My dog.

The chick magnet.

Whenever he's taken out for a walk, girls, young and old, oooh and aah over him and are drawn to talk in cutsie voices to him. He's quite the conversation starter as he puts on his cutest and perkiest face.

Yup, cute.

Makes me think that I'd be one rich lady had I thought a few years ago to rent him out to young guys to take for walks to the park so that they, the young fellas, could meet girls. It's a win-win-win. Dog gets a walk, I make some money, and young fella meets all sorts of girls who fawn over the cute doggy.

Yeah, we're cool with that.

Way too cool.

FIR Question #1

This year with Fall Into Reading, Katrina is posing a question every Tuesday that has to do with reading. She's curious about what we have to say about reading and it's a great way to connect with other FIR participants. So here's this week's question:

What do you think is the biggest obstacle to your reading? What prevents you from reading as much as you’d like? OR, if you feel like you already read as much as you want to, what choices have you made to make that happen?

I've often said I really wish I had a job where I could just read all day long. Of course, now that I think on it, it would probably only be fun if I could read just what I wanted to. Somehow reading quantum physics textbooks all day for proof reading as a job changes things in the "fun" department. LOL. I read quite a bit and rarely does a day go by that I don't read. I don't read as fast or as much as some of you who have dozens of books on your lists but I think it's pretty good for me considering what else goes on in my life. But on thinking on the question, if I were truly honest, I cannot blame my job (other's have jobs too), or my other involvements such as church and family activities (most of us have a life outside of reading). The answer would definitely have to be tv and blogging. I have definite shows I like to watch and reading goes by the wayside when I watch those. Sometimes I do read while the tv is on and I can mostly manage to do that depending on the book and the show but I definitely read slower and probably with a whole lot less remembering. And since starting blogging, that has taken a big chunk out of my reading books time. There just isn't enough time in a day for me to be able to read all the blogs I like to read and read the amount of books I want to read. So one of them has to give a bit and that goes back and forth on which one it is.

So what stops you from reading as much as you'd like?

Monday Mish Mash, Recipe Included

This weekend I made a monumental decision. I am going to get back to menu planning more consistently again. After a summer of "winging" it, I think I'm ready to for a bit stress free meal decisions. I'm going to start to get back into it with just picking a week's worth of meals and then picking out of that list each morning or the night before.

I'm in a bit of a decision dilemma with how to do my grocery shopping. I get a lump sum of grocery budget twice a month. I've been doing the whole of the shopping when I get these lump sums. But I tell ya. I'm getting a bit tired of the marathon grocery shopping trips, and the marathon packing away of said groceries. Then invariably I'm always running back at some point in the middle of two trips because I don't have something I didn't think to add to the list or I run out of milk and fresh produce. Which is a given with teenagers and a dayhome. I just cannot stock enough of it to last. But if I go to a weekly plan I'll lose the "free items" that my grocery store offers if you spend a certain amount of money. Usually you have to spend either $150 or $250 to get the free item. And sometimes it's really worth it. Last time I got Rubbermaid Premier storage containers worth $30. This week I think it's a free turkey. But on the other hand, going once a week, meal planning would be so much easier, the trips would be so much simpler, and the packing away of it would take so much less time. So you see my dilemma. What to do, what to do?

Isn't my weekend news exciting so far? LOL. We had a pretty laid back weekend. Hubby was home Saturday, his first Saturday off in over a month. When that happens we just go with the flow. And watch movies. And make popcorn. Lots and lots of popcorn. Now the gross microwave stuff. But on top of the stove popped in olive oil stuff. The stuff you can't stop eating. This weekend's showings included "Flight of the Phoenix (2004)" one of my favorite movies ever. Prince of Persia followed, and on Sunday evening we wrapped it up with "Star Trek Insurrection". So I'm pretty movie'd and popcorn'd out for awhile.

Now we did have some real food too. If it was up to my hubby, he'd make a meal of the popcorn, but me? I need the real thing. Sunday was burgers on the grill, 'cause now that summer's over, we actually had a nice warm day as opposed to the crummy ones we've had all summer. On Saturday, because I was lazy and popcorning, I threw together a very simple chicken casserole called Chicken Bruschetta Bake. It's chicken breast, tomatoes, lots of garlic and stove top stuffing. Oh what the heck, here's the recipe:

-2 pkg. Stove Top Stuffing mix Chicken flavor (the original recipe calls for one but I find it's not enough)

-1 28 0z. can of stewed or diced tomatoes, undrained

-2 large cloves garlic, minced

-1 1/2 lbs (3/4 kg) skinless chicken breast, cut into bite sized peices

-1 tsp. dried basil

-1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 400*F. Mix together tomatoes, garlic, and stuffing and stir just until moistened.

Place chicken in 13x9 baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese and basil and pepper to taste. Top with stuffing mixture. Bake for 40 - 45 minutes until chicken is cooked.

Done. Can't get any easier than that.

Exercise came in the form of a nice walk to the neighborhood Starbuck's for their fall coffee. I had my Pumpkin Spice Latte and Hubby had the Toffee Mocha Latte. Yum. And our barista turned out to be an old family friend so our coffee was on him. Thanks Teigan!

Oh and I can't forget I vacuumed. Be still my heart.

Pretty exciting weekend, eh? What did you do?

Friday's Fave Five #107

1. A dayhome parent who thinks of me in her day and brought me a surprise when she picked up her little girl. I cannot tell you how it makes my heart melt to know the parent appreciates me in their children's lives. That is one of the things that makes my job oh, so, worthwhile, and why I'm still doing it after 20 years.

2. The chocolate covered cream puff this parent brought me when she picked up her little one. From a dutch bakery. Need I say more? Sorry no picture. It was just inhaled eaten right away, as soon as I waved goodbye. It was the best chocolate covered cream puff I've ever had.

3. First Press Maple Syrup. Oh. my. word. This stuff comes from a family farm and is hand bottled right out of the first evaporator, is organic and even has the year on the label. And it is sooooooooo good. I had to resist pouring into a small cup and just drinking it. LOL. But then I had the wild idea of pouring it over softened vanilla ice cream and adding chopped walnuts. I am rendered speechless. Which you know is a small miracle.

4. Almost immediate help on the Blogger Help page forum. A little invitation to try the editing in Blogger came up and I pushed the try it button. No acceptance button came up and the next thing I knew the whole posting page was different. Ugh. I did not like it at all. But no button to take you back. As is usual when it comes to blogging mistakes my first reaction was to panic for about an hour until it occured to me to go to the Blogger Helps page and find a "contact us" button. But that button just took me to a "post a question" type of page. More panic for a few minutes. So I posted the question and within the hour some one replied with an answer and it worked. Yipee!

If this happens to you, let me know, I'll email the solution to ya. 'Cause now I know, thanks to the quick reply of the person who helped me.

5. A good, tear inducing, full belly laugh with Younger Girl. If I wrote it all out something would be lost in the translation but I love it when it happens.

What are your favorites from the week? If you do a post, link on up and then enjoy a visit with the the other Fave Fiver's.

8 Questions

Jerralea at Jerralea's Journey tagged me with an "8" meme. She asks 8 questions, I answer them, then tag 8 people and ask them 8 new questions. Sounds like fun.

So here's Jerralea's questions to me:

1. What was the first meal you ever prepared? It was way back when I was a young teen, probably junior high, and it was one of those Chef Boyardee Pizzas. I made it for my family. I don't think they even make those anymore, do they?

2. What is your favorite worship song? I don't know if I have a favorite. Different songs touch me at different times, my favorite today might change tomorrow, depending on where my head and heart are at. Right now though, I cannot get this one out of my heart:

3. If you could do any occupation, what would it be? This is a toughie. There are so many. Librarian, book store owner, ice cream taster, lip stick color namer.

4. What is your favorite flower? I love all sorts of flowers but my all time favorites are tulips and peonies.

5. Would you rather wear one pair of shoes all the time and switch purses, or only carry one purse and have different pairs of shoes? I love both! I'm stressed out deciding. but I would probably say, if forced to make a choice, that I'd rather switch out the purse. I love the purse and cannot resist.

6. Name one fashion fad you hope never comes back. Elephant ear pants (super flared), bustles, men wearing high heals circa Louis the 16th, tatooing and body piercing. Oh wait those last two are still here. Darn.

7. Would you rather handwrite in cursive or print? Definitely cursive. I'd rather type in cursive too, but I realize it's harder to read.

8. Would you rather see a bestselling movie, or read the book? That's another toughie. Wow, Jerralea. I'd probably rather read the book first to experience it in it's originality before Hollywood gets ahold of it and changes it up.

That was fun, Jerralea! My 8 tags are: Faith, Sandra, Ellen, Shalee, Karen, Barbara, Danielle, Melanie and anyone else who would like to play it. Just let me know in the comments if you're doing it. :v)

And my questions:

1. What is your greatest joy?

2. What do you do when you're bored.

3. Are you a sweet or salty snacker?

4. Beach or mountains?

5. Favorite things on a burger.

6. Would you rather have someone else do your laundry, clean your house or do your yardwork?

7. Are you a one book at a time person or have many on the go at once?

8. Favorite scripture or quote.

Fall Into Reading Challenge 2010

It's fall. That means it's time for Katrina's Fall Into Reading Challenge. I love these reading challenges Katrina holds twice a year. I think it's fun to look through my Want to Read lists, go through my basket of books and check out the library for what I want to make my goal to read in the next few months. I can hardly wait to read through other's lists because invariably I always find titles I want to add to my Want to Read lists. As usual though, my list is subject to change as I get review offers.. I just can't resisit new titles for free. :vP But one of my main goals this challenge was to get at least a couple of my books read that have been sitting in my ever expanding book basket. To join in yourself, see Callapider Days for more info.

Intervention by Terri Blackstock " Barbara Convington has one more chance to save her daughter from a devastating addiction, by staging an intervention. But when the 18 yr. old

disappears on the way to drug treatment and her interventionist is found deat Barbara enterss her darkest nightmare of all." -Just finishing this one up from my summer reading

God Knows My Name by Beth Redman " Drawing on Scripture and her own experience, Redman invites us to explore the revolutionary implications of being loved by a God who knows our name. And she invites us to call on His name as well-to respond to His heart and love Him as He has loved us from the beginning." -Received this for review over the summer but only had time to do a quick scan through it. Definitely want to slow down as I go through it.

the Moment Between by Nicole Baart "A breathtaking story about the emotional risks of relationships, The Moment Between explores the cost of regret, the desire for revenge and the redemptive power of forgivenss." -Found this book when I went to get "After the leaves fall". Could not pass it up!

After the Leaves Fall by Nicole Baart " Her childhood marked by rejection and loss, Julia Bakker longs for life to finally begin. Determined to escape her conservative Christian hometown, she chooses college for a radical reinvention. But following a momentous mistake, the self-defeated Julia returns to her loving grandmother's farm. Will she learn to hope in a God who makes all things new?" -This is going to be a quick reread, more like a scan, for me as the next in the series is on my list. I read it a few years ago, so I want to remind myself what happened.

Summer Snow by Nicole Baart " Julia DeSmit is finally learning to accept her new life. Optimistic and anxious to begin again after dropping out of college, she is taking fumbling steps down a challenging yet hope-filled road. But the careful existence Julia has begun to build falls hopelessly to pieces when her estranged mother, Janice, appears on the front porch one icy March night. Julia is convinced that which is broken cannot be mended. Yet when she faces the very decision her mother did years before, she begins to realize what it means to truly accept grace. Will it be her undoing or the impetus for a change she'd never dared hope for?" -Second in the Threads of Change series.

A Time to Surrender by Sally John & Gary Smalley " Claire and Max Beaumont nearly lost it all, but their marriage and their homestead have now been restored. As they grow in love, they watch as their children feel the effects of their reconciliation: Their son Danny falls in love and lets go of his pride. Daughter Jenna lets go of preconceived notions about marriage when her husband, Kevin the marine, is injured in Iraq. All the Beaumonts ultimately learn that letting go is the best way to receive back healed relationships." -Book 3 in the Safe harbor Series

Lady in Waiting by Susan Meissner "While Jane Lindsay waits for her husband to decide if they'll stay married, she finds a 16th-century betrothal ring. Certain that it belonged to Lady Jane Grey, she's drawn to the parallels in their lives. Was Tudor England's 9-day queen another victim of other people's choices? Will Manhattan's Jane realize she's responsible for her own happiness?" -Love Susan Meissner. Can hardly wait to start this one.

Secrets by Robin Jones Gunn "Jessica wants desperately to forget the past and begin a new life. She chooses a small, peaceful town tucked away in Oregon and conceals her identity. But will her deciet ruin all hope for the future?" -This has been tucked away in my book basket for awhile.

The Help by Kathrn Stockett "Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step. Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed." -Been wanting to read this for about a year now and when I saw the hardcover version in perfect condition for $2 at the library sale that sealed the deal. Pulling it out of the book basket.

Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg "A story of a small town in the midst of the mostly joyous transition from war to peach, aiming toward a bright future. " -I've never read a Fannie Flagg book but have heard they are wonderful, so again the library sale supplied me with one. Nabbed it out of by book basket.

The Big Debate Rages

This is a picture of my poor, pathetic looking tomato plants.

It is very sad, isn't it? I almost feel like having a moment of silence.

Lots of tomatoes on there. But he sight of their greenness makes me want to cry. Has no told them it's going on the 3rd week of September for heaven's sake? I had such high hopes for juicy tomatoes that turn red on the plant. It obviously is not going to happen this year. These babies have been covered at night for over a week now and they have not had a touch of sunshine or warmth in just as long. I've been tossing around daily whether I should pick the poor things now and be done with it. Am I destined for a whole lot of fried green tomato eating this month? Summer, where have you been this year?

But the red tomato, it calls to me. So I've left them, hoping each day the sun would decide to co-operate. Here we are again today, cloudy with showers. And cold. So I debate again.

Ironically, for the first day and week of fall, what is the forecast? Sunny and warm. What is up with that? So do I pick them? Or can those pathetic, yellow old leaves still have enough oomph in them to deliver some red giving sunshine stuff into the tomato?

These life altering questions are going to be the end of me yet.

Friday's Fave Five #106

Welcome to another edition of FFF! A very chilly one here where I am if I may say so. It's time to look back over our week and look for and remember those things that have been a blessing, that uplifted us, that caused us to be grateful and thankful. Those simple, and maybe sometimes not so simple, things that brought some element of joy into our very busy and more than likely, stressful lives. If you need details, they are here. Then just join on in.

1. A candle's warm glow. Seeing it is cold and rainy here, I've started pulling out the warm scented fall candles. Sitting in the semi- dark livingroom with the warmth of a lit candle is just such a relaxing feeling for me. And the spicy scents of fall candles such as the "Pumpkin Bread" one I now have burning is so nice. Fall is actually my favorite season for colors and scents.

2. Cheeseburgers on the bbq last Sunday. It has been such a weird year w

eather wise and I've hardly bbq'd at all, which is really unusual for

me. But we did a round of burgers and they tasted extra good, I think, just for the reason of not having them so often. Mind you, it could have been the juicy, sweet tomatoes off my very own tomato bush that made so mouthwateringly delicious. What ever the reason, they were darn good.

3. Posts like this one that build up and encourage and point me back to the Lord. Words that are timely and fitly spoken are a real blessing in my walk with the Lord. Thanks Faith.

4. My duvet and duvet covers. Because of the cooler weather, I took off the summer coverlet and put on my big duvet. Can you hear me saying "Ahhhh!" And it makes it so easy to make the bed! But boy, between the comfort of that and it being dark now when I get up, it is getting hard, hard, hard to get my tush out bed in the mornings.

5. Corn on the Cob grown fresh locally, with real butter flowing down the kernels, a good sprinkle of salt and a nice cold glass of milk. Yummy.

Have I got your mouth watering yet?

What have your favorites been this week? If you do a post, please link to your specific post and not your home page, on Mr. Linky. That will make it easier for people to come and visit. Have a great weekend everyone and thanks for joining us at FFF.

Book Tour ~ God Knows My Name

"God Knows My Name" by Beth Redman

Finding Acceptance, Love, and Worth

Redman helps women find their true worth in the eyes of the Father who knows their names

Publisher's Summary:

In a society that defines worth by material possessions, professional success, and physical beauty, it is often difficult to feel worthy of God’s love and forgiveness. Sometimes, those who are closest to us, even parents and siblings, can deeply damage our hearts by rejecting the person God has created us to be in Him. God Knows My Name: Never Forgotten, Forever Loved is Beth Redman’s confident declaration that believers do not have to bow beneath these feelings of rejection and worthlessness.

Redman readily recognizes that no matter how good and whole we are, there are days when we all feel misunderstood, blamed, forgotten, and rejected. She wants readers to recognize these feelings for what they truly are—the enemy’s attempt to make us feel anonymous, illegitimate, and unfit to be recognized by our Heavenly Father. In the face of the world’s damaging message, Redman boldly declares that if we are God’s child, He has lovingly called us and chosen us for His glory. God bestows great worth and significance upon His children, and it is within His grace alone we will find meaning and purpose.

Evangelist and author Beth Redman shares her heart through poignant, vulnerable stories from her own life when she experienced the rejection of her father. Using scripture and tender assurances of God’s love, God Knows My Name reminds readers that God created them and loves them deeply despite their flaws and failures. Redman wants readers to know with certainty that God’s love is not the whimsical, uncertain love that is often shown to us by our earthly family and friends, but a deep, unfailing love that allows us to find our sense of worth in Him despite what others think about us. This encouraging book lets readers know that they are not alone in their struggles and that they are significant to God because He has chosen them for His glory.

Redman takes the reader through the truths found in God’s Word to show them that are known intimately by God. Not only is He our Creator, but He knows our pasts, our choices, and even our future. Loving His children unconditionally, God helps and defends us from the enemy’s lies throughout every event of our lives and wraps us in the assurance of His unfailing and eternal love. Redman wants women to know that God’s Word allows them to know and love God as intimately as they are already known and loved by Him.

Ultimately, we are not defined by what others think of us when they hear our names, or what our earthly parents say about us. Instead, we find definition in the authority and power and compassion of the God who loves us. It’s time we heard His voice the loudest.

About the Author:

Beth Redman is an evangelist, songwriter, singer, and author of several books, including Soul Sister and Beautiful. She is also the co-author, along with her husband Matt, of the book Blessed Be Your Name. Recently, Beth and Matt received the Dove Award for the Worship Song of the Year for “Blessed Be Your Name,” which they wrote together. Their combined song-writing skills also produced the popular worship songs “Let My Words Be Few,” “Facedown,” and “You Never Let Go.” The Redmans and their five children live in Atlanta where they serve as part of a team leading Passion City Church with pastors Louie and Shelley Giglio.

My Thoughts:

In all honesty, I have only had time to scan this book quickly, but again I think it is a book that I definitely will go back and take my time through. What woman has at times thought that they don't measure up in looks, in career, in the home they have or the clothes they wear or in life in general and then lives out her life according to those thoughts, but the author wants us to know that our worth is not in anything the world has to offer, or in other's opinions, but our worth is in a loving God who knows us and wants us to know Him. From what I have scanned and read so far, Beth Redman has written a very encouraging book that continuously points us to God and scripturally how He feels about us even as she shares some hard times in her own life. And then she encourages us to respond to God, to His heart and in turn to love Him.

To watch the book trailer or to purchase this book you can go here

Thank you to B&B Media Group for providing the book.

Book Tour ~ Gotta Have It!

"Gotta Have It! - freedom from wanting everything right here, right now" by Gregory L. Jantz, PhD

Publisher's Summary:

How do you define the difference between wants and needs? How do you determine when life’s excesses have replaced life’s necessities? Too many people spend so much time trying to get what they want that they have no energy left to get what they need. Dr. Gregg Jantz, founder of The Center—A Place of Hope, calls this phenomenon excessity—when excess becomes a “necessity.” In his latest book, Gotta Have It!, Jantz directly addresses the societal tendency to overindulge in a plethora of pleasures and takes a scriptural look at what God has to say about this not-so-new phenomenon.

Written in Jantz’ conversational style, Gotta Have It! takes the reader on a journey of self-discovery that helps identify “never enough” wants and desires that have replaced genuine needs in their lives. Jantz recognizes that today’s world is harsh and demanding, creating a deep need for people to feel reassured in the midst of the anxiousness that surrounds them. He also realizes that there is no activity, relationship, or chemical substance able to satisfy the soul’s true longing for God’s peace and provision. Using God’s Word, Jantz begins to define both needs and desires and then truthfully reveals that a healthy and fulfilling balance can be achieved between the two. True freedom from overpowering wants and desires is not only possible, but it is also necessary in order to understand and thrive within the truth of God’s will for our lives.

Gotta Have It! provides the reader with the knowledge and tools needed to live a life free of the excesses that ensnare them. Rather than looking at the excessive behaviors themselves, Jantz encourages readers to recognize the root cause of unchecked behaviors as the attempt to stuff wants into their hearts instead of satisfying true needs. Once readers are given tools to discern the difference between the two, they can then begin to recognize and change the out-of-control behaviors that imprison them.

In addition to the scriptural truth and professional wisdom offered by Jantz on a variety of topics, Gotta Have It! also includes a section entitled “Planting Seeds” that makes it useful as an individual study or as part of a Bible or accountability group study. Freedom from wanting everything right here, right now will allow readers to live with assurance and eternal purpose amid a demanding and insecure world and to offer hope and light to others along the way.

My Thoughts:

This was one of those books that God seems to place into my life at just the right time. If I'd read this a year ago I would have thought it was good but reading it right now it got to a part of me that needed it. The title grabbed me, so I agreed to do the book tour. As soon as I started to read it started to really reveal to me beyond the original assumption of what I thought the book was about. Not only does the book talk about excess that we all automatically think of such as shopping, alcohol, gambling, tobacco, overwork, etc., etc. You know the ones that come to mind but shockingly and not so shockingly it placed it's finger on those I would not have named such as caffienne, anger, guilt, control, relationships, just to name a few. It starts by teaching how to define wants and needs and then it goes from there helping you to examine where your excesses lie and where you personally draw comfort from and then shows how God is longing to fulfill your true needs. Each chapter ends with a section that helps you examine where you are at and pinpoints why you turn to certain things so that they can be recognized and dealt with.

I did much underlining and writing in this book. It opened my eyes to why I react and find comfort in some coping mechanisms that were screaming out in excess in my life but not really filling the real need. I will be redoing this book when I can do it at a more leisurely pace so that I can get even more out of it. I would so recommend this book to anyone who wants to figure out their "never enough" desires and wants and find what they really need. It's a very easy, understandable read and the exercises are deep and cause you to think but are not unmanageable. Chock full of scripture references that really get to the heart of the matter.

"Gotta Have It" is available here for purchase.

Thanks to B&B Media for providing the book for review.

Monday Mish Mash

Did ya hear the big news? Bloglines will be no more as of October 1. To say this set me into panic mode is an understatement. I spent all of Friday night transferring my links over to Google Reader, which I've heard is really good by the way. But as is par for the course with me and anything new in the computer department, it wasn't easy. There is always such a learning curve for me. I couldn't figure out how to get all my feeds transferred over. So guess what I spent Friday night doing? Transferring all the URL's over. One. at. a. time. All 66 of them. And of course after I'm done it all is when I find the button that says to import/export feeds. Sigh. That's my life.

So Saturday I figured for all that work I was going to get some kind of treat and went for my first pedicure ever. An exiting dayhome family gave me a gift certificate for one at the beginning of summer and I kept putting it off thinking I'd be greebled out by it. But guess what? I went and I loved it. It was so relaxing. I was going to take pictures but I thought I'd freak out the young lady giving me the pedicure and I didn't want her to think I was some weirdo. I mean, who takes pictures of one getting their feet done. But I know you bloggers get it? You do, right? Hellooo? At any rate, I think I'm spoiled now. Better start saving my sheckles so I can get one at the beginning of summer next year.

Saturday afternoon Youngest Girl had to pick something up at the Christian book store. I knew I should have stayed in the car. I even said I'd be waiting in the car. So how on earth did I up in the store? And once in the store, I looked. I tried so hard not to. But how can one not look? Two books and some kind of Caribbean coffee later, which was yummy, I exited the store giving myself what for for going into the store in the first place. Where was my discipline? Where was my rock solid "no" when I needed it? Sigh. I just can't help myself. I'm weak, oh so weak, when it comes to books. But now this and this are going to be on my Fall Into Reading list. And shhh, don't tell, but it does make me happy.

Sunday we actually bbq'd. Hard to believe but it's so. The weather this year has been so weird I have hardly used the bbq at all. Usually I use it at least 3 or 4 times a week in the summer. We just had burgers. But burgers made extra delicious with my very own homegrown tomatoes on them. Were they ever good. Something about homegrown tomatoes just makes my mouth water thinking about them. The tasteless ones in the store just don't compare.

So that about sums up my greatly exciting weekend. Nothing earth shattering here. But it was nice to just hang around without having to be somewhere continuously all weekend. I like those once in awhile.

How was your second last weekend of the summer?

Friday's Fave Five #105

Welcome to Friday's Fave Five! I can't believe it is Friday already. Where on earth did this week go? And Fridays mean it's time to look back over our week and look for those five favorite things, big or small, that were a blessing in our lives. Please join in with a post and then link on up so that we can visit you. If you are new, you can get the details here, and then just jump right in.

As I was saying, I can't believe it's Friday. This week just crept right up on me and Friday totally took me by surprise. It must have been the long weekend. Which brings me to my first favorite.

1. Long weekends. And to be more specific, a basically relaxed long weekend like this past one. I really needed a weekend that had no obligations, no where to be and that is just what I got. I even slept in on Monday, which is something that usually never happens.

2. Hot apple crisp with vanilla ice cream melting all over it. My favorite dessert. And the Younger girl has made 2 batches this week to use up apples that were given to us. Yum, somehow it tastes even better when someone else makes it. She did a wonderful, yummy job for her first attempts.

3. A book that got into my hands with perfect timing. I was asked to do a book tour for a certain title a few months ago but didn't start this particular book until a couple of weeks ago and boy God's timing and how He uses the right thing, in this case a book, just amazes me. I thought the book would be about one thing but it has turned out to be so much more and it is really speaking to me. I'll be posting the tour and doing a review in the next few days. But the favorite thing is knowing God's timing is perfect. Had I gotten this book last year I wouldn't have been ready to receive a lot of what it is saying. My head and heart just wouldn't have been in that place. He can bring about just the right thing to open my heart to something He wants to show me and in my case it was a book. And this in turn speaks to me about how much He loves each one of us and knows just what we individually need at what time.

4. Coupons that let me try a new product for free. Now that's my kind of price! Love when I can give something a try and get a cheque back in the mail for the total amount. And then the bonus: loving the product.

5. A cuddly cat. Our cat has been awfully cuddly with me lately. Sitting with me every night. And I've been enjoying every minute. There is something so comforting about her soft fur snuggled right into me as I blog or read and as she purrs away. I'll take it anytime.

What have been your favorites this week? If you do a post, link on up with us so we can come and visit!

Random Dozen

It's Random Dozen day at Linda's. Click on the button and give her a visit and join us in the random weekly meme. Thanks for hosting Linda.

1. Describe the best sandwich in the world, according to you. The best sandwich is the Monte Cristo sandwich done at the Lodge Hotel here in my town. I have never had one that tastes as good. Anywhere. And goodness knows I've tried in a lot of restaurants in lots of different cities. Basically it is a sandwich that starts with a slice of bread with ham and cheddar cheese slice, then add another slice of bread, then turkey and mozzarella cheese slice (some use swiss cheese) then another slice of bread. The whole thing is dipped in egg and grilled until the egg is cooked and everything is hot and melted. Yum, my mouth waters as I think about it. I don't know what the chef here does to make it so much better than anyone else's but it could be the real sliced ham and real turkey as opposed to the sandwich sliced, chipped and pressed stuff. It could be the brand of cheddar and mozza slices or some spice in the the egg dip. Or the fact that it is grilled not deep fried. And no powdered sugar comes near the one here. I don't know but it is to die for! And around these parts we eat it with apple sauce.

2. Which inspires you more: a good conversation, a song, a book or movie? I can be inspired by all of those depending on the time and situation but usually a good book is what I get the most from.

3. What is your favorite board game? I love Double Series. It's a fun family game made even more fun if you play with a partner in teams. It involves a board and cards and is also manufactured under the Sequence by another company but I prefer the Double Series board. Our whole family had a year long, guys against the girls, marathon competition. Every time anyone got together they played and score was kept for the whole year. Tons of fun.

4. As you grow older, are you more or less patient with small children? I think as I've grown older and wiser and more experienced with kids, I've gotten more patient. When I was younger I had too many expectations and pressures from myself and outside sources . Now I'm more relaxed.

5. Name one item you never let yourself run out of. Toilet paper. Never, ever do I run out. A household with 6 dayhome preschool children and no toilet paper is what nightmares are made of . This question is so ironic right now because for the first time in my married life I am down to a last lonely roll and I'm panicking about getting to Costco tonight! I never have a "last" roll. I'm not sure what happened, I must be slipping.

6. Do you agree with Tennyson's assertion, "'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?" Yes, even though you may "lose" someone you've loved in one way or another and it is very painful I cannot imagine going through a life of never loving anyone or being loved.

7. Name one national treasure or monument that you have visited. Seeing I'm from Canada, I'll answer Canadian. And with that I'll say Banff National Park and Lake Louise. Stunning, breathtaking, beautiful doesn't begin to describe these areas of the Rocky Mountains.

8. Which is more painful, to be disappointed in someone else or to be disappointed in yourself? I think myself. I find it easier to forgive others than I do myself.

9. What makes your kitchen uniquely yours? The great cooking? LOL. Seriously, if it has to be an item, I would say the picture of the last supper that my Father in Law made out of copper. It's lovely and the only other like it that I know of belongs to my Sister in Law and hers is differently framed and colored so I'd say that is unique.

10. Are you a crafty person? LOL. Next question.

11. What is your favorite traditional picnic or bbq (cookout) food? To me a picnic and a bbq are two different things all together but if I have to pick one food that could go at both? Potato chips. What's a bbq or picnic without them? But if it's a "real" food that's made, I'd have to say homemade macaroni salad for a picnic and grilled steaks for a bbq.

12. Name one leisurely activity you enjoyed over Labor Day Weekend. Sleeping in.

Where Did the Summer Go?

Has fall arrived already? I don't know about where you live, but it sure seems like it here in Southern Alberta. The apples are falling off the trees showing up in bags on my countertops, given to us by several families who want to share. The youngest has already made our first batch of fall apple crisp and it was delicious. My absolute favorite dessert. I'll have you know I was a very good girl and only had the bowl that was given to me and didn't steal any of the leftovers. I know, miracles do happen. But I'm planning on another batch tonight. I mean, I can't let all those apples go soft now, can I? Waste not want not is what I always say. I see some apple stamping pictures in my near future too.

The last of the corn seems to be out already from the local farmers. I was so shocked about this when I went to one of the myriads of stands within blocks of my house to buy some. I totally missed it this year in the corn department. So in order to get my yearly fall fill, I, in a panic, bought two dozen. We'll be eating a lot of corn in the next week. And apple crisp. We're nothing if not all about a good balanced meal around the Living to Tell household.

The nights are cooling right off too. Last night it got down to 2*C. Two degrees off freezing! Now that is getting nippy. I'm clicking onto the weather network constantly to figure out whether I should cover my poor tomatoes or not at night. I would absolutely cry if I lost these lovelies right before they were ready after babying them all summer long.

My entry closet is burgeoning with jackets. My families and the dayhome kids too. Jackets accidently get left each night because the days get warm, sometimes even hot by afternoon but they arrive wearing coats because it's cold in the early morning. The weekend was on the cold side, with rain on Sunday, but I'm sure Indian summer is just around the corner. That always presents interesting clothing choices. Mornings are cold so we automatically reach for long jeans or pants and warmer shirts and a jacket and by noon it is smoking hot, sometimes into the high 20's (C) which is getting close to the 80's (F). Layered is definitely the way to go with fall around here.

So far so good on the wasp front this year. Usually by now, I sometimes won't even go outside there are so many and they're usually crazy at this time of year, flying right at you and not leaving us alone. I think it's because they're beginning to get nipped at night with cold and it makes them psychotic or something. But I've only seen one or two, so maybe the neighborhood has finally gotten rid of some nests. That reminds me I have to get hubby or son to fill the wasp traps with pepsi or coke. Last year those things were full. Blech. Man, they make my skin crawl.

At the grocery store yesterday, I found a sure sign of fall. Pool noodles, which regularly sell for $9.99, were 44 cents. That is a sign for me to stock up. Around here we don't use them in the pool. Instead thanks to my son, the dayhome kids have a round or two or ten, of trying to beat on all 6' 2" of him after he cuts the noodles in half and bops them a few times with it. Needless to say they don't last long so this is when I stock up.

Another sign of fall, at least to this book loving blogger is the Fall Into Reading Challenge coming up. I know I'm weird, but I love getting a list together for this. It is fun looking for books I want to read in the coming months.

What are the signs of fall in your area and have you hit them yet or are you still basking in the end of summer?

It's Almost Here!

It's coming! Have you started getting your list together? Because I'm strange that way, I've started thinking about which books I want to read this fall weeks ago already. Check out Katrina at Callapider Days for more info.

Friday's Fave Five #104

Hi and welcome everyone! It's Friday so that means it's time to look over the last week and look for those things that were blessings in our lives. Whether it was a great week or not, it's a good thing to look for those little things that brought some sunshine into our daily lives. If you need details you can go here first and then just join in!

So here are mine for the last week:

1. A new perfume. When I was visiting my older girl a couple weeks ago, I went to the neighborhood drug store to grab some coffee and a few other things and while there I just had to check their "On Sale" perfume section. And found this: DKNY Be Delicious Caramel Apple. Now as a teen I loved green apple fragrances, but now as an adult it is a total departure from what I usually wear. (But seeing those two cost an arm and a leg and one's first born I use them very sparingly.) Anyway, this was sitting on the sale counter and remembering I loved the green apple in former years, I gave it a try. Not too bad. Definitely smell green apple and even more so, definitely pear (a scent I love), some flowery stuff in the middle notes and ending with a hint of caramel and vanilla. A lot sweeter than my norm but something light, summery and fun for everyday so I nabbed it.

2. The deal I scored on above perfume. Regularly about $60 dollars I got it for $20 plus a bunch of points on my customer card. I love a good deal. Now if they would just put my two favorites mentioned above on that clearance table once in awhile I'd be forever grateful.

3. Another apple. Apple Crisp. Apple season brings out my favorite dessert: apple crisp. Hot from the oven with vanilla ice cream melting all over it. Yummy! I have to watch it though or I can eat the whole darn pan by myself!

4. Cobb Salad. Specifically a Ricky's Signature Cobb Salad. Turkey, ham, three-cheese blend, roasted artichokes, cucumbers, tomatoes, bacon, and guacamole ranch dressing on a bed of lettuce. It looks wonderful on the plate all lined up so nice and it tastes even better. Oh my word. I love this for lunch. The only thing missing on Ricky's cobb is the chopped hard boiled eggs and avacadoes that you usually find on other cobb salads. But the roasted artichokes they put on theirs with the guacamole dressing makes up for that big time. My mouth waters just thinking about it.

5. Furniture polish. Sort of a crazy one, but I just love sitting in a room with furniture that has just been polished and is all shiny and nice and the whole room smells good. I think it must be a trigger from my childhood. It evokes thoughts of home and my mom and security. Funny how that works.

What are your favorites from your lives this week? Do a post and then come back and link that post so we can come and visit with you!