Granny Pie

 Hello!  Holiday festivities are already underway, specifically Christmas and it isn't yet Thanksgiving.  The kids at school love to write about their Thanksgiving traditions, namely the food.  We are celebrating with Kelli's family this year, so no turkey smells at our house!  Pie smells, definitely pie smells.  I have decided to go slow with my pie making this year.  I am going to try to make beautiful pies.  The last time I REALLY tried hard was about fifteen years ago!  I pulled them out of the oven to cool and then I decided to go outside and rollerblade.  I fell within moments and spent the day at the hospital getting my wrist set and cast.  That was a hard holiday season, being one handed and all because my cast got in the way of all household tasks.  Yikes.  Usually, I am in a rush to make the pie because the feast has so many components.  Well, Kelli's the turkey wife this year, so I shall be Granny Pie.

 All the leaves have not yet fallen.  There are some still clinging. I keep putting them in books to flatten them.  I love a good "leaf surprise" when I open fat books, don't you?  After my bubble bath this fine Saturday morning, I am going outside to walk around in the November world of my neighborhood!  

 More than once or twice I have had a mind-smile as I think of a favorite nature-like delight.  I'm thinking about the festive real branch garland I like to hang in the entry way.  I turned our coat closet into a little alcove and I LOVE the smell of greens.  It's too early.  It's too early.

Yesterday I asked my students, "Why the big greed festival over the holidays? Aren't we fine right now?  Don't we have enough?"  I'm sure their families are feeling the pinch of a less than robust economy.  
Here at Pom Pom's Ponderings, we are going to think about the simple pleasures of the holidays, the childlike wonder that doesn't involve the ka-ching ka-ching of the cash register.  Some of my warmest and deepest blog friends are playing along.  I'm not sure if I made myself clear, but being involved means four holiday Wednesdays of posts that attend to the simple childlike thrills of Christmas.  November 30th will be the first day and I'm just going to put all the links in my post on those days, so you can pop back and forth.  Hopefully, you'll be warmed and cheered and be reminded of that babe in a manger and the children He loves and cherishes.  If you would like to join, posting simple "takes" on the joy of a childlike Christmas, let me know.  The people who are playing along are already on the sidebar.  I'll add you, too.
The Willows are in Texas but they aren't staying long because Gigi has some traveling to do herself and can't entertain them just now.  They'll fly up to MK's place and enjoy Thanksgiving with her brood.  Stay tuned!  We've made some tweaks in the itinerary, so I'm glad it was never set in stone anyway.  Oh, those boys are having such a varied and seasonal zip around North America!  It's wonderful!
Well, I have quite a busy day planned because we are celebrating Samantha's two year birthday tonight.  We're celebrating Bill's birthday, too.  Our house will be noisy! Yahoo!


The kids at school are huggers.  One little girl said, "Oh, you are so warm!"  YOU are warm.  I hope lots of huggers come your way today!  
Yours Truly, 
Granny Pie