Greening Friday
We drove about a half-day's drive up to Camden, Maine to spend Thanksgiving with my sister-in-law and my mother-in-law.
At one point during the late afternoon my husband and his sons went outside and built a fire.
It was cold!! It was about 25 degrees!
Too cold for me so I sat inside next to the fire in the wood stove and chatted with my mother-in-law. It had been a few years since we'd had a chance to see her. She moved up from Florida at the beginning of the pandemic after losing her husband and suffering a stroke.
We all were so grateful that we could all be together again.
My brother-in-law and twin nieces were with his father, who is recovering from cancer treatments so it was just the six of us.
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We were home by late Thursday afternoon so I took a little nap and then watched Christmas Vacation and started decorating for the season. It's been my tradition since my grown daughters were little girls to watch Christmas Vacation on the day after Thanksgiving. I'm not much of a black Friday shopper so I prefer to spend today decorating, cooking, and going for a walk outside.
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I am fortunate to work in a school that closes Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of Thanksgiving week. It's lovely to have a two day week and a five day weekend!
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I will be removing the mums from the window box and planting some Christmas/winter greenery. For the past few years I have added some winterberry plants...which the squirrels loved. This year I plan on adding some red lights so that it won't be all green after the squirrels have their way.
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I hope those of you here in USA had a very happy Thanksgiving. For me it was bittersweet. I was so happy that Joe's family got to be together after such a long absence but I missed my mum so.
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These holidays can be so tough the first year of our losses.
ReplyDeleteI am not far from Boston today....we had our feast at the First Church down in WB. Today we aren't sure what to do as the hike got cancelled....so rainy down here on the south shore! Yesterday was glorious.....54 degrees and sunny. I loved it.
It's wonderful you could finally see your mother in law. I do know mine was very thankful to be out of rehab for a few hours and to see all of her grandchildren.
I too love having this 5 day weekend!! WHOO HOO....and then only 3 weeks of teaching in Dec!
I wish i had the kind of windows for window boxes but alas, we don't. Maybe one day.....
I hope you enjoy a wonderful day of decorating and relaxing around your home. I will begin the xmas decor on Sunday.............
Oh, those mischievous squirrels - they scurry about in my front yard every day, and I'm still scared of them a bit haha. It's so nice you got to visit with your mother-in-law. And your table setting is simple and lovely.. That is a treasured picture of all the men around the fire pit. And it's already 29 degrees here in the mountains too........so cold. : )
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your Christmas decorating.!
~Sheri
Always joy and lament seem to go hand in hand. I'm just a hop skip away from Camden, and you wouldn't have caught me sitting outside on Thanksgiving day either!
ReplyDeleteI am really late commenting. But I am still thankful.
ReplyDeleteThe first holidays after are always the hardest...hugs to you. I'm glad though that you could be with your husband's mom.
Kudos to your hubby and those boys for making the bonfire. I agree with you...too cold. But I do love fires.
That's so wonderful your husband's family could be together for Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteWe did some shopping online, but I don't like to go out on Black Friday.
Those first holidays without a loved one are hard. Praying for God's comfort for you.