It's getting darker longer, colder and a snow storm has already come to the Finger Lakes. I am so grateful Thanksgiving is coming. It keeps me from going into a grumpy funk about winter. Truth, I actually start humming "Over the Woods to Grandmother's House We Come" when I go out to brush the snow off the car.

 I often write about the turning of the seasons and the celebrations of the Celtic calendar.  But it is Thanksgiving and its traditions that I most enjoy.

To paraphrase Eckhart: the only prayer we need ever say is thank you. He might not have been Celtic, but he sure was right on. Scientific studies now confirm the power of gratitude.

So please join me in looking to gratitude and allowing find the practice of gratitude to amplify our blessings as we begin this winter season and begin wrapping up the year. John O'Donahue’s book Blessings is a wonderful expression of these sentiments from a Celtic perspective. I turn to him frequently for inspiration.

I would like to thank all of you who have supported this blog, begun a year ago, and especially the guest bloggers who were so generous of time and spirit. I am truly blessed and very appreciative.

Many of my contributors are also authors. I have listed my favorite of their Irish books next to their name and contact information.

While you are relaxing between turkey and dessert and thinking about that Christmas list, consider their books-and mine, too please. A book is a wonderful gift. Purchasing them online and having them sent directly to out of town friends and family also allows you to sit back and enjoy Thanksgiving leftovers.

So thank you:

Kenneth McIntosh, author of Water from an Ancient Well, and many others on Celtic spirituality Kenneth R McIntosh on Facebook, also Amazon and Goodreads.

Sinéad Tyrone- Walking Through The Mist and its sequel. All books available at Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and at Dog Ears Bookstore (Buffalo, www.sineadtyrone.com or FB – Sinead Tyrone Author.

Cindy Thomson, Brigid of Ireland: A Historical Novel and others www.CindysWriting.com, Readers Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/readersofCindyThomson/

Kay Thomas A Smidgen of Irish Luck. Amazon. Find her blogging at www.kathomaswriter.com.  Facebook as Kaythomaswriter and on Twitter and Instagram @Kaywriter. 

Leah Eggleston Krygowski presently a book reviewer, who is finally finding time to write herself

Elaine Ní Chiardha,  musician, voiceworker and shamanic therapist based in County Meath, Ireland, near the sacred Hill of Tara. singingtheland@gmx.com, or facebook as singingtheland.