Fun-Filled Weekend

It was a busy week--professionally and personally. There were lots of appointments on the calendar during the school day and after school. This type of schedule makes the week pass quickly and serves as a reminder that the last quarter of the year is slipping away. The weekend was no less hectic.

Yesterday was a big day--the annual Fall Festival at Ridgefield and what a fun day is was. There were games for the little ones along with bouncy houses. The outdoor stage hosted karoke, a pet pageant, pie eating contest, and a "kiss the pig" event. There was no shortage of animals--a petting zoo and pony rides. Older kiddos could enjoy the game truck. The Kountry Kitchen had great bar-b-q and nachos inviting you to eat under the big tent. And then, we must not forget the snow cones. Sadly, because of gusty winds, the hot air balloon was unable to launch anyone for a ride.

On the inside, there all kinds of delectable treats at the bake sale. There were dozens of silent auction items and 27 craft venders from the area joined the festivities with their wares. I spent a little money. The temptation was too much. (Micah, I just might have a surprize for you.) It was a fun, fun day and I didn't even mention everything.

And, it wasn't over. When I got home around 2:00, I picked up mom and we headed to Jonesboro to shop a little more. When we got home around 5:00, I layed down a took a nap. I NEVER nap. I must have really been tired. I take it as a sign that I need to slow down a little and relax.

I plan to do just that.  My two new November magazines have arrived and I can hardly wait to get into them and see new holiday ideas.

What did you do this week?

Marcia

When Things Don't Go Quite as Planned

As previously posted, I spent a great fall break in NOLA. I drove home Sunday afternoon with big plans for the following week. I had a full work schedule beginning at 8:00 a.m. Monday morning and I had already envisioned the week ahead. Not only did I have big plans for work, my NOLA family was coming for their fall break and I expected to do some fun family things the

last part of the week.

WRONG!

We make plans and God laughs. I woke up at 1:00 a.m. Monday morning extremely ill and did not go back to school for three days. Nor did I get to host my guest family at my house the last part of the week and enjoy family time with great-grandparents and lots of other special things I had hoped for and expected. To say the least, it was a huge disappointment. Rhyne, Micah, and Ben did make a trip to St. Elizabeth's to visit Papaw Bob who is doing rehabilitation work preparing to come home. During that little visit, they also got to see Mamaw Joyce and Papa. Before leaving for home, they also got in a short visit with Papaw, Grandmother, and Bryan. I missed all of this.

What I did get to enjoy was an impromptu visit by Micah and Ben at school for a few minutes Thursday morning where I got to introduce them to a few of the school folk. I also got to go along for Ben's first haircut. It's amazing how the clip of a few precious curls can instantly make a big difference in a little guy's appearance. He suddenly looked even more like a little man. He did a great job being cooperative with our very special Lisa, who has been cutting our family hair for 25 years.

The Putmans decided to leave on Friday and that left Saturday open so Collin and I got a number of things accomplished on the home front that had been slippig. We picked up the yard and mowed, cleaned out another portion of our garden, and hauled and stacked our wood pellets for the insert preparing for the cool days of winter that will be fast approaching.

While not one of my better weeks, and after being not merely slowed down, but actually halted, I looked back on my blessings and reflected upon God's purpose in mandatory life pauses. Today, I'm thankful that I feel good, am healthy, and free of pain; that food tastes good again and that I want to eat; that I got time with my NOLA family the week before because I missed most of it this week; and that yesterday, the sun shined, I had my energy back, and that I could spend the day with Collin and complete some projects at home.

Behind the clouds are the silver linings.

Marcia

Fall Break Visit to New Orleans

Last Wednesday morning, I pitched a couple of bags in the trunk of my car and headed south. We had a three day break from school. I hadn't seen my New Orleans family since July and it was time. Collin didn't get to go with me as originally planned, but I needed a change of scenery, some time to relax, and play time with Ben. He was a sweetheart and told me to head out.

And that's about all I did while I was there--play with Ben. I ditched the professional role of administrator and simply became "Grammie" for three days and it was wonderful. Micah and I got to visit and spend some quality time together which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Our days were spent playing at the neighborhood park.

We tried out the merry-go-round for the first time. . .

and went down the slide frequently.

Early mornings and late nights, we hopped in the stroller and walked the 1 1/2 mile loop of the NOBTS campus. All we had to do was ask Ben if he wanted to go outside and he would run to the stroller and wait somewhat IMpatiently by the front door.

Micah and I went shopping Saturday afternoon for a couple of hours.  

Sunday morning I headed back home to J'town. It was a great trip.

This week is Rhyne's fall break and they are headed home for a visit of their own. How luckly--I get to see them again. The rest of my family is anxious for their arrival. Are they in for a treat!

Marcia 

Welcome Fall

It is a beautiful sunny day, but with a slightly chilly breeze in the air. With temperatures in the 60's, and an ever so slight change being seen in a few leaves, you know Autumn has officially arrived in the south. We recognize it in a number of ways.

Football seems to usher in the season, but it becomes more real to me by the change in nature, in decoration of lawn and home, changing clothing attire to warmer selections, thoughts of holiday cooking and shopping, and definitely by my boys as they make the necessary preparations for hunting. Yesterday morning as I was enjoying the cool crisp air from sitting on the patio, Collin asked me to help him with a project in the shop. He needed a second set of hands to help finish attaching the motors to his corn feeders. (As afore mentioned, we're getting ready for deer season.) He had also lit our fire pit. I absolutely breathed in Fall as I smelled the "woodsy" aroma and watched several leaves gently float to the ground in the breeze. It was so peaceful and relaxing--it whispered, "Fall."

After some time, Collin finished up and left for the afternoon. Bryan was already gone for the day joining friends to dove hunt. (Again, as afore mentioned--hunting season. The ducks should also be put on alert.) Alone at home, I ditched the idea of shopping in town due to a rainy afternoon and the desire to be warm and cozy rather than wet and cool. I was drawn to the kitchen and the end result was a pumpkin pie. The spicy scent filled the house as an accompaniment to the candle warmers already plugged in and burning in several rooms of the house.  (I should have made the photo right out of the oven.  It was much prettier.)

My house is decorated for the season. Fall colors are my favorites. Around and about, you'll see pumpkins, scarecrow figurines, acorns, leaves, and candles. I'll share a tour of my home on another post. When November arrives, I add turkeys and pilgrams. I also enjoy pumpkins and mums on the outside. Collin has always said that Halloween is kind of the first celebration of the season with many more to come, and as you can see, while we don't make much of Halloween, we are ready.

The best part of the season is family gatherings. We get to see more of our children in the fall and we have more family get-togethers with lots of seasonal dishes. You can't be southern and not have huge meals at family gatherings. Along with the pumpkin pie, we'll add on the pecan pie and the mincemeat just for my mom and dad.

Autumn! What a picturesque time of the year, how inspirational as we slow down to consider our blessings, and how warm that we pause to share love, warmth, and laughter with our family.

Warmest Wishes,

Marcia

Summer Project--Vegetable Garden

We love fresh vegetables in the summer months and we love having vegetables to reach for out of the freezor or the canned jar during the winter. Let's face it--they taste much better than store bought and it cuts down on the grocery bill. Collin and I enjoy the outdoors and gardening is another avenue to being outside, working together, and reaping the fruits of our labor. In fact, gardening is a mental relaxation and stress relief even though it can be a physically tiring at time and a little hot. Nontheless, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages and we persevere.

We had a wonderful garden this year with great yeilds. Not only did we have plenty, but we shared with both sets of parents. Besides everything we ate fresh, we canned close to 100 pints of greenbeans, froze over 50 bags of purple hull peas, and 10 to 15 bags of white lima beans. There were cucumbers, yellow neck squash, bell and jalapano peppers, cantelope, okra, and tomatos. We put corn in the frezor, but actually bought it at the market. It's hard to compete with the racoons when it comes to corn.

I wish I had made more pictures of the garden and it's produce, but I still had to work a few days a week and I was busy picking and keeping the grass out of it. Again, it made for a busy summer project, but we'll sure enjoy the rewards this winter.

Marcia

Summer Project--Room ReDo

Last week I began sharing about the summer and focused on our travels. This week, I thought I'd share about one of my home projects and a few photos. When we bought our house nearly 30 years ago, it had one, SMALL bathroom. After being here about 10 years, we entered into a major remodel. With a new bathroom, Micah and Bryan inherited the smaller one to share. Then Micah married and that left the bathroom for Bryan. It had been remodeled one time since, but was in definite need of another facelift. I decided this was the summer to embark. May I say--MAJOR undertaking. It is the last room in my house to have wall paper and the paper had to go.

Mixing this project along with working a couple of days each week, it took me two to three weeks for total completion. It took several days to strip the wall paper. Then there was a lot of damage on the sheetrock because of years of wear and tear. Collin helped me some and we mudded and sanded before ever thinking about picking up the paintbrush.

Here are a few photos. Keeping in mind, this bathroom is Bryan's, it had to be something of his reflection. Knowing his personality, considering some collection peices, and the fact that he is all about the drums, I began pondering. I settled on a shade of gold for the walls and accessorized in brown, crimson, gold, and beige. I purchased new shower curtains and a rug.

I found a framed mirrow that I thought was beautiful,a fantastic bargain at Kirklands, and ditched the old one. 

I added a few bronze pieces for shelving and accents. 

It was time for some new fixtures and faucets which my wonderful husband installed and before you knew it, we had a new bathroom. Bryan collects percussion peices and we utilized those to dress up the room and make it his, yet still be appealing as a guest bathroom.

Next summer, we're going to look at his bedroom. I've purchased the new comforter in the same coloring as his bathroom. You can't get started planning too early.

Marcia

Starting Over and Catching Up

I do love blogging, but somehow got distracted.  It is amazing how hectic and busy life can get.  As I think back over the past eight to nine months, we have had quite a bit on our plate since January, but hopefully, I can begin to reflect on some of our life and get events brought up to date.  I thought I'd simply begin with our summer travels.

With a new job, I have pretty much worked two years straight without any vacation time.  I decided that something had to change this summer.  I needed a break.  Too many projects and needs had been neglected in my house and outside in my yard.  Plus, I needed some time to relax, travel, and enjoy my family.  This being said, on to our summer travels.

School was dismissed for summer as scheduled and that led in to Memorial Day weekend.  Collin and I were packed up and ready to go.  On Friday afternoon, we headed out to Bull Shoals with our RV in tow and stayed on the White River at Copper Johns. Since I had nothing pressing and Collin had a few days to spare at work, we stayed through Wednesday.  We sat in our lawn chairs, watched the river roll by, slept in late, had some great meals off the grill, drove around at night enjoying deer out feeding, and driving here and there, enjoyed reading, just whatever we felt like doing.  No stress, no pressure.  Here we are with the White River in the background at Bull Shoal's State Park.

Micah and Ben came home in June for the express purpose of going to Branson.  Micah hadn't been in years and wanted to go shopping and seeing all the changes in the area.  We headed out for three days of fun.  We had a great hotel in a good location and hit all the malls.  Ben had a stroller to ride in and plenty of snacks and drink so he was a happy little shopper.  We had tons of fun--lots of success in the stores, good food at several restaurants, and some quality time to spend together.  We're already planning for next year.  Here we are enjoying some good food and relaxing in our hotel.

When July 4th came around, we headed to Hot Springs with our new RV.  We stayed at Catherine's Landing.  Again, much needed relaxation.  We camped with friends, Dennis and Regina.  While there we had dinner out and visited with more friends, Neal and Rhonda.  We did a little sight-seeing and a little shopping.

We absolutely could not let summer pass without seeing our sweet family in New Orleans.  It was a road trip to see Rhyne, Micah, and Ben.  Micah and I always manage a little shopping time, we ate at some great places including entertainment from an alligator in the swamp, and lots of playtime with our sweet, sweet Ben.  He's Grammie's boy.  We had more fun!

As the summer was coming to a close, we saw a window of opportunity for one more outing before school started.  We went to Branson in the RV and stayed about five days to get some rest and shop.  One day we even drove into Springfield and shopped Bass Pro.  We had a fantastic time really wishing we could stay a little longer.

And there you have it--a recap of our summer travels.  We absolutely love pulling our RV and enjoying God's creation.  If we are ever blessed to retire, you may just pass us on the road.

Marcia