out of control!

Stella is out of control. I believe she was watching me the whole time I was putting out my Halloween decorations - waiting for me to hang something up that dangled just enough for her to play with . . . or set something out that had any amount of raffia on it for her to go after. I dumped these little light covers out to keep her occupied. She followed me everywhere - she had to smell or paw every decoration I put out. She is adorable, but her antics are endless . . . and often times come at 4:00 in the morning. I can't help wondering how she is going to react to a Christmas tree with ornaments.

Pumpkins and Stars

Abbie and I glittered the cardboard stars that I cut out last week. I haven't messed with glitter in awhile - I love how it gets everywhere - no matter how careful you are. My table glitters, the grass glitters - the whole patio is sparkling!
I wanted the stars to hang on my patio. Noting special . . . but I love how these pumpkins look hanging outside in October - especially with the glittering stars. I have to run an extension cord tonight - so I can keep the lights lit.
Two of these pumpkins belonged to Luke and Jake when they used to go trick or treating.
I miss the days of making costumes . . . class parties . . . trick or treating . . . going through the stash of candy to see what they were willing to share.
My happy pumpkins in the daylight. I think they are happier after dark.

When witches go riding,
and black cats are seen,
the moon laughs and whispers,
'tis near Halloween

playing with pancakes . . .

I can always be talked into cheap little kitchen gadgets - especially if they make food fun and silly. We found this at World Market yesterday for $10. I needed this when the kids were small. My boys used to love different shaped pancakes. We used to do Mickey Mouse, dinosaurs, and hearts. I threw the wrapping away and for the life of me can't remember exactly what it is called. A pancake pen . . . maybe? Anyway . . . doesn't matter. You use it to draw whatever shape pancake you would like. I tried making some letters but they were very hard to flip without breaking. I am going to have to practice. I also may have to get something similar with a smaller tip - for better detail. The tip on this one is sort of big. I wanted to make a jack-o-lantern - but the tip being as big as it was . . . it was hard to get a triangle to look right.

By doing the eyes and mouth first then pouring the batter over that. . . I got this smiley face. I hated to see the pancake better run out. This flower turned out sort of cute. By the time I sort of got the hang of it . . . I was out of pancake batter. I really have to get Luke involved the next time I make pancakes . . . I'm sure he will come up with some amazing ones - he sort of has a way of doing that when it comes to anything the least bit creative.

I had the day off today. Which was wonderful!!!!! I started the day playing with pancake batter, and ended the day covered with glitter. I will post my glittery stars tomorrow.

tennis report . . .

I have been playing tennis for about a year. Actually I have been hitting with Richard for about a year. (He is very good and an excellent coach.) I guess you can say I have been "playing tennis" for about 3 weeks - as in actually playing matches with other women. I finally joined a woman's league so I could actually play - rather than just hit the ball with Richard. Although hitting with Richard is so much more fun.

Last night I actually had fun. I am not used to slow - high lobbing - old lady tennis . . . and that is what the last two weeks have been. UGH!!!! - even worse I lose to these ladies because I have never hit like that . . . even worse - some of them think they have a good game because they win. (I don't want to play tennis like that and my game will not improve playing with people who hit like that.) I don't mean for this to sound bad - I am looking for the positive and realize that I have to start somewhere, but I have been extremely frustrated. Last night I played someone who actually hit the ball and tried to play the game like it is supposed to be played. I still lost - but I felt like I actually played tennis, I won more games than the previous two weeks, and I HAD FUN! My serve was a little more consistent. I am getting much better at keeping track of the score. I actually got to and returned some balls that 6 months ago I would not have even gotten too. (how I wish I had started playing this game when I was much younger - but I guess it is never to late)

I think I mentioned yesterday I get excited about little things . . . I am excited that I am actually wearing out a pair of shoes playing tennis. Having never played a sport - I am way out of my comfort zone. I must say that I am very proud of myself.

Here's to a 3 day weekend! Happy Friday!

simple little things . . .

This week seems to be flying by - not what I expected, but I'll take it. The only thing is I have so much still to do and a meeting today that will take me out of the office . . . but I will get it done somehow. Looking forward to a 3 day weekend! That is a GREAT thing! I never seem to get behind at work . . . but home is another matter. I did get some of my decorations out last night - finally - Now I just have to hope that Luke's kitten (which we are still watching) will not destroy anything. The last few days she has really been a little menace.

Cup of the day (today I think it may require a second cup of coffee) . . . and cute sticky notes that my co-worker gave me yesterday. I get excited about the littlest things. Always have . . . always will. Halloween face on the rubber band ball . . . of course!

Cup of the Day . . .

First cold, rainy day of the year - coffee tastes a little better this morning because of it. How I love rainy days! Richard called this morning and found some good recipes for grilled cheese sandwiches with artichokes hearts and gouda - another one with provolone cheese. So it looks like soup and sandwiches tonight - perfect for this weather.
Of course I would rather be home than at work - but I seem to feel that way everyday lately.

The past few years have been somewhat challenging for me - and work was sort of my happy place where I had control of things. This past year has been life changing . . . and things have gotten so much better. I still realize that I don't have control of everything and definitely not what other people do or the choices they make. I only have control over myself - and how I react to things. I have had so many "Aha moments" this past year - I've lost count of them. The result is a much happier me - although now work is not my only happy place and I think I would much rather be at home on this rainy day . . . October doodles . . .

. . . and Halloween faces everywhere I look.

simply smile . . .

Change from the parking lot attendant at the airport . . . what a simple thing to add some cheer and smiles to someone's day.

"It only takes a split second to smile and forget, yet to someone that needed it, it can last a lifetime. We should all smile more often." ~ Steve Maraboli, Life, The Truth, and Being Free

witch wine glass should I use . . .

Easy choice . . . this one!

Jake and Kasey bought me this cute wine glass the other day. Very cute, very thoughtful, and a sign that it is the Halloween season!!!!!

I don't get Spring Fever, but I do get Fall Fever - I want to be home decorating and working in the yard. I want to get up early and sit outside in the cool morning with a hot cup of coffee -I want to sew scary little Halloween dolls . . . I want to jump on a plane to Iowa to visit my family - because this is my favorite time of year to go back there . . . I want to make homemade soup and homemade bread . . . I want to take the whole month of October off from work - just to play. I will just have to be satisfied with doing these things with the time I have. Tonight I am sewing doll bodies, getting out some decorations, and cutting out stars to throw glitter on . . . if there's time.

sadie mae

Is this a sweet face or what? Sadie somehow got out of the back yard Friday night while we were gone . . . not a good thing coming home and discovering that she had gone missing. Thanks to Jake posting that she was missing on facebook - it didn't take us long to find her . . . but she had quite an adventure. She was found not too far from our house by a younger sister of someone Jake used to play basketball with in high school. A friend of Jake's posted that this girl had found a dog and he thought it was a basset hound. Another friend of Jake's had her number. She had a tag on - but it had an old phone number on it. They had taken her to an emergency vet on the other side of town - not because she was hurt . . . but they help locate owners. We picked her up about 1:00 in the morning. She didn't seem too shook up - and has a new purple bandanna that reads - "My friends at Pet ER love me." I can't even think what we would have done had we not found her. We are going to get new tags today!!!!!

" Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our life whole." ~ Roger Caras

love this!

Now this is a tissue box! - I hate drab, pastel tissue boxes. My apologies if they match your bathroom - and you think they are pretty. I believe I have posted about my need for pretty tissue boxes before - when I find one I really like . . . it must be noted.

"Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment." ~Claude Monet

30 years ago

Yesterday we are celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. 30 years of laughing, crying, babies, soccer games, baseball games, basketball games . . . more baseball games, birthday parties, teenagers, fighting, making up . . . some years of taking each other for granted - and then trying to fix that . . . some really great times, some really bad times . . . and a lot of just day in and day out living and being a family. If I could go back - I may do some things differently along the way . . . but I would do it all over again.

"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person." ~Mignon McLaughlin

Seasonal Brew - OwwwOOOOOO

The perfect brew for this time of year . . . I am already anticipating Halloween! Great label - great taste!

While looking for werewolf quotes . . . and finding this one - I am going to have to see if I can find the movie Monster Squad. I remember watching it when the boys were young - I think I have only seen it once but want to watch it again. I remember it being entertaining way back then - will have to see if that had to do with the age of my kids.

"Where the hell am I supposed to find silver bullets? K-Mart?" ~Rudy, The Monster Squad

Good Morning . . .

This little lone bird on my roof caught my eye early one morning. I could hear him chirping (thanks to my hearing aids!!!!!) - and finally located him perched on our roof. I always like the stillness and quiet of early morning - when you can notice the individual song of one bird - and take the time to enjoy something that simple. Somehow life's difficulties, no matter how big or how small seem a little easier to handle at the beginning of each day - a fresh start . . . new hope.

"Welcome every morning with a smile. Look on the new day as another special gift from your Creator, another golden opportunity to compete what you were unable to finish yesterday. Be a self-starter. Let your first hour set the theme of success and positive action that is certain to echo through your entire day. Today will never happen again. Don't waste it with a false start or no start at all. You were not born to fail." ~ Og Mandion

Cool Beans

Not only is the Cool Bean Cafe - "cool beans", but this mug is the "coolest beans"! I had to buy this coffee mug of course . . . how could I not.

What was I thinking?

This is how I would prefer to spend my summer . . . but I am working summer school 4 days a week. WHAT WAS I THINKING???? It really isn't so bad, but I think just knowing that I could be home - in the sun with a book, a cold drink, and nothing pressing to do - makes summer school seem like torture.