Show and Tell #6

Wow...my last post was Monday, and here I am not only posting for Friday's Show and Tell already, but I'm even late getting it out!

I did, in fact, mean to get this out last night...but then, I fell asleep with my girls when I was tucking them in. Yes, it's been one of those weeks.

Plus, somehow, someway, I must have mysteriously injured my neck and back because they started hurting yesterday so much that I couldn't even turn my head in one direction.
Is it possible to have pulled a muscle clear back last Saturday when we were loading and unloading...and it's just now sneaking up on me?
Is there a chiropractor in the house?
I'll be fine, really...as for this current messy house, I'm not so sure! ;)

As for my last post, I can see that almost all of you are familiar with Battleship! I finally played this with my eight year old today and she just loves it! I think it's been over 20 years since this game saw any players, and it was just as fun as I remember.

But only one of you I think remembered Hat's Off. The rest of you must have just led poor, deprived childhoods. ;)



Now, for Show & Tell Friday...for other participants and the rules in how to play, please visit our gracious host, Kelli!

As most of you know, we have been busily helping my mom downsize all of her belongings and readying her home for sale, so she can move closer.

That means, of course, that certain things have been somehow making their way to my house.

Some of these things were actually mine, once upon a time.
So, in future Show and Tell posts, look for some more fun childhood items from my borderline baby-boomer past. ;)

Other things are precious items that I am being given, at least for a time.

Here is one of them...


I know the lighting is poor...and partly because of the glass frame that houses this very old paper.
But this is a circular "Sabbath School" paper from the Presbyterian Church, which was handed down from my maternal grandmother. We think it originally belonged to her grandmother.

Look closely at the date...


This is the actual Sunday School paper from 1852- not a copy, but the actual paper!
It just amazes me when I think about the fact that this was a full decade before the Civil War even took place!

It was in with a lot of old pictures and tin types that were handed down through the generations to my mom. We are blessed to have so many photographs of this one side of the family...and one day I will scan a few and show you.

And believe it or not, my mom actually had the original newspaper once in her possession of the news declaring President Lincoln being shot! My aunt persuaded her to donate it to a museum...but I really wish we would have taken countless pictures of it first!

So, although this Sunday school perhaps isn't of such historic importance, it is, in fact, even older than that newspaper...and historic in that is shows a glimpse of church life before the dawning of electricity, automobiles, most indoor plumbing...and when our country was in the midst of slavery.

Yet, souls were still souls...and despite this different world, God was still the same.
And somebody- perhaps my grandmother's grandmother- held this in her hands as she read about God's love and how He was working in the lives of others throughout the world.

"Hats Off" to found Games...and the Santa Maria

I know it's been a few days, but honestly, this is the first chance I've had to actually sit down and type since last Friday!
(I'm also so behind in catching up with most of you, but I know a lot of you can relate to falling behind at times and totally understand when my replying gets a little sporadic! Just know I'm still thinking about you!)
*Edited to add an extra tidbit near the end...

We had a slight change of plans for this past weekend. The weather reports all declared downpours so he postponed the roofing job and we decided to go down to Mom's to empty out her garage. All the weather reports proved wrong, but I guess we were meant to do what we had to do!

As most of you know, we are getting her house ready to sell...not so easy after she has lived in one place for thirty years. We had separated the garage into keep vs. throw away vs. donation. Then my husband rented a u-haul and he filled it up with trash. I sorted the donation and keep piles, making runs to G*oodwill.

In total, my husband filled the big u-haul truck one and a half times, and I made two trips to the donation center with carloads of giveaway.

A. Lot. Of. Stuff.

But you know, my mom did surprisingly well about all this! There might have been a time when she would have completely stressed out knowing things were being flung into a truck bound for the dump or at the very least, carted away to be sold at a discount store of $1.99. But instead, she completely trusted us and was just grateful we were doing it all.

At the end of the day, both my husband and I had tired, achy muscles but I had never seen that garage look so clean and barren since the day we moved in back in 1978!

And I did find several things worth saving...mostly letters, some more of my old stories I wrote growing up, and some of my favorite childhood board games which I brought home to the girls.

Does anyone, anywhere remember Hats Off? I got this when I was around five, and there was nothing more fun than aiming and firing those little colored hats into the holes!


The box has seen better days, but before taking up residence in my mom's garage, it had traveled with us through countless moves before this, after being under my Christmas tree in 1968.

And I know everyone remembers Battleship! "You sunk my battleship!"

Growing up, my nephew (just three years younger than myself) and I would have so much fun playing this one. But wait...why do Mom and Sister get stuck in the kitchen washing dishes in this picture while the "boys" have all the fun? I'm not really a feminist by any means, but really....;)

All in all, our Saturday was exhausting was very productive.

And Sunday evening, we attended a new home group through our church and were incredible blessed. Such sweet families, and a beautiful presence of the Lord as we worshiped and fellowshipped. They have just started it, and we had never met any of these folks before so weren't sure how it would go. But it was wonderful.

*Edited to add that we also had a birthday party for our pup on Sunday...one year old. The girls made cards for her while she sniffed them obligingly, in actuality looking for that big bone stashed behind us. Plus a squeaky toy. She was beside herself when she had both of them...Toy? Bone? Oh, the wonderful, horrible decision!

Today, though, the girls and I are having a low-key school day. I admit it... I'm still recovering from the weekend and if I could, I'd just crawl into bed for a nice, long naaaaaap.
So, in honor of the holiday, we're reading about Christopher Columbus and doing some crafts made out of toilet paper rolls. Yes, we are.

Here's one of them...how do you like her Santa Maria?

Have a great week, everyone!

Photohunt #2...

This week's theme word is "curvy".
Here is my daughter peering around inside the ominous shark tunnel at the Oregon aquarium in Newport, two years ago.
I remember we had such a great 4th of July that day!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And as promised, I want to pass on the Fabulous Award I was so graciously given by Kathleen. But this is incredibly difficult because I think so many of you are truly fabulous. Honestly!


But I want to pass this on to just a few of the fabulous women I know...

Susanne, at Living to Tell the Story

Susie at Susie's Space

Sandy at 4 Reluctant Entertainers

Jill at Who Could Ask for Anything More

Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee

And goodness, I have a bunch more names on the tips of my fingers, so if you weren't one of these, please know that I probably completely think you're fabulous, too!

Now, it's way past my bedtime....but at least I don't have to be up on a roof all day tomorrow.
That would be my husband, doing an extra job for extra money- right here on our street with a friend from work. We get to occasionally wave to him, at least, while he works away.
I'm telling ya, I really do need to hogtie my sweetie and make him rest for an entire weekend!

Blessings to each of you!

Show and Tell (#5)

I'm excited to once again participate in Show and Tell Friday! But before I do, I wanted to thank Kathleen from The Open Window for passing this award my way...


It made my day to be honored by someone who is so totally fabulous herself! Thank you so much, Kathleen! I promise to pass this along on my next post!

And thanks to all of you who replied to my Wordless Wednesday...I think most of us could at least relate to how we felt on a Christmas morning when we received that longed for "big gift".
I still remember my dad asking me if it was the right color, knowing full well that blue my was favorite! I was so thrilled!

But hmmmm....how come so many of you kept saying, "Oh, I love old pictures!" OK...I guess I have to admit that the picture was taken before some of you were even born...sigh.
Well, at least it was in color! ;)


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


So now, without further ado, it's Show and Tell Friday, hosted by Kelli at There is no Place like Home. Hop over and check out some of the other participants- or better yet, read the rules to join in the fun, yourself!



Today, I thought I would show you my display of antique books. As you can see, I have collected just a few...



Believe it or not, almost all of them were purchased before I was married. When I was young, still living at home- and actually had a paycheck, much less could spend it on something other than boring things like...you know, food.

However, most of these books were actually found at great prices...one was marked only .25 at a used book store- yet it was published back at the turn of the century!

There are several very well-known titles among the collection...


but I must admit, I have only read a handful of my collection.

Here are three I remember reading...and actually loving...

Most of the publication dates are around 1910 and under- with a few even dating back to the 1800's.

It's amazing how much I use to go antiquing back then. I use to love to peruse those shops, breathing in the musty air like it was so much perfume.
For some reason, though, it was always the wonderful old books that always drew me in.
Don't you love some of these covers?



And if I found a book with a personal inscription inside, it was all the more to be valued. I always wondered about the person who gave the book and wrote inside with care... and of course, who actually turned the very pages...perhaps a hundred years before I did.

I didn't actually count them...but I'm guessing there are about 40 or so stately books taking up residence on the book case in our upstairs hallway. A few are not in "collectible condition"...maybe a torn binder...maybe no binder at all.
Still, I appreciate even those for so many reasons.

Yes, I do plan on trying to sell just a few of my collection in the near future.
But only a few...the rest I'm hanging onto.
I love simply looking at them as I pass by to tuck my children into bed.

And someday, who knows...I may even end up reading each and every one!

In the meantime, they are my little peeks into the past...the treasures of once upon a time.

Wordless Wednesday- 1976

Wordless Wednesday in Memory Lane...My first 10-speed - age 13

...And to think he doesn't even watch HGTV

This seems to the be the season for us to do those long-overdue home improvements.
Either that, or all my HGTV viewing hours have somehow rubbed of on my husband.

You know, I do watch it late at night in bed... it all probably soaks into his subconscience as he sleeps blissfully. Then he wakes up thinking, "Must. improve. house."

In the last couple months, he has installed new downstairs carpets and floors, a new front door which he then promptly painted,
and this weekend...painted the entire exterior of the house!

Yes, my husband gets all the credit for actual work. I just help pick out colors and then make Home D*pot runs.
His one flaw yesterday was underestimating the amount of gallons needed.
So between taking the sprayer back, and several runs back and forth to get extra paint mixed, I was almost ready to just take up residence in their store.

The associates there saw me so much, I think we all started to become friends. They came very close to having me just pull up a carpet square and wait for my husband's next order, while we all had a good chat.
And the kitchen models with the mini-cabinets...even my daughters were drooling over the them when they went with me on one of my trips. (Amazing how early the love affair of a woman and granite counters can start.)

But back at the house, my husband was, indeed, slaving away. So in all seriousness, I was actually happy to run back and forth countless times.
Because, really...look at him. On ladders and everything.



He truly is not the kind of husband who is glued to the couch as you dust over him...instead, he's the kind you actually have to nag to slow down!





Plus, it was crunch time. He was on a race against the clock...and the rain clouds!
Those dark skies were pretty threatening, but according the weather predictions, it was going to hold off until 4 pm. It did sprinkle a bit beforehand, but then it stopped, giving him enough time to finish up before nightfall!



Today it's actually pouring off and on, but he is doing a little touch up where he can...and finish the trim as weather permits.

But though it's not completely perfect as of yet, it is exciting to have all those sad, peeling walls suddenly all gone, and a sleek new shade greeting us!

He still has a few other projects up his sleeve. But I think he'll be slowing down a bit soon. At least, if I have anything to say about it!
Otherwise, I may have to plead and bribe. If you listen in at our door- our new door- you just may hear things normally not heard at our house on an every day basis...

"Please Honey.... No, don't take out the trash- I'll do it. Just sit down. No, better yet, lie down. Have a blankie.
Oh, and here's the remote...yes, and a bowl of chips...I know I was watching House Hunters, but that's OK, you can turn it to whatever you want.
What- you want to watch Rambo VI- followed by Star Wars 18- The truly final chapter? Oh...OK. Um, of course...I'll watch them with you...Let me just put in Barbie Mermaidia upstairs for the girls and turn it up really loud. And find some ear plugs for myself so I can just doze un-traumatized here next to you..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Before I go, I have some special friends to thank- and am shamefully overdue, so please forgive me!
I wanted to thank my friend, Emom, at Chrysalis, for blessing me with another Thoughtful Blogger Award. I appreciate this so much, coming from you, Emom- thank you! If you haven't stopped by there, it is a wonderful place to get you thinking of relevant topics from a Christian perspective - and share your thoughts, as well! In fact, she is hosting Marriage Mondays- and I hope to join in next week! Also, thank you, Nadine, at Just Being Me! She graciously gave the "You Make me Smile Award" to all who regularly read her blog or are in her sidebar. Nadine, you certainly make me smile every time I stop by!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A blessed rest of the Sunday and a wonderful week to each of you.

And in the meantime...does anyone know how to get white primer off of a black dog? ;)

1st Photohunter

I'm participating for the first time in Photohunt!
This week's theme was a tough one- Original.

But in my closet still hangs the original outfit I was wearing when my husband first laid eyes on me- on our blind date, on August 14th, 1993,

Here is a photo of me against the real dress...that photo was taken two years after that first date, standing on a pier at his Navy base. (Soon he'd be going on a six month deployment.)

I'd like to say that this outfit still fit perfectly, and that I didn't have to strain at the buttons when I try it on...but as you can see, I was a skinnie-minnie "back in the day"... before my babies...and when my metabolism seemed to run at high speed!

Still, I am hanging on to this outfit, just the same.

Works For Me Wednesday- Chore Tickets!

It's been ages since I participated in Works for me Wednesday, hosted by Rocks in the Dryer. But my husband has recently invented a fun way to help our little ones not only do more chores around the house- but actually get excited about it!

In days gone by, we tried the "chore chart", but they sadly fell by the wayside, time and time again. I know they work for some families, but for us, it's been too hard to keep them up consistently.

Enter, the Chore Ticket.

Yep, I do believe my husband was brilliant this time. But he admits, it was borrowed, in part, by our Sunday School's current reward system.
You see, the Sunday School at our church gives out homework- simply things like a verse to memorize or a puzzle to work through looking up some scriptures. If your child turns it back in all finished, they get a pretend "buck", good for purchasing things at the little booth that opens up just once a month.

A little incentive, plus it helps kids learn about purchase decisions...spend my one buck right away on these three pieces of candy, or save up and buy a "big-ticket" item.

So, my husband's little light bulb over his head went off one day and announced that for doing certain chores, both girls (ages 8 and 5) would earn appropriate chore tickets.
But here is where he used his artistic sense, taking it one step further...

They would each design their own chore ticket, he's scan them, and place a photo of each of them in the center like a president on a dollar bill.


Something about not only earning tickets, but simultaneously feeling as important as Thomas Jefferson that makes them actually eager to fold laundry...and even use the ..um...doggie scooper in the back yard.

Now, it's up to me who is home with them more to dole out the appropriate tickets for the tasks. And usually they get to spend them when they're shopping with their daddy at Winco. Although mainly a grocery store, they do sell toys...(And don't underestimate the lure of an extra 4-pack of pudding in those little plastic cups. Two tickets will let you plunk that in the shopping cart.)

We're not sure exactly how long we'll keep this little monetary system in play. But for now, it's teaching them some good old fashioned work ethic, and they're having fun, to boot. (Plus, I'm getting lots and lots of help!) Definitely working for us!

Oh, and in case you're wondering...six scoops of doggie stuff equals a ticket. Our lab just can't seem to turn 'em out fast enough these days!

Fall Reading Challenge

I am so excited to participate once again in Katrina's Reading Challenge! (Thank you again, Katrina, for this wonderful idea!)

I have to admit- for the past two challenges, I have not made it completely through my list. But that's OK, right? This challenge has always helped me stretch just a bit and probably read one or two more books than I probably would have otherwise.

Since we're on the subject of books, I know some have recently stated how they don't think Christian fiction is all that well-written. And that can be true, some of the time.
I know we all have different opinions (and some of these folks are actually blogging friends of mine and wonderful people, to boot)- but I have to respectfully disagree.
Sure, there is some real fluff out there, and I have read some of it. But there's fluff in all genres, as well.
For me, finding good Christian fiction is so worth it, because sometimes God can really use it to speak to me in so many ways.
Just like Jesus Himself used parables and stories to drive home a point, I think a good story can be an instrument truly used by God to teach and encourage, challenge and uplift.

And of course, it's OK to just relax and unwind, and even have a smile and a laugh, too!

Now, I'll tiptoe off my soap box...because I have to admit that I should really read more non-fiction than I do. And that is, once again, my challenge to myself this time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, I'll be extra challenging and list my Non-fiction list, first:

1) Maria by Maria Von Trapp.
I read this one something like 20 years ago, and I though I didn't get to it on my prior challenge, I'm really going to try to re-read it again this fall!

2) Taking Care of the "Me" in Mommy by Lisa Welchel.
I was excited to see this at my church library and will be checking it out soon! (It was through Lisa's website that actually led me to blogging in the first place!)

3) Love Found a Way- Stories of Christmas by Ron Mehl.
We had the profound privilege of having this man as our pastor for several years. He is now with the Lord...but reading His words makes me feel as though I am hearing his voice once again. He was a writer of many books, pastor of one of the largest churches in the area, yet his tender and humble spirit was what you first noticed above all else.

I'm going to limit my must-read non-fictions to just three since I'm trying to be realistic for once! But there are a few others out there I hope to get to if I have time!

Now for the Fiction:

The Prince by Francine Rivers.
I really had hoped to get to this before now, but better late than never! I've only read one F. Rivers book so far, but judging from that one, I have a feeling I won't be disappointed.

2. Chateau of Echoes by Siri L. Mitchell.
I was doing some looking around on the computer last night and found this one recommended by another Christian author. So when I saw that my church library had it this morning, I decided to grab it! :)

3. Marley and Me by John Grogan
I've been wanting to read this for over a year...can't wait! (And now I see there are several children's versions available!)

4) The Choice by Nicholas Sparks
After reading The Wedding last year, I am so looking forward to this one!

5) Out to Caanan by Jan Karon.
As some of you know, I am working my way through the much beloved Mitford series. I am just a couple chapters into this one, the 4th in the series.
So, of course, I am going to have to add to my list....

6) A New Song by Jan Karon.
(And for those of you who are Mitford fans...did you hear the great news? She's started a whole new series, continuing on with Father Tim!!!)

There's several more I'd love to read this fall, but let's face it...I always bite off more than I can chew...it's will be closing in on the Christmas season...I'm a home school parent...um, and I blog.

Here's a couple read-alongs I plan on doing with my girls, too...

Pippi in the South Seas by Astrid Lingren.

Caddie Woodlawn by Carol Ryrie Brink
(This looks like a wonder series, not unlike the Laura Ingalls Wilder books. I discovered this was written back in 1935 but surprisingly, I had never heard of this heroine before!)

Plus, it goes without saying that I'll be reading some non-fiction to them- and probably countless Kindergarten-age books to my youngest!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, hmmm...do you see a pattern here? As in my fiction books outnumber my non-fiction by 2-1?

I'll also be doing a two different Beth Moore Bible Studies...one hosted by Myrna via her blog on A Woman's Heart, and also through a woman's study at church called Motherwise, we'll be doing Moore's study of Daniel.

So, it's not too late to get in on the challenge. Go on over and sign in...or at the very least, go see what everyone else is reading!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a date with a good book....

Show and Tell Friday (#4)

It's that time again! Welcome to Show and Tell Friday, hosted by Kelli at There is no place like Home. (You can join in the fun by stopping by to view the others or find out how you can participate!)

Last weekend, I took the girls down to my mom's house to spend the night, where I had one last yard sale for her. We're going to be fixing up the old place a bit in order to put in on the market, and though we've already been in the process of helping her declutter, we decided to have... one last yard sale.
Truly! One...last...yard sale.

As I was rummaging through her garage, I found a few bags of paperwork that had made it's way out there. Most were very old bills and magazines...and hidden between all the old ads and phone bills, something pink caught my eye. I pulled it out, and found something that looked very familiar.
(My lighting wasn't very good...but you can click on the picture for a better look.)


I tell you, it was like stepping through a time machine. A little story that I made when I was about eight years old.
Only two pieces of blank paper, folded to make it look like a book...not even put together with any adhesive or staples. But somehow it had stayed together.

Now, I actually do remember seeing this off and on throughout the years. My mom and I had been saving it. But somehow, it had gotten lost in the shuffle, awaiting it's certain doom in to the recycle bin.

This one, if I remember right, was suppose to be like some of the children's books I had read when I was even younger. And according the price I wrote on the cover, I was not only trying to make it look real, perhaps I thought it had a market value of 5 cents.

I wrote countless stories growing up. Some I'd finish, but many others were "chapter books" that I'd keep starting and never finish.
Seems to be my trademark, since even today, I'm a wannabe writer, with a novel just "this close" from being finished. Sigh.

Some of those stories (and half-stories) that I wrote throughout the growing up years also somehow managed to be saved and escape the trash and survive our countless moves as a child. But finding this particular little book was meaningful because it was one of my very first story attempts.
I can almost remember writing it, and showing it proudly to my parents in that house in Kent...

And now, what makes this even more special is the timing. My oldest child is exactly the same age as I had been at the time, and I am just a little excited that she has a strong love for writing, as well! Her hand-writing is so similar to mine was at the time, and so is her style! (Only hers is a tad better!)

And for your entertainment, here's a sampling of this epic novel, entitled,
"May I have a cookie?" taken directly from this ancient manuscript, spelling errors, included...;)
Keep in mind, at age eight, I think I had high hopes of selling this to some eager first grader...

"One day Michael descuvvered that thay ran out of cookies. He told James. James said that they could get more tomorrow.
'We can get more, Michael, maybe tomorrow.' But Michael couldn't wait. He ran to tell his mother. (His father was in the Army.)
Mother said, "We can't go to the store today, I'm sorry."
So Michale looked for people who would give him a cookies, or two."

And then later, the plot continues...

"Soon Michael found a dog. In front of it was a man." Pausing to ask, OK, is this not humor at it's best, I ask you? ;) Michael asked,"May I have a cookie? He looked down. "You may not!" he said. 'What a unpolite little boy!"



I know you all are on the edge of your seat wondering if Michael ever got any cookies. But let me tell you, like all good stories do when you're eight, it had a happy ending.

But here is a picture on the first page. It's Michael, apparently, nonchalantly walking to the kitchen, completely unaware of the disaster of the empty cookie jar which awaits him...


(Hmmm...my artistic ability hasn't improved much- I kind of draw like that now.)

In all seriousness, not only was this a blessing to find and rescue because of my own personal memories...but it was so fun to share it with my family- especially my own little eight year old writer.

And this wasn't the only little gem I plucked out of the garage last weekend. There's more to come!

So...be careful when sorting your eighty year old mother's papers. Underneath her 1986 Woman's Day magazine just might be your own prize epic from third grade just waiting to be found.

Wordless Wednesday...Pumpkin time, 2003

For more WW, check out 5 min. for Mom or WW HQ.

Welcome to my neighborhood!

Hello, and welcome to the "Welcome to my Neighborhood" tour, hosted by Kathleen Marie! Thank you, Kathleen!


OK...the above picture is technically beyond our actual neighborhood, but it is on the outskirts!
It was taken on our Labor Day weekend berry picking excursion...when the weather was actually warm and gorgeous.
But today, we're not going far, even though I live in some beautiful country up here in Oregon. This time, we're just going to stay right here in our little neighborhood.

It's a little bit drizzly today, but being in the Northwest, we're pretty much use to that. So I hope you brought your umbrella...did you?
Good! Then, follow me, and we'll take a little walk...

We are blessed with some very tall, old evergreens in our neighborhood. I absolutely love them! You can hopefully see just how tall they are in comparison to some of the houses.
It does make me a little nervous during one of those big winter wind storms, though...when those happen, I peer out the window and eye them suspiciously as they sway and bend.
But they sure are majestic and beautiful, and definitely say Oregon to me!


As we stroll a bit further, we'll see the tiny walking woods. It's a bit dark in here today, so you may not be able to get a good look. But just to the left is a little bridge, under which flows a tiny creek.
I suspect that this is actually private property...but it sure is cozy in there! Our family has enjoyed trip-trapping over that bridge (quietly, of course) and feeling like we were in the middle of nowhere from time to time!


Now, let's walk a whole different direction.
When we first moved in, we had fields all around us (as well as forests!) But a new housing development sits on one of the fields now. Normally, I feel sad when this happens...I'd much rather have nature and countryside! But in this case, it provided us with some great sidewalks to ride bikes and for me to do my "power walks".

OK, these power walks have been few and far between lately, but let's try and stay on subject, shall we?

There's still a few fields nearby, though. Here's one of them...still holding out, but I think it may not have long for this world, either.


I love country and nature...but I also appreciate the little conveniences of life.
One of the local stores in the neighborhood is a common sight in the NW, and I frequent it a lot!

As advertised, it's my one-stop shopping. Have a need for a stapler, a new coat and a side of beef all at the same time? Go right in...
And it doesn't hurt that next door is another little favorite business...


(And to think, I'm not even being paid for these advertisements...)
If my husband's reading this, honestly, honey- I don't actually buy coffees here often.
Just once in a great while.
Most times, I just gaze at the sign longingly and let the caffeine fumes that are drifting outside fill my nostrils as I pass slowwwwly by.

But since we're here now...would you care to join me for a double mocha latte?

Yum...that really hit the spot, didn't it? Especially on this cool, drizzly September day. Glad we took the car over here, though...not only is it raining but I'm a little tired out from helping my mom with her yard sale over the weekend! (But that's another post...)

What? It's time to go on to the next neighborhood on the tour? But I haven't really shown you the best parts of my neighborhood yet! Well, alright...I guess we should, with the rain and all.
And my tired muscles.

But trust me, there's so much more to our neighborhood than we have time- or, uh, my energy- to see! And if you consider the outlining area beyond the picket fences- or in this case, towering pines- part of the neighborhood, then actually, there is SO much more to see.
Maybe there'll be a Neighborhood Tour Part 2 in the near future- on a day, preferably, when I am not recovering from a day of heavy lifting, long drives, and mental energy spent deciding what to write on all those little price stickers.
But I digress...

Right now, there's not too much in the way of flowery blooms or green grass on our street at the moment...not like in this picture taken back in May...


I suspect it's like this in some of your areas, too...kind of at the "in-between" stage...between the flowers and the beautiful autumn leaves everywhere.
No yellow leaves yet to show...only end of summer yellow grass! ;)

Still, I enjoyed showing you around the neighborhood just a bit and hope you liked seeing this tiny little corner of the Northwest.
Even in the rain.
In fact, did you know that our coffee tastes better when it rains? It does.
And our yellow grass likes it, too...(the rain, that is. Not so much the coffee.)

I hope you all have a wonderful week- no matter where your neighborhood!

Just passing through...:)

Well, as you can see by my lack of posting, this first full week back to school kept me just a tad occupied! But it's been actually a lot of fun, because both girls are still enthusiastic- and as most of you know, that's half the battle!

I was also gone a couple nights this week...it was the first week in a long time that I actually went out twice in a one week! It felt a little strange...but in a good way!
One was for book discussion group...this month was one of my favorite books which I had read earlier this year, Gardenias for Breakfast by Robin Jones Gunn.
The other night out was a home school group planning meeting...and of course, amongst the planning, there was some laughing and munching going on...it actually turned out to be a whole lot of fun!

I tell you, for some reason, I became almost a hermit lately...especially during the summer months when so many activities seem to take a hiatus. It felt so good to be out with other women again...it really helped me feel a bit more recharged. And two nights in one week! Wow. I'm so glad I'm blessed with a husband who knows how much moms need to have breaks and realized I was way overdue!

It's a good thing my battery was recharged, because this weekend, I'm off again to my mom's to spend the night with both girls in tow, to help her with a...gulp...yard sale. The girls have to go because my husband will have his handsome face under an engine all day tomorrow, fixing a car for some extra income.
Anyway, there will be lots of moving, carrying, lugging, sign nailing and afterward unloading to Salvation Army...so wish me luck- and energy! :)

I'll probably return with more of my childhood toys she's faithfully kept and I can't seem to somehow part with...
Of course, my girls will want to play with some of them. But I'm just now sure... after all, my 1972 Barbie Dream House might be worth a mint by now! If so, they can just gaze at it from afar...then I can sell it and buy them a whole passel of Barbie accessories from - like, this actual century.

So, a busy weekend for us...but I'll try really hard and be back to post again on Monday, for the neighborhood tour hosted by Kathleen Marie.
Hope you'll join me!

Blessings!

Wordless Wednesday...Lahaina, Hawaii

I like the one on the right...

A "just because" blessing

Don't you love it when you find one of those incredible yard sale deals?

Nearly every weekend or so will find me scouring the neighborhood for the perfect thing we've somehow been missing in our lives. But mostly for clothes.
I'm always on the lookout for "gently used" clothes for the girls, since they outgrow things so quickly.

Saturday was no exception, only we were just going to look for about a half an hour. We stopped at a few places where signs beckoned us, but without any luck.
Finally, as we were about to give up, we found one that looked promising! We got out, and I was happy to see a blanket on the ground with not only girl clothes- but in about the right sizes!
As I was looking through the clothing, the dad there was setting up some sort of play tent.

Yes, it was cute play tent, alright...and big. I quickly went back to the task at hand.
The girls, of course, had to go inside as soon as the dad walked away. When I walked on over, I saw the price tag.

Two bucks.

Yep, you read that right! It did have a rip in the tent door, but otherwise looked fine.
The mom and grandma must have sensed my amazement at the low, low price, so they grabbed the opportunity to exclaim from across the yard,
"It folds right up and fits into the little flat bag..."
"And all these accessories over here, too..."
I glanced over, and sure enough, there were four folding nylon play appliances such as a stove, sink, and washer\dryer. It had the low, low price of $2.00 for the set...a steal...but I only had enough for the tent with me. But before I could even tell them that, they said that I could have the whole shebang for the $2.

Ok, then...pack 'er up!

Just minutes after the dad finished setting it out, he promptly went back and packed everything up into the convenient carrying bag...and if that wasn't enough, when my girls each bought one item of clothing they also wanted with their own change, the mom began picking extra things out and saying,
"Here...take this too. You can just have it."

We walked away with a bag of clothes and a complete play tent (stackable washer\dryer unit and other appliances, included!) for a grand total of $2.90!

I know they apparently didn't want to make money as much as to just get rid of things...but I felt so blessed by their generosity. And I do think that sometimes God leads us to these little blessings in life for no other reason other than that He wants to see us smile.
Just because He loves us!


We set it up as soon as we got home and the girls played in there almost the rest of the day!

And guess what? We brought it into the livingroom the next day and they talked me into letting them sleep in it. Shhh...they're in there, right now, as I type!

I just love yard sales!

Busy days

Yes, I'm still here!

This has been an incredibly busy week for me. But I suspect that maybe it has for some of you, too....especially the rest of you who are in the "back to school" mode, whether it is at home or outside the home!
And then maybe, like me, it's a combination of a bunch of things, all adding up to BUSY!
Amazing what all of us accomplish in just a week, even if we only jot down the major points...never mind, the hundreds of things we cleaned, cooked and folded, and fed!

So, here's my little condensed version of the week:


Monday-
Drove with my family an hour away to help my mom with her house.
Dropped #1 daughter there, leaving her with her pink suitcase and lots of hugs and kisses.

Tuesday-
First wonderful day of Kindergarten with daughter #2! (See post below)


Wednesday-
A tiny bit of school work with daughter #2, then back down to my mom's to retrieve #1 daughter (this time I did the driving) and stayed all afternoon to help Mom do more organizing and discarding.
Drove back home, dropping off a box at G*oodwill on the way.
Stole upstairs after dinner to veg out and watch episodes of House Hunters.
Tucked in girls, lay down with youngest, and fell fast asleep there until morning.



Thursday-
First day of school with both girls. Overall, a good day.
A little less easy than schooling just one, but because we're all still fresh and excited about the new year, there hasn't been a lot of whining. (And the girls have had good attitudes, too!) ;)


Friday-
Babysat for the first time my new 6 week old nephew for a few hours. Enjoyed his smiles.


Changed his diaper...watched a fountain spray up in my unprepared- mommy to girls- face.

Rocked and walked the floor with the little guy as he is fussy due to acid reflux.
Finally got him to sleep and am so relieved... just in time for his mommy to return.

Did "school"with the girls in the afternoon, due to Baby Cousin's morning visit. Went to the store, and stopped at a special playground, where I ended up playing Hide and Seek with them...(and also with another little boy we met that really, really wanted to play!)
Ended up having loads of fun- yes, me...the mom!

Put Barbie band-aids on my oldest girl's knee. Listened to more renditions of High School Musical numbers, with many requests to stop what I'm doing to see her fancy footwork.

Watched as my just-as-tired husband kept his promise to the girls and took them swimming after work, then came home to work on a home project... and afterward fell asleep on the couch.
Gave him a kiss and meant it.

Ended my work week relieved that it was over, but so very grateful for each and every day of it.

God bless each of you- and have a wonderful weekend!