all caught up...

I did it!  I finally (thanks to a few sleepless night - with no thanks to Facebook games) am caught up on my blog reading!  So now that I'm all caught up with you, let's talk about me!  ha ha!  (sorry - lack of sleep induced babbling may follow.)

Today it at last feels like autumn.  Right after Mabon we had another heat wave come through and take the temps up into the mid to high 80s.  Today it is 62 and has been raining off and on (mostly on) since last night.  I love it!  I've been piddling around the house today, doing this and that and a little laundry. 

---------

I wrote the above text late yesterday afternoon.  I planned to come back and finish off the post but ended up going to bed instead.  Reading it, I'm amazed at the difference in moods in a little over 12 hours.  I was pretty giddy yesterday (despite the dreary, wet day) and today, with the sun out and the birds singing, all I want is to crawl back in bed and hide under the covers.

What makes our moods shift so?  What makes us go from happy to sad, or vice versa, in the blink of an eye?  Things to ponder...

I had so much I wanted to share yesterday - but it is all gone from my head now.  Perhaps it will come to me later.  Right now, there is a roast in the ice box that has had my name on it for several days but kept getting interrupted and not getting to cook it up.  I'm trying a new to me recipe from The Pioneer Woman.  I'll let you know how it goes. 

blessings
~*~

Hi...remember me?

So yes, I've been away.  I can't believe how long it's been since I've even been in blog-land.  Last I remember I was planning a post at the beginning of September about the month of August and what it means to me.  And here it is...almost the END of September.

There have been many things that have kept me away.  Various issues with medicines, a health issue for my mum and some just general things that aren't any excuse for neglecting my friends in blog-land.  Not that I think you all can't live without me.  ;-)      But it is hard to explain what some of you mean to me - reading about your lives and your creativity.  You help me to keep going, did you know that?  Well, it's true.

So, I'm just dropping in quickly with a few words and a few pictures to say hello, I'm still here and I'll be here.  So, hello autumn, welcome back.  And for those friends I have who live on the other side of the globe, enjoy your spring.  :-)

I've lots of catching up to do.  Take care of yourselves.

blessings
~*~


PS...don't take a single moment for granted.  that is something I'm trying to learn and remember. 

PPS...love yourself for who you are, even if you don't always like what you see in the mirror (or in the lens of a camera).

more random ramblings...

 When I mowed the back yard on Monday, this is what I found.  Isn't it beautiful?  I planted this dahlia two springs ago.  It is the only one I have and I always forget how late it blooms, so I forget I have it.  I found at least three buds on it.  I keep going out every day to see how it is doing.

 This was dinner tonight.  I made biscuits and had them with butter and peach jam.  I went the easy way and made them with Bisquick but they were pretty good.  The jam is my first attempt at peach freezer jam.  I was very worried, but it was so delicious!  I need loaf bread so I can have a peanut butter and peach jam sandwich.  :-)

Getting back into the blogging habit is harder than I thought it would be.  I think of things that I want to post about, but never at times that I can get to the computer.  Then I want to have nice photos and have become addicted to editing them first and putting on these cute borders.  It takes time, but it's fun.  I'll get there.  I am doing better with keeping up with my blog roll, so that is something.

August is now half over and September (and Autumn) are on their way.  I've been able to turn off the A/C and tolerate the temperature during the day.  At night the temps are dropping to the low 60's, so it is perfect open window sleeping for me.  I'm hoping for another trip to the mountain house soon. 

I'm starting to get into the mood for Autumn.  I'll start changing out my decor for fall in September.  Meanwhile, it is time to plan the fall garden.  The beans are just about done producing, so I'll need to pull them out soon and plant something else.  Well, I'm off.  I hope you are all having a lovely week.

blessings
~*~

saturday ramblings

Hello there!  It's good to come back after all the tea party madness.  Thank you very much to everyone who stopped by.  That was my first time participating in one of Miss Vanessa's soiree's and I must say I had soooo much fun!   If you'll notice in the above picture, I managed to make my way to a big box book shop earlier this week and picked up a few things.  The magazine has a feature on Miss Vanessa and I was thrilled to find a copy.  One of the things that I realized while prepping for the Mad Tea Party was that I have never actually read Lewis Carroll's books. (I've seen both the Disney animated movie and Tim Burton's version.) So, I picked up a copy.  I will be even more prepared for next year's party.


 Check out what a good friend presented me with this week.  Yes, that it is...my very own Lily Munster doll!  Isn't it just fab!!  I love it!!  We have this little joke between us.  I'm Lily and she's Morticia (Addams - from the Addams Family).  I can't wait to add her to my collection.

 Dinner tonight.

 A fresh bell pepper from the garden, stuffed with chicken & rice w/mushrooms that I had leftover.  I like being able to mix something new from leftovers.  This was delicious!

Pumpkin blossoms on the vine.  I so, so hope these will turn into little pumpkins.

Last, but certainly not least, my san marzano tomatoes.  I cannot wait to taste them.  If they turn out to be half as good as I'm expecting, then I will order seeds early as opposed to trying starters.  I went through four starter plants and this is the only one that survived.

If you've been with me for a while, you may remember that August is not my favorite month of the year.  August means many things to me.  Heat, start of school (the busiest month in my previous employ).  On top of being unbearably hot (to me anyway), bad things seem to always happen in August.  I am so happy that the month is already almost half over.  I am very hopeful to make it through this month without anything bad happening.  There are a few good things about August and as I'm trying very hard to be grateful and recognize the good - instead of dwelling on the bad - August means that fall is on the way and of course, football.  :-)

I need to get started on my fall garden planting.  I need to decide what to plant, maybe some kale (for making soup) and collards (because I love, love, love collard greens).  Oh, and garlic...lots of garlic.  Do you have a garden?  What do you plant in the fall?  I would love some suggestions. 

I just wanted to pop in for a brief ramble.  I've laundry in the dryer and dishes that won't wash themselves.  I hope that you are having a marvelous weekend.  I really am going to try to be around more on here and also stopping by your way.  I'll give a wave when I can.

blessings
~*~

ps...does anyone who uses blogger know how to get those thin black frames off the pictures?  i've hunted through the settings and just can't find anything.  if you know, please drop me a line.  thanks!

A Mad Tea Party

Oh!  Hello, there!  Welcome!  Welcome to my first Mad Tea Party!  I am soooo happy that you could join me.  I do hope that you will have a fantabulous time!


Shall we go in and find the party?  Well, look at that!  I think that is a rabbit on that table.  Let's go and see, hmm?

 

It is so bright in there!  I wonder what that is...


There must be something going on in that room.  Let's head on in.  Hmm, the door seems to be locked.  I guess we need a key.

What magical looking keys!  Let's try one of these and see if it will work...

I think it is turning!  Yes!  Yes, it is! 

It worked!  The door is opening!  Look at that!

I can feel the magic flowing out of that room. Can you feel it?

We've found the party!  Let's go in!

We aren't the first to arrive, it looks like there are some guests already.  One very important guest!

The Queen of Hearts is here.  Apparently her croquet mallet ran off and as she was chasing it down she stumbled upon the party.  She's never one to pass up treats, you know.  She looks lovely, if a bit...err...shorter than the last time I saw her. 

She must have found a special treat!  Ha Ha Ha!  Oh, I'm feeling funny!  Wait...is the room shrinking?  Oh no!  I must have partaken of some of the bigger potion by mistake!  Oh dear!

 Well, it is a nice view... 

 I say, that hat looks familiar!  The Mad Hatter must have already been here and he brought a furry friend!  I wonder why he left his hat behind.

Oh look at those lovely chocolates.  Chocolate is one of my favorites, don't you know.  Can I pass you one... or two?

We mustn't forget to put on our party hats.  And let's get a cup of tea?

 So many wonderful treats to try.  Oh, I'm feeling funny again! 

 Hmm... look at that, is that punch?  I think I might have some of that.  It is rather hot outside.

 Look at the grin on this cat!  He must be the Cheshire Cat's cousin.  I'd say hello, but he appears to be sleeping.  Oh dear... I think I'm shrinking!  Don't drink the punch!

 Does this rabbit look hungry to you?  I promise, Mr. Rabbit, I would not make a good meal!  I'll just take this little cake with me and run, before Mr. Rabbit gets a good look. Lovely seeing you!



I hope you have had a fun time here at my little version of The Mad Tea Party.  I'm so pleased you could visit.  I hope that you will come visit me again soon.  Please don't forget to visit the Hostess with the Most-est, Miss Vanessa over at A Fanciful Twist.

 Take a treat for later!  Just be careful of the punch!  :-)

love & blessings
~*~