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Another sort of lazy day . . . filled, but still sort of lazy!   I pretty much stayed in my sewing room all day today.  Did take a break and run into town to the bank to deposit some checks and then to Office Depot . . . looking for:

• new ledger book for my smocking business accounts
• some removable Scotch tape . . . can't find my old roll anywhere
• a package of the stick on mailing label holders 
• a new calculator to replace the 99 cent one that was a mistake to buy!

I found it all except the mailing label stick ons . . . when to Office Max to look for them and no luck there unless I could have used 500 . . . which I don't need. I'll look online or I'll find another way to adhere my mailing labels and include the invoice's easily.

I was at a loss for my POTD today . . . not inspired at all . . . so about nine tonight, I decided to take a photo of the basket full of onions in the kitchen.  The photos turned out pretty good . . . I used E.'s new tripod to steady my hand.  I'm having more blurry photos lately . . . camera shake.  I can't seem to get all of the onions in focus.  I may work on them again tomorrow after Jo leaves.

On my way back home, I stopped at KFC for three of their tasty chicken strips and a biscuit for lunch.  When I got home, I warmed them up and sat and read "That Camden Summer" for about half hour while I ate my lunch.  This book is very light, but a good read . . . I have never read anything from this author before, and I'm enjoying it.

I finished up the layout that I did for Debbie Hodge's Page Building class . . . I like the results and I love remembering that jam packed day with the kids.

We were to start with a sketch based on three columns on a 12" x 12" page.  I did the sketch yesterday and like the results of it. I am really enjoying this class . . . I love Debbie's site anyway and wish that I had more time to hang out there.  

I decided to vacuum the laundry room and wash the things in the wicker basket on top of the dryer . . . it has lots of the kids clothes in it that need mending.  Some of the little boy things are already too small even for Mark.  Shame on me for not doing this mending and letting down of hems earlier. 

I used the under washer brush under the washer and dryer and got all sorts of goop out.  Yuck.  The room is just so darn dusty! Guess that the dryer needs to have the vent cleaned out . . . another one for my honey-do list.  Poor E. . . . he gets the most un-fun things to do. 

I started working through Jessica Sprague's Pen Tablet class tonight . . . it is hard . . . hard to use the pen tablet I mean.  I will read through the Wacom instructions PDF tomorrow.  Hope that will help me.  Meanwhile I'm getting sleepy and am calling it a night.

32/365

I didn't forget my appointment with Dr. Akin . . . for some reason I just knew that I would forget it.  I stuck a post-it-note on my bathroom mirror to remind me!  I knew that I was due to have a check-up . . . but had no idea that it had been seven years since I had been.  My eyes were fine and actually the near sightedness was better than the last time.  I did have a bit more blurring in the left eye . . . so got a new prescription and ordered a new pair of regular glasses & a pair of sunglasses too.  The worst part of the eye exam is the choosing of the new frames!  And, the dang things are so expensive too.

I finished a little after ten, so I went to Kroger's for some groceries . . . stuff to make tacos for supper and fruit and milk.  I met the girls for lunch at 11:45 . . . all eight of us were there today.  Jane & Carol were dropped off by Dave & Jerry . . . the guys went to Macaroni Grill to eat with a group of church men and then picked the girls back up later.  

I came on back home and worked on the computer finishing up the current 3Kits 3Ways challenge for the DD blog.  I'm taking a class from Debbie Hodge called Page Building and one from Jessica Sprague on using my pen tablet . . . both started today . . . I didn't get the assignments for either of them finished.   I am getting behind in Cathy Zielski's class (which I love). . . Design Your Life . . . just can't get all of the stuff done.  I hope to pick up in Cathy's class later on . . . I was out of town for three of the days and couldn't catch up after I got home. I love this class so much that I'm just going to make the time for it . . . and learn from it!  I have learned that I don't need to sign up for more than one thing at once for awhile!

I wasn't quick enough to catch him actually filling the feeder,

so here is the exit . . . as I sit looking out the window.

E. worked outside filling all of the bird feeders and searching for the missing feeder and suet box that the raccoons drug off this week.  I made tacos for our supper and we ate sort of early.  E. went to the cabin to watch a movie and his 24 show on the television.  I called Aunt Velma . . . she had a skin cancer taken off of her face just under her eye . . . said that they froze it off and that unless it came back, that it was o.k.  She told me to wait until next week to come . . . it is just too slick there to get out to do anything out in town.  I messed around with the computer.

"Let books be your dining table, 

And you shall be full of delights 

Let them be your mattress 

And you shall sleep restful nights." 

~ Author Unknown

I forgot to take my camera with me today . . . and realized about 7 o'clock that I hadn't taken my POTD today.  Took it. Here it is.  I took my bedside table just as it sits . . . dust and all.  I didn't mean to take the shot at a slanted angle . . . it looks like all of the books are ready to slide off of the table.

11 . 04 . 2009

I called to see if I  could pick up Henry from his school today at 1:30 and drive out to Dry Creek to the farm.  Papa said that he would take us on a Gator ride and we could see the beautiful leaves and the new cows.   But . . . he was sick and stayed home from school today . . . and James stayed home too  . . . J. was croupy and H. just wasn’t himself.  So my little outing is now on hold.  

So . . . I took my book { That Old Cape Magic } to the Cracker Barrel for a lunch date . . . just the two of us.  We got the tiny table right in front of the fireplace, which is my favorite in cold weather!   I must finish that book tonight and tomorrow . . . it was due at the library yesterday.  It is hard for me to read one of the books that is a hold book in seven days sometimes . . . life does involve more than reading it seems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I took the three luggage tags that E. got to the embroidery shop so they could put our last name on them.  Then went into the Peddler just to enjoy their pretty things!   They have so many pretty Christmas decorations out now . . . I don’t need a thing . . . but it is nice to dream.  I found a great little Santa Claus that I thought I would get for all three of the girls . . . but they were very.very.very expensive!  Some of them were over $200.00!

Stopped to fill up the car with gas at Kroger’s and then went on back home.   I’m listening to "I’ll Be Seeing You” by Penelope Stokes in the car . . . it is good, interesting . . . and very inspirational.  The story is written about the lives of the characters  during the World War II era.  I had read one other of her books a few years ago called “The Blue Bottle Club” and really did enjoy it, so when I saw this one at our library I took it for the car.

I am being really careful with my computer . . . no Photoshop . . . not more than one or two things open at once either.  I don’t want it crashing before I can order and receive my new one later this month.  I am really having digital withdrawal!   I do miss creating my scrapbook pages so much.  But, having the internet is good . . . I do enjoy it!

I read a few blogs and Mary at My Little Red House asked these questions on her blog today:

1. What is your favorite movie?  Gone With the Wind . . . it’s the best . . . I laugh . . . I cry.  Mother told me that she went to the premier of “Gone With the Wind” in Atlanta at Lowes Theater in 1939.  She had the original program that she got in Atlanta . . . she let me take it to school and someone borrowed it from me and we never got it back.

 2. What is your favorite piece of clothing?  My fisherman sweater  . . . I wear it all winter!  I knit it in 1970 when E. was in Vietnam and I was pregnant with Mark.  Michael, Mark & I were living with Aunt Velma that year . . . I would go to the Knit Shop on the square near the Draft Board where Vela worked.  Helga, the lady who owned the shop helped me with that very difficult pattern.  I still love the sweater.

3. What is your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?  Read & clean out closets or sort through drawers.  I LOVE rainy days.  The darker and more dreary the better . . . somehow they just energize me!

4. What was your favorite childhood book?  The Childhood of Famous American’s series . . . when I was a child in the 1950’s they had orange covers.   I think I must have read everyone that our library had on its shelves. I have bought several of these little treasures at antique stores some years ago.  Some of our grandchildren love to read them now.

When I was even smaller, Mother would buy Little Golden Books illustrated by Eloise Wilkins . . . I still have most of them and they obviously have been read over and over again.  I still love to page through them as still love the rosy cheeked children that garnish the pages

5. What is your favorite room in your home?  The family room in our house is bright and cheerful with its yellow walls and red upholstery.  It is even more cozy in the winter time with a fire going in the fireplace!  My favorite time in this room is at Christmas when the stockings are hanging and the trees is shining with hundreds of tiny white lights.

I had a yummy baked sweet potato for supper and when E. came in from the farm he didn’t want what I had, so I fixed him a bowl of tomato soup.  He always has a story to tell after being at the farm all day . . . today Bill brought him two more heifers who are each having a calf in the late winter.  And, this one . . . he heard a noise coming from the coffee pot which was sitting on the counter top.  He thought that there probably was a mouse in it . . . but on closer inspection he saw a little bird.  A type of woodpecker inside the pot.  I did have the lid off, but he has no idea how the little thing got inside.  Thinking that Henry and I were coming there in the afternoon . . . without thinking, he put something over the hole in the top.  Then later on he went to release the little bird and it had suffocated to death.  E. felt so bad . . . he said that he just wasn’t thinking when he put the cover on the pot.  Last week he was looking for the chestnuts that were in a bowl on the table and couldn’t find them.  Then when he went to put on his wet weather boots in the kitchen, he felt something in the bottom of them . . . he quickly removed his foot!   Dumped it out . . . and there were the missing chestnuts!

:: pecan pie muffins ::

I got the recipe to make these muffins from Betty Dixon for Meg Warner's baby shower, and thought that I would try them out for our Sunday School class Name Tag Challenge with the Young Workers class tomorrow.

Makes 9 muffins 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of chopped pecans
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 large eggs, slightly stirred
• 1/2 cup real butter, melted

Preparation:

• Combine the first 3 ingredients in a large bowl . . . make a well in the center of the mixture.
• Beat the eggs until foamy. 
• Stir together the eggs and butter; add to the dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened.
• Place foil baking cups in muffin pans, and coat with cooking spray.
• Spoon batter into cups, filling each two-thirds full.
• Bake at 350° for 20 to 25 minutes or until done.
  Remove from pans immediately, and cool on wire racks.

This recipe came from the October 2001 issue of Southern Living Magazine.

:: capturing autumn ::

It rained earlier this morning and many of the leaves fell to the ground.  I love the look of this golden carpet on the old road bed in front of the house after the sun came out and made them shine!

My breakfast room table makes me happy each morning . . . especially when my favorite colors are in season.  I love the oranges and creams of fall pumpkins and enjoy sitting these two little felt Halloween friends against the candle holders. 

A funny thing about these candles  . . . they are studded with peppercorns . . . and listen to what happened when we burned them a few nights ago.

The three little boys were staying us last Friday night . . . they had made waffles for supper and always MUST light the candles when they sit down at the table.  Tonight as we were eating and the candles burned down a bit those peppercorns started jumping right out of the candles!  They must have gotten hot as the tapers melted and really shot out like they had been released from a slingshot!

This is absolutely not my husband’s favorite autumn job . . . but one that he does faithfully.  We have so many trees around the house that it is a job that rolls around all to soon to suit him!  We have another storm coming in tonight so he is preparing the gutters to accept all of the rain.

And, a flashback to this day last October . . . just our almost seven year old J. goofing around with some of the green tomatoes that his mom brought in before our first heavy front of the season.

And just in case you want to see some more autumn glory . . . just click here for links from the You Capture site.

:: has it been 3 years? ::

Oh my, these last three years have flown by!  Cassie was born exactly three years ago today . . . now she is three going on 13 I think!  I talked to her mama tonight . . . I actually called to talk to Cassie {but I called too late and they were putting her to bed} to wish her a  happy birthday!  Mama said that they didn’t tell her that it was her birthday because they were going to have her party on the 24th or 25th.

These two photographs are of little Cassie on the day that she was born.  Isn’t she adorable? 

And this is what little brother was doing when we came home from the hospital that evening after all of the excitement was over.

This morning I finished up the card that I made for Michael.  I was to take it to Jerry before he left to go to meet the bus at church for the Emmaus Walk group that Michael was going with.  First I ran by the bank to deposit a check for E. and then ran by the post office to mail Bess & David’s anniversary card. I dropped off my letter and the one from E. with Jerry and went inside for a few minutes.  Jane was cooking for the supper tomorrow night for the church budget groups meeting.

I had a salad for lunch and did a little reading . . . still working on “The Lucky One” by Nicholas Sparks.  I finished “My Life in France” by Julia Child and need to take it back to the library tomorrow.  I liked it . . . there was lots of French food talked about which I didn’t really understand, but the story was good.  It was fun learning more about Julia Child.

Julia with Simone Beck whom she collaborated with for the book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

I ran into the grocery on my way home for:

•    sugar
•    bananas
•    calcium tablets
•    & bread

Then home to work on our closet for a little while.  At 4:30 I drove over to Jane’s house to help her put the pumpkin centerpiece together for her dining room table.  We went to The Chop House for supper and then came home.

My package arrived for the little Just Ducky Quilt that I sent off for.   The flannel is really pretty and I know that I’ll enjoy working on it after Christmas.  Now I just need to find a place to keep the pattern & fabric together so I won’t forget that I have it in January!

:: busy day ::

E. is taking Mitchell to the farm today to try to rearrange the cows & calves again.  I went to James’ soccer game at 10 o’clock and then to Henry’s at 11 o’clock.  The weather was perfect!  It was 52 degrees when I left for the first game so I drug out my old green fleece jacket.  By the second game it had warmed up and I left the coat in the car. As in nearly every game the Crackerjacks have played this season, James starts out by scoring a goal immediately!     Mike is helping coach Henry’s team today while his mom is busy getting everything wrapped up for the Country Club gala tonight for the “Books from Birth” fundraiser. Another goal for James!  Go Crackerjacks!  These games can really be pretty exciting and I love that I can capture some fun photographs for the kids to look at after it is all over.James only gets to sit out for part of one quarter today . . . they were short of players since it is fall break.  Henry is taking a short nap before his game begins! I like this photo & the one above it.  They show just how good a player James really is! I am not really sure just how much Henry understands about the game.  I do know that he loves to kick the ball!The four and five year olds are my favorite group . . . they are so cute and don’t have a clue!  Most of the time they don’t know which goal belongs to their team.Henry and his friends had a good time this morning and that is what really matters!

After the games I went into town to run a couple of errands.  While going home I drove through the square and saw these men at the monument dressed as Civil War soldiers (well . . . I’m not sure how the one on the right is dresses as?). The lady with the guitar had the most beautiful voice so I stayed to listen to her through several songs. This tall, lanky fellow surely does look familiar doesn’t he? The courthouse is 150 years old this year . . . isn’t it beautiful!      His hat is actually made of some sort of fur & looks great!

Doesn’t this young lady look pretty in her wonderful blue dress?

I would have loved to stay for the entire program, but I’m picking the boys up at five and am bringing them to our house while their mom & dad go to the party.

E. called shortly before I left to get James and Henry to say that he and Mitchell were on their way home.  After I got back the three boys played baseball for about a half hour and then we piled into the car to take a gourmet tour of town!  First we went to Chick-fil-a for nuggets and fries, and then we stopped at Taco Bell and got out to get tacos and cinnamon twists and drinks.  We stayed at Taco Bell because there was no one else there and we don’t want the boys exposed to the flu again.

Back home so they could play for another hour.  M. watched Tennessee get beat by Auburn and the other two played “broom ball” in the hallway and with the Lego’s.