I was standing in the family room thinking… I’m pretty pleased with my mantel this year. I heard that familiar clacking, grinding noise and turned around to find Mr B standing behind me. His eyes were rolled to the back of his head, and he was muttering. I could hear him plainly though, and after years of deciphering his mutterings, his words were very plain. He said quite clearly, “Boy! There’s a lot of crap on the mantel this year!” And that, my friends, is how we enjoy Fall in the sanctuary.

Here’s a look at Fall 2018 around the house. Or as I like to call it, Faux Fall.  Because central Florida doesn’t really do FALL… it’s like it kinda wants to do fall, but doesn’t know how. And it’s hard to do real fall when it’s 85 freakin degrees. We get the occasional colored leaf from the red maples… which aren’t really red in these parts. And the grass gets crunchy cause this is the dry season…Where was I? Oh yeah, Fall. here.  Beginning with the mantel, starring Oscar, of course. His photo on canvas has been the one constant the last couple of years and I’m not in any hurry to take him down. Is it weird to have a giant dog head hanging over the mantel??  I added my brown bottles and some real leaves gathered on a trip up north a few years ago. I pressed them in a heavy book for a couple of weeks months (truth…I forgot about them til I needed that book for something. Those leaves were truly pressed!) They’ve lasted for several years, stored flat in sandwich bags and I drag them out each autumn to help add a bit of my home State to all the fake.

Most other bloggers have been posting Christmas for a couple of weeks now, but I waited to post this “late” on purpose, so that we could all remember there’s one more holiday to celebrate before Christmas. It’s called Thanksgiving.  You know… that day set aside as a National Holiday to give thanks for all the blessings we have in our lives, to remember those who are no longer with us, to share time together, break bread and tell whopping lies about the past, then after eating like there’s no tomorrow, gather round the ol’ TV to watch football. And then eat some more. Or go shopping. Break out the Christmas. Whatever makes your day.

This year will be quiet for us. No kiddos around, no family visiting, no friends invited over….just me and Mr B. He ruptured his Achilles Tendon and after his recent surgery must stay quiet for a couple of weeks, no weight bearing, no activity, no projects. While I hate his defective tendon, he hates being forced to do nothing. But he’s making the best of it by hurling affectionate (I hope) barbs at me at every opportunity. The worst part? The very worst part?? I HAVE TO COOK!!! If you’ve followed me for awhile you know that I loathe Betty Crocker. I despise cooking. And Mr B is earning his best-husband-ever award by pretending he’s not  very hungry, and asking for things like Panini sandwiches. I can panini. Oh yeah, I can rock a panini with the best of them. Like a boss. So we won’t go hungry. And my neighbor will deep fry a turkey for us, so there will be food a plenty on Thanksgiving. Bonus. Bob Evans has been kind enough to make some pretty good mashed potatoes that can be microwaved. Me and Bob get along just fine.

Back to the mantel…Mr B’s dislike of clutter and my need to feather my nest collide in a major way during the holidays. He’s my own personal Grinch… Mr Cranky Pants til after January 1st and the house returns to normal. But I adore him so I just give him my best stink eye and continue to beautify. After all, this blog is all about Living Beauty. Full…. Operative word? Full! And I intend to live up to my advertising.

So while faux fall is still busting out all over, Mr Cranky Pants is ensconced in his favorite chair giving a running commentary. I ignore him. You can too. I give you permission.

I hope you are still enjoying fall wherever you live and are preparing to give thanks next week. On another note;  My heart goes out to those affected by the wild fires in California. I can’t imagine. We get hurricanes here and while they can, and do devastate an area, and are scary as crap, at least we have time to prepare, to pack up what’s precious to us and leave for a safer place to ride out the storm, But fire? Fire scares me to the bone. Let’s be thankful this year for the love of friends and family. I know it sounds trite, but there is always, always something to be thankful for. Blessings my friends.

And remember, you can create your sanctuary no matter where you live. Love the home you’re in and create the home you see in your heart.