trying to stay WARM!

It's so cold, even the buses have to wear sweaters!!! This pic just 'warmed' my soul... the coziest bus ever! These past few days have been effectively zapping any last remains of summer! Once again, we didn't really have "Fall" - just dove straight into winter from the scorching heat! Our faithful little plug-in heater is pumping its wee heart out by my feet as a I type... I am planning to stay up late to finish my royal blue dress that I must get done to wear to the pre-wedding supper. This aft-eve, I went nature-watching again in vain; should have stayed home to sew like a good little housewifey! The sweetest lil spotted fawn wandered in front of me...where was its DADDY?!! Even though I didn't get a chance to shoot for real, I did accidentally lob an arrow into the wild blue yonder when I was "practicing" shooting the imaginary king of the forest.... Help! that finger trigger release is touchy! {especially if you have it turned the wrong way!}

I should end this wacky post; my dress is not sewing itself. G'nite peoples!

 

strength for the day....light for the way

I found myself reading Ecclesiastes 9 this morning.....hence this poem!

Here we all are,

Under the sun.

The race is soon over,

Almost before it's begun!

 

Life down here,

Can't be figured out.

Yet I want to live,

To sing, to shout!

 

To live with zeal,

Giving God my all,

When the trump shall sound,

I'll answer its call!

 

To live each day always

Clothed in white...

Ready to go

To the celestial light!

 

Wisdom is better

Than riches or gold.

Live life with joy,

A merry heart cannot be sold.

 

It's not only the rich,

The strong, or the swift,

To whom God has given

His most precious gift.

 

He gives it us!

Poor, foolish man.

To all those who choose

To accept His great plan.

 

written by

SMF

10.26.2012

 



Attention!

A couple updates here....

Anne says for the pumpkin spice latte mix, either double everything except the spices, or cut the spices in half! Mel tried it just as the recipe was, and the flavors of fall literally made you "fall" over!

Furthermore, I no longer recommend going green by making the apple scented homemade fabric softener I posted awhile back. Our clothes are coming out of the wash staticy-clingy and they don't smell nice. "Welcome back to the family, Gain Apple Mango Tango! Your days of banishment are over!" Some things are just not duplicatable! {is that a word?! If it's not, it should be!} What is your favorite flavor of fabric softener? Or should I say, "what is your favorite scent of fabric softener?" Even though my fave is a "foodie" smell, I don't drink it!

Now what should I do with that empty, Mod-Podged houndstooth bottle I laboriously made?....

reflections by the dozen

1. You know you have a super good book when you end up reading it everywhere you go... Like reading at stop signs, in parking lots before and after grabbing groceries etc.

2. Roasted, salted pumpkin seeds taste amazing mixed with Reese Pieces!

3. Hosiery was created by someone who wished to stifle the natural joy of life.

4. I don't actually go bow hunting....I just "nature-watch" with a weapon of deadly destruction on my lap.

5. Dogs love people the way we all should; totally without any scorecards or or prejudices of appearance! And they give kisses without ever expecting any in return.

6. Sometimes when I'm at school, I feel like telling the children, "You is kind, You is smart, You is important." But they haven't read The Help and would call me out on my grammar, so I just tell them they are smart, kind, and important. I do try really hard not to come across as crazy as I truly am.

7. A painting I intend to call "The Fall Tree" is waiting on the easel for some attention. I started it yesterday and it is definitely in the "love me not" stage. Usually somewhere along the way to completion, my paintings suddenly morph into the "love me" phase. Thankfully.

8. A silly little dog figurine called out to me at We Care today. For .$49 he now is mine. I plan to spray paint him a solid color to give him more class. Red, navy, or turquoise???

9. Daniel keeps making me fall in love with his sense of humor....life injected with laughter is irresistible to me! God knew I would need a man who can always make me laugh.

10. Can the deer sense my intentions of spray-painting their antlers hot pink once I have them mounted?! IF I ever get to nab one....

11. Don't bother buying a souvenir mug on vacation. Just wait until you get home and buy it at We Care. Totally siked about the NYC mug I got today!

12. Spray paint is my BFF.

i like the dress!!!

Well, the other day, I found a plump lil package waiting on my red chair for me! My QVC dress had arrived!! Yay! I made myself calmly finish what I was doing before madly opening it up and trying it on. I instantly loved the shade of grey! Point number one in its favor. Didn't love that it is baggier around the waist than how I sew my dresses. Point taken away. And here is a narrative of how my thoughts continued....... "Love, love, love how soft and comfy it feels! Point added again. So awesome that it's long enough! {So many store-bought dresses would be way too short for me.} Add another point. Sorta like the cowl collar. Thankful the neck hole isn't gaping. Another point added. I could wear this dress even if I someday expand. {???} Slap another point on the "keep it" column. It needs a black button or something to dress it up in the front...looks a bit frumpy as is. Take a point away for having to get out needle and thread. It would cost $6.95 to send it back. Add a point in favor to keep it." And so on and so forth! More points to keep it than to return it! When I modeled it for Danl, he commented that he thought it looked a bit odd, but I couldn't get him to actually say "what" it was that made it appear that way! {men! :) lol!} I yanked off the tags and washed it to fortify my decision to keep it. But I am not scrambling to get the second dress ordered in a another color like I thought I might do if I just adored it. It kinda sank home to me that I should learn a lesson from this rash, dress-ordering decision....it could be summed up as follows:

 "If thou knowest how to sew custom fitted clothes for thyself, do so without complaining and be thankful for this talent that has been taught and passed down unto thee." Amen.

punkin' par-tay!!

 

 

 

So exciting to have all y'all that read this blog that are able to make it come over for a pumpkin par-tay tomorrow! I have to run up and get a flu shot first thing in the morning, and then clean the house before I'm ready for you to bring your pumpkin(s) decorating supplies, and some snackish grub, {i am providing pumpkin soup and drinks} around 10ish and we will paint, glue, glitter, and carve away! Wish you all could be here! If only it wasn't for life and so many miles getting in the way.... Don't you love that bug pumpkin at the top of this picture? Kinda "creepy" literally!

dress???

 

 

This dress from QVC is on its way in the mail to me!!! Am I crazy or what?! I need some new dresses desperately, and with working full time {minus one day!} at school the rest of this month, I won't have much time for sewing before we leave for Alex's wedding. SO, I saw the other day that one of my friends had pinned this dress on pinterest and therefore I quickly repinned it, zoomed to its website, and simply BOUGHT it! I think it could look really cute with my hounds tooth scarf and a colorful sweater....I'm telling myself it will most likely be the ugliest bag of a dress ever, and I will promptly return it! But, wouldn't it be perfectly wonderful to open it, love it, and wear it? A dress that I didn't have to put one tiny stitch of effort into......what bliss! I will be reporting the outcome of this rash decision at a later date.

arbys

 

 

 

What a balm for the weary!!! {Thanks, Danl!}

 

The 3rd Annual Yard - Bake Sale is tomorrow and I am already exhausted! Gotta get my 8 pies baked asap.....4 sweet tater, and 4 apple.

See y'all there! :)

i should be in bed.....but I'm NOT!

It appears as if the story of my life this week will be as follows! Drag self out of bed, scarf down some breakfast, spend a rewarding day at school, dash over to Dad's to work in the office, slap over the housework, and hit the hay! Repeat, repeat, repeat!! So don't expect many posts from me, but if I get a chance, I will peck away! Writing is my way to relax.....and of course browsing pinterest is quite therapeutic too! :) We did have a great weekend! Michelle was down from Canada for week; we were privileged to be with her, MomDenise, Erica, and Cam for a bountiful Sunday spread at Kevin and Debbie's. Loved the Starbuck's Cinnamon Dolce coffee! {thanks for giving me some, Michelle!} I was supposed to take a sweet salad, and of course did not have much on hand for a typical fruit one. So I cobbled together something I will call "Caramel Apple Pecan Cheesecake Fluff." Might as well name it something fancy-shmancy! :)

{All the amounts are approximately what I think I dumped in!}

Whip 1 pkg cream cheese with 1 cup granulated sugar until nice and creamy. Gently stir in 2 cups cooked apple pie filling. Fold in 16 oz. Cool Whip, then add 1 cup toasted pecans. Layer in pretty bowl with 1/4 cup of caramel ice cream topping dribbled between layers. Chill thoroughly. Then stuff your face!!!
{This "salad" is basically a dessert, but as we Mennonites love to do, we'll just call it a salad, and have dessert and eat it too!}

Fall Day With Friends and Possible Date for Pumpkin Party?

 

 Will Wednesday, October 17, 2012 suit y'all for the Pumpkin Decorating Party???

 

I sure hope so, because I think that will be the only day possible for me to host it since I am going to be working at school for a month starting Monday. (Miss Smith is going to south FL to get her new guide dog.) Please comment and let me know if this will work for you! Come around 10 am, armed with your pumpkin or pumpkins, decorating supplies for your choice of design, (we can share and use each others extra supplies etc. too!) and something lunchy-brunchy, sweet or salty! Drinks will be provided.

 

Slab Apple Pie!!! http://www.kingarthurflour.com/blog/2010/09/06/would-a-pie-by-any-other-name-taste-as-sweet-yes-if-its-apple-slab/ This pic is makin' my heart go pitter-patter! So to conquer my overexcited pulse, I am fixing to get in the kitchen and make this delectable dessert to take to our annual Fall Day with Friends. My hubby and some others always go dove hunting together, so we girls like to spend the afternoon  doing something creative and crafty. :) A little bird told me that Homemade Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes may be in the works for an afternoon slurpy.....

 

Pumpkin Spice Latte (Vegan, Gluten Free)

1. Make coffee (a pot, a cup, in whatever fashion and however you prefer making your coffee. The stronger the better)

2. Make Pumpkin Milk

1 c milk (I used almond milk but use any kind you want from half and half to rice milk)

1/4 heaping cup pumpkin puree (more if you really love pumpkin)

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice blend, or to taste

1 tsp cinnamon, or to taste

1 tsp vanilla extract

sweetener of choice, to taste (I suggest 2 tbsp agave or 2 tbsp brown sugar or a pinch of stevia to taste; or try honey, maple syrup, etc. to taste)

Optional: pinch of ground nutmeg, ginger, garam masala, cardamom, or other warming spices to taste

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk well by hand or blend all ingredients using a Vita or blender

Optional: Warm the finished pumpkin milk mixture in the microwave or on the stovetop (I do a quick nuke of about 1 minute)

3. Pour 1 c of brewed coffee into a mug and pour half the pumpkin milk mixture over the top of the coffee and enjoy. (Optional: Finish by garnishing with real whipped cream/whipped topping such as CoolWhip or TruWhip; and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice/cinnamon on top)

The other half of the pumpkin milk mixture is for the refill you know you will want. If you truly don’t want a refill, refrigerate it for up to a few days and use for your next latte, in a smoothie, or drink it as is. As long as you’re dirtying dishes, I always make a little extra for refills or for later.

Notes:

The spices will not “blend” or entirely dissolve. This is to be expected and normal. If this bothers you, this may not the recipe for you and you may want to experiment with other recipes or techniques.

All spices and seasonings are to taste; in this case, mine. If you want to reduce the spices (or increase them), obviously adjust everything according to your own taste preferences. Some people may find the amounts I used a bit strong, but I like robust flavors.

pining for pumpkins

 

 

I wish I had the lil pumpkins to make this fall centerpiece today.... classic and easy! But since I don't have them handy, and my to-do list is nearly a mile long, I shall refrain from browsing pinterest any longer, and get my tail in gear! Have a happy fallish day, friends!

right now

Outside my window... a bright, sunshiny day that is calling for me to spend it at the beach! (very wishful thinking!!)

I am thinking... that I MUST get the yard/bake sale ad listed in the newspaper, on northescambia.com, and on craigslist ASAP!

I am thankful... for the 5 hours of sleep I got last night, or ere..shall we say this morning?!

In the kitchen... piles and piles of nasty, greasy, grimy dishes and a newly reorganized pantry! :)

I am wearing... ummmm...grungy but comfy pjs!

I am creating... a children's book that is coming along SO S-L-O-W-L-Y!! (I wish I could be my own illustrator, but my pics just don't cut it!)

I am going... crazy! (shall we meet for coffee once we all arrive?!) 

I am reading... Same Kind of Different As Me,(borrowed from a friend) A Lucky Child, (overdue library book) Life to the Max (on my Nook)

I am hoping... to get this place cleaned up before I have to leave to get my shots this aft.

I am looking forward to...having a Pumpkin Decorating Party with friends and fam. :) 

I am learning...to trust God with the future.

Around the house...lots of guns, fabric piles waiting to morph into dresses, general clutter and shoes.

One of my favourite things... the spindly, wobbly little stand I rescued from a thrift store for $.25 and painted turquoise. it now sits outside on the porch by the bench so I have a place to rest my coffee and breakfast. :)

i will write again, right?

One of these days when life gets back to normal, {whatever that is?!} I will blog daily. I just got done subbing at school for four days, and am now eating cold, baked beans as I sit here typing a tad while I wait on Dad to get back to the office so we can work on bookwork again. AGAIN. Whew! What an exhausting sentence! Mom is still recovering albeit slowly and painfully. I think maybe I just heard Dad drive in...... Oh and FYI, Daniel shot the most adorable, baby, feral piglet last night! {if wild hogs can even be considered cute!!} Tomorrow the poor piggy won't be crying "Weeee weee weeee" because he will be marinated, injected, roasted and devoured! Wanna join us?