Fall?

I stepped out the back door the other day and saw this.

My neighbors maple is usually the first tree that I notice changing. It just doesn't seem possible that the leaves are changing already. I am ready for the humidity to go away but am not quite ready for fall. Has anyone else noticed leaves changing?

I guess anything is possible. This certainly hasn't been a normal summer. It has been super hot and humid plus the growing season has been weird. I haven't even had my first picking of green beans and have done no veggie canning.

Zucchini seems to be the only thing producing really well. My little helper begged for me to let her grate zucchini.

I finally let her try under close supervision and she did a fantastic job! Helping me in the kitchen is something that she loves. I have great plans for all of the photos of Megan in the kitchen. I am planning on making her a recipe scrapbook that I will present to her at her wedding shower. I hope that it will means as much to her as it will to me.

Making zucchini bread and visiting a friend to cuddle her new baby is on the agenda for today. Have a great weekend!

Some Tweaking

Painting some shelves in my living room has been on my list for a while. I finally got motivated to get it done. Then I was able to get to the fun stuff! I moved a few things around and found a place for the crock my mother-in-law had given me.

Here is a close up of the shelves.


This shelf didn't have a home and it made a perfect spot to put the phone. Now if only I could find a better way to hide the wires!

A view of the whole area that received a little TLC.

As I was relaxing last night I was looking around and I added a few more things to the list to tweak. I think it feels good to change things up now and then. What about you; do you tweak or let things be?

Special Lemonade

There is really nothing special about my lemonade it is plain ol' Country Time.


What makes it special is the way I sometimes serve it to my family. I make it in a nice pitcher add lemon slices and lots of ice. Lemonade tastes best when it is nice and cold. I leave the Tupperware cups in the cabinet and pull out the glass water goblets.

I then run a little water around the rim of glass and dip it in sugar. Garnish with a lemon slice and this little girl feels extra special!



She loves the sugar and doesn't think the garnish is to bad either! I love how something so simple can make the ones I love feel special.

On My Mind

She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Proverbs 31:27

I have this scripture hanging in the window in my kitchen. It has really been on my mind the past several weeks. I don't feel that I have been "watching over the affairs of my household" lately. Now I haven't been "idle" just busy.

Last week Megan went to VBS. I don't think I have mentioned this, but Megan has some separation issues. Last Sunday evening she started in with the crying and saying she didn't want to go. It went on and on. She started in again Monday morning and I put my foot down and told her she had to go that she didn't have a choice. Grandma picked her up each morning and then I picked her jbefore lunch. She went everyday and had a great time. I am so proud of her!

Of course Sunday morning she still didn't want to go to church. She started getting upset as soon as we pulled into the parking lot. VBS has given me hope that we will be able to work through the separation issues.

Two favorites of VBS. Megan has wore her sheep mask almost every night since she made it.

She loves when Daddy plays the Big Bad Wolf and chases her around. The closing program was also a hit. Silly Safari did a program and had this snake for the kids to touch. Yuck!


Yesterday I started the day by putting my kitchen back in order. It makes me smile when my kitchen is neat and tidy!


The weather was beautiful so I washed all of our bedding and extra blankets. I love the smell of linens fresh from the line!

My plan is to make some changes that put my family and home first. It is time to start watching over the affairs of my household. I hope that everyone is having a great week!

Farm Fresh Goodness

A farmer friend of my mother-in-law's called to say that he had an abundance of potatoes and corn. I didn't have to think twice about accepting his offer to share!


I was pleasantly surprised when we were given an over flowing five gallon of potatoes and a large bag of corn. We had some of the potatoes for dinner last night. Nothing taster better then veggies fresh from the farm!

Crafting, Matrimony and Preserving

I had a jammed packed weekend. I found time for a little card making.

Megan celebrated her birthday July 1st and I am just now getting to the thank you notes. Yikes!

Saturday afternoon we attended the wedding of Chuck's cousin Melissa.


It was an outside wedding at 3 pm. We stayed for the ceremony but with 90+ degrees and 100% humidity we left shortly after the ceremony. Let's just say it was a little hot!

My parents were out and about and picked up some corn from a farmer selling along side the road. Megan and I joined them in their air conditioned garage for corn shucking.



Mom and I then washed, blanched and cut corn off the cob for the freezer.


I ended up with thirteen quart bags for my freezer. This will taste delicious on a cold winter day!

This week looks to be busy. Megan will be attending VBS every morning this week. Although I won't be volunteering this year (due to babysitting Abe) I will be playing chauffeur. I also hope to make it to the fabric store. I have the crafting bug! I hope everyone has a great Monday!

Our Newest Addition

Megan has been asking to get a fish for a while. When her grandparents asked what to get her for her birthday we suggested they buy the fish. On Sunday afternoon they took her to the pet store and she picked out this little guy.


Meet Flower. She is tickled pink to call Flower her own. She has been showing him off the everyone who stops by.

After I returned home from running some errands on Friday I was greeted by this.


Part of one of our pine trees fell into our neighbors yard and took out a good portion of her maple tree.


One of the first things she says to us is "I hope you have good insurance." We looked at each other and both thought oh no! The she comes over on Sunday and says she is surprised Chuck wasn't out working on the tree (he had to work Saturday) and then tells us that her insurance company said we were negligent for not taking better care of the tree. What! It was a perfectly healthy tree. As our insurance agent said it is an act of God. We have always had a good relationship with this neighbor and have been trying to take the high road through all of this. The thing that we are finding most upsetting is that we never implied that we were not going to take care of the matter and haven't appreciated her attitude.

The tree has been cut up and moved off of her property and Chuck is taking care of her tree that was damaged. He cut off the broken branches and is trying to save some others. I feel that we have done all we can to make it right; maybe even a little above and beyond. Chuck is extremely upset over her behavior and I am trying to keep him calm and to help him realize that this all will pass.

Besides work and the stress of the tree situation we were able to have a little fun. We went to a birthday party at Chuck E Cheese for my nephew. Megan always has a good time there.


I have started working on some things for Christmas. I hope to have at least one thing finished soon to show you. Have you started working on Christmas projects?

Ahhhh....

A nice refreshing drink on a hot, humid day.


My parents gave me some Orange Crush in glass bottles. I don't drink much soda but it hard to resist one in a glass bottle. I think it taste better and gets colder then those in plastic bottles.

My dad's hometown is about an hour away from where I grew up. We would often make the trip down. One of the highlights of the trip home was a stop at Roots Store. It was a tiny little country store. We would be allowed to go in and select a bottle of soda and a snack. I still remember the old cooler where the drinks were stored and how hard it was to pick just one out of all the choices. It really is the simple things that matter.

Swap Time!

I recently participated in another wonderful swap hosted by Monica and Carrie. I loved that it was a create your own theme swap. I was paired with Jenni and received a wonderful box from her. Everything I need to have a relaxing afternoon tea.

She included a cake mix and instruction for making a HoHo cake. I plan to make it this week and will let you all know how it turns out. Tea bags, coasters, yummy candy and treat bags will make my tea party so special. She also included a cute journal that used craft paper for the pages. I love anything that uses brown craft paper!

She was even kind enough to included a cute chalkboard for Megan and a Hello Kitty candy necklace. So kind!

I also received an old milk container full of the cutest button flowers.


Aren't they adorable!? I did a happy dance when I saw these cute flowers.

The package I sent Jenni was the beginnings for a patriotic picnic.


This was a fun swap. Thanks Jenni for the great package!

Fun in the Sun!

Our time at the beach was wonderful! My favorite time to go to the beach was in the evening.



Megan loved playing the sand. She says that it was her favorite part of vacation.


Watching the sun rise.


Someone celebrated her 4th birthday while we where on vacation.



I still can't believe my little girl is four! Time really does move much too fast.

Dipping in our toes and searching for shells was a daily occurrence.


On our way to the pier the people fishing were catching little sharks!!


My time spent jumping the waves was no existence after that. Obviously I know that there are sharks in the ocean I just expect them to be further out in the ocean.


As great as our time away was I am happy to be home!

Home!

Our time at Surfside Beach, SC was fantastic! We had an eventful drive home with a little one with a stomach bug! I am happy to be home and even happier that Megan is feeling better. I will post some pictures next week.