[WFTR]

Several times over the past few months, I've come close to starting any kind of thread just to see what happened. I've always held back and thought that I'd talk to Dave or snugs or GOP_Raider before I posted anything. I figured I'd coordinate with them or at least use the new list that Dave was trying to build when we "closed" the previous thread. Other things have always come up, and I've never done anything.

I probably should have talked to the others before starting this thread. As I said in the introduction, maybe snugs was building something very special. If so, we'll still let her start that one when she's ready and let that one be the official Christmas thread. However, I was afraid that procrastinating would allow things to drive the thread from my mind again and that nothing would happen.

Maybe I should have started this thread on a Friday night or at least earlier on a Saturday, but maybe this time will work as well. As we said in September, we'd like this to be a running thread through the week and weekends. As we approach the holiday season, we'd like folks to post what's on their mind whenever they think of something. Let's all try to check the thread occasionally and respond as we have time. I don't know how often we'll ping. I'm thinking of pinging once a week, but I'm open to suggestions.

The bonus questions are simple this time. What has happened during the fall that's been special for you? How was your Thanksgiving? What are you planning to do for Christmas? Have you begun decorating? When are you ready to start hearing Christmas music? We'll do more bonus questions as the season goes along.

Bill

[Fichori]

Christmas?

I’m still working on the Turkey from Thanksgiving!

[WFTR]

Probably the biggest events of my fall from a personal point of view were replacing my 15 year old pickup truck and buying a digital SLR. I loved that old truck, but the truck was dying. I replaced the truck with a Hyundai Santa Fe, and I'm happy with that choice so far. The camera is a Canon 40D. I don't like everything about this camera, but I'm slowly learning to make the camera do what I want. Some features such as image stabilization and reasonable picture quality even at high ISO are a nice improvement over my late 70's and early 80's era Nikons/Nikkormats. The autofocus that can't decide what to do when shooting in the woods is a problem. In any case, I have pictures to share.

Here's my sweet Katrina, photographed through the aquarium with a polarizing filter to reduce reflections.

Here's a church that's on River Road along the eastern bank of the mighty Mississippi River.

This peacock lives at a plantation home north of Baton Rouge.

Here's a ruby-crowned kinglet at a local park.

I'll do more later, but these should start us off.

[Petruchio]

A lot has been going on with me. My 13 years of doing Eldercare came to an end when Mother passed away. Now I am repairing her house so it can be sold and I plan on relocating to Indiana. (or another State that allows concealed carry)

[mathluv]

My oldest grandson has joined the National Guard. We are going to his first Guard Christmas party today.

He came to the table on Thanksgiving dressed in a suit - said that this would be his last one at home.

[Yorlik803]

Good morning from the Frozen city of Pittsburgh

[ColdSteelTalon]

There is really only one hope I have for the holidays. I hope for them to be over as soon as possible. I know that many put special significance on the Holidays especially for Christmas. And I am grateful that Christ died for me and that I am reconciled to God.

But I also reflect upon this time of the year about what I have not been blessed with. Things I have prayed for for a long time. Prayers that have not been answered. So I am ready for the new year to begin already.

Christ is many things to me, my saviour being first and foremost. But I have learned that Christ is not a Santa Claus, giving you what you want all the time.

Its sometimes hard but I need to trust his wisdom and power especially this time of year.