The Thanksgiving placemat drive concluded last week. I knew I would need all the help I could get, so before the Fall Fortnight event, I announced the project to the members of my local guild. Members brought 85 placemats in fall themes to the October guild meeting.

The placemats were taken that day to Meals on Wheels and accepted with delight by Robyn Wells and Joseph Jones.

The mail over the next two weeks was fun to get, as lovely designs in fall themes were received. You may recognize some of these from our placemat blog hop during Fall Fortnight. I did not keep track of who sent what, but I do remember the ones on the left came from Yvonne at Quilting Jetgirl. The two on the bottom are from Quilt Mouse and the strippy ones above that are from Colorways by Vicki. See my post Fall Fortnight Placemats and Blog Hop for all the links to their blog posts with tutorials.

The bright teal and orange strippys were sent by Diann at Little Penguin Quilts. See her blog post for that pattern.

I picked these up the day before the second delivery. Thank you so much to all who sent in placemats – Becky P, Irene D, Niki B., Julie C, Rita M, Mary Ellen F, Brunerwoman, Yvonne F, Mary D, Vicki W and Diann B. A second delivery of 42 placemats received from readers and a few more guild members was made this past Thursday. I know of one package from Delaware that did not arrive until Saturday. Tracking shows it going back and forth between two distribution centers for several days. I can’t pick it up until Tuesday but the MOW office is not far and I’ll deliver what is received when it arrives.

We reached the peak of our fall color this week, and it is glorious. Looking up from the west side of the house, fall color is bright against a cerulean blue sky.

From the front, the driveway had beautiful color with a few more trees yet to turn. You can see the mountain ridge to the east through the trees.

Looking east from the back yard, we are surrounded by forest dressed in autumn. The mountain peak to the east can be seen here. Between our peak and the next part of the ridge, there is a deep cove (a valley between mountains), awash in gold and orange.

Looking west in the back yard, this day was overcast. Our back yard is narrow due to the mountainside rising just outside the fence. The next mountain ridge to the west can be seen through the trees. It is a lower peak than the one we live on. Again, between ours and this ridge there is a deep cove going down to a small stream. The forest is thick surrounding our home so the views in winter are different with some of the leaves down. Black walnut, sugar maples, tulip poplars, locust and oak trees are most abundant on our property.

Deep red oaks and orange gold tulip poplar trees are vibrant even on a cloudy day.

On this part, one tree has already shed all its leaves. Behind it, more are coming into peak.

Out front, the oak tree is gorgeous deep red with another golden tulip poplar tree behind it.

A run with our MINI club yesterday was fun, lots of pretty back roads with stops at two historic bridges.

This one looks really wonky, and the plaque with it says it was built this way on purpose, neither level nor plumb.

But head on, it looks fine. It must be as it has stood this way for over 100 years. It is the last covered bridge still standing in South Carolina.

Back home, the Thanksgiving cactus is starting to bloom. Thanksgiving cactus flowers have yellow anthers and the plants have pointy, serrated leaves.

Three red blooms are in full glory, with many more yet to come. I have a bunch of yellow buds too. They should come out in a week or so.

It has been too warm for November up to now, but a cold front should arrive today and make it feel more seasonal. I like it chilly at this time of year so I can wear my fall sweaters, make good slow cooker meals and soups, and work on projects. I have a wool project to show you next week, and I hope to get it far enough along to do that. I’m working on beading the binding of my rose collage piece, and designing a secret project for Worldwide Quilting Day. I have most of the week to play, so we’ll see what gets done!

But first, I need to order stabilizer for embroidery and collage projects, and this is the perfect time. There is a Super Sale on rolls and bolts of stabilizers in every type from water soluble to tear aways and cut aways by Sulky!! Get 35% off through Monday 11/9/26 at midnight PT. Click on Sulky Threads and Stabilizers to see all the stabilizer deals! Free shipping on orders over $60!!

What are your plans for the week?

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Electric Quilt Black Friday Sale! 25% off sitewide on EQ8, Upgrades, Starter Box, EQ8 Books and Booklet, BlockBase+, and Barbara Brackman’s Encyclopedia! Promo code: NOVEMBER. All sales exclude EQ for You Starter Box, EQ classes, and EQ Membership. November 1-30. Now is the best time to buy this software package if you’ve ever thought about it. The EQ8 Starter Box is a new offer from Electric Quilt that gathers everything you need to design your own quilts and projects, with extra goodies in one box, all at a discounted price – A $408.30 value for just $276.95! Want to know more? See my post EQ8 Unboxing to see everything included. Give yourself a gift this year!

See the new November Fat Quarter Shop specials! Take 20% off the Basic of the Month Magic Dot by Lelia Boutique for Moda, 30% Off the Notions of the Month. Save 10% on selected Aurifil bundles. Take 30% off featured Patterns of the Month by Wendy Shepard. Then, check out Today’s Flash Sale and see the Precuts of the Week!! Free shipping on orders over $80.