Friday Favorites - Labor Day Weekend

We made it to another weekend, y'all!

Not just any weekend, either.  A Three Day weekend! And I know you gotta love that!  Well, OK,  sure - it's not required that you like it or anything.  But, I mean... c'mon!  An extra weekend day.  That's all good!

Labor Day weekend means the unofficial end of summer.  Which, for me, means the start of Boot season!  That's right, as of this weekend this gal will be pulling the boots out of the back of the closet and gearing up to rock them for the next 7 months or so.  I adore boots, and would own a closet full of them if money were no object.

Around these parts, Labor Day weekend means the North Carolina Apple Festival.  We'll usually head downtown to check out the booths, munch on some candied apples and funnel cake, and head home with a selection of fruit from local growers.

http://www.ncapplefestival.org/

It has been another crazy week for me.  And I'm still not feeling 100% great.  This time last week I was sure it was a cold.  Now I think it must be allergies; because since when does a cold last two weeks??  Or maybe it started as allergies and is now trying to decide if it's going to blow up into a sinus infection or not?  All I know for sure is that I wish it would just end, already.

Because of this, I am not sure if I am personally feeling up to being all apple festive this year.  Honestly, I am just looking forward to a quiet weekend.  Going to bed early.  Maybe sneaking in a nap or two.  That sort of anti-excitement.

What are your weekend plans?

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A Spirit of Gratitude: August 31

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

Trips to the library

Reading to the grand baby

Books arriving in the mail

A surprise gift

Snuggling with the grand baby

School supplies

A fresh salad

Not missing the bus

The grand baby saying "thank you Oma, for making me pancakes"

Fresh cut grass

Play-doh

The Man of the House picking the male offspring up from guitar lesson

Open windows

A deer at the bus stop

Grilled steaks

Dark chocolate

Sleeping in a little

Fresh ingredients for gumbo

Goals met

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A Weekly Reality Rewind

I started this week thinking I was experiencing a hard core allergy flare up.  Perhaps enhanced from being tired; as I was not ready for the school day schedule to start back up on Monday.  But after a solid week I feel pretty sure what I am actually dealing with is a late summer cold.

Sounds like a big negative.  But on the bright side - since I didn't feel like doing much, I did a lot of sitting on the couch and getting plenty of work done for my Etsy shop.  So, that's a big win!

The female offspring went back to work and school this week.  Which means lots of grand baby time for this Oma!  That kid is exhausting!  And while my living room looks very much like a toy box threw up all over the floor, he makes me laugh everyday.  And hearing him say "thank you Oma for making me pancakes" one morning just made my whole week!

I signed up for a new Proverbs 31 Online Bible Study which begins September 8th. It's "Taming The To Do List", and y'all know me and my To Do lists!!  I've already started my master list for September.

I also registered to attend two events next month being sponsored by our local  community colleges small business center.

Our weather has been giving us the tiniest preview of fall.  While Temps are still right around 80 degrees, it is much less humid and breezy.  Much more bearable to this gal!  I say, "Bring on the Autumn"!

And, that's pretty much my week in a nutshell.

I'm looking forward to a weekend filled with a trip to the farmer's market, watching some NFL preseason football, and plenty of resting.

Have a good one!

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The Reality of Work

Everyone in our home has chores to do.  From doing dishes, to cleaning bathrooms, to vacuuming, mowing the grass or helping in the garden.  Everyone is expected to do something.

It helps keep things running smoothly.  Keeps things nice and tidy and moving along smoothly.

Why should I expect my life as a daughter of God to be any different?

photi: www.gwensmith.net

He gives me daily tasks.  He makes me a part of His plans.  Not because I have to earn His love, acceptance or approval by doing things for Him.  But because as part of the church family I should work to help keep things in order. To keep His kingdom running smoothly.  To care for this home He has given me.
 

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The Last Back to School

Yesterday was the official start of the school year for our county.  And while every first day of school is bittersweet in its own way - this year was a little more so for me.

You see, this was the very last back to school day for our family.  My "baby" boy began his senior year of high school this week.

I know parents say it all the time - but the time Really. Does. Fly.

It doesn't seem possible that it was an entire 12 years ago I was taking that sweet little boy to his first day of kindergarten. But it's true.  The years have passed. Just as they always will.

He's a young man now (who still mostly acts like a kid).  Somehow he has managed to get older, while I'm pretty sure I have stayed the same. He has gone from that little guy with the pinchable cheeks to the one towering over me with his scruffy sideburns. 

Oh sure, there will still be "back to school" days of a sort as he moves on to college in future years.  But in a more real way - this was the last.  The end of an era.  Marking the start of a year which will be filled with endings and beginnings.  For all of us.

And while I am so very excited to see what the near and distant future holds for him, you will have to forgive me if I take a moment to pause and indulge in a little mommy nostalgia.  As I wipe a tear away so I can more clearly see him continue to grow and mature and move forward with life

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A Spirit of Gratitude: August 24

This Week I Am Thankful For:

Constant Comment tea

The male offspring brought me lunch

The Man of the House working on coasters

Feeling better after battling sinus problems for 2 days

Running errands

When things go easier than expected

Going to bed early (compared to every other day this week)

Completing an order

Mutsu (crispin) apples from the Farmer's Market

The Grand Baby "reading" me a story

Making weekend plans

Fantasy football draft day

Getting an early start

An evening out with the Man of the House

New glass storage canisters

Smoked brisket

Back to school

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Really Dazed and Confused

You ever have those moments which make you shake your head at yourself and wonder what you were thinking?  Or whether you were actually thinking at all?  I certainly have more than my share!

Take last week for example:

The Man of the House forget his phone and asked if I would bring it to him when I took the boy to work.  Sure, no problem!   Happy to help out that handsome man of mine.

Pulled up in front of his building.  Sent the male offspring in.  Grabbed my phone and started composing a text letting the man know that the boy was bringing his phone to him.

photo - publicdomainpictures.net

...

YEP.  'Nuff  said...

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A Spirit of Gratitude: August 17

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

Sister road trips

Singing along with the radio

Crossing the Mississippi at night

Old hotels

Hotel breakfasts
Walking in Memphis

Long heart to heart talks
Teapot Museum
Funny street signs

Train station converted into a hotel

First visit to Nashville
Music Row
Discovering old local diners

Time with the nieces
Long heart to heart talks

Silly roadside photo ops

Coming home
Celebrating my dad's birthday
Jasmine tea
Summer peaches
Laughing
Afternoon tea and cake
Quiet time
Peach nail polish
Wax lips and mustaches

Rainy nights
Netflix when I'm up late working
Potential new customers
Yellow lip balm holders
Patty pan squash and cue ball zucchini

A Spirit of Gratitude: August 4

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

Snuggles
Early, early morning flights
Watching the sunrise from above the clouds

People watching
Visiting my sister, brother in law, and nieces
Playing with their new kitten
Sightseeing in Route 66

A visit to Pop's
FaceTimeing with the family
Touring Oklahoma City
Crazy (gross) ice cream flavors

Goodbye kisses
Road trip planning
A trip to Hobby Lobby
Long talks with my sister and niece
Rainy mornings
Texting with the Man of the House

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The Reality of Getting Healthy

I was recently asked in the comments here on the blog about how that whole healthier living thing has been going, noting I haven't mentioned it recently.

There's a reason for that.  I hadn't mentioned it because you can't talk bit how something is going when, quite truthfully, it hasn't been going much of anywhere.

You see, as far as the whole healthy living thing- I was failing pretty miserably at it. I was still eating a lot of junk.  Not exercising.  And my weight had actually gone up a few pounds rather than heading in that downward direction I had intended.

http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=104866&picture=vintage-doctors-scale

And I was embarrassed to pull that reality out into the open where not only could everyone else see it; but I would be forced to look at for what it really was.

However, I am pleased to report that things are beginning to turn around.

Over the past three weeks, thanks to plenty of encouragement and gentle prodding from the Man of the House, I have totally revamped how I eat.  No wheat/gluten, no dairy, and no processed sugars.  Less meat. More fruits and veggies.

http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/view-image.php?image=108930&picture=fruits-on-a-plate&large=1

I haven't been exercising as much as I should.  But after a weekend walking the historic streets of Charleston and going to the park for a walk yesterday evening with the Man of the House - I believe there are improvements being made in that area also.

I'm feeling good.  The eczema on my elbows and ankle has pretty much disappeared!  I have had minimal to no pain from my fibroids this month!  I have already lost 8 to 9 pounds (depending on what time of day I step on the scale).  And I am actually looking forward to going back to the doctor for the follow up on my cholesterol!

So,  that's the reality of where things currently stand with my health.

What are some of your best tips for healthier living?

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A Spirit of Gratitude: July 20

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

a yummy fish recipe

sunflower butter

the whole family laughing

green beans from the garden

over sleeping

the Man of the House having a day off

freedom

grocery shopping done early

watching classic movies

the male offspring's wound not as bad as we first expected

long texts with my sisters

the man of the house making breakfast

lentil chili

the make offspring taking me to lunch

a great sale on EVOO

vacation

sunrise on the road

Charleston

SC Aquarium

walking downtown

the beach

the Man of the House telling me I look pretty

the City Market

yummy seafood dinner

crossing bridges

dolphins

silly photos

coming home

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A Spirit of Gratitude: July 2

I AM THANKFUL FOR

A return to gratitude

Iced coffee

Time to write

A quiet evening

Dinner with the Man of the House

Another project complete

Hundred torment clouds in the distance

Picking squash

The first of the homegrown cucumbers

Finding a good sized freezer at a great price

New knives and cutting boards

The grand baby playing in his wading pool

The Man of the House

Making vacation plans

Breakfast on the porch

Big blue Jay calling from the top of the peach tree

Potential opportunities

Blueberry green tea

The female offspring making dinner

Getting up early to go to the farmer's market

A yummy breakfast made by the Man of the House

Freezing dried beans

Harvesting and freezing herbs

Working in the garden

Picking raspberries

That bird outside who sounds as if he's saying "squeaky,squeaky, squeak"

Vegetarian chili

Morning rain shower

Early morning wake up

Freezing squash

Mailing an order to the UK

Summer cherries

July

Making healthier choices

A quiet house

Seeing a baby praying mantis

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