Raining! PECANS! Transitioning from Fall to Christmas! It begins!

This morning as I sat in the den I could hear the winds gusting and the pecans literally being SHOT out of the trees!! They ricocheted from the roof sounding a little like gunfire.

Then a great big WHOOSH! I went outside to see a large limb had fallen against the front of the house! I am so thankful I was not out picking up pecans when THAT happened!!

It was obviously a dead limb that was hanging in the tree as the leaves were already crispy brown.

The wind tore it loose and had left it hanging!

The yard was covered in tons of pecans! This looks to be a pretty good crop. 

Louis Dean was feeling somewhat better but had stayed in bed off and on all morning.

By afternoon he decided to check out what the wind had brought down.

I was sitting out there picking up pecans. 

It was just like him to think of a way to make it easier for me!

He got the blower out and blew a bunch of them up into a pile.

When a car drives in front of our house you hear lots of crunching sounds!

The piles made quick work of the gathering!

School had let out and our little neighbors came over to pick some for themselves!!

We are grateful to have these kids in the neighborhood. We used to have kids in nearly every house.

Now it's mostly retired or older couples.....and several widows.

Our pecan trees have sure been dropping limbs! Louis Dean  pulled this one down that was hung up on other branches. I think it did him good to get outside for a little while.

Cold weather will be arriving about 3 am!

THIS was my haul for today! I picked all these up in about an hour's time!

Now to crack and shell some! I pick and crack them and then Louis Dean shells them.

As I drove up to our street when I was coming home yesterday I spied this little table at the curb of a neighbor's house! We all set things out on the curb thereby offering them free to anyone who can use them! You would be surprised how quickly things are picked up! I drove on around the corner to home and unloaded then went BACK to get this treasure!! The leaves on either side extend making this a great craft table for the grands! As a matter of fact, Rayne will be here tomorrow to do a bit of arts and crafts while we do art class. She will be the first to try it out!

After I came in from the pecan harvesting I finished changing out my closet to fall/winter clothing.

Then I began the transition from fall to Christmas.

The very first thing I do every year is the Santa Wall.

Because I add a painting or two each year, the wall is never hung the same way!

It's all done but I will wait until the morning just to make sure I like it!

17 paintings this year! One more than last year and I managed to get them ALL up on the wall!!

For years and years I NEVER decorated until AFTER Thanksgiving.

Now that I'm older and I am no longer hosting a Thanksgiving dinner, I decided it is okay to start a little earlier. I have already had several fall parties and as much as I love the season - it's time to let go. God has blessed us with FOUR special seasons and while Fall will always be my favorite - I am going to fully embrace winter! Especially Christmas!!

Thinking of my friends who are already experiencing SNOW, I am happy that at last we may have our first freeze tomorrow or the day after!!

Finally!!!! I will get to wear sweaters every day for awhile!!!