Happy Thanksgiving... and Now Christmas!

The holidays are here! It's by far my favorite time of year.  Within in the past week, the holiday spirit has quickly set it - possibly due to the inch of snow we got in Portland on Tuesday.  Yesterday was a wonderful thanksgiving spent with friends.  I had Thanksgiving dinner at my friend Drew's apartment.  His dad, his dad's wife and his niece were in town from South Carolina and they sure know how to make delicious Southern food.  We had a great evening of fellowship and fun.  I definitely missed all of my family back in Texas (and Uncle Rufus' amazing fried turkey), but I am enjoying this new tradition of spending Thanksgiving with the people who I am very thankful to have with me here in Portland.

It is now officially the Christmas Season! I can't think of anything I love more than Christmas lights, Christmas carols, holiday parties, and everything else that is part of this joyous season.  My friend Megan, her mom and I kicked off the Christmas season this evening by touring the Pittock Mansion which is exquistely decorated for the holidays and then going downtown to watch the lighting of the Portland Christmas tree in Pioneer Square.  It's rather chilly outside so we sat in the Nordstrom Cafe and watched the festivites from above out the window.  We ended the night by enjoying some delicious guacamole, queso and margaritas (which are always part of any season of the year for me).  Happy Holidays, y'all!

in Pittock Mansion

outside Pittock Mansion overlooking downtown Portland

at the Christmas tree lighting in Pioneer Square

a great ending to a great night

Christmas Time is Here...

"I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely..."

~Charles Dickens