Monday, November 29, 2021

Goodbye November

 November is about to say goodbye and I am kinda sad about it. November has been such a pretty fall month here. I realized I had not shared my fall on the bayou picture yet so here it is. The few leaves we have that change right on the coast are starting to do their thing.




There is a lovely tree down the street that is totally yellow. If you are patient even Florida can have a season of autumn. 

Gus wasn’t interested in cooperating so I had to turn around before I could get a good picture.

I will freely admit that we are NOT moving into my favorite time. Oh… don’t worry, I love Christmas. I mean I love all it stands for and the lights are my favorite, but I totally hate the early dark nights. I want to go to bed at 5:30 and then it ALL messes with my sleep pattern. I am glad Christmas is in December to keep me above the fray of depression from the dark.

Enough of that. I wanted to jump right in with Christmas decorating last week before Thanksgiving but  I resisted. Everywhere you turn, it is screaming at you. However, I know myself well and if I pull it out too soon I start going a little stir crazy. I did get my tree over the weekend and began thinking about some things I might do differently this year. I am slowly putting it all out and unlike last year when I was having a little moment of insecurity over sharing, I am going to share it on the blog this year. 

One thing I did differently was to take all my Christmas decorations BACK downstairs to store them. In a moment of craziness after a hurricane one year I moved them from the perfect storage closet downstairs to a not so perfect closet upstairs and it just caused a lot of problems. In the last couple of months I remedied that and all felt right again. Now, I can bring them up as I feel like it and not create a monster mess! 

I also got creative and did something very different with the banisters. I have not loved the garland the last couple of years and it was almost drudgery to put it out. I can’t wait to show you what I came up with. Jeff agreed it was a good update. I will finish up this week and  start taking pictures to share.

I usually use January to do a deep dive in decluttering and cleaning. For the first time in retirement life I feel like I am in such a good place with decluttering. I have actually been pretty ruthless in the last couple of months and this January should be more of a cleaning. The key is to not bring back in anything to replace the clutter. 2021 has been the year I have truly worked on that piece. I was not totally successful but nevertheless a ton better. All of that to say, my kitchen can’t wait until January for its deep clean. I have no idea what has happened in my kitchen, but good grief Thanksgiving had me wanting to clean rather than cook. I just might share some of that too. A drawer or cabinet a day:)

Now, if I didn’t have grandkids I would have no pictures, but I will blow up the post now with cuteness.



Lindsay, Tyler amd the kids went to the Auburn house this weekend. They did a drive over to Callaway Gardens which is about 45 minutes away from Auburn. Both Tyler and Lindsay remember the many trips to see lights they took as kids to see the lights. Tucker was truly enthralled. 

I was so sad we were not going to Auburn this year but Jeff and I had a church commitment that just needed to be done. I think it turned out well for Lindsay and Tyler. They had a fun little family weekend so these are pictures Lindsay sent me.






I don’t usually get worked up at all over sports scores, but this past weekend’s score did me in. I didn’t go in thinking Auburn had a chance at anything but a true massacre in Jordan Hare. I even had Jeff get my tree so I could decorate it when it got too bad to watch AND then my little Tigers played their hearts out. We were solidly winning until the last minute which in the back of my mind I kept expecting the whole game. I never get worked up over football ever… not since a specific incident here locally where a child my son’s age died from an injury. It completely changed my mind about sports. You can read about the young man here.  https://taylorhaugen.org/My husband was the principal at this school and the parents are amazing.  If you read it you know how silly it is to get upset over a football score!

Anyway, I shocked myself at my reaction to the loss on Saturday. It was just such an intense game and an awful, way to lose that I felt depleted for a solid hour. I moped which made me feel guilty so I dusted myself off and started putting that tree up and gave myself an attitude adjustment. Sometimes we need to do that:)

November is going and the year will be over before I know it. Can we slow it down just a wee bit AND maybe find a way for the sun to stay out a we bit longer each day. I do try to embrace that cozy huge idea and to slow down but it is a struggle for me.

Blessings to all, 

Sandy

11 comments:

  1. The bayou pictures are incredible, Sandy. I have enjoyed seeing the monthly changes you have shared through them. What precious pictures of Tucker and Palmer (and their parents)!

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  2. Wonderful pictures and love the kiddos always! I totally understand what you mean about the dark nights and wanting to go to bed at 5:30. I've really had a difficult time adjusting since the time change and also since my surgery. But now that I am putting up the Christmas lights throughout the house I am happy and enjoying the lights and scenery so much it is helping me feel better. Sorry about the football game upset. I don't get into football, but my hubby and the boys do. I usually just stay busy doing something else. I am happy to hear from you and hope December will be a very happy month for you.

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  3. Oh my, you should have been at my office on Monday! One of our staff is an Alabama fan and the other is Auburn. They are still at each other over that game! It is all in fun (mostly) but they really need to let it go now! I hate that it is dark at 5:30 now. My decorating is done. I put less and less out each year, but the house looks festive and I am happy my sister will be here with me this year. I enjoyed the read, Sandy! xo

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  4. The grandkids are so very precious...but you know that already! What a joy they are. And the game? We watched and wept! For them to lead the WHOLE game and then lose was sad! And so many Overtimes...I've never seen that many! I thought about you too and knew you were a big fan. Well...next time! Hugs!

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  5. Beautiful photos, Sandy! The boys are completely adorable.

    I hate to see November leave, also. It has been really a lovely and relatively warm month here. I love December and Christmas, but am sad to see November (and our camp season) come to an end.

    I am now in suspense wondering what you have done with those banisters.

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    1. I guess we have something to look forward to with spring. Winter has me doing a thorough cleaning of things. The good thing about my banisters is I didn’t buy a thing. I repurposed stuff I had.

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  6. Merry Christmas Sandy: Total cuteness of the children even mom and dad are so cute.
    Beautiful outdoor photos.
    I am starting to declutter, it feel so good, I did a deep clean of the kitchen it feels like a new kitchen.
    I cannot go to game any longer I get too worked up.
    I watched the video, I just wanted to give the mother and father a very big hug, I cried over someone I did not know, what an amazing young man he was, thank-you for sharing the video with us.

    Catherine

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  7. The grandsons have such sweet faces! I love it when you post pictures of them.

    Football scores. Now that the football fan is not here, I never watch any games. Can't say I miss it. I usually found something to do with my hands or napped during the games, sitting in my recliner so I could be near Beloved, but I didn't usually get worked up about it. Oh, I take that back. The years the Broncos were headed to the Super Bowl -- I made exceptions for that and joined in with the hollering.

    Yes, the Christmas lights do help with the darkness in late afternoon. I had not thought about it but putting up some lights here inside my house has been helpful to my psyche.

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  8. Cute pictures. I don't like to decorate early; as I get tired of it. Plus, I have to move things around to make room for the tree so don't like to do that too early. I agree with you on the darkness of Dec after the time change. Today is a perfect example. It's gray and ugly out and has been since 9 am this morning. Booooooooo

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  9. Sandy, Well, we are in Winter mood here, snow and it's completely dark by 5pm I hate it, I go to bed too early and then wake up to early but don't get out of bed because it's dark out!! A vicious circle. I don't mine the weather but the darkness is quite depressing, I just can't get moving when it's dark out.
    Your grandchildren are so beautiful, I can only imagine the joy they bring to you.
    I don't like football, I could never understand it and it's too violent for my taste.
    I'm looking forward to seeing your Christmas decor! I don't put mine out till later in Dec because we leave it up till little Christmas. Enjoy the rest of the week.

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  10. Oh, you do have the prettiest view from your deck! It relaxes me just looking at the photos!

    I'll be looking forward to seeing your Christmas decorating. This is always such a fun time of year to be a blog reader :) The early fall of night time is not my favorite either, but I'm usually so busy this time of year that I tend to get through it just fine. January is when I tend to get down and lack energy. Enjoy your weekend ♥

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I am so glad you stopped by my little blog. Drop in again anytime.
Sincerely,
Sandy