Just What I Needed...Not!

I had hoped to have a tablescape done for this post, but Wednesday night, I was picking up the pumpkins by the front door to bring them in the house, and threw my back out. Yay! Just what I needed.
It was a bit better today, and then, I wasn't thinking and bent over and hurt it again!
No, I didn't say any "Sunday School words", but I thought a few.  :) 

Needless to say, I didn't get to do much decorating, so here's a little something I worked on earlier in the week.

I dried orange slices for Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations.

I know this isn't a biggie project as far as creativity goes, but I love doing it.

The dried slices are so pretty. They almost look like stained glass if you hold them up to the light.

This is so easy. Just slice the oranges about a quarter or eighth inch thick. You can do this with lemons, limes or other citrus fruit, too.  
Blot the slices on paper towels for a few minutes.
Then, place them on a rack to dry naturally, in the oven, or in a food dehydrator, if you have one.
 I used the oven on the "keep warm" setting, which I guess is about 100 degrees.
You can let them air dry, if you like. Sometimes, I put the rack on top of the fridge. They dry nicely there, and are out of the way.
It takes a few days for them to completely dry.

The slices can be used in so many ways. One way I use them is to decorate bags of simmering potpourri that I give as little gifts for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

There are lots of recipes for simmering potpourri, but I just use cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, whole allspice, a few dried orange peel pieces and a fresh orange.
I put all this in a cellophane bag, tied it with a raffia bow, and added a dried orange slice and sprig of rosemary for decoration.

I used the orange slices another way, in a basket of pine cones and orange pomander, in my last post .
They look great on the Christmas tree if you do country decor.

One last photo is one my hubby took this morning.. he said, "It's Mother Nature doing her thing."

It's ice from the bird bath with leaves frozen in it. He thought it looked a bit like a plate or wreath decorated with leaves.
LOL, Hubby used a plate stand to hold it so he could photograph it.
 As you see, we had freezing temps last night, which was the reason I was bringing the pumpkins in, when I hurt my back.

Our son and his family will be here Sunday, and I hope my back is better by then...gotta be able to play with the grandkids.

Wishing everyone a warm and wonderful Thanksgiving with lots of turkey and dressing, and loved ones around you.
Hugs,
Babs