Awesome Sunset!

It rained most of last Sat. and Sunday. We went out for a drive Sunday evening and I couldn’t help snapping a picture of this awesome sky!

Fall is Finally Here!

In my neck of the woods, fall comes a bit later than for those who live farther north.  

Photo courtesy of Public Domain Pictures

At times, the temperature doesn't cool down until November.  We often don't experience the full change of colors in our landscape until late November or the beginning of December.

Notice the Christmas decorations hanging off the bottom of the tree?
I took this picture a few years ago @ two weeks before Christmas. 
Fall was pretty late that year! 

I've been reading all the blog posts out there about decorating for fall, the cooler temperatures at night and  fire places being put to good use.  

I have to admit, I've been a wee bit envious. It's rather hard to imagine fall when I'm still sitting in triple digit weather all around me. 

Over the past week though, fall has finally come to my little corner of the world.  I've let out a sigh of relief and am enjoying the cooler weather! 

I look forward to spending more time outside breathing in the crisp fall air as well as the gazing upon the beauty of the season ... 

Source: unknown

For me, fall has always been a pretty transformational time. A time of letting go of the old and embracing the new. 

I'm excited Fall is finally here!

The View from our front porch this evening ~

Sunset after a day of thunder storms

This was the view from my front door a few days ago after a full day of thunder storms. 

Absolutely breath taking!

Tuesday's Chat ~ 04/19/2011

April 19, 2011

Outside my Window ~ The sky is stormy and gray. The wind is blowing strong. There's a storm blowing in.

I am thinking ~ Yeah, we need the rain!

I am wearing ~ My at home comfortable clothes.

I am creating ~ Our Easter Sunday dinner menu.

From the kitchen ~ Egg Pasta with a side salad. Easy to make and super yummy! :)

I am reading ~

Hester: The Missing Years of the Scarlett Letter

by Paula Reed
Great book!







I am hearing ~ Rain pitter pattering on our roof. I love that sound!

Around the house today ~ Dishes, laundry, getting ready for the weekend.

One of my favorite things ~


Circle of Kindness Pfaltzgraff dish set and a creative spot to put my dishes where I don't have to be opening cabinet doors over and over again to get to them.

I love the green and purple colors and pattern designs; they make me smile! :)


Wishing you all a wonderful week! Stop by at Peggy's to see what others are doing this week.

Iced In!

We woke up today to thunder, ice pellets and wind with over 50 mph gusts. It laid about 2-3 inches of ice on the ground. This is a picture of our front screen door early this morning ...

Our front and back screen doors were just covered in ice and it didn't melt much all day. It's hard to imagine we were in our shorts and enjoying a balmy 70 degrees just on Saturday.

A Family Tradition ~ Festival of Lights

I love family traditions, especially around Christmas time. One of my favorite traditions is a family outing to our local Festival of Lights.

It was pretty chilly but there was plenty of hot cocoa and corn dogs to go around and we had lots of fun on the rides!

It was a wonderful family outing full of laughter and fun!

Wed. Ramblings

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving though it was nothing like we had originally planned. The boys got sick the night before Thanksgiving so we were up to our elbows in kleenex, cough syrup, Tylenol and hot chicken soup!

We still cooked the turkey and stuffing (crock pot dishes for both) and set them aside till everyone could enjoy the holiday. We ended up having a quiet day with just family, snacking on appetizers and enjoying simple yet oh so delicious chicken soup and cheese toast.

It ended up being a really wonderful day and I kept thinking how blessed I am for my family, my home and all that God has given me! The boys are almost back on their feet and we hope to have our holiday dinner this weekend.

Christmas is just four weeks away and I'm only half ready! We have our presents bought and I have a tentative plan for the holiday season. 

In a few weeks we'll be going to see a musical called Rudolph. We started our Advent calendar today and oh boy, the boys are just too excited.

I love this season and our holiday traditions! Over the next few weeks we'll be baking cookies, making homemade salt dough and cinnamon ornaments, baking for our "gift jars" we are handing out this year. My plan is to capture some of these in pictures so stop back to see them soon!

Happy Holidays!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I haven't been around this blog much over the past two months. Things have been happening in our household and I just haven't been drawn to post over here. I was surprised when I woke up this morning and wanted to post today.

I have been praying to have a new and brighter outlook on life. I have so much to be thankful for. I wanted to participate in the 30 days of gratitude and wasn't able to but here's my thankful list.

I am so very thankful for:

1. The Lord and how He loves me regardless of who and what I am.

2. My family and friends - they are amazing and precious to me.

3. Our dog Cubix. We adopted him last November and he has been a faithful and loving friend since. Such unconditional acceptance and love!

4. Our home - it's taking me longer than I'd like to admit but I'm almost done moving in and having things arranged the way I'd like them to be. Just in time to re-arrange them for Christmas decorations...LOL!

5. My job - I joined the work force again this year working Full time on weekends. I am so grateful for my job; it has eased many of our burdens and it is on weekends so that I have time during the week for family and friends.

6. Free Books for blogging - I have so enjoyed reading and reviewing all the books that have come my way this past year! Free books in the mail - I feel like it's Christmas every time I get one.

7. Holidays - I am so looking forward to the wonderful home celebration that we'll be hosting at our home tomorrow. I love Thanksgiving!

Wishing you all a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!

Christmas 2009

Over the river and thru the woods,
To grandmother's house we go;
The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh,
Thru the white and drifted snow, oh!

Christmas is always wonderful but this year, it was especially beautiful. Not only were we all together to celebrate Christ's birth as a family, we also enjoyed the first snowy Christmas our neck of the woods has seen in the past 80 years!

It started snowing on Christmas Eve day and it kept on snowing till late at night. We all had such fun playing in it, sipping hot chocolate and watching it gently float down to earth. I was raised in the north-east and my husband in the north-west so we both had plenty of snow growing up. Our boys though have only lived in CA and now in the south so each snow fall is a miracle to them. It's so neat to watch their faces fill with joy as they romp around in it and have fun. The snow had pretty much melted by Christmas afternoon but we had a blast while it lasted!

Our holiday this year was much more frugally done than we have in the past years but you know what? The boys loved their gifts and there was no "toy overload". We felt no lack, no loss of joy or Christmas happiness. I noticed that the boys enjoyed the gifts they got much more than if they had been inundated with too many things. They were truly grateful for all they received and as a family, we focused on the real reason for Christmas ~ Christ's birth and enjoyed the holiday together. All in all, it was one of the best holidays we've had.

Hoping you all had a wonderful Christmas and wishing y'all a Happy New Year!

Let it Snow!

Let it Snow!

The gift of snow is not a common event here in my neck of the woods so you can just imagine our excitement to wake up this morning to a snow filled sky with fluffy snowflakes gently floating down. 

 It lasted for a few hours and melted as soon as it touched the ground but oh, what a beautiful sight!

Friday Ramblings

Yeah, it's FRIDAY!

This week has been an emotional roller coaster for me and I am so glad the weekend is coming up! Here's a few of my favorite things this week:

• Star Trek Movie ~ We finally were able to see this movie! We've eagerly been waiting for this movie to come to our "dollar" movie theater. Well, we got to see it for .50 cents each ~ you just have to love those discount Monday night movies! We really enjoyed the film.

• Galaxy ~ a stray black and white kitten found it's way to our home (literally) this week. She's about 6-7 weeks old and is such a cutie. She was all skin and bones when she arrived but I'm happy to report that she's eating well, fattening up and is a playful little bundle of joy. She is a wonderful addition to our family!

We plan on having a quiet, relaxing weekend as our youngest is getting over a cold and still has the sniffles, cough and congestion. I hope to get some time to read the wonderful stack of books that I got from the library this week, make a few new food dishes and have some family fun.

Here's a wish from our house to yours ~

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend!

Tuesday Chat

Yesterday and today it's been raining and thunder storming ~ yeah! We are in desperate need of it right now as it's been so dry this summer. The temp outside is in the balmy 70's and seems a little chilly after having weeks on end of over 100 degree weather!

We spent most of Sunday afternoon at our local pool. The boys had a blast and made some new friends while Aaron and I had a chance to just unwind and chat. We all had fun but unfortunately, I haven't found the right sun block for us and we ended up getting a tad bit too much sun ~ Ouch!

Aaron made us Cinnamon Banana Muffins Sunday night and oh, boy were they delicious! Click here for the recipe and check out that beautiful photo too. The only thing he did differently from the original recipe was that he didn't add the walnuts and he substituted apple sauce for the canola oil. This recipe is definitely a keeper!

What's for dinner tonight? Yummy left overs! We had meat loaf the other day and to utilize the left overs, I am going to slice it and dredge it in some seasoned flour. I'll pan fry them and serve them with a little gravy on top, a side of green beans with bacon as well as some homemade pinto beans. Good ol' fashioned comfort food!

Wishing y'all a wonderful and blessed Tuesday!

Friday's Ramblings

The past week we've kept busy and cleaned the entire house from top to bottom. It has needed it for a long time and I've been tackling it in small bites but last week I just decided to bite the bullet and dive in. Every nook and cranny has been swept, organized, dusted and cleaned. I say "we" because my wonderful hubby volunteered to take a vacation day last week to help me - yes, he is the greatest!

We now have a comfy, less cluttered home that feels wonderful! We splurged on inexpensive new curtains and I've found some wonderful finds at our local Goodwill store that I'll be sharing pictures of later. Our home is perfect for us and I'm really grateful for it.

I also spent some fun one on one time with the boys. I improved my Ms. Pac Man gaming skills with Pea Jr. but he still is beating the pants off me at that game! We chatted while we played and I realized it has been too long since we had this time together. He's growing into such a wonderful young man!

I built star-ships and lego creations while watching Transformers cartoons with Lil' Pea who was so excited that I would want to learn about the things he loves. It was a very special time; we learned more about each other and he was tickled blue to be the teacher and I, the student. He also blew me away with how much he has grown.

I am so honored to be the Mom of these two wonderful kids! I really and truly love my life and I thank God every day for the blessings He has sent our way.

Wishing y'all a wonderful and fun weekend!

Friday Musings

Way to Go, Pea Jr.!

Pea Jr. (our eldest) went to the library last Saturday and picked out his summer reading books. When we planned our Summer reading, he wasn't too thrilled. He reads well and loves to listen to others reading but he never really liked reading by himself much.

I don't know what has happened but this past week but he is reading voraciously and enjoying it! The other night we heard him giggling in his room after he went to bed and when Aaron and I checked on him he was reading one of his books; his eyes were glowing, his face was full of excitement and every once in awhile he'd just bust out giggling over something funny in the book. It was such a precious sight! I asked him about it the next day and he said, "Your right Mom. Reading is FUN!" (Music to my ears!)



Aaron was off yesterday and we had a great family day. We went for our first swim at our community pool, got treats from the ice cream van and had a blast. When we got home we were all tired but in a good way. We are a nice shade of light pink today so I guess I'll have to get a better sun screen for next time.



Our weekend plans include finish getting our yard in shape and cleaning our patio so we can start enjoying this great weather (before it gets too hot!). We hope to make some home-made ice cream and we also plan to go to Half Price bookstore to submit the boys' weekly reading sheets and get their weekly prize. In between all that, I'll be working from home a bit this weekend. I'm looking forward to that too.

Hope y'all have lots of weekend fun!

The Faith of a Child

I remember as a kid I loved to play in the forest. I was fortunate to grow up with woods right outside my back yard. I can still remember my Mom packing my brother and I a lunch and running to spend the day in the woods when we were about 6 or 7 years of age. A brown bagged lunch never tasted so good as when I sat on the side of a creek in the summer and ate it in the forest shade. We'd be gone the whole afternoon and come home only at dinner time. (Of course, that was a long, long time ago when everyone knew their neighbors and it was safe to let kids go off by themselves for play without having to worry about their safety and well being).

While I skipped and ran through the forest and explored the creek beds for treasures, I was perfectly at peace and content. The forest was a magical place for me where I dreamed of angels and fairies. If I got lost in the woods or couldn't find my way back, I would say a quick prayer and then I'd feel as if angels were walking with me, guiding me home. Sure enough, I'd soon find a trail that I recognized and I'd be back on a familiar path.

Looking back, I can't believe I wasn't scared or fearful being alone in the woods and lost. I realized that back then I knew that I was never alone ~ God was always with me. I never doubted God or feared that he would not be there for me; I didn't fret.

I had the simple yet awesome faith of a child and I walked one step at a time, allowing God to guide and lead me home.

The winds and rain of life have blown hard today. I found myself struggling and pushed to my limits but thankfully, I called out to God. He answered by filling me with His love and grace as well as reminding me of this wonderful memory from my childhood. He reminded me that He will always be there, I am not alone and that when I can no longer go on, He will carry me. I was blown away and in awe of His love and caring! In our darkest hours, God is there. He will never leave us.

May we all have the faith of a little child as God leads us through our lives.

Wed. Ramblings

Mother's Day was wonderful; I spent the day with my precious family and nothing is better than that. We also went bargain shopping last weekend and ended up getting some fantastic deals.

I can't believe we are almost to the middle of May; the boys are eagerly awaiting the opening of our community pool on Memorial Day. It's already almost summer here as yesterday reached 90 degrees and it isn't getting below 65-70 at night. I enjoy summer but not the 100 degree heat!

Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday!

After The Rain

I woke up this morning to bright sunshine, fluffy clouds and birds chirping sweetly outside. My heart swelled with joy and filled with a peace that I hadn't felt in a long time. I looked out my window and saw leafy green plants and trees bursting forth after a night of drenching rain and storms. I thanked God for the rain last night and the resulting beauty of this morning.

My soul lifted as I soaked in the warmth and beauty of the day and the song came to mind, "...Then sings my souls, my saviour God to thee. How great Thou art, how great Thou art!"

I realized that at this moment of my life, my personal storms and challenges were lifting. I saw that the challenges of the past four months really were for the best and that from those ashes a new, better and wonderful life had risen. Through His grace and love, I face this day with renewed joy and a new sense of peace and well being!

What am I grateful for today? For the lessons learned through life's storms and for God's love and guidance through it all.

Friday Wrap Up ~ 3/20/09

I hope y'all have had a great week! In my little corner of the world the weather is cooler today but the sun is shining brightly, the sky is blue and the clouds are beautiful. Spring is here and I just love this weather. Life is good!

Family Fun:

Last night Aaron surprised us and brought home Madagascar 2. What a great movie! We all agreed that this movie is as good or better than the original, which is rare for a sequel. If' you haven't had the chance to see it yet, go for it even if you don't have any kids. It's really that good!

A Mom Moment:

I am treasuring these family nights with our boys as they are growing up so fast. It seems like just yesterday they were babies in my arms and now I have one tween and a younger son who can't wait to be a tween!

Good Times:

Aaron and I had a chance to do some "marathon" cooking this week. We love cooking together; it's relaxing, fun and we get a chance to chat while we stock up our freezer. I really enjoyed spending this time with the love of my life/best friend. Dates don't have to be expensive; the best times we have together are just that...being together.

Have a great weekend!

Tuesday's Ramblings ~

I love to sit down and enjoy a good book with a wonderful cup of hot, steaming tea. Add in my favorite chair and a warm blanket and it's comfort, cozy bliss! The only thing better is sharing a pot of tea (or coffee) at the kitchen table with friends. Care to join me for a tea party?

Spring is busting out all over. Our mornings are still chilly but by mid-day it is often in the 70's- 90's. I can't wait till the Blue Bonnets bloom; it's one of my most favorite things in Spring.

Wishing y'all a wonderful Tuesday!