A VERY COLORFUL HOLIDAY SEASON APPROACHES

                  There is a mesmerizing season of eye candy on its way, and for me, it all started this week.

It began with a little Thanksgiving decorating because we only have this tiny window to put out our Pilgrims and turkeys. The cat in our window, the one holding the turkey in its paws was made by my Mother in law and Father in law. They also made the Pilgrims and gifted them to me years ago. From the shop in their barn to my Mother in laws work table for painting, it all means so much more now that they are getting up in years. It would not be a happy holiday without these little bits of family history.

           By the end of this week though, things around here will change dramatically. We experienced a taste of the holiday season to come at the SWEA (Swedish Women's Education Association)  in Montclair, NJ today. This wonderful little Christmas festival is an annual event for us, even though we no longer bring the children.
What draws us in every year? It could be the smorgasbord of Scandinavian delights that they set out. The little open face sandwiches made of shrimp or salmon, the tiny Swedish meatballs on top of a beet salad, the delicious sweets, or maybe it is the really good cup of coffee.

It might be the fun crafts or the bright colored textiles that they sell...
or the adorable little tomtes. I am pretty sure though that we have made this an annual event because of the atmosphere set up by these warm hearted volunteers...
who put the time and effort in to make sure that the holiday season gets off to a good start. One of the things I enjoy most is getting to see the same faces every year. The lovely lady in the upper right hand corner is my friend Lola. She lives near us, so I bump into her every now and then. She was the advertising rep for a local magazine, who came into my store one day. We hit it off from the start and when she told me about this festival, so many years ago, we had to check it out. My husband being Swedish and Danish and all, I thought it was a good opportunity to introduce our children to a little old world heritage. They also loved the festival and look back on it as the start of the holiday season as well.

             This year we bought two adorable Tomte's to add to our collection, one a little boy holding a Dala horse and the other a little girl on a sled holding a Yul Boch. One larger Tomte that is slated to be a gift for someone special, and the candles that count down the days till Christmas eve. I also bought the cookbook they published and will try some of the recipes in the near future. It was a day of tradition, fun and good feelings all around.

             I am looking forward to a season of activity filled with good food, lots of cheer and most importantly, family and friends. Happy Thanksgiving to my blog friends ...I hope your holiday leaves you with some great photos to share.  

             This post is being linked to Little Red House for Mosaic Monday, Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday, Smiling Sally for Blue Monday, Work of the Poet for Ruby Tuesday, and Thats my World for My World Tuesday.

♥, Susan

Comments

[Eileen]

It all looks like so much fun and very festive. Love the decorations and the food looks delicious. Happy Thanksgiving!!

[Carol @ There's Always Thyme to Cook]

What a wonderful festival to start the holiday season! Wishing you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving.

[Lavender Dreams]

It's such a happy time of the year! Love your mosaics and all of your thoughts on the holidays! Happy Thanksgiving! ♥

[CJ Foss]

Thanks for your comments. Love the SWEA event you attended. My father's name was Carl Carl Carlson (son of Carl, son of Carl, son of Carl), but in California now, we have lost contact with our Swedish roots. Great to see you post. I love that you WRITE so much, really telling a story. I will return to your post. Thanks, CJ

[Charlie]

Oh wow! Looks like so much fun! I'll bet my kids would love something like that!

Aloha,
Charlie

[Snap]

Christmas festivals are so much fun. This one looks like it will be delightful! Merry, Merry and Happy Thanksgiving! Have a great week.

[Lavender Cottage]

I enjoyed seeing the festival you attended. In our community is a large Finnish church that has a dinner and bakery sale. The foods are similar to the SWEA and I love the idea of an open face sandwich, less bread for the waistline.
Judith

[ldh]

The Christmas Festival does really sound delightful! Happy Thanksgiving wishes to you too!

[Pam @ diy Design Fanatic]

Sounds wonderful and so much fun! Thanks for stopping by tonight!

[Lorrie]

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

What a great festival you can anticipate attending. Those sandwiches look fantastic.

[Pat]

I love your new Tomtes, Susan! I really enjoyed visiting the Danish heritage town in California, and I'm sure I'd enjoy the SWEA Christmas festival ...some year I'll have to attend!

Hope you an dyour family have a very happy Thanksgiving!

[Elaine]

The food looks delicious, the crafts are adorable, and the smiles on the faces of the volunteers says it all! What a great festival!

[Pondside]

That looks like such a wonderful festival! I love the Scandinavian way of decorating for Christmas and never tire of the traditional red and white.

[Cathy]

Oh! Decorations are grand! Wonderful collages! Have a wonderful week! Cathy

[Valerie]

Happy Thanksgiving to you. There is not much of a window between your Thanksgiving and Christmas. So much to do. Tradition is very important and having those memories makes one a very happy person. V

[Ingmarie We]

Such a lovely "smörgåsbord". It really looks delicous. And all the mosaics look very good. I am sure you had a very nice day visiting SWEA.
Have a great week.

[Sally]

Thanks for sharing your blues.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Blue Monday, Susan.

[QMM]

Puts me in the mood for sure. I am fascinated with anything European and love to read about the food and customs. Happy Thanksgiving Susan and family.
QMM

[Cafe au lait]

Look like fun! The food made me hungry.

I played too. Mine is here.

[Maria @ LSS]

Lots of reds!

[Karen]

I'd go for it all!

[ECharlotte]

What fun mosaics! I love how you kick off your holiday season. :)

[Joy]

The ladies look so cute in their pretty aprons! Have a Happy THanksgiving!

[Emily]

Oh WOW Susan, what wonderful treasures given to your by your mother and father-in-law. I know they are more special every year.
Your plans for your festival are glorious. Beautiful traditions of food, fellowship and friends and all the lovely. A great way to start your Christmas season.
Happy Thanksgiving to your and yours.

~Emily
The French Hutch

[jeanne]

Hello Susan, your post is a delight to see. I love Christmas and everything that makes it a celebration. the festival is wonderful. I really enjoyed all the lovely photos and the stories behind them.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Hugs, Jeanne

[ellen b]

Hi Susan,
This sure looks like a fun festival. My husband's mother was 100% Swedish. It really is fun to try to keep traditions going if you can do it with joy...
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

[Magical Mystical Teacher]

With all those reds, it's eye candy indeed!

CLAD IN RED

Whenas in red my Julia’s clad,
Then, then (methinks) she’s wicked bad—
Like Hester Prynne, but not so sad.

Next, when I cast mine eyes and see
Those crimson skirts flow full and free,
Her sweet seductions taketh me!

(With apologies to Robert Herrick, 1591-1674)

© 2011 by Magical Mystical Teacher

http://magicalmysticalteacher.wordpress.com/2011/11/21/gathering-lichen/

[Kim,USA]

Hi Susan,
I have never tried Scandinavian food and I would love to try it ^_^

Blue Monday

[Louise]

A display of festivity indeed. Thanks for sharing, Susan. A very Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!!!

[Cildemer]

Very nice post!

***
Happy Thanksgiving****

[Leah H.]

Wow, saw many red:)

Visiting a bit late for Ruby Tuesday! Hope you can visit me too:)

http://www.loveablecassandra.com/2011/11/watching-tv-with-her-new-red-shoes.html