Hint taken

Yesterday I got a not-so-subtle message from the Neighborhood Home Owners Association
(in the form of an urban raccoon)
that it was time to take the pumpkins off the porch.

May your days be merry and bright

A few weeks ago we made our annual trek here:

With our friends Rod and Anna to ride the festive bus driven by cheerful Official Santa's Helper Ernie:

Out into the field to find the perfect tree:

Which we cut down, dragged back to the lodge and loaded into that machine that shakes all the loose needles off and wraps it up in twine:

(Oh, and we also saw Santa) The trees were loaded onto the cars and we pulled out of the parking lot just as it started sleeting.
This time of year it's easy to believe that that may have possibly been a tiny Christmas Miracle.

Elf-ish

My friend Denise has a darling daughter, Riley. Yesterday, they had the funniest conversation in the car:

Elvis singing on the radio: "Here comes Santa Claus
Here comes Santa Claus
Right down Santa Claus way."
Radio Announcer: "That was Elvis singing 'Here Comes Santa Claus'"
Riley: "What kind of elf is he? He has an awfully deep voice."

Right about then, Denise laughed coffee through her nose.

Just couldn't resist

Thanks for the idea, Mary!

The world would be a better place...

...if everyone had their own Turkey Leg Crown to wear on Thanksgiving.

I hope everyone had a cozy and warm, bountiful and blessed, loving and wonderful Thanksgiving.

(cue the Christmas music)