It's Beginning

Yep, it's beginning to feel like Christmas.

The nativity scene on the buffet, the inside tree, and the outside lights have been up since Thanksgiving weekend. But hadn't done much holiday-wise since then, until I finally started some baking this past week. I really need to bring the boxes from the attic and start some inside decorating. Hopefully this week!

This afternoon/evening my church circle did our annual caroling, followed by soup, goodies (cheesy, bacon cracker dip pictured here), and fellowship. It even started to snow today! Not enough yet to make driving bad, just enough to make it feel seasonal. Hooray!

I love the huge advent wreath that goes on our porch roof every year. The second candle was lit today. (This photo was from a few years back on Christmas Day, so it shows all five candles lit.)

Note to Self

Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Last Weekend's Goal

The main goal last weekend was to help K find a wedding dress. We had shopped a few weekends earlier, but needed this trip to firm up a decision.

Last weekend's goal..... √

The dress is, uh, er, well, it's gorgeous and K looks great in it! That's all I'll say about it now, in case A reads my blog. : )

Here's part of the wedding party shopping party.

Why a photo of this truck? It was just part of the day's fun, as it seemed to lead us a l-o-n-g way across the city!

Oh, Beans!

We're done with the soybean harvest for another year!

These photos are actually from a couple of years ago, and some were taken by M.

God's Creatures--Chipmunk

This is my favorite photo from our Colorado trip.

This little guy was sitting perfectly still along the road on our way down from Pike's Peak. We drove past him, stopped, I got out of the car, approached with camera and took a couple of shots, and STILL he didn't move. Obviously, he didn't want to stop the feast he was having, but finally he decided I was just a little too close and disappeared into the berry-laden bush that was supplying his snack. I hope he came back out to finish what I interrupted!

Wow!

If you don't have time to watch this now (somewhere around 7 minutes), come back later. These girls are awesome!

A New Title

Early next June I can add "mother-in-law" to my titles!

A gave K a ring on September 18! It's beautiful, and we couldn't be happier for the two of them as they plan for and begin this new journey of a lifetime together!

As Promised....

.....here are some pictures from the trip B and I took in August. Those of you who guessed Colorado as the destination are correct! But before getting there, we took some of T's belongings out to where she's going to school, then headed to the western counties of Kansas, where the deer and antelope play. Well, in this photo, just the antelope!
Then it was on to the small town, where I lived from almost age four, through the end of 6th grade. One of my best friends from growing up greeted us, fed us and went around visiting parents of some of my former classmates with us.
My other best friend was in Texas, but we stayed at her hunt club anyway!
I liked how the morning sun was shining on my hometown.
Fit in brief visits with a few more friends (including one classmate I had not seen since 6th grade!) Drove slowly around the town and past the house (now in sad shape) that we used to live in, all the while trying to keep up with the images and memories of those long gone years that were rushing around in my head!

Then it was on further west, to Colorado Springs, where we did the tourist thing!
Helen Hunt Falls
Posed with this guy while waiting for our tour of Cave of the Winds.
This is how the tourists used to explore the cave! Notice the smudges where they extinguished candles, after having learned candles don't mix so great with rope ladders!
Manitou Cliff Dwellings
Seven Falls lit up at night,
and in the morning.
One section of the 224 steep steps to the top of the falls.
We hiked on out to Inspiration Point.
Enjoyed a nice dinner at this local restaurant.
B drove the long and winding road, sometimes paved, sometimes not, up Pikes Peak.
Quick, see the view, take the pictures. It's COLD up here, not to mention that I'm feeling a little light-headed! (It really was an awesome view!)
On the way down, saw one bit of wildlife, but will save that photo for its own post. :)

Saw the "North Pole",
but yep, it was Wednesday.
That's okay. We were ready to head home by then, which is exactly what we did!

Technical Difficulties

I've seriously been trying to post at various times over the past 24 hours, but blogger is NOT letting me upload photos. : (

Please stay tuned. (well, check back later anyway)

Edit: I can't believe this. All I needed to do was mark a checkbox agreeing to terms of service. Duh. :/

The Rest of the Story

I left you hanging with the August 1 post. And now...... I don't even remember what we did the day before. Let me go check the calendar and see what's there.

Oh, of course! That was the day we (as in members of my Relay For Life team) did a traveling bake sale. It was lots of fun! We loaded up all kinds of goodies and took them to a nearby relatively large town, and took them around in baskets or nice containers to several of the local businesses. We had taken a flyer to those places the day before so that employees would know we were going to be there. The owner of one rather large business had told us what time the workers would be having their break, so we could be there at just the right time. The big, frosted cinnamon rolls that Pat made were a big hit there! In a much shorter time than if we had sat at a table in one location, we found buyers for almost all of the baked yummies!

Oh, and as far as my reference to "Squirrel!"--that's what I say now whenever I catch myself abruptly changing my train of thought, sometimes in the middle of a sentence! I stole the idea from the movie Up, in which the focus of the pack of dogs is easily averted by the mention of "Squirrel!"

Next post--more trip pictures........unless I see a squirrel ; )

Road Trip

I'll get back to explaining the previous post before too long.

Meanwhile, here are some road photos from some traveling B and I did last week! Can you tell where we were? (No fair if I've already told you!)

Yesterday we .....

Squirrel!!!

25

Happy Birthday, M!

These first twenty-five years of having you for a son have been great, and we look forward to many more. Hope you had as much fun celebrating today's birthday as you did your first one! (or maybe more--You can't tell by the smile in this picture, but you actually weren't feeling all that great. You were coming down with roseola, though we didn't know it at the time of the party.)
We love you, our Gift from God! --Mom and Dad

The Long and the Short of It

Quite some time ago, I mentioned that I used to have really long hair. A commenter (Rachel?) said I should post a photo. So, here it is! This was probably about nine years' worth of growth. I cut it over Christmas vacation my junior year of college.

Here I am with the roommate who helped convince me it was time!
(She was right. Thanks, K!)
For the short, here's how it looked the end of May at daughter K's college graduation.

For Janet

Saved a piece of that famous Brookville chicken for you!


Wish you could have been there to help celebrate the 60th wedding anniversary, but know it would have been a long trip.

Congratulations again, Aunt E. and Uncle L!