So for the last few days i've been putting away all the fall decorations and getting ready for all the Christmas. I'm sure i'm not alone in this endevor.

I put the last of the Thanksgiving/fall stuff back up in the attic and had my Son help me get out all (30) boxes of Christmas. I've edited over the years but keep finding stuff at garage sales, estate sales, thrift stores and the Atlanta mart that I cant live without.
This Christmas my chalange to you is.... Keep it real, or at least try and incorporate some real things into your decore. Dont buy all your greenery, go out in your yard and clip some of your own. I'll show you how. Thats it for now, I'm off to Home Depot for lightbulbs.

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WE END UP WITH THIS BEAUTIFUL MOUND OF ORIGIONAL WORKS OF ART. HERES THE RECEIPE.....HAPPY THANKSGIVING Y'ALL.

1 CUP SHORTENING
1 CUP SUGAR
1/2 TSP SALT
1 CUP MOLASSES
2 TBLES WHITE VINEGAR
1 EGG BEATEN
5 CUPS FLOUR
11/2 TSP BAKING SODA
1 TBLES GROUND GINGER
1 TSP GROUND CINNAMON
1 TSP GROUND CLOVES

*CREAM SHORTENING, SUGAR AND SALT. STIR IN MOLASSES, VINEGAR AND EGG. SIFT TOGETHER AND ADD REMAINING INGREDIENTS. CHILL MIX OVERNIGHT. DIVIDE INTO 1/4THS. ROLL 1 PART AT A TIME ON A FLOWERED BOARD 1/8 " THICK. REFRIGERATE REMAINDER. CUT OUT WITH A SHARP COOKIE CUTTER. PLACE ON A GREASED COOKIE SHEET AND BAKE AT 375 APROX 6 MIN. COOL SLIGHTLY AND REMOVE. DECORATE AS DESIRED(I USE ROYAL ICING) MAKES APROX 50 COOKIES.

ITS VERY MESSY, BUT WORTH EVERYBIT OF THE MESS TO GET THESE FABULOUS RESULTS.

EVERY YEAR FOR AS LONG AS i CAN REMEMBER, WE HAVE BEEN MAKING GINGERBREAD TURKEY AND ACORN COOKIES FOR THANKSGIVING. MY KIDS ARE ALL GROWN NOW SO I RECRUTE NEICES, NEPHEWS AND LITTLE NEIGHBORS TO HELP DECORATE.

I love Thanksgiving. Everything about it is wonderful. My (3) adult children will be home. We start the day with the Gobble Jog, a 5k road race through the square in historic Marietta. All procedes go to a local Must ministries food bank. After the race I feel no guilt for the consumption to follow. When we get back from the race, it's just in time for the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. I'm a traditionalist and believe that the Christmas season should not start till after the parade. After that... it's on.

Many years ago, My beloved Grandmother in Connecticut(my birth state) passed on her "Wild Turkey" plates, cups and saucers and serving pieces. 12 place settings in all. I have collected all sorts of Thanksgiving things to decorate with over the years. It's becoming harder and harder to find over the years with the retailers going from Halloween to Christmas in one fell swoop. I have figured out the reason... They cant capitalize on Thanksgiving. Simply no money to be made. Rest ashured, you will never see any signs of Christmas at Oakton till the day after Thanksgiving.