What a wonderful gift you and your family gave to your surprise guest, and in turn, she gave one to all of you by her acceptance and enjoyment at what must have seemed strange to her. Shy, I, personally loved the part where the "daugter of the Matriarch wants to take on the part of doing the feast." Now, that I think of it, I, too, am the Matriarch of my family and will gladly become just a guest--welcome, I hope--at family gatherings! :>)

Oh goodness! I hadn't taken time to read all the posts on here until tonight. I thought it would be a nice "diversion" to read through and take my mind off how empty my home feels. Thank goodness I have my two sweet Goldens to keep me company. ;o) Punk you are just too much. You really made me feel like this beautiful table was "in my honor". Can't believe you found Bordello plates with turkeys and ACORNS on them! Didn't have any idea there was such a thing! They look really great with your soup bowls, and those really big green acorns. What a neat turkey centerpiece too. I do love our "twin" trays, so pretty with the leaves and acorns and the special verse. Very pretty decor, and please forgive me for beig so late looking at it. Jeanne, Karen, and Nana, thanks for your thoughts of me as well. I think this is the hardest thing I've ever had to endure, but know that God, time and sweet memories will help fill the emptiness I feel. Hugs, Luvs

I was stenciling "Merry Christmas" on a burlap ribbon for most of the day to use as a garland on our Christmas tree. Had to do it in sections so it would dry okay. Then sewed snowflakes between each Merry Christmas. The ribbon is 20 yards long, so got in six Merry Christmases. Ha! Turned out great and cost $7 ($1 for stencil at Wal-mart and $6 for ribbon at Michael's and I already had snowflakes) Also made sign. Hard to describe. We had a metal wall hanging that had three sections. DH cleaned it and painted it black. Then cut green sparkly craft paper to fit in each square. Bought black letters at Michael's and put magnets on the back so they would spell out JOY either veritically or horizontally. Then put Christmas-y flowers on it. Turn out great. Cost about $5.

Oh, this all brings back the memories when ex and I were stationed in San Jose - USMC. It was our first Thanksgiving away from home and family. I had told him if he knew of any "orphans" on the base that would enjoy a place to spend Thanksgiving, please invite them. He ended up inviting 20 Marines to my little, teeny apartment! What a riot that dinner was. "Who knows how to peel potatoes?" "Bugs, will you be the stirrer of the gravy?" "Chopper, help me get this bird out of the oven to baste......move over, Bugs." "Who wants to chop celery?" "Frenchie, you and your celery need to move off to the patio table on the deck. Please, stop playing with the dog until you're done." "Buggar, just put the freakin' sweet potatoes in the dish, smush the butter and maple sugar on it - marshmallows will go later if you don't eat them all." "MEDIIIIIIICCCC" Man, I was cooking with my oven, my micro wave, the BBQ and the oven in the motorhome. (Mental note to anyone who cares - Never turn your motorhome oven over to 2 Marines and a six pack of beer) It was the bestest dinner ever! Well,......not counting the pumpkin pie and, Tex, who fell off our second story balcony into the bushes below.