Hi friends!  Hope you had a great weekend!

Hello Monday is where I share what we've been doing and greet the new week with a fresh perspective.  It's Thanksgiving week and it doesn't matter how many years I've lived away from America, I'm still celebrating!  Even though we're not with family, we miss them greatly, and I may get a twinge of homesickness, I am thankful for friends to share in the occasion.  It helps alot!

Hello cute house circa 1615.  



We have this beautiful street in our town that is lined with sweet houses similar to this one above.

Hello 4 dark 30!  This is our 4:30 pm these days.  Ugh! 



You'd think I'd be use to this having grown up in Alaska!!


Hello my sweet kitty.


It's been so dreary that there have been many days like this!

Hello Sunday morning from under my umbrella!


See!  Rainy and dreary!!  But it won't stop us from a breakfast date!  Each Sunday we take turns taking one of the kids out for a little one on one time.  Such a special time!

Hello I AM THEY!  "From the Day" has become a fav song and I can't wait to see how your music takes off!  Love it!

Hello Thanksgiving with friends!!

Hello Christmas movies!

Hello Christmas decorations!  We'll be pulling them all out this week!!

What are you saying Hello to?

For my American friends and family, I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

5 cups rolled oats
1 cup crushed pecans (or any nut you like)

1/2 cup honey (or maple syrup)

4 Tablespoons pumpkin puree

4 Tablespoons coconut oil (any oil will work)

2 Tablespoon *pumpkin pie spice

1/2 teaspoon salt

*You can easily make your own pumpkin pie spice by mixing 1 Tablespoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon nutmeg, 1 teaspoon ginger and 3/4 teaspoon allspice

Preheat oven to 350 (176 C).  In a large bowl mix together the oats, pecans, pumpkin pie spice and salt.  In a microwaveable bowl, melt the honey and oil and add the pumpkin.  Pour the liquid over the oat mixture.  Spread over a cookie sheet and bake for 25 minutes, stirring halfway through.  If you like a crunchier granola, bake for an additional 15-20 minutes.  You can add dried fruit or chocolate chips to make your preferred granola.



There you have it, pumpkin pie spice granola!

Do you like making granola?  If so, what's your favorite recipe?

And what are you saying hello to this week?  Happy Monday!

This is such a simple craft that can be whipped up in minutes.


 I love t-shirt crafts and after looking at a few photos, we came up with our own t-shirt poppy.


 As you can see from the photos above we found various things around the house to create five circles in varying sizes.  Then used fabric glue, a black button, a needle and black thread to put it all together.

The poppy installation at the Tower of London marks 100 years since the outbreak of World War I.  The first ceramic poppy was placed July 17th and the last today, November 11th. The poppies total 888,246, one for each Commonwealth soldier killed.  

An anonymous war poem was the inspiration for the name of the installment, "Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red."


Over 4 million people have come to see this beautiful project unfold from July to November.


This project was so thoughtfully put together.  The sea of poppies is just captivating!

Can you believe, this was my first time to step inside the tower to see 1000 years of history?



There is so much to see within the walls that you could easily spend a whole day.



Here are just a few of the things you can see behind the tower walls.



Take a Yeoman Warder's tour (also known as a Beefeater).  Don't miss this, it's free!  These men are required to have served at least 22 years in the armed forces with an honorable record.  They are fun-spirited and bring history to life.



Discover the history of the royal mint that spanned over 500 years.



Take a stroll through the crown jewels.  The collection is still regularly used by The Queen.



Follow the walkways through the walls, see the Royal Beast that describes the animals that lived at the fortress, spanning 600 year.





 The Medieval Palace where hundreds of Kings and Queens stayed on their visit to their most valued fortress.











Visit all the towers, like Beauchamp Tower where you'll see graffiti left by the Tudor Prisoners.



Or Bloody Tower where the Little Princes were murdered.



Be sure to look for the seven ravens flying about the tower.  Legend has it that the tower will fall if the six ravens ever leave the tower.  Seven are in residence, just in case!

As part of the WWI remembrance, portrayals of wartime were being demonstrated around the tower grounds.



The Tower of London played an important role during WWI.  Recruitment and mobilization took place here as well as a hold for prisoners and a place of execution.



Visiting the tower with the sea of poppies filling the moat added a beautiful element.









Would you like a chance to win a ceramic poppy of your own?

Attractiontix is giving away a ceramic poppy to one lucky winner!  Enter for your chance to win a beautiful piece of history.

Have you visited the Seas of Red at the Tower of London?

* I was given a complimentary ticket to the The Tower of London for the purpose of review for Attractiontix.

Linking up with the lovely Bonnie, Courtney, Cynthia and Yalanda.

Hello Monday is where I share what we've been doing and greet the new week with a fresh perspective. Let's make this Monday and new week a great one!!  

Hello you gorgeous ceramic poppies, Hello Tower of London.  It was a pleasure to see you again!  (more on the blog tomorrow)

Hello Fireworks/Bonfire/Guy Fawkes Night.  Our venue didn't have a bonfire.  I was so disappointed!

Hello new Starbucks Chritsmas mug!!

Hello lovely tea time! Homemade scones, homemade jam.  Such a nice time spent with the ladies in our church.

Hello Thorpe Park amusement park.  Hello Tesco vouchers.  Without you we wouldn't have gone.  Fun day spent riding rides.  Good weather, not too many people and I found I still like rollercoasters more than I thought.

Hello my sweet, crazy, blurry family!  I was happy to stay dry take photos while you rode the log ride!

Hello new school week.  Hello Thanksgiving month!!  Hello turkey, dressing, green bean casserole and more.  I look forward to consuming you a few times this month!

Want to join me?  What are you saying Hello to this Monday?

Hello Monday is where I share what we've been doing and greet the new week with a fresh perspective. Monday is a new beginning, right?!  

Hello London Underground.  It doesn't take much for my kids to enjoy a ride.

Hello Aldgate and Payleys upon Pilers.  This structure was built to mark the route from the City of London to Olympic Park and inspired by the area's famous poet Geoffrey Chaucer.

Hello Tower of London with your gorgeous ceramic poppies.  I believe all of London and the rest of the world is here to see you.  The crowds are thick!  But, you're worth it!

Hello again Shard (I know I posted These Shard photos already, but I can't help it.  I love them)!!

Hello Vapiano Restaurant.  We love you!

Hello country walks and time spent with friends.

Hello new term.  My kids are not ready to go back to school.  Be kind to them, please.

Hello November.  Thanksgiving is just around the corner.

What are you saying hello to this week?