A Nesting Tradition?

Let me begin by saying "thank you" to all of you for your wonderful, warm and encouraging responses to my post a few weeks ago when I shared my fears and trepidations about my upcoming trip to Shutter Sisters Oasis. As always happens, all the aforementioned fears and trepidations were not necessary. It was a fabulous experience, I had a wonderful time and am so happy that I decided to go. At my age, I should probably be wise enough not to let my fears rule my life. (Ha!)

Okay ... moving forward to today's post ... Do you realize that this Thursday, three days hence, is Thanksgiving here in the States? Where the heck did November go? For that matter ... what happened to the first nine months of 2012? Did it fly by as quickly for you as it did for me?

A funny thing happens to me this time of year and as I was flying home from Phoenix following my Oasis adventure, I recognized the signs. I was a bit travel-weary having traveled more than usual this year. I wanted to get home and stay home so that I could (horrors!) clean my house and get ready for the upcoming holiday season as well as the winter ahead.

It probably can't be called a "tradition" but it happens every October, usually once the warm weather wanes and we face the end of daylight savings time. I become a "nester". You know ... one of those people (I started to say "women" but that would be sexist) who wants to stay in one's home and, well, make it more homey, more comfortable, more cozy. You know ... more nest-like. When I spend more time "in" my home, it's important to me to like what I see when I look around me.

So, what have I done this week? Here we go ... if you know me very well, you'll be amazed. I've been cleaning my house. After all, the holidays are coming and we all know you can't decorate for the holidays if your house is dirty!

I'm fortunate that we are empty nesters ... it takes some getting used to but it's also very nice ... and both of us are, by nature, neat and tidy. But I've never met a cobweb that respects "neat and tidy" so the Swiffer stuff and the vacuums and the bathroom cleaners all had to come out of their summer hiding places to get my home ready for the holidays and the winter ahead. It's still a work in progress ... after all .. I can't let it cut into my creative time too much! But it is getting done.

How about you? I know we're all creative types but are you a year 'round nester or do you do a frantic housecleaning before the holidays? Maybe you're one of the lucky ones who travel for the holidays allowing you to get by with a lick and a promise. Come to think of it ... whether we travel for the holidays or whether we stay home, we've established traditions in this matter so maybe my seasonal nesting instinct is a tradition after all.

Hop on over to the Flickr page to share your Tradition photos. We're coming up on a major American holiday so there should be plenty of opportunities to take and share photographs of your family's traditions. And, who knows? You might just be selected for our In Focus feature. A reminder about our card exchange, be sure to send your snail mail address to Linda if you wish to join us. There are more treats coming down the pike so stay tuned and be sure to join in the fun. I'll be looking for your cards and your Tradition photos.

Happy Thanksgiving!