Masked Lives Matter!

 

I love wearing masks.

Like these, that cover my eyes or my face minus my mouth. 

But now that it’s the thing to wear them over our noses and mouths, I’m having a hard time finding a mask that doesn’t induce “mask meltdown!” Which for me is feeling panicked that I can’t breath, or see, because my glasses are so fogged! So fellow wearers of spectacles, what masks are you loving these days? 

Short of ordering one like this mesh net with high reviews which IS available on Amazon lol, what would you advise? I’ve tried wearing my cute quilter’s cotton one (sewn for me by my crafty sis Rhonda) high, pinched properly around my nose, wearing it low.... still lotsa fog. The surgical style works no better. 

Please help a girl avoid mask meltdown! 

Thank you in advance! 

😷 🤓 

Life is Good...in so many ways!

How is Life Good? Let me count the ways....

Daniel is loving his new job at the Atmore Police Department! It makes my day to see him so happy and excited to go to work!

I'm pretty sure I've finally felt our baby girl move... some soft thumpish feelings....WOW! This thing of creating a new life is just plain amazing! I'm 19 weeks now, almost half-way!

The 6th Annual Yard & Bake Sale last Saturday was  a roaring success! Especially the Bake Goods Booth which brought in a whopping $2,544!

Diesel's surgery to remove a growth/tumor was successful! He rather likes having surgery, I believe, since he was allowed to recuperate like a king on the couch in the living room!

I finally gave this blog a new 'do! Not sure that I love it, but at least it's different! Trying to learn to not let my perfectionism hinder me from just getting things DONE!

The vintage strawberry coffee cup I got from pilfering through Aunt Charity's treasures delights my soul every time I drink from it! The handle doesn't get hot in the microwave either!

Melvin repaired the kitchen floor by the sliding doors in a flash! Why didn't we do this sooner?! So pumped about the pending kitchen renovations on the horizon - new countertops, flooring, pantry, and cabinet hardware! Also, "Goodbye, butter yellow paint!" "Hello, fresh creamy white!"

Jill is the best bestie ever! She has cut out, sewn, and shipped me two adorable maternity dresses, and is currently working on the third!! I am beyond blessed.

Trent, Kristi, and kids are home on furlough from Guatemala! It was awesome to be with Kris again yesterday and to finally meet my little cousin and birthday twin, Elena! She even has reddish hair! xo

William's Station Day is today! It's one of my favorite Atmore activities! I love small-town times....and all the booths of art, and things like funnel cakes and fried Snickers.

The kumquat tree on the porch is loaded down with perfect little orange orbs of tart sunshine!
I carefully counted and was pleased to discover that my precious tree bore 65+ kumquats this year! They are rapidly diminishing though. Harrison (Jarrod & Casey Schneider's 2 year old - I'm keeping him several days a week during peanut harvest) loves to pick them, but doesn't love to eat them, so I let him pick them and I let me eat them.

Bow Season came in today! I am thrilled to begin a new session of nature watching with a deadly weapon! Hopefully the new, cute little food plot (food plots CAN be cute, even though guys would probably digress!) that Danl planted will be my lucky charm this year and I will be able to nail my first kill with my bow!

Getting rid of clutter is so liberating! I am giving nursery closet tours today, free admission! I'm just a little bit proud of how much better it looks and how much roomier it is! I think MamaBear from Berenstein Bears and FlyLady are both smiling.

This list could continue, but my mocha hot chocolate got cold and I need to go microwave it, and then go out to walk in this lovely Fall morning. Fall is simply the best season God made, in my opinion. I've been rolling a Fall poem around in my head for over a month now...maybe tomorrow it will finalize and I will post it here. I've missed writing - and can't figure out why I've been so slackish. Also, ask me for my new favorite breakfast recipe! Gingerbread in a mug! Mmmmm.....

a shopping day = a little more giveaway

The giveaway gift is now complete! Aunt Tricia, this dazzling box of black British tea will also be bestowed upon you once the British bookmark finally arrives. {Sigh of relief to have finally found something else Britannic that I liked! I think things of the mother country are going out of style!} It felt strange but blissful to be out shopping before 4:00 p.m. on a school day! Since I couldn't get an after school hours appointment with Dr. Cleveland, and it didn't make sense to rush back to teach for maybe an hour, Roxie subbed the whole day for me! I met my sweet mom-in-law for a quality-time lunch at Cheddar's. Today was the day to try "Chicken 'n Waffles!" Loved it! Thanks, Mom! For some reason I was totally in turtle gear and went slowly plodding around the stores, looking at everything and buying basically nothing. I kept telling myself, "Less is More." and "Think of all the stuff you have piled up everywhere at home." And it worked! I barely remember what the things were that I thought I wanted to buy! ....except that darling pillow that said "sparkle" in glittery copper letters...and that aqua scarf with the little birds all over it...and that emerald fabric at JoAnn's.....guess I'm not as good at forgetting as I thought I was....but I pinched my pennies and only came home with a birthday gift for Anne, a yoga mat that I'm going to ingeniously cut into a mod-looking shower mat, a book-themed journal to use for checking books out of my home library {no more not knowing where my books are?!} from World Market, the British Invasion tea also from World Market, 2 books from a thrift store {Teach With Your Heart by Erin Gruwell and Be Happy or I'll Scream by Sheri Lynch. Gonna send this one to you for your birthday, Annie! :) Looks like your style!} and some awesome essential stuff from WallyWorld like deodorant and paper towel and trash bags. So unglamorous but so necessary. Why can't they at least make it more appealing to shop at Walmart?! Like maybe lime green shopping carts...food samples...tellers with British accents...

so...HO! HO! HO!

~ We are still in the mountains of Guntersville, lavishing our time here spent surrounded by plentiful piles of festive food and "used to be wrapped" presents, cutesy Pinterest-inspired holiday decor, and our loving family {who are all being so nice at Christmas!} :)

~ Speaking of PRESENTS, I got some dazzlers! LOVE my PW Holiday Cookbook, the latest Khaled Housseni And the Mountains Echoed, and nifty cupcake batter dispenser! Tiffany had my name. :) Thanks, Tiff!!! Can't wait to start cooking!
                            

~ And the list goes on! DaddyWayne bestowed Russel Stover chocolates, he and MomDenise gave us an adorable lighted house made by Vicki Wedel, Tiffany and Michelle furnished gorgeous fabric! Also Michelle gifted me with a slick lime green spatula! And in keeping with tradition, MomDenise gave us all books to read!

~ As if all these lovely things aren't enough, we have been happily shopping almost every day! Boxing Day was the best! So far I've found the following loot: Jade-colored North Face zipper front lightweight jacket for only $14.97 and a cool diamond plate lunchbox ice chest for Danl from Gander Mtn, 2 pieces of fabric from Hancocks, {I'm gonna attempt stretchy fabric y'all!} a set of 15 tiny bottles of perfume from Victoria's Secret {I think 15, it's too cold to go down to the cabin to look!}which is so perfect for someone like me who can't make up her mind and LOVES samples lol! {they were already half off, and then I only paid $5 after the sweet lil salesgirl used my expired $10 off coupon! yay!} another stretchy piece of fabric from Wilsons, this one is a gorgeous chevron, my first chevron amazingly! and almost my favorite lol, a bendable lil rubber sock monkey from Cracker Barrel! I really bought him to give as a gift, but I fell in love with his bendy lil self and decided to keep him! I think he will love to live and explore in the Yukon.

~ To counteract the thousands of creepy little calories that have been consumed, we ice skated for hours at the rink in Huntsville. Ice, I love you.

~ I was gonna be like my heroine Gretchen Rubin and do a little bit of work every day while on vacation, for example, grade language and spelling tests, get my computer gradebook up to date, figure my holiday expenses so they would be ready to turn in, watch all the Logic of English spelling videos on YouTube, finish watching the Andrew Pudawah creative writing cds, write a New Year's letter, and sew my orange dress for the 100th day of school, BUT have I done any of these things?! NO! a resounding NO! {I did go through hundreds of backlogged emails though, and did more unsubscribing so I haven't been a total slob! Pretty close though with staying up til all hours and sleeping til 10 or later!} Oh, how I love vacation!!

~ I AM still planning on initiating an amazing Holiday Giveaway!! I may have to rethink what I was planning to give away though, so bear with me while I wait to find out....

~ Until then, I have a couch to keep warm, a cozy fire in the fireplace that needs bellying up to, the best coffee from Canada to sip, and soon, a steak to devour!

!!SPARKY!! {or not..}

SPARKY!!!! SPARKy!! SPARky! SPArky. SParky.. Sparky... sparky.... s p a r k y . . . . zzzzzz

That's a word demonstration of how I feel! It seems as if my saturated head is spinning to the point of flinging brain! We teachers of WHCS spent yesterday and today down at PCA in Pensacola soaking up ideas and absorbing techniques while observing the sparky, yet completely structured faculty. We had to arise in the wee morning hours to arrive on time, so by now I'm feeling devastatingly droopy! But I must bustle about and finish my preparations for tomorrow's lessons {no more winging it, Sharon!!!}, do up the supper dishes, cut out my Williamsburg party dress, pay a bill, pack up the chevron and polka dot painted pumpkins I made at Anne's on Saturday, advertise the yard/bake sale on Craigslist, and grade 18 tests before I be-bop to bed! Ouch! That list I just typed looks way too long! And the caffeine from my coconut mocha latte from The Drowsy Poet wore off long ago! Hasta la vista!

P.S. Those caramel snickerdoodles were the bomb!

This is the quote of the week for my class.

 

"I installed a skylight in my apartment and the people who live above me are furious!"

- Steven Wright

thinkn' beach

With some birthday $, I bought this gorgeous, chevron, roll-up beach mat at Walmart the other day! I think I am in love. But, I have never owned or tried out a beach mat at the beach. It seems like a really good idea and the fabric looks as if it will repel sand and water, which would be amazing! I abhor getting all sandy when I am laying out trying to get a freckle. Hopefully soon, I can try it out for real at the ocean one of these days! What is your favorite beach accessory? Do y'all all have beach mats, and love them? Or dislike them? Should I have saved the $15 I spent on this and applied it to a beach lounge chair instead? While we are on the subject of beachy apparatuses, I'll share a pic of this towel and bag I am coveting...

{And, BTW, I didn't write anything about FOOD! But my love of cupcakes is apparent!}

the final finish - phase 3!

  OK, where was I?! So the bride's table is done with their Oreo sundaes now.....or rather Mel and JP have finished the last two! The happy couple quite speedily opened their fab presents. Then we were all trying to swarm out to watch them drive away... always a thrill you know!! But alas, the throngs prevented me from viewing the precious scene. Back at Phil and Deb's, we decorated Tony's white Dodge with a dazzling array of balloons, glittery snow, rose petals, gel clings, streamers, and caution tape. The following words covered the windows: "Real Men Marry Teachers!" "Honk for Kisses!" "Babe on Board!" etc. etc! As they walked down the sidewalk that was lined with well-wishers throwing rice and snow glitter, I was reminded of the game, "Spud!" LOL! With caution tape and streamers trailing behind, they were off with a cloud of black diesel smoke to honeymoon the days away! Daniel and I were off on our important mission to nap back at Ben's. Supper was a delightful occasion at Applebee's with Cliff and Wendy. Since Wendy is back in the teaching game again too, we had lots to discuss! After relaxing a bit at Ben's, they soon headed back to PA. Wades stopped by next and we ate treats again. Monday morning dawned a perfect day to go shopping for fabric at Amish stores! Rhonda and I had wanted to do this on Saturday afternoon, but the Amish run daylight hours instead of Mennonite hours and the shops closed too soon. While the guys and Jacob were shopping at an outdoor store called "The Fin," Rhonda, Neil, and I were fortunate to be able to browse through a fascinating place called "Grandpa's Cheese Barn" where I tasted gadoodles of kinds of cheeses, dips, jellies, meats, snacks, etc. But surprisingly, I couldn't even begin to taste them all as there was so much variety!!! Daniel acted shocked when I told him this; I wonder why?! We also ducked into a candy shop that sold peanut butter balls the size of baseballs!! We decided to try a monstrous  peanut butter cookie instead. We were informed later, that these places were huge tourist traps with high prices, but we didn't care. We WERE tourists and had really enjoyed them! Back to Monday, Ben, Daniel, and Justin patiently waited in the car while I chose a solid kelly green piece at the first Amish store. No cc machine, and only natural light....but over in the corner sat the modern Bernina sewing machine! Did it run on battery or what? I am so intrigued by the Amish, because their life makes no sense to me! I know some people probably think the same thoughts about my life, but you know how it is, we all have our own version of "normal!" I tried in vain to bear this in mind when I found myself staring at the Amish, trying to see if this kind had to wear straight pins or buttons, black leggings and black shoes or bare legs and flip-flops!! LOL there is SO much variance between all the different orders. The second fabric store was much more modern; it even had printed fabric! I bought a poly-cotton light jade green and a solid purple piece so Daniel can call me "Barney." :) Next we had pizza and hot subs at Lem's, a local joint that I promptly fell deeply in love with for two reasons! One - their cheese pizza is incredible! Two - they have 24, mind you 24!!! flavors of soft serve ice cream! I treasured my towering, coconut cone to the last lick! On the way to Columbus, we stopped to shop a bit. Ashley and I made one run through Cabela's before leaving the guys there in their bliss while we shopped  the more inspiring nearby Hobby Lobby. Back at the airport, I once again sailed through security with thanksgiving brimming over in my heart for the new "Stand with your arms above your head zoom around security thingies!" Love them! Our flight out was delayed at least an hour due to weather somewhere else on the continent. I watched 5 ladies that were into knitting! They all whipped out their current projects and got their needles a flashin'! Maybe someday when I learn how to focus and count stitches, I will become a knitter. Ironically, Daniel's dad was patiently waiting for us in Atlanta while we sat in Columbus. He had gone way earlier than he would've had to though. We finally made it to Atlanta, and the Dodge Dart darted in line and picked us up! Thanks to Daniel's brilliant idea of having Dad pick us up from Atlanta instead of in Nashville to save time, we were able to sleep soundly at Dad and MomDenise's instead of fending for ourselves in Atlanta because we would have missed our flight to Nashville! When we stopped at Chick-fila for a bite to eat, Daniel felt impressed to give the elderly lady sitting near us $20 since it looked like she was either homeless or having a hard time. Her eyes teared up, she was so thankful since she had just lost her babysitting job! She wondered if I was a Mennonite, said she had done some kind of mission work with some Mennonites years ago in New York. Dad slipped another $20 on her table while we were visiting with her...So hopefully she felt as blessed as we did! Tuesday, we slept until we woke up, {which is an interesting paradox, because of course you always sleep until you wake up whether it's by an early alarm or not!} I did some laundry, and sat out by the pool with my book, my nook, a peach, a glass of ice water, some whoopee pie cake, and a fork! I had it made in the shade of my large sunglasses and lil straw birthday hat! I took an occasional dip to cool off, and reveled in the relaxing afternoon. MomDenise made it even better by bringing me out a refreshing cherry limeade! Talk about pool service! DaddyWayne smoked some succulent ribs for a tremendously satisfying supper....Cam came back home and MomDenise popped some of the Amish popcorn we had bought her. Like a ninny, I'd bought several foodie gift items for people at Grandpa's Cheesebarn not thinking of the fact that we wouldn't be able to fly them home with us since we had only carry-on luggage! Thankfully Cam didn't seem to mind toting my bag of goodies home with him. Danl proclaimed that we had to get back home Wednesday, so while he was in town with Dad, MomDenise, Erica, and I quickly headed for town as well! First stop was Wilson's Fabric Outlet where I ended up with four more pieces of fabric!MomDenise sweetly gifted me with the black with white polka dots piece that I had picked out! "Thanks again!" I purchased a lovely mint green that I just HAD to buy a grey chevron button for, a red print that will be super for Christmas, and a green circles over black abstract piece. Counting the 3 pieces from Amish country and the soft grey and red cotton that Kelly gave me from Saudi Arabia, I netted 8 new pieces to add to my stash on this trip! Yay! Now I just need to get with it and add them to my closet! Our next stop after Wilson's was to sample the frozen custard from Frizzles. I had just told Danl on the drive up that I really wanted to try out Frizzles soon, so I was tickled that my wish came true! My boring in the box plain vanilla cone was superb! Not sure if it quite equaled Culver's though! The last shoppe we stopped at, called "Bakers on Main" was my hands down favorite though! It's an unparalleled place - a combination of a café and endless rooms of unique etsy-style novelties to browse through. I bought a cool little gift for one of my friends that has a birthday in February.... hint, hint! We left the AL mountains around 5, and pulled in to our home sweet home at 9:30 pm. Even though it was only a week ago today that this adventure began, it feels as if torrents of water have passed under the bridge. And the most amazing thing is that now I have an awesome new sister! No souvenir can ever compare!

purple, love, and tumbleweeds

 

My thoughts are in a bit of a skirmish....so much water has passed under the bridge, that I don't know where to begin! Spring Break is history, I've been to Kansas, Roxie and Jeremy are now Mr. and Mrs. Koehn, and it's already MARCH 10!! What more shall I say?! It was incredibly inspiring to journey to the western flatlands to witness the vows of my dear friend and cousin, and to hang out with Jill and Max! Although it is still a great mystery to me why anyone would voluntarily choose to dwell in Kansas, the bumbling, bouncing tumbleweeds did sorta tickle my gizzard! Other than the hypnotizing windmills, the land just lacks character in my opinion. {I realize I am not writing this epistle in spatial order. Please forgive.} On the way, we ended up veering from the planned route due to obediently following the faithful GPS. We ended up taking 55 north through AR instead of 20 west out of Jackson to Dallas like we had originally planned. I didn't mind; we actually got flurried on by several snowflakes, and saw fields of the white stuff around Wichita. Backing up again, I want to tell you where all we ate! LOL! Dad treated us to the Western Sizzlin' buffet in Magee, MS for lunch. {Of course, we had a laundry basket of snacks for in between meals.} For supper, we settled in at an Arkansas Waffle House. I highly recommend their pecan waffle! We soon sacked out in style at a fairly new Sleep Inn in Van Buren, AR. I swam solo in the heated pool before calling it a day. After whisking ourselves down for complimentary waffles the next morning, we headed west again. It got warmer as we got closer to Ingalls, much to my dismay. I was relishing wearing my winter boots for once!! Aunt Sue and I settled in at Jill's grandparents house; Jill, Jan, and Max soon arrived! Max is just growing up like the cutest lil weed! Next event was the "Saturday Night Supper" as we commonly call it! I was thrilled to meet the other members of Roxie's family, and to see friends I hadn't connected with for ages! After eating, all those that were so inclined stood together around the projector and sang their hearts out. Back at the Schmidt's, we got to visit with Louis and Amy and their 4 kiddos! {They are just a tiny bit older than we are! Help!} Louis and Daniel have been friends for years, so he was disappointed that Danl hadn't been able to come with me. Jill and I stayed up as late as we could of course. All too soon, my alarm was ringing its head off! The wedding day had arrived! Roxie was a beautiful bride in a lovely, yet simple, dark lavender dress. The bridesmaids wore teal, which complemented the purple perfectly! Rox and Jer were full of excited grins and goofs! {I loved my side-view seat!} "I do, I do, I will, I will," and away walked the bride and groom, towards their new life together with huge smiles on their radiant faces! After eating the delicious wedding meal of yummy pork, roll, coleslaw, beans, cake, and coffee, I was dismayed to see a purple toaster, just like the one I had already purchased to give them at their Florida reception, come happily through the gift line. I had applauded myself for not procrastinating for once, all to no avail! Now WHAT in the world shall we get them for a present?! I had picked out that toaster for Roxie at Target long before she was even engaged!! Such is life. At their send-off, we riced them down thoroughly,{Anthony was even on the house roof and doused them good as they came out the door!} and sent them away to honeymoon, their car billowing with balloons, streamers, and caution tape! I didn't go to church in the evening, opting instead to spend precious time with Jill, Max, and my cousins from PA and WI. We said our sad goodbyes and left out Monday morning, after shopping at "Just For You" in Montezuma. Bought myself a teeny-tiny glass dog to add to my collection for a souvenir, and got some Kansas beef at the local grocery store to take home for Daniel! This time, we headed for Dallas down through the beautiful scenery of Oklahoma and northern Texas. Braums was a MUST for lunch! I loved my thick, onion-y chili and two scoops of ice cream! White chocolate raspberry and cherry pecan chunk.... yummo! Several hours later, Dad treated us to Pancho's Mexican Buffet in Dallas. Fresh-made flour tortillas and hot sopapillas hit the spot! I drove some intricate loop-de-loops in downtown Dallas since the GPS couldn't figure out the construction zones. Finally after midnight, we stopped for a few zzzzz's in Marshall, LA. Or maybe it was Marshall, TX. I don't know! With home sweet home on the horizon, the last stretch of the way dragged along! Stopped again in Magee for lunch, this time at Dairy Queen. Finally, we rolled into Atmore! Then on to 6350 Garrett Road and into my hubby's arms! HOME at last.

back to blogging!

I don't have a long time to ponder over this post, so please forgive my scattered ramblings! Life hasn't skipped a beat lately! Roxie's shower went down without a hitch in a plume of purple and teal. Mel and I left the next morning with Aunt Donna to spend the weekend in MS with Gramps for Grandpa's 91st birthday. Mom and Rhonda followed a bit later, and Uncle Mark and Aunt Tricia were ahead of us! We had a dashing time; lots of good laughs, good times, and good donuts I must add! The chocolate creme filled ones are the bomb! {think Wendy's frosty in donut form!} I was also so pleased to get a firsthand lesson on how to make peanut brittle from the master! {thanks, Uncle Mark!} Now I need to try my hand at it while it is fresh in my mind! Saturday was a day packed with celebration! Shopping, eating at Ryan's, seeing old friends, and of course PRESENTS! :)  Sunday was spent having church and lunch at the Home; always so special to me!! The residents there along with our grandparents and others in the cottages are shining examples of being cheerful, accepting, and happy in the golden years! We said our sad goodbyes Sunday afternoon and headed home to our hubbys! {except for Mel I must clarify unless she thrash me! :)} We were felt quite privileged to have a substantial stash of new fabric riding along home with us. Since mating season seems to be in full swing, it feels good to have a bit of a buffer for all these wedding on the horizon! So all in all, it twas a weekend filled to the brim with great memories and rare quality time with my sisters! Kinda ironic that we have to go out of state to be able to spend time together!

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.

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. :)

random thoughts of a non-brainiac

This slightly fallish weather is crisp, invigorating, buoyant!!!

Daniel was even a bit excited to cut grass again today since he hopefully wouldn't be dripping sweat in 5 minutes.

My dress for the wedding is begging to be completed.

Yesterday was a relaxing day with friends - a mixture of church, guns, dogs, cake, and grilled burgers!

Saturdays are the best! Especially when they end in a supper at David's Catfish with family. :)

These running shoes are doing laps through my head....I want them. Badly!!!

Had a good wake-up sit outside on my bench with my coffee this morning.

It feels like every day is a "shot day" almost! It's Monday again?!

Took a few practice shots with my bow and arrows yesterday. Hunting season here I come!

Due to the porches being nearly overtaken with slimy green tree frogs of late, I am getting slightly less afraid of them. (only very slightly. Maybe. One even landed on my arm the other night, and I only had a minute's worth of histrionics and heart palpitations!)

So excited to be going shopping with my older sis tomorrow; it's been a long time since we have shopped together! (wish us luck in finding her hubby and kids the perfect shades of lavender or wine-berry shirts for the upcoming wedding!)

Will chevron be a passing trend, or is it a timeless pattern?

Our dear friend Alex is now engaged to be married to a sweet, 18 year old farm girl on November 3! Arkansas, here we come! (hopefully!)

Can't wait to see a bunch of our good friends and fam that will be down for the wedding this weekend! David and Tara, Mervin and Lydia, Philip and Twila.......So exciting! ;)

I need to start the day. My lime green white board to-do list is rather long and daunting, so I must begin to tackle it asap!

TTYL!