Pre-Thanksgiving Jitters

I hope you're all taking a little time for yourself during a busy pre-holiday week. Not much sewing going on lately. I get Thanksgiving jitters around this time every year just thinking about everything I have to do - shopping, baking, cooking, cleaning - to make sure everything turns out great. It always does so I don't know what I worry about. The food is always superb and the company behaves well. If the house and table isn't perfect, Ehh. 

For the last few years I've gotten a lot better at saying "Oh well" if a curve ball gets thrown at me. Except for the time a couple of years ago when I let the dog out right after Thanksgiving dinner without checking to see if the gate to the backyard was closed after dark. It wasn't. She spotted a skunk in the far corner, then chased after it like her life and the lives of her family depended on it. We both got skunked as I ran after her and tried to scoop her away. I had to leave the party to run upstairs and take a shower with Dawn dish soap. I left my husband with the de-skunking of the dog part. 

Yeah, I can laugh about it now . . . . I even bought a tiny skunk ornament for the tree that Christmas so we'd remember.  So you can see why I still get a bit stressed.

 Anyway, I always make sure I take some silent time for gratitude during this week as I prepare, to keep the calm feelings going forward. And, if it gets to be too much on the actual day (have you watched The Bear, LOL??) I steal myself away from the crowd and retreat upstairs for 15 minutes while I leave the post-dinner cleanup to others. Shh, don't tell anyone. So far no one's noticed and I'd hate to have to give that up . . . .

Garden Quilt Show

Yesterday, I spent some time at the Fine Art of Fiber show at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Lots of pretty quilts in a beautiful (indoor) garden setting. I usually go every year but missed last year for some reason. 

          Two things I love: walking around outside in my favorite season and looking at some lovely quilts. 

Lots of pretty, colorful quilts and lovely fall surroundings. I was disappointed that there were not many traditional quilts displayed (my style) but they were all beautiful nonetheless. This quilt below, a Lori Holt design made by Lydia Hoelle, was my favorite.  

This sweater reminded me of the quilt.

Still a few flowers blooming here and there.

Some parts of the garden were blocked off because they were setting up a winter light show that starts later next week. One of my favorite parts is always the waterfall. It was closed though, so here are a few photos of what it looked like in years past. 

 

                                           

                                 

                     

 It was a perfect fall day and the colors of the leaves were just beautiful. 

                        

                                   

                            

                     

The weather forecast originally called for rain but it turned out to be a beautiful day. If you're in the Chicago area, the Botanic Garden is always worth a trip. The show runs through Sunday, Nov. 9. 

                                                                                                           -Kathy