Thanksgiving 2011

Hi Shugs!

Wanted to share with all of you the little “surcy” I bought for myself this year. When I was decorating the mantel, I decided to include a decoy, which SS loves, some Thanksgiving pictures and pilgrim figurines, and lastly I pulled out an old , “vintage” plate that I like to use for Thanksgiving - I believe it belonged to Mommas.

I loved the look so much, that when I got a circular from Belks in

the mail showing the Spode Woodland pattern, I imagined how enjoyable it would be to drink coffee out of the little mugs and have a piece of pecan pie on the plates. One of San Fran’s friends once noted that I was very “seasonal,” liking to decorate for each holiday during the year, and she was right. Auntie J started me on some Christmas china one year, and I realized how much I loved pulling out a special set of china to enjoy during the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas, so now I have this to enjoy during the month of November. I told SS I already have all the sets of china I need, but this is just the thing for the two of us to use when we have a sandwich or dessert.

When Mommy M and San Fran were growing up, we made note cards of this passage from the book of Psalms to read around the Thanksgiving table:

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands!

Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.

Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves.

We are His people and the sheep of His Pasture

.Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name

.For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations. Psalm 100

I wish all of my Pamela’s Girls a Happy Thanksgiving. Though we won’t be together in person, we will always remain close in spirit!

I love you ALL!! CiCi

A New Office Space For Auntie J

I am happy to announce to the Pamela's Girls that my office has at long last moved back over into the area of town where I most love to work - Music Row. Most of my professional life has been on and around this close collection of quaint tree-lined sidewalks, one way avenues and criss-crossing side streets and it's where I feel at home.

It was interesting working in the old Cummins Station building and I did enjoy having a great sushi buffet right in the same building where I worked - and - I will miss stopping into the used bookstore or taking a reading break during lunch at the nice coffee shop across the street. But being back in a lovely old house with parking right outside the door, bright shiny hardwood floors and open light-giving windows is a welcome change.

Our head of office here in Nashville did a great job in finding us this amazing space. There are a couple of good writers rooms, working fireplaces in several offices and just a good happy work environment overall.

My fellow copyright administrator (who I have nicknamed "Sunshine" because of her sweet heart and cheerful demeanor) and I have been placed in the same large room for the time being. There are several of us doubled up in offices on a temporary basis and I am thoroughly enjoying sharing office space with Sunshine! She is pictured above on our first visit to our new building.

We are occupying what was the Conference Room and it has a huge bay window looking out onto a small shaded courtyard within a wall with a busy street beyond. There are two sizable side windows beside one of which I have my new desk.

I don't know if I mentioned it before, but my previous office at Cummins Station had no windows and was a dark, albeit cozy little cave. So I am am absolutely loving having natural light to work by and seeing waving Fall-colored leaves just outside my window!

The house where we have our new offices was built around 1900 and has burnished parquet floors, large windows, and beautiful woodwork decorating the staircase that stretches between the ground floor and the third floor executive offices. The two landings both have window seats set in a bay window and overlooking our courtyard-like parking area which is graced by a scenic little fountain.

We are all extremely thankful for our "just outside the door" parking after having to walk so far to assigned parking over at Cummins Station.

I hope that I will be able to take my Pamela's Girls on a personal tour of these wonderful new offices when they can come up to visit! (hint! hint!!!)

Love to my sweet Pamelas Girls,

Auntie J