfect!

And of course, the farm work continues...

but truly the work is a labor of love...

as my thankfulness extends to these precious souls whose care has been entrusted to me.

They fill each of my days with sweet and tender joy.

Look who's roosting with the turkeys!

Two of the Lucilles were in the turkey house last night when I closed up.

I wonder what the fellows think of that!