Thanksgiving has changed over the years for our family. My mom always hosted, but with both parents having passed it's changed. All the traditional things we did are now different.  I am the older generation in the family now and the last few years we've had Thanksgiving at home with our sons (and now granddaughter). We do things a bit more relaxed. Jeff, my husband, and I start our turkey in the morning and enjoy the day together watching the parade while sons visit their father's family.

In the evening we gather and enjoy our meal together when they return. I usually don't break out fine china as my mother did,  but it's the family togetherness rather than the china or centerpieces that matter to me.  I definitely miss my parents and I know during the holidays my sons do too. They so associated every holiday season with them and having a meal at the grandparents house.  So I understand this changing of the guard is difficult for most family members. 

I'd like to extend prayers and warm hugs for the grieving today who have an empty seat(s) at the table.  Holidays are a time of great joy and thankfulness, but they can also be difficult for those who are missing people they love dearly. 

I remain ever thankful and blessed by my small little tribe here at home. My wonderful husband, my two sons and my granddaughter are a blessing. Like any family, we have our ups and our downs. It takes patience and perseverance and lot of love to make family relationships work.  To me it's not the quantity of relationships that matter, but the quality of relationship that matters.  What we lack in number, we make up in love.

We are thankful and blessed.  Whether you family is big or small... remain grateful for those who are in your life and truly support and care for each other in times of hardship and times of bounty. 

I created a autumn themed slideshow below.  I added some of our fall/autumn themed bouquets to start. After those, I added some of my nature photography.  Taking nature pictures is my other passion.  These photos came from all around this great state of Michigan.  Many of them were from right here around my home in Monroe, Mi.  Others were from Marquette Mi from when we lived in the Upper Peninsula and also from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Northern Lower Peninsula.  Hope you enjoy it!

​Happy Thanksgiving.

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is right around the corner.  I am pulling our turkey out to defrost today, as I am sure many of you are doing the same.  It's been a mild November in our neck of woods.  Yesterday we did get some flurries, but it was still warm enough to walk Murphy down to the river albeit bundled up tight!  The River Raisin was very high.  A dramatic change from the summer when it was so low that vegetation was growing in the middle. 

In keeping with Thanksgiving, I give thanks and feel very blessed by our property. Murphy and I also took a walk through the lavender field.  Praying and hoping the smaller guys make it through the winter.  The Grosso and Folgate are pretty good size for first year plants.  The Phenomenal and Hidcote got off to a slower start as we did "The Battle of the Bunnies."  Once that was under control, we saw a good recovery.  I do wish they had a bit more time to grow.  Phenomenal is a variety that is very cold tolerant so I expect it to be okay.  English lavender (Hidcote) usually handles our winters well.  So here is hoping.  

In other news,  I have placed my order for a couple of trays of Royal Velvet for next spring.  I am very excited. Try as I might, I could not find this variety in my area this past summer.  So I just placed my order for next season. If you are looking for high quality plants, I ordered from Victor's Lavender in Washington.  I also have bought plants locally in Shelby Township, Mi at Telly's Greenhouse.  I was able to grab some Munstead at the end of the season at Parrans Greenhouse in Ida, Mi, which is much closer to our current location.   

I wanted to share our most recent listing.  With bringing in November it's a perfect time to think of warm fires.  We've recently added lavender fire starters to our store.  I used the stems of debudded lavender in bundles to create these highly aromatic fire starters.  They can be used in wood burning stoves, wood burning fireplaces and also year round in campfires.  Other uses include using in smokers or BBQs to infuse meat with lavender appeal.  Supplies are limited.  

The listing is available here.  lavender fire starter

I would like to apologize to those who have contacted me via the online contact page of our website.  I have been very bad about checking that forum.  I also discovered I had inadvertantly put the contact form to an email I don't check very often.  I have corrected the issue and I should start to receive contact form emails now. 

I was reading through the old messages and would like to let everyone who did not get a response know I am reading your messages.  Some messages required a more timely response, and I apologize if my delay in getting back with you that way has caused inconveniences. 

The best way to reach me is to send me a message via Etsy.  I receive the Etsy messages daily (sometimes hourly lol).  I get lots of questions and custom requests via the Etsy shop so I will be sure to see your message.  Seems like Etsy messages are constantly beeping through on my mail so they are seen and responded to very quickly.  

This is the direct link to our Etsy store or click the store tab on this website and it direct links to Etsy. 

Etsy Shop
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​The final way to reach me is sending an email to elaine@lavenderrosefarms.com.   

I hope everyone had a great Halloween.  We didn't really see any trick or treaters this year due to not being in a subdivision.  However, my granddaughter had a great time going out with her parents.  I was thrilled to see that one of her uncles got a T-Rex suit and he went with kids.  I love T-Rex Tuesdays.  Look it up on Facebook or go to this link below.  The videos are always funny. 

www.facebook.com/TrexTuesdays

I'd love to do a video with the T-Rex running in my lavender field.  I think it would be so funny.  I can see my granddaughter chasing him!  

Happy November everyone!