CHRISTMAS IS IN FULL SWING when Thanksgiving is in the archives

A LONG POST.  Just sayin.

Downtown Sapulpa, Oklahoma at their Christmas CHUTE.

FOR MONTHS NOW, I noticed HOLIDAY pretties in the stores long before Halloween or Thanksgiving things were out for display.  Decorations GALORE.  The Pilgrims and turkeys are almost completely overlooked as the stores jump from Halloween straight to Christmas.  The FOOD isn't though.  We once again purchased a HAM and got a FREE Butterball Turkey for THANKSGIVING.  Would like to do this again for CHRISTMAS.  

One turkey went to the KANSAS Family for a early Thanksgiving meal and one turkey went to the OKLAHOMA Family for Thanksgiving Day.  Kansas Son.in.law spatchcocked the turkey and my Oklahoma Son smoked his.  At both locations I enjoyed TURKEY with the all the fixings.  

We had FEASTS and ate exceptionally well.  God has blessed us in a mighty way.  As we go from Thanksgiving to Christmas...I am very Thankful for FAMILY and that we have GOD in our lives.

~SAPULPA THANKSGIVING~

My oldest Granddaughter turned 22 on the 19th just a few days before THANKSGIVING.  Watching my Grandchildren grow up has been full of countless blessings.  Oh the JoY!!!

This Grandson does not like having his picture taken and would continuously turn on me.  The backside of a 14 year old Mister A.

THANKSGIVING EVENING we went to see the Sapulpa CHRISTMAS Chutes.  Absolutely awesome.  Put me in the CHRISTMAS SPIRIT.  SO colorful and cheery.  We saw it last year before it was lit.  This year we got to see it lit up.

One of the stores had their doors open as the weather was nice enough for this on THANKSGIVING DAY.  They have a huge fireplace which was in use and I got to thinking if we ever do build our Sheep Herders Station in the country, a Living room with a wall size fireplace would be awesome.  What a mood it generated. 

Gears shifted from THANKSGIVING to CHRISTMAS.  I have one month to get my act together before CHRISTMAS with all the unpacking.  Will I make it?  I don't know.  This will be a priority in the month of December and then I will continue into the new year 2024.

  It seems impossible that 2024 is near.  The year was incredibly busy and it flew right on by.  So busy.

~MY BOYS WITH A MOOSE~

My BOYS with their sons.

The week of THANKSGIVING the small communities around here have decked out their main streets.  Looks so pretty and the minute THANKSGIVING is over, the SALES pop up and the lights go on.

Leaving Oklahoma, we drove into town after dark, the CHRISTMAS lights were turned on making the downtown area flicker with illumination.  Wreaths with ribbons are on the light poles.  Greenery freshens up the place.  SO pretty and I sure like driving around at night looking at the lights throughout the town.

There are still leaves on some of the trees which are quickly disappearing where the naked tree branches are exposed.  The bright colors cheer up the environment.  The lights and decorations brighten the dreariness of the cold Kansas weather.  

I don't suppose we'll have a CHRISTMAS TREE in the house this year as we are still climbing out of moving boxes, but perhaps we will get a small tree to place on the porch and high light it with bright light bulbs.  I have a urn on the porch with a mum plant in it that I can remove and plant the mum in the side yard flowerbed.  I could empty the soil that's in the urn and place a small CHRISTMAS TREE in it.  This just might be enough CHRISTMAS CHEER to lift my spirits for not having an indoor tree this season.

As I sit by the COTTAGE window next to my chair, I'm watching huge snowflakes trickle down.  We got the snow that was mentioned.  May have 7" by Sunday.  I don't mind staying indoors when it's snowing.

Watching the snow falling makes for a quiet moment. Times like these, I wish we had a large fireplace to keep us warm during the blistery months in Kansas.    

AND NOW THAT THANKSGIVING IS IN THE ARCHIVES our CHRISTMAS IS IN FULL SWING.  Beautiful SNOW and HAPPY THOUGHTS about CHRISTMAS with Christmas Cards going out this week before December 1st?  Early bird gets the worm.  Speaking of worms, the bag of organic celery that I took to the KIDS had a worm in the package.  Yuck.  This has never happened to me before.  Oh the shame of it all.  We had a good laugh. 

I won't be out shopping this year for gifts.  I might return to JUST LOOK and get IDEAS, attend some Christmas Programs and some OPEN HOUSES.  I'd like to attend a Candle Light Service believing the GOSPEL about our LORD.   

The CHRISTMAS SEASON is here.

Many Blessings to you and yours,

~d