Another Fall in the Books

I'm not going to lie.  I'm sitting next to a Christmas tree right this second, one that I put up over the weekend.  It has sparkly lights and it's making my heart happy and I don't feel bad that I jumped the gun on the twinkle this year.  I can blame a great many things on this early red and green.  The blame list follows, in no particular order. 

1.  I moved.  Moving creates this insane feeling of must have everything organized and must try to find some calm.  And apparently, in my case, must throw the chaos of pine needles and lights that don't work in the mix.

2.  Carla (Kiel's mom) gave me boxes of Christmas hand me downs.  This doesn't mean the same as getting hand me downs from most, because Carla is the queen of red and green.  She put up 23 trees this year.  Yes, there are 23 full size trees already up in her house and it's the beginning of November.  

3.  Tomorrow I start traveling and won't be home until much into December.  Selfishly, I didn't want decorating to be on the return list.  Rather, I wanted to walk in the front door and say ahhhhhhh and where's the hot cocoa with Peppermint Schnapps?  

4.  My family is celebrating Christmas on Saturday of Thanksgiving week this year.  For weeks, I've been preparing my gift for the exchange so I feel it must be December.  No?  Oh.  

5.  I received the always cute invite to the annual Cookie Exchange brunch at Danae's earlier this past week.  There's nothing like planning what you will make ten dozen of to get you in the holiday spirit.  I found the cutest treat bags to put my goody in this year too; they make me say yes!  Because they are tiny and festive and it just doesn't get better than that combination. 

6.  This is a mountain house in Montana.  It screams and begs to have wreaths hanging on the front porch and wooden Santas riding reindeer, bears, and ducks on the mantel.  It just does,  you would understand if you were here. 

There you have it, the list of blame. 

Christmas is up and I'm saying goodbye to another fabulous fall season that included this hike to the second highest waterfall in Oregon - Salt Creek Falls.  I am saying goodbye to fall but that doesn't mean I want icy roads for travel, okay roads?  Work with me.