Always Thanksgiving

I give thanks for some blessings every day, even before getting out of bed in the morning. It sets up the day nicely. I also give thanks just before going to sleep, and I know many of you blog friends do that too.
Here is a poem I like, and I hope you like it too.
A Prayer of Thanks
Thank you God for the beauty
around me everywhere,
The gentle rain and glistening dew
the sunshine and the air,
The joyous gift of feeling
the soul's soft whispering voice
That speaks to me from deep within
and makes my heart rejoice.
           Poem written by Helen Steiner Rice

I took the photo of our Thanksgiving color themed flowers today.

Lake in the Foot Hills

Here is a photo my husband took on our vacation in the Sierra foot hills, about 30 miles from Nevada City, California.
I like the cool beauty of the lake and the sparkles on the water.

I hope y'all have an upbeat November.

Autumnal Color Tulip Bouquet

Note the acorn squash and the almost ready yummy persimmons. We like to squeeze lemon juice and a dab of whipped cream on persimmons.

My Potato Dolls

Ha ha, to me these two potatoes in the back of the strainer have heads and rounded bodies and look like a momma and a child potato doll. I hope they make you smile.

Well they made me smile. I harvested them from my handy dandy potato pail, and after taking this photo my hubby made potato salad with them. I hope that is not too shocking or cannibalistic, to eat these cuties.
If you have been following my blog for a while you know I adore growing potatoes, and these were grown in a five gallon pail.
I promptly took five small taters I had grown and planted them, since I think they grow year round here in California. I feel like a complete peasant woman when I dig up potatoes, a great feeling, and they taste fabulous, very smooth flesh and almost sweet.

Veterans Day

Veterans Day
Originally uploaded by Vox Efx

Few words needed as our Thanks are huge.

And the winner of the Christmas book is ...

Fireworks
Originally uploaded by bayasaa
Cue the fireworks and celebration, as the winner of a copy of "Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts: Stories to Warm Your Heart and Tips to Simplify Your Holiday" was selected using random.org
Snap That AKA Joyful is the winner. Her blog is snapthatpenny.blogspot.com and she lives in Canada. Please contact me with your mailing address Joyful!

Christmas Book Give Away

Hi Friends,
I am giving away one copy of my book "A Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts: Stories to Warm Your Heart and Tips to Simplify Your Holiday".
This is a pretty book with silvery stars on the cover, full color on each page, and it is full of fun and frugal tips for celebrating Christmas, family activities, ideas for helping your kids learn to share with others in need, delish recipes, our favorite Christmas themed books and movies and also my green thumb tips in each chapter.
How to grow amaryllis, Christmas cactus, myrrh, and how to nurture living Christmas trees, and much more.
My co-authors share lots of super ideas from how to create a Santa chair to their favorite charity to support and the practice of giving children three gifts, as the three kings gave to Jesus.
For a chance to win, leave a comment on this post.
I use random.org to select a winner.
The winner will be announced November 9.
No matter what country you live in you are eligible, dear friends.
Here is a link to lots of reviews, and to where you can buy the book
Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts

Oh, and for a second chance to win, visit our book's blog and leave a comment there too.
Scrapbook of Christmas Firsts blog There are 400 posts there, with many ideas, recipes, etc.