Thursday, September 30, 2010

A DAY TOGETHER IN MY CALMING PLACE

Just you and I, on a cloudy cool rainy day, It still felt all warm and cozy to me. We had our dinner at Der Dutchmen in Walnut Creek,,my favorite go to place for comfort and home cooked food with a fabulous view.
While in my peaceful place I see animals.. like cows, goats, sheep, a lot of horses. and barn cats and dogs.

We travel back roads like this in the countryside, along with horse and buggy's.


This is their area, we must respect them and their way of life. My stress level is nothing when I'm here. I don't even have to shop or do anything. The atmosphere alone is so calming and peaceful. I feel like I have traveled so far away yet I'm only 45 minutes from home...It can't get much better.

I love the landscaping, all the fields of hay and pastures, along with barns and Amish homes.


There is know hurry and rushing around here. Back roads are fun to drive through. You never know what you will see next.


Here is an Amish home and their barn.. Clothes hanging out on the line.


Our main reason for going here today was to stop at this place called Lehman's. We got our wood burning stove here and we needed a new seal for the door, along with a new steaming pot to set on top for moisture in the air.

Another picture of Lehman's, they have everything you can think of for wood stoves, canning and preserving, non electrical lighting and old looking stoves and refrigerators. There is dishes and kitchen gadgets, little snack bar, home made fudge... old time gum like Grandma always had.

Drive down another road...with a horse and buggy heading home for the day.

another lovely Amish home and barn. They have the neatest gardens and flowers. I am very respectful of not taking pictures of them. They don't like it, so that's why I have pictures of the back of buggy's. This is definitely my go to place to get away..











Monday, September 27, 2010

AUTUMS FIRST HOMECOMING DANCE

The day I have dreamed of since being a mom, going through the dances, getting all ready for them...We had a great time with only one break down..that I think was just nerves... Here is my girl at the salon getting her hair done. She already got her mani and pedi done at 8:30am .

A picture of the back of her hair...so beautiful..I always tell her when I grow up I want to be just like her.
Wrist corsage, it was gorgeous, I can not believe the price of them now, when I got them in high school they were about 10 to 15 dollars and they were lovely....now you can double the price plus. See her nails..Aunt Kelly came over on her morning to sleep in to do this for her... and her toes....We thank you so very much.

Autumn and Daddy pic.

Aunt Kelly and Uncle Mike..bless your hearts for taking time to spend this special day with Autumn and coming over to get pictures with us...we both needed you, me for support and thinking about things I may have for got and Autumn for all you did and showing your love to her.


Over at Friends to get pictures of the group...There was about 30 of them guys and girls that got pictures together then went to dinner at 91. Then from there, the dance and back to her friends for all night stay over.


Some of the girls..they all are so beautiful..no one had the same dress...and they all had their own style....PRINCESSES

Another fabulous picture of her and her dear friends.


Look at the laughter and how lovely it was outside that day...It was like a photo shot with paparazzi all over...us adults were snapping pictures at everything and everyone..lol Our first year as freshmen remember!!!


Parents the pictures are over.. away they were going to get to the restaurant....we had an hour of picture taking....Pure Bliss.

Monday, September 20, 2010

THE BEST PART, ADDING FINAL TOUCHES

I so love changing rooms around and taking from one room and adding to another for a whole new look. This sconce went from dining room to powder room. It adds very nice ambiance when I put a tea light on.

I had the candlestick, it's been everywhere. I got the candle at flower factory for a couple dollars.

Here I added some glass gems to this glass vase.


Some rock (crystals) to this crystal dish...I used these glass rocks at Christmas time for ice around a centerpiece. Hand towel at TJ maxx for $3.99



I love my new picture! I found this at Kirklands the other day, PERFECT addition to this room. Autumn came home from school and of course noticed it right away and said "Mom, do they have this in pink?" LOL No honey....

It is just so posh and color perfect..along with some classiness....It makes me feel giddy.



This sconce along with the other were also in my dining room, but they were bronze color. So I got some chrome color spray paint and Ta Da...I love it, the shine!

I wasn't planning on leaving this flower all alone in the dollar store vase BUT I kind of like the simplicity of it just like it is. I got the flower at Jo Ann's.

So there it is, a view of some added decor. Take some paint for the walls, borrow from other rooms, and be creative.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

WHATS ON MY MIND...

I should be thinking of this right now, But not yet..I have a lot on my mind right now, so first things first. This will have to wait till we get there in November...when we go to Cabo San Lucas.




Until then I will practice what I preach..and take one day at a time. My Michael is going through his last this and that with High School. He sits here with his head sets on at his computer and I look at this thinking hmmm he has always wanted to be a Air Traffic Controller...What are you thinking now Michael...at this time he just isn't sure. At times I wonder do we push to hard on our children out of fear for what they will have to face in this world. But we can't tell them or explain enough what it will be like..I so want him to have a great work ethic and be productive in this world..do something that he enjoys and make a living doing it...I want the best for him and to save him of heartaches and hard times. Then as a mom I know that he has to be able to spread his wings and grow, we all go through it. I so dislike the times when you sit and look back and ask why didn't I this or that or if this would have been different. I want both of my children to be strong and independent with strong values and a love for their Lord. I don't want them to have insecurity's or fear....that is the opposite of faith. I have a lot of feelings roaming around in my head right now as my children are now 17 and 15. As I think on this and the tears are flooding my eyes and my emotions are so strong...I just want my children to know if nothing else in the end I truly love them more than anything and that I always have their best intrust at heart. Wow enough on that right now...maybe my fears of things are overwhelming thinking of what if I were in their shoes right now, looking at my future and having to depend on myself along with my God...This all shows I still deal with so much anxiety and fear....I so need to work on this, it is a situation I have been fighting for a long time....



On to some fun things that is going on. This Saturday we are all going to Olive Garden for dinner. Here is a picture from a couple years ago at Olive Garden with my Mom and Aunt and Sister in Law. We will all be there this Saturday to celebrate my Aunt and Mom's birthday Mom's is the 20th and my Aunts is the 18th...afterwards we will all be coming back to our home for Cake and ice cream. There will be 18 of us....So looking forward to this.



The 25th of this month is Autumns first dance at high school. Her freshman homecoming dance. Let's say this is definitely on my mind..Let's see we got dress, it is getting alterations done now. I just ordered her wrist corsage. Hair appointment needed changed to earlier seeing that everyone is meeting for pictures at 4:15. Spray tan is scheduled for Thursday evening and nails on Saturday morning, both Thursday and Saturday morning will be with her Aunt Kelly...Such a special time they will enjoy together. I am so happy that Autumn has a special someone besides me and Grandma that takes interest in her life and truly want to be a part of what goes on. We then have hair appointment at 11:30 and dinner reservations at 5:30...Then finally the Dance!! We still need some black strappy shoes and earrings...I am so excited for this day and so look forward to seeing all the girls turned into princesses. The picture above was of one of her Father daughter dances in elementary school, those days are gone and now its friends that will all be their not Daddy...Oh time you just fly by.



Oh no not again, yep again. This was about 2 years ago as we waited in the waiting room while mom was having back surgery...This time she will be going in for hip surgery. My prayer is that of course all goes great and healing time with therapy is all good, but when this is over that she is able to have a good life and be able to do things. Like walk in the mall without pain, enjoy getting through a day without pain and feel good.
Mom and dad are leaving soon for the outer banks, they have been going there for over 20 years with their friends. Lord please let her have a great week and enjoy herself.
I am so blessed to be able to have my parents here living with me for reasons like this. She is right here, I can take care of her and she won't have to go to rehabilitation center from the hospital. It will be about 3 to 4 months of getting her back till she will be completely healed from surgery...Good old mom is already worrying how she is going to go Christmas shopping...lol God love her.






Saturday, September 11, 2010

MAY WE NEVER FORGET...

We need to always be in remembrance of this today and everyday.

It doesn't matter if you lost a love one or not...We are one, and this has affected us all.

Keep the lights on and pray for the people that lost love ones, pray for the ones that were there and witnessed this all, and pray for each person that went in to save those that were inside the buildings here, and the Pentagon along with the plane in Penn.


We all need to stand united and live in love not anger, anger gets us know where. We are the great Country.. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA..


God bless the brave men and women that fight for us to keep our freedom daily.


We were attacked yes, but now more than ever we must realize how much we need our Savior. We need to all be on our knees for so much, more now than ever.


May they all Rest In Peace, and God may you comfort and protect us all through this time when our country needs you most..Be with all today who have lost their loved ones and may we never forget how precious life is.







Wednesday, September 8, 2010

HAPPY 15TH BIRTHDAY AUTUMN

Is this not one of the most beautiful cakes ever? I order this from a place called Cake Lady. Look at the Ivory icing and pearls..



Autumn always looks forward to this cake every year. She wants an elegant, pretty cake...not only is this elegant and pretty it is so delicious.


My Aunt putting a Happy Birthday tiera on Autumn as my niece Sydney is looking at her like REALLY!!!



Sydney, Tyler and Autumn...




OKAY you girls are up to something..now your busted...Look at the guilt..

This was from Autumns last birthday party for the year...I had the family over last night.



This was taken after school the day of her Birthday...Look at the surprise all over face!!! This will always be remembered.



A Victoria Secret gift left on the front porch along with the yard and trees all decorated in balloons and streamers..




By two fabulous friends..Kendal and Karissa...This totally made her birthday day... Not only did they decorate they filled the mailbox full of candy and gum..



After opening her card, that by the way played happy birthday when you opened it..and her gift from the twins, we went to dinner with our family just the four of us. Autumn gets to pick anywhere she wants...and she chose....FRIDAY"S....we had a great dinner and it was the first time in along time just the four of us were together....

Now birthday is over and she has moved on to counting the months till she gets her temps...Got to love them...

Our next big event is next Saturday more birthday for my Mom and Aunt. Then the BIG FIRST HOMECOMING DANCE!!!! Stay tuned..