Happy Thanksgiving!

Belatedly .. as if par for me these days.

I do have to tell you that there was some serious work to be done here

before we could pause and be thankful.

Use your imagination.

It is bound to go to places of perhaps a hoarder or the likes.

We celebrated Thanksgiving in the most American way possible.

Counters and table laden with food ...

friends and family joining us.

The only picture I snapped at the table wasn't posed ..

that means that mouths were being stuffed.

Not sharable if you're me.

You can be thankful for that.

I was thankful for the fact that I live in Arizona.

'Tis the season now where one can be thankful for things like that.

Christmas trees went up on one end of the back patio ...

..they had already been hauled out for the market..

and flowers were planted on the other end.

These little loves are about the only things I can grow.

And truth be told, I cooked two turkeys on Thursday.

Sort of wasn't the plan ... so I ran to Walmart for another turkey baking bag.

And as if I was a moose eating a muffin ... I wandered into the garden department.

Hence ... while my turkey baked ... my flowers got planted.

Pekka, Laina & Riitta came to town, spending Friday nite with us.

The state of trees on one end of the patio and freshly planted flowers on the other got a chuckle.

Yup ... unless our temps hit those of the Midwest or the bugs move in (as is usual) ..

my flowers will survive until it gets hot in June.

My gardening heart is incredibly thankful!

Hoping your Thanksgiving was spent with those you care for

and there were many blessings to be found.

ab.sen.tee

ab.sen.tee: a person who is expected or required to be present at a place or event but is not.
ab.sen.tee.ism: the practice of regularly staying away from work or school without good reason.

It has been a minute but life might just begin returning to normal ... whatever normal is.

In the meantime ... while I've been absent, we were blessed with another grandson. Dominic Rai was born to Alyx and Tarron on October 15th.

I love how babies change so quickly. Although I am the absolute worst at seeing someone's nose or eyes in a new little cherub ... even the facial expressions of this newest little love mimic his older brother.

We are especially thankful that this young growing family lives very close by .. making hugs and kisses a habit!

I've been absentee in birthday celebrations ... births ...all of that great stuff.

So a belated welcome to the world little one ... and a belated birthday wish to your mom!

Desert Bloom Market

I have to say I've been consumed.
The other week I sat in a class and handwrote a few blog posts in my notebook.
They're still there.

As cute as my mini Brock bookmark is .... get ready for serious cuteness today!

A good part of this year has been consumed with the market.
I am a nurse by trade, a crafter by heart.
Crafting is what keeps me sound and stable.
For some of you it might be shopping .. for others, flipping pages of a book.
Give me a paintbrush and power tools.
Countless trips to Home Depot and Hobby Lobby ... countless hours of serious fun outside and in.
Countless hours of spending time with friends working on projects. And I mean projects!

Last week it happened. This was a first time for our congregation here in Phoenix and Saturday we established a tradition. A quite fine one if I say so myself.

Today I am sharing photos from the prep and day of the sale. I feel like I've just done my own daughters wedding and can't hardly believe it is over.

Just a few of many gifts waiting to see what happens this first time around.

The kitchen ... oh my! I will be the first to admit that I had nothing to do with that part. They moved some serious amounts of dough in there into delectable treats.

Samples of the delectable for shoppers ..

who shopped and shopped ..

far beyond my hopes and dreams.

We will most certainly be back again next year ... blooming in the desert.

For a while though, I'm safe to visit the blog.
I might even find moments to think and write ... unless I'm lost in Pinterest!