Hello December

 

Good morning!  White Rabbit!  Hello December!

I'm signing off for a couple of weeks - if you've been reading along, you'll know why.

Cheerio!

Happy Thanksgiving

Life Last Week (17-23 November 2025)

  

Here we are - the last week of November.  Next week is December and London is calling!

The weather for the week ahead:::

Same old, same old Washington autumn weather.  Temperatures are dropping, I wonder if we will get any snow this year?

On my reading pile:::

 

Nothing right now, saving my reading time for the plane.

On my TV:::

This...

And this, and that was pretty much it.  I loved Season 8's all Scottish Hogmanay special.

Checked off the list:::

• More physical therapy for Vic.
• Dentist for me - cleaning and clear exam.  Yay!
• The second large craft fair in our area.  I was disappointed that two vendors I was hoping to see again were not there.

• Mailed a baby gift, wrote and mailed thank you notes for the hostess gifts I received at my tea, and dropped off a couple of Amazon returns.
• Vic headed up to Sophia and the boyfriend's to fix their washing machine but the parts that were ordered were not the problem so new parts were ordered, and it looks like I will be cooking Thanksgiving dinner up there while Vic leads a second round of washer repairs.
• December Daily Prep Day was a semi-fail as Vic wanted to run errands and so off we went.  I'll catch the recordings later. 

Crafts roundup:::

Worked on a couple of December Daily designs - we call them foundation pages because the stories are yet to be written.

And in other news:::

Week Thirteen is the Dining Room Week.

Thanksgiving Day falls on Thursday and ushers in the holiday season, so this week's cleaning and organizing focus is the dining room. Holiday prep chores center on Thanksgiving and turn to planning the celebration ahead.

I'll leave the links up here if you're interested.

Holiday Grand Planners - Get Organized Community | Facebook 

Organized Christmas? Try a Holiday Plan | Organized Home

Around the 'Net

  

This just popped up on Facebook - I just love the graphics on this site.

I was in Trader Joe's this morning and here is the wassail I served at my tea in case anyone is interested in a quick and easy version for the upcoming holidays.

If this is Tuesday, it must be England #198

 

Catching up on some UK events because I want to commemorate them here on my blog.  Remembrance Sunday and associated remembrance events held up to November 11 are solemn occasions, but I can't pass up on commenting on the stunning fashion worn by The Princess of Wales.

Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall November 8.  Prince George accompanied his mother for this first time.

Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph November 9

Solo engagement at the Armistice Day Service of Remembrance at the National Memorial Arboretum November 10

Full credit to What Kate Wore for the photos and for the excellent commentary that always accompanies the Princess' engagements.

Happy Belated Birthday to His Majesty King Charles III who turned 77 on November 14, 2025.  I love this informal photo of him.

Life Last Week (10-16 November 2025)

 

And we're zipping through November just like the rest of the year flew by.

The weather for the week ahead:::

Same old, same old Washington autumn weather.  I have to remember to screenshot from the weather app before it changes to a darker display.

On my reading pile:::

 

Finally finished The Venetian Daughter by Ella Carey on my Kindle and The Last Light over Oslo by Alix Rickloff from the library.  Snapped a couple of book covers at Barnes and Noble so I can check the library to see if the titles are available.

On my TV:::

Not much on TV this week as there was a lot of afternoon tea prep, but we did catch this premiere on Netflix.

Checked off the list:::

• More physical therapy for Vic.
• Meet up with an old friend and his son from our military Christian homeschooling days in Virginia.  Lots of great conversation and a yummy brisket dinner.
• Scored a Red Cup at Starbucks, cute design this year.

• Shopped for my afternoon tea - five different stores, no less!
• Set up the table, packaged the thank you for coming gifts, and prepped some of the desserts.
• Had a lovely time with my Lunch Bunch group at afternoon tea.

Found a set of "thankful" and "blessed" gold on wood accents at Hobby Lobby.  Napkins are Longaberger's Autumn Path; I had six and found two more on Facebook Marketplace.

Table set for tea - mugs are over on the counter by the tea pots and Wassail warmer (CrockPot).

Tiered servers - sandwiches (cucumber, turkey and cranberry, honey almond chicken, and olive-nut spread - kudos to Vic for his amazing sandwich assembling and cutting skills!); scone** tier with clotted cream and strawberry jam, and sweet treats (petit fours, macarons, lemon curd and raspberry tarts, chocolate mousse cups, and chocolate eclairs.

For beverages, I served black tea, cranberry orange tea, and Winter Wassail (a combination of apple, cherry, blackcurrant, and lemon that was delicious served warm).

**My usual source for scones, the local British foods store, let me down this year and the next closest one was a four-hour round trip, so I decided to bite the bullet and make my own (with the help of a Mary Berry recipe).  It was my first attempt, and the first batch were rather small in diameter and height, so I put those away for Vic and me to enjoy later and made another batch.  This batch turned out really well and I got so many compliments at the tea.  The secret was to make them tall enough that they rose in the oven but not too tall that they fell over from too much of a rise.  My name is Pamela, and I can make my own scones!!

I made menu cards for each place setting.  I LOVE Photoshop Elements!

We had a lovely ornament exchange and lots of fun conversation about upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas plans.  I sent everyone home with a thank you for coming gift of a tea towel that said Gather Together embroidered with autumn leaves and a Pumpkin Peanut Brittle Bath and Body Works hand soap.

We raised our mugs to our late Lunch Bunch member, Karen, who died in September.  We are thankful for her friendship.

Crafts roundup:::

December Daily was on the back burner this week, so I have some catching up to do on the classes.

And in other news:::

Week Twelve is the Attic Week.

Cooler weather makes it easy to check and organize the attic and storage areas.

No attic? Use this week to work on undone tasks, or to tackle a bonus area in the home.

We continue to move toward Thanksgiving in holiday prep, preparing to set a pretty holiday table. Are you working on holiday gifts?

I'll leave the links up here if you're interested.

Holiday Grand Planners - Get Organized Community | Facebook 

Organized Christmas? Try a Holiday Plan | Organized Home

Hallelujah!  The Government Shutdown is over!

Around the 'Net

 

I'm a bit behind on reading and posting - with my Autumn Afternoon Tea coming up this weekend, it's been a crazy week.  I actually meant to include this in Monday's post as it was closer to the date but here it is.

8 November 1973

Disney releases the animated Robin Hood

I had to commemorate this on my blog since I have this - Romantic Rescue - hanging on my Christmas tree.  It was released in 2023 for the 50th anniversary of the movie.

Just a little walk down memory lane for you.  Do you have a favorite Disney animated movie?

Veterans Day 2025

"Veterans Day does not include an apostrophe but does include an ‘s’ at the end of ‘veterans’ because it is not a day that ‘belongs’ to veterans, it is a day for honoring all veterans. - U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

My Dad (photo taken in 1948)

United States Army 1947-1973

Korean War, Vietnam War Veteran

Vic (photo taken 2021)

United States Navy 1994-2024

Anyone thanking my dad or Vic for their service would always get their heartfelt response, "It's been an honor".

Life Last Week (3-9 November 2025)

Over the river and through the wood, to Grandfather's house we go - do you remember singing that in the run up to Thanksgiving?

The weather for the week ahead:::

Some sun, some clouds, more rain.

On my reading pile:::

 No change on the reading front - The Venetian Daughter by Ella Carey on my Kindle and I'm about halfway through The Last Light over Oslo by Alix Rickloff from the library.

On my TV:::

I hit a spoiler for The Great British Baking Show's finale last Friday but it wasn't really a surprise as she's been brilliant all season - congratulations, Jasmine!

This week's Hallmark offerings:

This one made me want to move right back to Newport, Rhode Island.

Checked off the list:::

• More physical therapy for Vic.
• Honor Roll Senior Luncheon at church.  Delicious lunch, fellowship, and a great testimony from two of our members.
• Completed our Electronic Travel Authorizations for the UK - there's an app for everything.
• Ladies Night at Ace Hardware was a bit of a fail because it was Ladies ONLY night.  I didn't realize that no men were allowed in the store between 5:30pm and 7:30pm.  I had hoped that Vic and I could browse for ideas.  I ended up running in and checking the price of one item and then leaving as Vic was waiting for me outside.
• Holiday Gala at the Mercantile downtown was enjoyable.  Lots of great gift ideas and decorations.
• Made boarding reservations for Malone while we are gone.
• Went to the movies for the first time in a while.  Nuremberg was excellent and there was a preview of The Choral, coming this holiday season.

Crafts roundup:::

I finally received my December Daily package so Jodie and I had an unboxing on Friday and a long chat about what we will do with all the supplies.  The Product Play Side by Side class kicked off with lessons three times a week that take one of the elements from the December Daily collection and demonstrate a technique with the physical product and another with the (same) digital product.  Lots of great ideas. 

And in other news:::

Week Ten is Garage Week.

Work gloves ready? It's time to tackle garage storage areas, this week.  

The waning days of autumn are a good time to rout out household storage areas, so we're ready to access extra tables, chairs and seasonal decorations. Cooler--but not yet cold--weather eases the job, and we'll feel good knowing that storage areas are clean and prepared for winter cold.

In holiday prep, we look ahead to the Thanksgiving meal and see to the family's holiday clothing.

I'll leave the links up here if you're interested.

Holiday Grand Planners - Get Organized Community | Facebook 

Organized Christmas? Try a Holiday Plan | Organized Home

Is the Government Shutdown over?  It looks close, fingers crossed!!

Remembrance Sunday 2025

Today is Remembrance Sunday. It's a national day of reflection held on the Sunday closest to 11th November, which was the day World War I ended.

At 11am, the country will fall silent for two minutes. In that time, we pause to remember the service and sacrifice of our Armed Forces, veterans, and their families, from Britain and across the Commonwealth.

We also remember the civilians who have been lost or affected by conflict, both in the past and in the present day.

It's a day to be grateful, and to reflect. We will remember them.

Lest we forget.

Friday Favorites - November 7, 2025

  

It's Pre-cember, the time of year before December when holiday events are held and attended and documented for December memory-keeping.

November 5 - Ladies Night at Ace Hardware - time to get some ideas for Christmas gifts

November 6 (morning) - Starbucks Holiday Cups release and all the green and red goodies for the Starbucks fan in your life

November 6 (evening) - Holiday Gala at the Mercantile downtown - so many cute gift ideas

Teenage memories - The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew and Vic put this engine order telegraph on his wish list

Mary Lake Thompson tea towels and ppd cocktail napkins - memories of working at the gift shop in Virginia as we always had a great selection of both

Vic and his lantern and such gorgeous vintage wrapping paper

Blackberry Habanero Pepper Jelly - over cream cheese, this would be delicious

Have a great weekend, everyone!