| Lucky you if you live in the north (of the US). | | | | and gold ornaments and I’m set to go. |
| Lucky all of us that nature is plentiful in providing | | | | The white, yellow and gold candles and tealights |
| free supplies for decorating our homes for | | | | for Thanksgiving can remain. See how easy it can |
| Thanksgiving no matter where we live. | | | | be! |
| Even in South Texas at this time of year I can | | | | Cheap tip for a real glow? Buy a fair-sized mirror, |
| wander outside and clip off some branches from | | | | place it on your dining room table, buffet or |
| my yellow-berried pyracantha (I planted some | | | | mantel and cover it with tea lights. Beautiful! |
| with yellow berries as well as red just for this | | | | You could achieve this same easy transition |
| occasion), and grab a handful of at least brown | | | | keeping green and brown for basic background |
| leaves. | | | | and using accents of burgundy and rust. This is a |
| If you live in the north and can garner pine cones, | | | | more subtle look for Christmas than the bright |
| seed pods, pine branches and fallen leaves in all | | | | primary red, but it works just as well. |
| their glorious colors, use these as the basis for | | | | Also make some trips to your local Goodwill and |
| your color scheme. | | | | Thrift Stores and visit some garage sales. People |
| I’m also lucky to have a garden full of | | | | give away the most amazing holiday decorations |
| chrysanthemums in bloom ready to be put around | | | | that can be yours for pennies. I’ve found |
| in vases in the house. Since they’re | | | | everything — hand towels, wreaths, pillows, |
| perennials (down here), I can always count on | | | | stuffed animals, wall pictures, water globes and |
| having them come back this time of year. | | | | statuettes. Since they’re used only for a |
| Check your yard and garden for blooms in | | | | short time, you hate to spend too much on them. |
| keeping with your color scheme (and next year, | | | | And here’s a neat tip. My Goodwill store |
| consider planting accordingly). | | | | has a selection of lamp shades and I have the |
| You also have an array of decorating materials | | | | lamps, don’t you? You can change out |
| available in the produce department of your | | | | your lampshades to fit your decorating scheme. |
| grocery. All those squashes lend themselves | | | | Did you ever think of that? It only takes a |
| beautifully to the fall color scheme. It’s | | | | minute. Just make sure before you go that you |
| nature’s way. Go for it! | | | | know which kind of lampshades you have, and |
| Arrange some greenery branches across the | | | | match them. |
| mantle and place fruits and vegetables around and | | | | Oh and don’t forget to check out the |
| there you have it. We’re celebrating the | | | | picture frames at the resale shop. You could |
| harvest, after all. | | | | move a favorite photo to a holiday frame and |
| Now here’s the trick. We have two major | | | | place that up on the mantel as well. |
| celebrations coming up: Thanksgiving and then | | | | In fact if you don’t already have some |
| Christmas. Here at my house I need to make a | | | | great holiday photos, take some this year. I have |
| quick transition and I’m short on time, like | | | | a great photo of my grand-daughter sitting with a |
| everyone else. I’m having guests for | | | | pumpkin I move to a central location at |
| Thanksgiving, but then my grandchildren will be | | | | Thanksgiving, and then a collage of my own |
| coming here the Friday after. I’m giving a | | | | children at former Christmases I bring out in |
| Christmas Cookie Baking Party for Kids on Friday, | | | | December. I bought an ugly print at a garage sale |
| and will need to switch rapidly from Thanksgiving | | | | that had a beautiful forest green frame, threw |
| to Christmas, so I’ve planned my | | | | away the print and substituted with the collage. |
| decorating accordingly. | | | | It’s such a dear reminder. |
| I’ll be using only greens, yellows, golds and | | | | And while you’re decorating, don’t |
| whites for Thanksgiving. Then, for instance, I can | | | | forget yourself! Most thrift stores set up displays |
| remove the white, green and yellow gourds and | | | | of holiday apparel you’ll want to take |
| squashes from the greenery on the mantle, add | | | | advantage of for you and the kids. |
| some white lights and gold stars, gold jingle bells, | | | | |