City sidewalks

I don't have much to say today except to remind you that this is the week to get your tablecloths or place mats and napkins ready for Thanksgiving. It is also the week that you can wash your glasses. They'll stay sparkly until Turkey Day if you do them now and put them in a cupboard.

You can also get some Christmas shopping done early next week while everyone is trying to whip up a Martha Stewart Thanksgiving. The stores are usually pretty empty, except for Williams Sonoma. I am taking the simple approach to Thanksgiving. Turkey, stuffing, gravy, rice, mashed potatoes, peas, sugar cookies. Sounds good to me.

Speaking of WS, the cutest family came in yesterday to do shopping for teachers and some friends. Two adorable girls and their mom picked out some nice teacher type things and I, of course, being smitten with their cuteness, wrapped everything in cellophane and ribbon for them and gave them individual shopping bags for each present so they wouldn't get mushed together. We were having a bit of a lull so I was able to spend the time doing this with them and it was really fun. They were so cute I can't even describe it. It's really fun at WS when the boys come in to shop for their moms. They always buy an apron and pot holders (and I mean, always) - they are pretty cute too. Somehow you want to make it a special experience because they've made the effort to pick out something they know their moms will love.

Crispy cool

We have had such mild weather this fall that today was an unwelcome surprise. I let the weather get to me and pretty much wasted the day. I am terribly disappointed with myself. Gee wiz, grab a sweater, put on some socks and get out there. By now you can see that I use this blog to keep myself on track. If you care to follow then so much the better.

I am in between work assignments and never do well when things are in flux. So I got a call for three days of work next week which I will gladly do. I've got a few balls in the air and hope I'll settle somewhere.

I hate to tell you but I've got Christmas under control. I know, I know you'll hate me for that but once Thanksgiving week comes I will be crazy busy so it's good that I am organized. 

The best place for me to wrap presents is on my ironing board. You can wrap standing up or if you are as clever as I am you can lower it and sit on the bed while wrapping. That's really my only tip other than buying wrapping paper the day after Christmas discounted at 50% and I have tags to last the rest of my life.

I have been aching for a project so I may get back to needlepointing or maybe knitting. I really am Holly Hobby at heart.

Look at these ducks enjoying the fall weather. I love the hair style on the white ones.

A very pretty living wall - or that's what Martha Stewart calls it.

Tra-La-La

Well, this is something to remember for next year. The day after Halloween is the beginning of the Christmas season. But it does seem a bit early to be hearing Christmas carols.

I, for one, try to get organized in my head early on (not as easy as it sounds) so that I don't have to freak out December 20th. I have a lot of favorite things that would make great presents so I'll be telling you about them as the days go by. Not that I think I am as cool as Oprah - it's just that you should benefit from my great finds.

My new discovery is Ahava Hand Cream and Body Lotion. It comes from Dead Sea Laboratories in Israel. You know how usually, after you put lotion on your hands you kind of have to wipe them off because they are too sticky? Well, this cream gets totally absorbed into your skin. Rye Beach Pharmacy has it - it's great.

My Citiz Espresso Maker from Nespresso is one of the best things I have ever bought. It is like having a butler. Not that I would know. It literally makes your coffee in a minute and you can froth your milk if you buy the frother. You buy the pods on line from Nespresso and each pod is 50-65 cents. This is sold at Williams Sonoma and is worth every penny. You can knock out a few espressos for your dinner party guests in no time.

Today is cold. Well, maybe it isn't cold but I put on a skirt to go to the city and am freezing now that I am home. I think I'll pull up the quilt and read my book: Carry Yourself Back to Me by Deborah Reed. It's good.

I found Rules of Civility to be not so good. Beautifully written but not enough going on with the story.

I am busy trying to start on a new phase of my working life which affects my whole life which is completely exhausting. Whenever I enter a "growth period" it's as though everything in my life shifts a bit. We have to be open to new things or else we'll have no friends and nothing to do.

NY Botanical Garden Orchid Exhibit last year. Pretty.