Slowly getting ready for the holidays

Slowly, but surely, I am getting back my energy and doing projects around the house.

I don't usually decorate much for Thanksgiving, but this year we invited JP's future in-laws for Thanksgiving dinner so I wanted to make the house festive.

Some dried flowers from Michael's, a chalkboard tag and a burlap bag dress up the front door.

The weather was cool today and our Dutch door was closed  - this view gives a different perspective on the colors in our house.

Finally, I finished decorating the mantel.

I took a lazy approach to the banner by using pages torn from a book, stickers for the letters and just folding the paper over the twine.

Today, I had time to play a little in the garden.

The bench beneath the dining room window was looking a little sad

so I added some ivy that I hope will start twisting and turning around the bench.

For the holidays, I will swap the wooden balls for Christmas ornaments and hang decorations from the ivy.

The one thing I have been doing a lot of lately is embroidery and crocheting.

When I get tired and have to rest, I grab my sewing basket and keep my fingers busy.

I am using up leftover fabric and tracing the designs on with pencil.

This project will be a table runner for Christmas

and this is one of 8 napkins I am embroidering for our Thanksgiving table.

via

I will be working on the napkins in the car on Thursday as we drive the coast of California to Carmel for a stay in this beautiful spot.

I leave you with a collage of my day on Saturday when my sweet daughter treated me to a spa day at the Ojai Valley Inn - mine are the feet on the right.