A bit dark this morning.  Actually it is cloudy with dark clouds and, of course, it's raining!  100% chance of rain today with highs in the mid 50's.

Well, there goes any work outside with the exception of working in the greenhouse!

I took the above picture several years ago.  It was one of the more colorful falls with a clear day that allowed me to see a very long ways away.

The Vikings have the night game tonight and for the first time in several games, I think we may really win because the current quarterback is out and Wentz is in as quarterback.  He's tall enough to actually see over the defense and his throws are really accurate.

How was your weekend?  I had fun watching football both college and NFL.  It was fun watching the Utah Utes win over BYU.  But I also had time to do some organizing, planning and crafting.  I actually made three more fabric pumpkins.  They are all made the same way.

First cut a circle out of fabric, any size you want.  The with needle and thread (doubled for strength) sew a running stitch around the edge of the circle.  Then pull the thread to close stuffing as you do.  I don't like to pack stuffing in so the pumpkin is hard, only enough to fill out but yet be able to shape it.  When fully stuffed, pull the thread tight and secure leaving a small hole in the middle.  

Next cut leaf shapes out of green fabric or felt.  Before attaching the leaf shapes to the pumpkin, make a hole in the middle of the stuffing for a twig.  I used a glue gun to add the leaf shapes but you can either use tacky glue or no glue and just tack the leaf shapes with needle and thread unto the pumpkin.  Next push the twig down through the center of the pumpkin.  Finally with lace, or a strip of fabric, tie a bow around the twig.

Here are the three that I made...

Three different sizes.  You don't need much fabric and for stuffing you can use regular stuffing, scrap fabric or even paper scraps which will add a sound to the pumpkin when handled.  You don't need a lace bow but if you want one, a strip of scrap fabric would do just as well.

I forgot to take a picture of my list...will do that tomorrow for you.  It really has grown quite long...27 so far.  I'm tempted to add more paper to make the list really long and hang it up somewhere.

Do you realize that Thanksgiving is less than three weeks from now...18 days counting today to be accurate.  Our menu is complete and I have a little over half of the ingredients already purchased.  I want to finish purchasing all but the fresh items this week.  One item that I am having a hard time finding is the Pork Stuffing which is really vegetarian.  Lots of turkey and chicken but no pork.  Well, I have a few more weeks to find it.

And I have figured out how to seat everyone so that's taken care of.  I was looking at using disposable plates but I think I will take down the good set of china and use that.  I will need to wash it though but if we are all sitting at a table, I think regular dishes will be nicer.  And I have some really nice table clothes to use.  

Dishing up will be buffet style in the kitchen.  It's easier to keep the vegetarian dishes separate from the non-vegetarian dishes.  And then folks can dish up what they want rather than spending time passing every dish around.  And to be honest, I don't think our tables will hold all the dishes.

The house is in pretty good shape but I will have to arrange bedding as many folks will be spending the night(s).  Guess I am in better shape than I thought.  Planning really does work for saving money also...you can pick up items on sale rather than regular price.  And, if something is to expensive or hard to find (like turkeys) you have time to figure out a great substitute.  

So, no matter what type of Thanksgiving you are having, take a few minutes to do some planning and pick up items needed early, even if you are by yourself.  You are just as worthy of enjoying a special Thanksgiving as everyone else.  And if turkey and all the fixings aren't what you want, get what you would enjoy eating and treat yourself to a special day.

That's all for now.  Have an amazing day and take care...

Talk with you tomorrow...