A fall frame of mind....

If you saw my post yesterday, you will know that I'm in a fall mood. I love seeing all the fall decor that people put out at this time of year. My sister is the queen of decorating. She was born with Better Homes & Gardens blood flowing through her vains. She can take the simplist items and put them together to make a relaxing setting. She has one of those big wonderful front porches that you can sit and relax and watch the world go by. She changes the decor every season and I never know what she's going to pick up new or how she is going to reaarange things year after year. I asked her to send me her photos and I'd like to share them with you today. Hope you enjoy....

Monday Madness...

I love my crazy, topsy-turvy, hectic life. It seems like there is always something going on. This past weekend I had friends over for a purse party, then went shopping with my daughter. Sunday was church and I had the pleasure of doing children's church. Sunday evening was my granddaughter's birthday party.

Today, I'm decorating my house for fall, making dessert for the Ladies Night Out Fiesta tonight, and picking out my "prizes" for my purse party.

Here are some of my favorite fall items, some old....some new.

Here's a basket I put together this morning with some flower I bought at the $ tree. Had everything else here.

I got a pair of these little leaf candy dishes several years ago at Walmart for just $2.00 each.

My harvest angel. She came from a craft store in Gatlinburg. She stays out year 'round to remind me that we should celebrate Thanksgiving every day since God bestows so many blessings on us.

Meet Boo. I have had him about 9 years. One of my clients would send me a new cookie jar for special occasions. Boo comes out every year to hold sweet treats for the grandkids.

You all know how much I love my teapots. Thought this really personified fall.



My niece Amy came to visit recently and brought me this beautiful dish towel. She knows I love my seasonal decor.

Found this pumpkin at a great deal several years ago at Cracker Barrel. I couldn't resist it.

Meet Pete and Polly. My daughter-in-laws mother made these for me about 12 years ago and they get a place of honor in the Living Room every fall.

From the kitchen of Papaw Al

Papaw Al's Tomato Bacon Pasta Salad

1 small box Rotini noodles

1 large cucumber, peeled and chopped into bite size pieces

2 cups chopped red onion

4 cuts grape tomatoes cut in half

2 -16 oz. bottles Kraft Tangy Bacon Catalina salad dressing

Cook noodles per box directions. Drain and cool. Add one bottle of salad dressing, stir to coat noodles well. Add all vegetables and mix well with pasta. Add the other bottle of dressing and stir well.

Variations

Use the Rotini vegetable noodles (the red and green ones)

Replace the Bacon Catalina dressing with Italian dressing

Additional ingredients

Add slices of pepperoni (quartered) or bacon bits

Enjoy!

I believe....

I BELIEVE IN A HILL CALLED MOUNT CALVARY

There are things as we travel this earth’s drifting sand,

That transcend all the reason of man;

But the things that matter the most in this world,

They can never be held in our hands.

I believe in a hill called Mount Calvary,

I'll believe whatever the cost;

And when time has surrendered,

And earth is no more; I'll still cling to that old rugged cross.

I woke up with the words I believe on my mind this morning. The words of this song were singing in my heart. How true they are. I DO believe. I believe in God. It's that simple. He is my one, my only, my all. I can do nothing or be nothing without Him. We may not always do what he wants and we may not always please Him, but we are always loved by Him, comforted by Him and adored by Him. He will handle all our burdens, all our cares and provide for us no matter what. My husband has a wonderful saying that he uses all the time. It sums up God and the wonderful blessings He bestows on us daily:

"If you don't believe, you don't receive."

If your life is lacking in direction and you feel like you have no one to turn to; if you are at wits end with your personal situations and can't see a way out, the answer is easy. Fall to your knees, call on the Lord and utter those simple words: I believe.

Shame on me...

I have to admit I'm feeling a little ashamed of myself this morning. Many of you know that I love to bake. I could not care less about cooking or cleaning. But baking is one of my favorite things to do. I have several desserts that I'm "famous" for. There is my peanut butter brownie trifle; my spice cake with caramel icing, my Hershey's chocolate syrup cake, peanut butter cookies, my cinnamon chocolate cake, my Reese's peanut butter fudge, my chocolate candy, my no bake oatmeal cookies, my orange cream iced cookies, etc. I love baking homemade goodies. At any given holiday, my family can count on no less than 3 scrumptious desserts to choose from. I try to make everybodies favorite. Every event that I attend where you take a dish, I get requests for specific desserts.

Well, tomorrow is my 31 Party and I get to bake the dessert of my choice. Decisions, decisions. What shall I choose? Should I do the cinnamon chocolate cake with the warm chocolate fudge frosting that you pour on while it is hot? Should I do the peanut butter cookies where you chill the dough for 3 hours and lovingly roll each individual cookies before imprinting it with a fork? Should I make a mixture of items so my guests can have a choice.

Here is where my shame comes in. I have been debating this for 3 days and am at the point where I was thinking I would go to Krogers and just buy a tray of their sorted slices of pudding pound cake. Horror of horrors. What am I thinking? I cannot serve my guests "store bought" desserts. My reputation would be ruined. Guess I'm going to go hit my recipe books until inspiration hits.

A great new find that excites me

It doesn't take much to please me or make me happy. Every once in awhile, I'll find that particular item that just tickles my fancy and I get so excited about the product that I just have to share. I'm hosting my first 31 Party Saturday and I've been going through their book making my wish list. Then I saw it. That one item that called my name. It is a large 12 x 9 zipper pouch that can be used for many things. I fell in love with it. I can see many uses for it, but I wanted it because it will hold standard letter size paper and folders. This will be perfect for those Sunday's I have Children's Church and can tote my papers and handouts for the kids. I have to decide on what pattern and what I want to have it monogrammed with . But I am so excited about this bag.

It comes in a smaller 7 x 6 size as well, which I like, too. I'm just going back and forth between these two patterns as to which design to go with on the bigger pouch. I'd welcome your opinions. I love the vidid colors in the brown one, but the practicality of black and white draws my eye as well. Help!!

Are we there yet?

As children, we are always in a hurry to get somewhere. Our little minds cannot conceive time or distance. The most asked question in our youth is "Are we there yet?"

As we grow up, things don't change all that much. But now, instead of a whiny "are we there yet" we focus on how soon events are coming up on us. So now we are always "Do you realize it's only so many days until....".

This is the time of year when that phrase is muttered the most. So I wanted to take a moment to look at some of the upcoming events that we are counting down to in my family.

-Do you realize it's only...about 26 days until my new grandson will be here. Jamie has stayed on her bed rest and Baby Boy has stayed where he's supposed to be. He is showing signs of great health and all his vitals are really good. We still don't know a name, but they are narrowing it down.

-Do you realize it's only...46 days until Halloween or as I like to call it Trick-or-Treat. The kids are looking forward to trunk-or-treat at church. Fall is in the air and I saw some awesome pumpkins yesterday at Food City. I need to get my decorations out. I'm running behind this year.

-Do you realize it's only...71 days until Thanksgiving. Turkey and all the trimmings. The Macy's Day parade. Pouring over the sales ads with the girls after dinner. This year, the girls can tell me about the ads because I'll be holding Baby Boy and loving on him. It will be his first visit to Mamaw's.

-Do you realize it's only...72 days until Black Friday. Yes, that's right. I am one of those crazy up at 5:00 shoppers. I do get some really good bargains. It's not for everybody though. Some would rather shop online, but there is just something about the thrill of being out that early on a mission. And I have met some very fascinating people standing in lines. It's amazing what you can find to talk about with complete strangers.

-Do you realize it's only...89 days until my birthday. I am going to be 54 and proud of it. Most days I still feel 34 thanks to my grandbabies. But sometimes, being with the grandbabies and acting 34 leads me to feel more like 94 the next day.

-Do you realize it's only...101 days until Christmas. This is my favorite time of year. The time of our dear Saviour's birth. A time for celebrating. A time for Christmas programs and choir rehearsals. A time of sharing and caring for each other. A time for family and friends.