It was a Merry Christmas even though it was different this year!

Christmas 2015 has come and gone, it was a nice one,had my Children and Grandchildren here Christmas Eve. The weather was warm and foggy, so we did have a "foggy Christmas Eve"! Christmas day I visited my twin brothers. It was different this year as one of them unexpectedly lost his fiance in September after visiting with each of them, we visited the cemetery.

Christmas Eve is only a week away !

It is so hard to believe that it is only 1 week until Christmas Eve! I do have my tree up and decorated inside and out although I kept it simple this year. I have all my gifts bought and wrapped.
I have also started baking. Sunday is my twin brothers Birthday so I will be cooking some special dishes for them and celebrate with them on that day. I am enjoying Christmas music, the decorations and the smells of Christmas cookies baking as I sip my eggnog flavored coffee!

Enjoying the season !

Even though it is 78 degrees outside, I am enjoying my fireplace along with a bowl of homemade vegetable beef soup. Hope to get my Christmas tree up this weekend as well as some outside lights. I just cannot believe it is only 13 days until Christmas. I am enjoying every minute of the preparations!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas !

How can it already be the 9th of December ! Time is going so fast it seems, maybe this is what happens as we get older. I remember when the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas seemed long. I do have my Christmas shopping all done. I have learned to start it in October and try to be finished by Thanksgiving, avoiding the heavy crowds and long lines. I have my inside Christmas decor out and  poinsettias and a lighted Santa by the front door. All I have yet to do is decorate the tree, make cookies,wrap gifts, plan Christmas dinner, mail cards!

The day after!

It was a wonderful Thanksgiving! Both my daughters, their children, 1 of my bothers and dear neighbors, who are like family were all here. I was so busy enjoying the day that I forgot to take pictures, I do have one of my youngest daughter,her daughter and myself that was taken before everyone else arrived. It is always so good to have my loved ones under the same roof at the same time! I was very tired by the time the day was over, I do all the cooking and try to have everyones favorite dish made. They always offer to help but it is something I enjoy doing for my family. Today I am relaxing and reflecting on how great the day was and how blessed I am!

Happy Thanksgiving !

Wishing all my blogger friends a wonderful day with family, friends, food and love !

Weekend in the Smoky Mountains !

We just returned from a long weekend in the Mountains, it was a wonderful relaxing time. We stayed in the 1937 Inn. It was like going back in time! We had coffee in one of the sitting rooms each morning,a nice breakfast in the dinning room. After a day of sight seeing and shopping we returned to the Inn to have warm apple cider on the porch , in a rocker in front of the outdoor fireplace. On the way home we stopped and atexat The "Dillard House" it was all you could eat served family style. There was no way we could eat all that food they put on the table to begin with, we sure did not need seconds on anything! A wonderful weekend!