Fall Friday Flower Fun

Over the past few weekends, I've gotten some interesting flower-shots, both downtown and around town at various garden centers.  When I run out of things to take pictures of in our yard, the garden center is a great place to head!

Have a great weekend!

See the fingerprints of God?  Today, I'm linking up with Beki @ The Rusted Chain for Fingerprint Friday.

Fill 'Er Up! (Fillable Lamp Base)

For years, we've had this fillable lamp base.  In our last home, it was filled with seashells.  Most recently, it was filled with chunky potpourri.  No, you couldn't smell the potpourri -- but I liked the oversized pieces of bark, wood shavings, pods, and extra-large seeds and such.  It was tinted in a color complimentary to our living room.

One day recently, I became tired of it and decided we needed a change.  Yesterday, I finally emptied the base, and cleaned all the potpourri dust away.  My daughter came home from school, and the first thing she said was, "Whoa!  Empty lamp!"  It was sort of eye-catching.  The empty glass made for a brighter spot atop our entertainment center.

I thought about leaving it empty -- but this particular lamp has the electrical "guts" running through a tube that runs through the center of the base.  (Some of the newer styles do not.)  I wasn't sure if I liked that look.  So, I imagined what might fill the space, and I remembered MY ORNAMENT PROJECT.  I decided to use fallish colors of thick scrapbook paper, along with strips from my old hymnal.

I'm liking the results.  It's eye-catching in a different kind of way.  And since it was SO EASY to do, it'll be a cinch to change it out with new colors -- maybe for Christmas!

What do you think?  Have you ever had a fillable lamp base?  What did you fill it with?  I like the idea of multi-colored buttons or marbles, too, but think how many it would take!!!  For now, I'm happy with my FREE solution!

Knock Knock. Let's Peel an Orange!

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Banana.
Banana who?

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Banana.
Banana who?

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Banana.
Banana who?

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Orange.
Orange who?
Orange you glad I didn't say "banana" again?

Thank you.  Thank you.  I'm here all week!

But mostly - I wanted to show you this cool way that I learned to peel an orange.  It was fun.  One time.  Just to say I did it.  But really, it's much easier to remove the peel from a whole orange than it is to remove one orange segment from an entire peel (without making a juicy mess).  Just sayin'.  Try it, just to say you did it.

It's easy:

1. cut the stem end and the opposite end off as well
2. slice from one side into the center
3. pull out that pithy core
4. start unrolling the orange, and watch the segments pop apart
5. carefully pull out each individual segment (it's a little messy!)
6. enjoy the amazing aroma, and start munchin' on those segments

Win or Lose...

It's how you play the game.

I have never been an athlete, or even sports-minded for that matter.  But this year, our daughter started at the high school, and is interested in attending the football games.  She is such a life-cheerleader kind of girl, so she is all about supporting the team, as you can imagine.  She's only been in the school system a few short weeks - but don't mess with her team, her band, or her friends.

Game One:  hubby was working the late shift and son was sick -- so off my daughter and I went on this new adventure.

Game Two:  hubby was held up at work, and son was working - so, it was just us girls again.

So that's TWO, count 'em TWO games that my daughter and I attended together.  We have lots of fun when we go!  My daughter has classes (and lunch) with lots of band members (I like to call them "bandies"), and so she is always excited when the band takes the field at half-time.  Also - she knows all the songs that the band plays, and back-stories behind each of them.  And if there is anything special going on with the band (i.e. alumni night), my girl is the one to ask.  Nope.  She's not IN the band... she's just like... their press secretary.  Hey - just sayin'.  The girl knows what's going on.

So, last Friday night she knew that the 8th grade band members would be there from the Jr.High School, and would march along with our high school band at half-time.  We cheered.  We were excited.  We love the band.

The football team is great too, but  my daughter and I admitted to one another that really... we don't know for sure which end of the field our guys are running for.  (That could possibly say something about the expertise of our team.  Hmmmm, I'm no professional, as I've just confessed -- so I could be way wrong on that.)

Anyways, we've come to realize that we are really just band groupies.  There.  I said it.  Honestly, some people wait for the football team after the game.  We stand in the parking lot, and wait for the band to march their way from the field to the building where they store their uniforms and instruments.  My daughter happily waves to her friends as they high-step it past us.

And...

Let me tell you about one more school tradition that has brought tears to my eyes after BOTH games that we attended.  The band makes it's way from the end-zone bleachers to the track beside the field, and meets up with the cheerleaders in front of the home bleachers.  The football players come jogging over from the field.  The fans stand at their seats, the band begins to play the alma mater, and everyone sings.  Win or lose.  There's a whole lot of clapping and cheering.  It's an amazing thing.

Now, maybe this is tradition where you live.  But, you know - I haven't been to that many football games in my lifetime, and so -- this was a really cool thing to be a part of.  Win or lose.

And speaking of win or lose, I'm going to google "football rules" - so, you know... maybe by the time the next home game rolls around, I'll actually know what's going on.

I know.  I'm not getting my hopes up.

*note to self: also google "alma mater lyrics"

Afterthought: If you found yourself chuckling a little a lot while reading this post, that's okay.  My daughter and I know we're a little goofy.  But laugh WITH us, and not AT us, okay?  --'Cuz we're having fun!

I'm linking up with Money Shot Monday 

and

To Everything There Is A Season

Summer has seemed long-over in our hearts, even though we have continued to have some warm and sunny days. The kids have transitioned into their school routine for the year, and though we have not become completely accustomed to that early morning routine, for the most part the schedule of our days is going well.

Summer it seems, is for "fly by the seat of our pants" kind of stuff... and once school starts, the need for a routine grounds the flyers for a while.

Fall becomes more reserved, and we talk about things like how much homework everyone has.  Hot days turn to cold nights (which my daughter and I discovered last Friday night at a football game), and we find ourselves giving in to dressing in  layers.  Flip-flops still stand by the back door at the ready, though.  We are not willing to part so quickly with the singular choice of footwear that saw us through summer.

And so, though it has not been "official" so far, tomorrow it will be.  Tomorrow is the day.  So here's to routine, and getting homework done, and Friday night football games, and wearing layers...

... along with our flip-flops.

"There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven."

Ecclesiastes 3:1

-- a great reminder in the busy-ness of our days.

Still "On Call"

Call me crazy.  And some of you will.  But I am (still) a stay-at-home-mom, who takes great pleasure in caring for my kids -- even though they are teens.

I love having a bit of breakfast ready for them before they walk out the door.

I love packing their lunches.

I love driving them to school when/if the school bus thing doesn't work out.

I love taking them to the places that they need to go.

And so, when our son got his drivers license several weeks ago, I felt like I had been relieved of some of my duties. It was a little... jarring, to say the least.

He's all like, "I'm 18, so..."
And I'm all like, "But I'm still your mama, so..."

Overall though, I think I've adapted pretty well.

Then last week... he came home sick on Thursday.  Been sick ever since.  And while I would never, ever wish for him to be sick (gosh, it makes me teary to see him so out of it), I will say that I don't mind taking care of him one little bit.  You know, making him stick to his med-schedule... making sure he eats... giving him lots of fluids.  You know the drill.

Know how I know he's really sick?  Because he's letting me do those things without any "rolling of eyes."  In fact when I ask, he'll actually say, "a cup of tea sounds really good" -- and that's music to my ears.

Yep.  I'm still "on call."

Just Another Manic Monday

It's Monday:

• ENJOYED a weekend of Friday night high school football, Saturday adventures, and Sunday worship
• BEGINNING the 4th full week of school
• WELCOMING a "normal" shift for my hubby after two weeks of "crazy"
• GOING stir-crazy with a son who is sick
• APPRECIATING an awesome family doctor who fits us in
• GIVING thanks for a daughter's allergies under control
• WONDERING about a girl who has such an aversion to school buses
• LOVING the sun that's filtering through the trees this morning
• TAKING a vitamin C
• THINKING of The Bangles.

My favorite picture from the weekend.

Edits: sized, image sharpened, watermarked.

Colors:  the real deal.

Praying Them Through It

Our son was dismissed early from school yesterday due to illness.  He's staying home today, too.  Body aches, headache, cough.  General yucky-ness.  Yes, the back-to-school "crud" has hit.  It's early this year.  For goodness sake, we haven't even locked up all the windows for winter yet!  After he got home, I hit the grocery store for all of the meds. that I usually stock up on...    I don't know, sometime MUCH later in the school year, usually.

Today, our daughter walked to the bus stop alone.  Sad, sad, sad.  She's already sad enough to be awake at this hour! -- but to walk to the bus stop alone, and know that her brother will not be (somewhere) at school "with" her... super-sad.

Sometimes as a mom, I have to numb myself to my kids' sadness/nervousness so that I can lovingly nudge them out the door... pushing them out of the nest, as it were.  And then, I pray them all the way down the street to the bus stop.  I pray them through the bus ride, and into the school building.  I pray them through the speech that they have to give in marketing class.  I pray them through math tests -- and so much more.

I pray them through the things that they are nervous about,

and the things that they should be, but aren't.

Our daughter is still adjusting to public high school after homeschooling.  She is still adjusting to early mornings. After she walked out the door alone, the thought crossed my mind that I should've reminded her about this verse this morning:

"So do not fear, for I am with you;

do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10

And as I thought about God holding my daughter's hand throughout the day, I also thought how glad I am that he can hold mine at the same time.  Sometimes a mom needs a little help along the way, too.

This is the post in which I admit...

... that sometimes I totally LEAP before I look,

and that around our house, "we don't need no stinkin' instruction manual."

So, it might surprise you to learn that I am basically a rule-follower.  Well, at least when it counts, that is. However, I am also sometimes impatient when it comes to waiting for things to happen -- and I like to speed up the process, as it were.

As in the case of the avocado pits.  You remember that story?  Yes, I totally dug up those pits to see just how they were coming along.  What I found was that one of the two pits had split -- but no signs of green.  How long had it been since I planted them, you ask?  Oh, are we counting now?  Remember, I'm impatient!  (smirk)

So, here's the scoop: I am following the "stinkin' instructions", and hoping for better results.

Every single guideline that I had found about planting avocado pits said to do it this way.  Of course, we had no toothpicks in the house.  So, I improvised.  How about skewers?  Nope.

Wait... aren't there chopsticks in the back of the silverware drawer?  Yes!  A take-home keepsake from one of our favorite restaurants!  You'd think there would be TWO, but apparently they send you home with some sort of makeshift "two connected at one end" version that indicates they have absolutely no confidence in your ability to eat in true Chinese fashion.

But, guess what?  They work for my purpose!  I thought these connected chopsticks might totally snap and hurl the pit across the room, but so far, so good!

Truth be told, if I had waited, the pits probably would've sprouted in the soil.  At least that's my theory.  But, TAKE TWO -- as they say.  Two to six weeks, that is.  At least I'll be able to watch the progress.  Then once they sprout, it's back to the pot for them., and more waiting for me.

Weekend Thrifting

We just never know where we'll end up on our weekend adventures.  Sometimes it's just a drive down the road to our local Penn-Dutch Market.  Sometimes we head to a HUGE nearby flea market.  We've been known to take a drive in the country -- a great excuse to stop at an Amish restaurant.  But on Saturday, it was to a near-by thrift store.

Of course, you can count on finding things if you don't take cash, right?  Well, that's exactly how we started out.  I was soon scrounging in my hubby's van to find change so that I could purchase two brand new Pfaltzgraff dinner plates in my "Grapevine" pattern.  There were only two, and when I asked the price, the shopkeeper suggested two for a dollar.  Score!  (Luckily, I was able to gather that much change!)

On Sunday, we stopped by a garden center and got two "Northern Sea Oats" plants @ $3.00/ea. and a "Tweety Coreopsis" for a buck!  The Coreopsis is usually bright yellow, but isn't worthy of a photo right now.

There is no part of gardening that I do "by the book" or, let's just say it.... CORRECTLY.  {Heaven knows, I'm thinking about digging these up so that I can tell you if my experiment is working or not.  That can't be correct, right?}  Anyways... I totally bought these plants without thinking where they will end up.  But, I do know that they will help fill in some spaces.  And they are perennials, so I can plant them now, and expect to see them again in the spring.  Who knows?  If I get that Coreopsis in the ground soon, it may even recover to do a little fall blooming (or so says the plant-tag).

We are always on the hunt for cheap perennials.  I confess: "cheap" is more of a prerequisite in our garden that anything else!  Along with "cheap" goes... no gardener. (ha!)  So, that means I'm "on duty" & it's time to move some things around in the garden!

Have a great day!

He's a Fast Learner! (and kinda funny too...)

(and some giveaway info...so keep reading to the end!)

A few weekends ago, my husband, daughter and I went out on an adventure.  When we arrived home hours later, our son (who had recently gotten his driver's license) was gone.  I walked in the house expecting to see a note saying where he was headed -- as is typical for our family.  But no note.

When he got home a little while later I said, "You know -- you get extra points if you leave a note!"  He just laughed.

This past weekend, my husband and I headed out to run a few errands and grab lunch.  I left our sleeping son a note that said,

"10:15 | Dad and I are headed out on an adventure.  -M"

When we arrived home, we found this note on the kitchen table:

Just pretend you can see the big smile on my face... I didn't get a picture of that.   =D

I'm linking up with Chris Ann and Kristin @Love Feast Table

for Parent'Hood Link Up Monday.

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

AND NOW... THE GIVEAWAY INFO:
Two of my favorite ladies, Sasha and Beki, are getting together for a giveaway.  You could win a $50 gift certificate to Beki's jewelry shop, The Rusted Chain.  I know you've heard me brag on Beki before.  I love her jewelry, and you will too!!  Head on over to Sasha's blog @ Lemonade Makin' Mama to read the giveaway details (and wish Sasha a Happy Birthday too!)

Life Lessons 101

Do you remember the day you realized that everyone in the world was not good and kind with only good intentions?

I clearly remember being in a meeting at work when I was a college student.  Somehow we were discussing how something SHOULD have been done, and what the intentions were behind what HAD been done.  Basically, some of my co-workers thought that there had been less-than-stellar motives involved.

And. I. Was. Stunned.

I guess that up until then, it had never occurred to me that someone might do something intentionally for the wrong reasons or with ill-intent -- I mean, THE BAD GUYS? Yes.  But... nice people that I interact with on a daily basis?  Surely not.

Everyone knew my surprise -- and laughed, saying I'd learn some day.  I was stunned by how jaded they were.  I felt naive, and pretty stupid.

But years later, I still tend to look at people and believe the best -- until or unless they prove otherwise.

And, truth be told... sometimes they DO prove otherwise.  And it's disappointing.  Sometimes devastating.

My sweet girl learned this yesterday...

... and my heart just about broke for her.

A little incident occurred which was a really, really small blip on the screen of life -- but a big deal in the moment... when my sweet, trusting girl who always believes the best had... a learning experience.  Today, she's probably a little more wary of people's intentions.


But you know what?  I will still encourage her to always look for and SEE the good in people -- until or unless they prove otherwise.

Ephesians 4:31-32

"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.  And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you."

What I Did This Summer... (Part 2)

(Continued from Part 1...)

I asked about a mysterious item

that turned out to be not so mysterious,

and then dropped our girl off across town,
and prayed for a good week.

I started crushing on this blue bottle,

and went to an amazing Barry Manilow concert with Jill.

I took pictures of my daughter creating some cool crayon art,

and shared another Pinterest idea that my daughter tried:
"Five Minute Cake."

                                                               

I made a "JOY" necklace

and baked Molasses Sugar Cookies!

I found some great baskets at HomeGoods,

and wrote a note to Mr. Smucker about his jars.

I took pictures of rusted hardware,

and everyone was afraid to comment
except that is, for my Google+ friend Hilda @From Overwhelmed to Organized
who said, "LOL...only a blogger would even think to take pictures of garbage.

They are very nice pics though!"

(And just to be clear... they hadn't actually made it to the garbage yet.

Just sayin!  A girl's gotta draw the line somewhere -- can I get an AMEN?)

How about you?  What was the BEST thing you did this summer?

Really!  Tell me.

What I Did This Summer... (Part 1)

Because our summer is winding down (my mom just reminded me that she still has until September 21st to use that "all summer long" coupon to Kennywood),

and because it's back-to-school time, it's time to revisit my summer-time posts and remind myself of all the good things that went on this summer and tell you... What I Did This Summer.

I ate Ice Cream Sandwich Dessert,

and celebrated my 50th birthday in Charleston, South Carolina.

I sat behind the wheel of a really big firetruck,

and went to the beach.

I did a re-purposing craft with an applesauce jar,

and shared the recipe for Bacon-Cheese Dreams.

I went to the thrift store with some girlfriends,

and used one of Lemonade Makin' Mama's ideas
here in my own home.

I came upon a scenic surprise while on vacation,

and drank deliciously fruity water.

Of course, that's not all I did this summer.

There's more.

Stay tuned...