Thanksgiving 2008

Way back when Ellis and I got married everything we found for furnishing and decorating our home was pretty much orange or green. Maybe a few browns and creams mixed in to tone it down a bit . . .
Over the years I watched the styles come and go and thought about someday changing over to country colors like *dusty blue* or *mauve* . . .
Eventually I got rid of the hunter orange drapes and settled for tan with brown flecks. Then one day I looked at those dusty drapes. Something bit me .... hard. I took them down, washed and dried them and took them to the local good will store. We are off the road so far and have so many trees between us and civilization. We love the view through our windows framed with wooden trim.
When we finally had to get a different couch the boys for sure wanted one with plaid fabric. The dark lines were roads for their little cars and trucks. Believe it or not someone else was getting rid of their plaid couch (green, brown, cream and orange.) We had a few more years of plaid roads.
I watched with amazement as all of those same colors swung around and came back. People are actually painting their walls burnt orange and avocado green and mustard.
I didn't realize how many other things we had around here with *autumn* colors until we decided to decorate the Thanksgiving tables in the gym at Maranatha Bible School. We had a smaller group than usual this year and our decorator was visiting another *planet* for Thanksgiving. That left a handful of amateurs for the job. We had fun.
Ellis donated part of his lantern collection.
We rounded up all our candles and candle holders
glass oil lamps
a collection of ducks
table cloths, place mats
baskets, leaves
Indian corn, jute cord
tulle, potpourri . . .
We had a double line for the hot food.
Tables where we could sit and eat . . .
a table with salads, and another with desserts . . .
hot chocolate, hot apple cider, coffee . . .
all help-your-self style.
There was a pumpkin pinata filled with candy and fun stuff for the little people.
Conversation and games
A beautiful day!
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Come, ye thankful people, come,
Raise the song of harvest-home:
All is safely gathered in,
Ere the winter storms begin;
God, our Maker, doth provide
For our wants to be supplied:
Come to God's own temple, come,
Raise the song of harvest-home.
Henry Alford, 1844
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We plow the fields, and scatter the good seed on the land,
But it is fed and watered by God's almighty hand;
He sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain,
The breezes and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain.

He only is the Maker of all things near and far,
He paints the wayside flower, He lights the evening star;
The winds and waves obey Him, by Him the birds are fed;
Much more to us, His children, He gives our daily bread.

We thank Thee, then, O Father, for all things bright and good,
The seedtime and the harvest, our life, and health, our food;
No gifts have we to offer, for all Thy love imparts,
But that which Thou desirest, our humble, thankful hearts.

Refrain:
All good gifts around us are sent from heav'n above;
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord for all His love.
Matthias Claudius, 1782