Favorite bowl

We bought this 12” bowl from a potter at the Frankfort Fall Festival in 2009. It is my favorite bowl and the centerpiece of our table. Typically filled with apples or bananas, it's a shame the beautiful glaze work is is hidden beneath the food. (But I usually get to see it empty on the day before we go grocery shopping.)

Details

This is the base of a little tin three-drawer cabinet in our family room. I never noticed this detail until today.

Amazing what I see when I just look.

Decorated

For years it's been all clear (white) lights on the house. This year we went crazy and mixed red and clear. Oh my, what will the neighbors think?

Kokopelli

If you have ever been to the southwest, you've probably seen Kokopelli. The god of fertility, he dances and plays the flute-- spreading seeds as he does.

At our house, he does his magic in front of the magnolia bush and tall grasses. He also satisfies a bit of our urge to go back to the southwest. But just a little bit.

Kitsch

Is there anything more kitschy than a snow globe? Yes there is-- one with an over-marketed character in a seasonal costume! And Terri got one today as a special gift for braving the Black Friday crowds at JC Penney. Here's Mickey Mouse in a Santa suit with a really badly painted 2010 (or is that 2020?) on the chimney.

The Chri$tma$ season has officially begun!

Preparing for battle

I used to have a spot at the table. But not when the sale flyers are fresh.

This is phase one of what a professional shopper does on Thanksgiving day. Phase two comes after dinner when the sale papers come out again and all the sisters discuss strategy for their Black Friday operation. Phase three-- the attack phase-- begins well before dawn. Done with the skill and precision of a military strike, these professionals operate solo and will be in and out of the stores and back in bed probably before the sun and their husbands are up. (At least that's what happens at my house.)

Happy Thanksgiving to all! And beware of the Black (Friday) Ops taking place everywhere tomorrow.

Painted Lady

I just love the old traditional farmhouse. Dress it up in a Victorian color scheme and it's really a midwestern treasure!

This one is somewhere near Bloomington, Illinois.

Iggy and Seb

Meet Iggy (Ignatius) and Seb (Sebastian).

These guys are bearded dragons and about three months old when this picture was taken in July. At the time, Iggy and Seb tolerated each other, sometimes even liked each other as shown here.

Terri noticed that Seb was growing at a normal rate but Iggy was not. Feeding time seemed to be traumatic for Iggy so the folks at the Chicago Reptile House recommended separate housing for the two. It turns out those guys knew what they were talking about. Iggy has his own digs now and is almost as big as Seb.

Because they live in separate rooms, these former roommates don't ever see each other. They probably won't even get together on Thanksgiving.

Pineapples!

Pineapples encased in Jell-O is a staple at Terri's parents' house for any gathering. Not-so-much for the adults, but the grandkids go crazy for them.

Terri made a big dinner Sunday and even made pineapples for the boys-- now 16 and 18. It seems they are moving into the adult phase as, after two dinners, most pineapples still remain.

Jingles

Though we did not get around to decorating the house this weekend as planned, our yellow lab Morgan is ready for Christmas.

This is her "Jingle" collar that she wears throughout the Christmas season. She is such a good sport to humor Terri and me the way she does with her tolerance.