Blessed
the hive is buzzing
wafting with delicious scents
honey and spices
days of preparing
to gather at the table
with dear family
laughter and music
turkey, stuffing, all the sides
candlelight dining
sun fades to twilight
and the pull of home is strong
quiet peace descends
sipping cabernet
cuddling by the fire with cats
knowing we are blessed
Colleen Keller Breuning © 2023
November 24, 2023
Happy Black Friday, all! No mall shopping for this chick today…I avoid going out shopping on this day LOL!! It’s kind of sad especially to see the demise of traditional malls, but the only shopping I did today was ONLINE. I just can’t tolerate the crowds and insanity anymore. Plus you can save time and get the same deals online, so….. easy decision.
I wrote this in the quiet aftermath after hosting Thanksgiving Dinner for my family yesterday here in Virginia. There were only 10 of us, but I prepared two turkeys (40 lbs of turkey on sale for a total of $15 – SCORE!), mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, corn pudding, pumpkin pies, chocolate chip cookies and a homemade cheeseball. I had quite a few appetizers out, including the cheeseball with crackers, veggie tray, fruit, chips, salsa & queso dip. I’m never sure exactly what time the main dinner will be served. I aim for 3 pm, but there’s always last minute potato peeling & mashing, and of course the master Colleen gravy recipe that must be perfected before serving! I am grateful to my family for bringing some side dishes and helping with the peeling and preparation, and especially for assisting Dan and me in the cleanup!
It was a beautiful, crisp autumn day and I’m so happy my Mom, my sister Sarah and her family and my brother Doug and his girlfriend were able to join us! We had so much fun reliving memories, listening to music and just being together. We were missing my sister Barb and hubby Al, and brother Mark and wife Wendy. Everyone is so busy with life, and it’s very hard to get all of us together in one place these days. But I am truly blessed and feeling at peace today.
This afternoon’s goal was to take down all of my autumn decorations. Dan and I got it all done in less than two hours. We are scaling back on the Christmas decorating this year, because we are planning to travel to Florida to visit both of our kids for Christmas. We are looking forward to that, especially spending time with the grandkids and seeing them on Christmas morning! I can hardly wait to see their excited little faces as they open their gifts. There’s something so magical seeing Christmas through a child’s eyes, it makes me tear up thinking about it. I’ll miss having the house fully decked out, but it doesn’t make sense to put in all that effort since we won’t be here for about 11 days. And it’ll make my life a LOT easier in January, undecorating for Christmas is soooo depressing!
I hope you had a beautiful, peaceful Thanksgiving, and I’m wishing you a December full of joyous holidays, whatever you celebrate.
Xoxo,
Colleen ❤
Inspiration: “Last Train Home” by Pat Metheny Group
Ecrits Blogophilia Week 21.15 – Blessed/WRITER’S CHOICE!!!
Hard Bonus: WRITER’S CHOICE – Write a haiku
Easy Bonus: WRITER’S CHOICE – Include a hive
Colleen Keller Breuning 