GOOD BYE TO AN EVENTFUL NOVEMBER

A strange no show this morning as grand daughter RL didn't come on regular time but a text from d-in-love let us know that RL was running a fever and she was going to call the doctor this morning because she was coughing pretty bad and see if they thought she should be tested for the whooping cough that is going around.
IR arrived at her normal time and I got chores done and we were off to market a little early today since we didn't have to drop RL off.
Market was really slow today but I am thankful for what I did sell.
Connie came after IR about 10:00. I went ahead and fed her the milk I took with me while we had a nice visit then Connie took her home.
Hubbie left shortly after to get his errands ran and get home to spray under our porches for fleas. We always try to rid our yard of these little pest when the weather gets cold so they won't be here when spring comes.
After market I ran my errands and stopped at Aldi and Ingles for baking supplies and groceries.
I made it home about 3:45.
G-son was here as hubbie had picked him up from school since his mom was at her mother's new place in Rutherfordton hooking up her internet and TV for her.
They helped me unload and then we all had a snack.
He still feels bad from the cold he has been fighting this week .
Hubbie and I did chores a little early as the clouds moved in and rain threatened.
Thankfully no more missing hens today as I took a head count today of all of the chickens.
We spent a restful evening to end this month.
I need to get one more decade photo post on here since this is the last day of the month. Back in November 2007 G-son was the light of our lives and I think he knew it !!!

It is hard to look at these pics and then look at the 11 year old boy that was here this afternoon and imagine it is the same boy !!!!

November 2017 hasn't been a typically uneventful month for our family this year. The weather has been great making some outside activities possible and we took a long ride and  hike to Max Patch in Madison county and made a trip to the Pickens Flea market along with many outside play days and work days this month.

We celebrated a wonderful Thanksgiving with all the kids here and I celebrated Curb Market's Christmas open house along with the Hanging of the Greens at church. 

On the down side we have all took turns at sickness this month as I had a bought with very bad bronchitis and both granddaughters and grandson made trips to the doctors this month along with d-in-love and daughter.

And on the very exciting upside for this month both #2 son and daughter got selling contracts on their houses this month after they have been on the market since late summer.

I had a busy baking month especially for Thanksgiving and sold well all month with the nice sunny warm weather most market days.

As we put this month into the history files and look forward to December I pray that the will of God for our family is lived out to His fullest Glory during this special time of year when we celebrate the birth of a Wonderful, Loving, Savior .

God Bless and Good Night

TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE WALK

Up to greet both g-daughters early today. After chores I took RL to pre-school and came home to grab a cereal bar and coffee and get everything loaded for a trip to the laundry.
Hubbie rode to the laundry with me and carried things in then sat in the Honda with IR while I got all the large washers filled and started. I took them home, thankful that the laundry is only 5 minutes from the house and then I went back to finish the laundry and get everything dried except the rubber backed rugs which I took home and hung on the line to dry. I made it home at 11:00.

Thankful for a good drying day today with temps in the low 60's and I worked up a sweat getting things hung out and carried inside. Is this really the end of November ????
Next up was my baking for the day. I baked 6 caramel, 1 coconut, 3 pound and 1 blackberry wine plus a pan of brownies before having a late lunch.
While the last cakes were in the ovens hubbie and I re-arranged the furniture in the living room and put up the Christmas tree. We put it back in this corner again this year so we can fence it off from the kids. No ornaments yet but just the lights are mesmerizing.

As soon as the cakes got done we loaded up a sleeping IR and drove over to Berkley park to get our daily walk in. This old park brings back many memories for us as both our boys played Babe Ruth baseball here through their teen years.

As we walked we talked about things we remembered such as #1 son and a boy named Brandon running together in the outfield both going after a fly ball and hubbie who had a better prospective than me as he usually was one of the coaches remembered a pitcher from another team who had to call time-out when #2 son came up to bat and got sick in a trash can behind the dug-out, when he went back to the mound and threw the first pitch to #2 son he knocked it over the fence for a home run.
It was a nice trip down memory lane.

Not many days at the end of November will we be out here in short sleeved T-shirts.

Our 30 minute walk took us right back to the Honda. IR was still soundly sleeping through the walk and re-loading into the Honda.
I had to stop at Ingles to get some coconut for a special ordered cake and hubbie stayed in the car and let IR continue her nap.
We carried her inside and she still slept until her mom got here and woke her up. This is a day late but this little lady turned 23 weeks old yesterday !!!

Hubbie got bee stung and his hand is really swelling so daughter had to check to see if he had the stinger still in his hand but she didn't think so. He held an ice pack on it for a while and that seemed to help.
After daughter left we got chores done. I found an unsettling thing as one of my big hens had been killed sometime today and half eaten as the predictor tried to drag her under the feed shed in the lot.
She was still limber so she couldn't have been dead long and we can't figure what got into the lot , killed the hen and was small enough to get under the shed but couldn't get the hen all the way under there.
Back inside we had some fresh Kale greens from the garden for supper and I went to my office to get weekly paperwork and bill paying done before it was cake icing time.
I watched Survivor on TV while I did the icing and got things ready for market.
We got things loaded and got into bed about midnight.
Thankful for the blessings of this day and praying that the whooping cough outbreak that is making the rounds in the public school system here can be quickly gotten under control.
God Bless and Good Night

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL LATE FALL DAY

This is about how we all felt this Tuesday morning after getting back on track yesterday with our regular schedule.

After I took RL to preschool I came home and had my breakfast. IR had her breakfast of cereal and milk and then took a nap. Hubbie and I cleaned house while she slept.

We left early to pick up RL determined to keep up our daily walking. Which by the way has already helped the pain in my knees !!!!

We went to the Highland Park and took a different trail today down around the Lily Pond.

As you can tell by the deep blue sky we are having another wonderful weather day. The temperature did reach 60 today and the sun felt so good. We walked for a full 30 minutes today before picking up RL.

We carried the sleeping girls inside and before we could get our lunch fixed IR woke up. We put her on the table and turned the TV on for her. Before we could get even a couple bites of lunch RL came stumbling into the kitchen and would not go back to sleep.

We put her in her highchair and fixed her lunch.

Awww  these 2 are certainly going to be "partners in crime". 

After we all finally finished out lunch I played with RL and hubbie rocked IR to sleep. 

However RL was determined that IR not sleep today so we switched and hubbie took RL outside to swing while I sat with IR.

After the girls were picked up by their mom's hubbie and I did chores. I missed a gorgeous sunset tonight.

And in a completely clear sky tonight hubbie and I watched the space lab go over our area at 6:25 tonight.

Since there were no naps today hubbie and I finished out housecleaning tonight with dusting and mopping the floors.

And for my Christmas decorating today I replaced all the bathroom rugs with my Christmas ones.

Back in November of 1997 #1 son was just finishing up a steller JV football undefeated season and was pulled up to play varsity in the last games of the year. The team made the play-offs that year and we traveled to Forest Hills High School and were defeated but at least he got the experience of going to football playoffs.

Thankful for the blessings of this day and praying that things work out in God's timing for #2 son and daughter with their house sales.

God Bless and Good Night

BACK TO ROUTINE AND 1987 MEMORIES

Back to the routine early this Monday morning as we greeted both g-daughters .
I did chores while hubbie fed RL her breakfast .
I took RL to preschool and was pleasantly surprised when she shouted "school day yay" when the church came into view as I was worried she might not want to go back to school after being at home for a week.
I came home and had my breakfast then got IR her cereal which she has just started eating.
She is a good eater already.

I spent the morning doing laundry and getting all the Fall decorations took down and put away .

We left a little early to pick up RL and went by Highland Park to walk. I'm hoping to get the soreness out of my knees by taking time to walk everyday like I always have until these past couple months of sickness and busy baking.

It is a beautiful morning with temps pushing 60 and sunny. IR loved the ride around the walking trail. We only had about 20 minutes to walk today but it was enough to let me know that I definitely need to be back doing this.

After we picked up RL we came home with 2 sleeping girls who napped during our lunch then IR woke up and ate her lunch. She is getting independent and wanting to feed herself.

Her and hubbie took another nap together while I got out the Christmas furniture covers and bed clothes and did more laundry.

After both girls woke from naps they played together until their mom's came after them.

After they left we did chores and then watched the news.

There is historically low snow cover at the end of this November.

I need to get decade pics on here even if it makes for a long post since this month is quickly coming to an end.

Back in November of 1987 we made our annual trip to Cades Cove , Tennessee with the kids.

Daughter was 2 years old.

# 1 son was 6 and #2 son was 4 years old and full of their selves !!

We loved exploring the old cabins and barns in the beautiful valley .

That year in November we also went to the Food Show in Asheville. I remember we went each year to this show and came away with bags full of samples and products from various vendors.

There was also things to see such as race cars which entertained the boys.

And that year Marie Osmond gave a performance at the show.

It was busy but fun with three little ones back then but each time I look back at these pictures I am very thankful that we took the time to make these memories with the kids.

Thankful for the blessings of this day as well as humbly thankful for the memories from long ago with my kids.

God Bless and Good Night

BOTH HOUSES UNDER CONTRACT AND HANGING OF THE GREENS SERVICE

Up to get the chores done and get ready for church. Today is a spaghetti lunch so all we need to do this morning is brown the ground chuck and get the sauce in the crock pot.
We got ready and left a little early so we could make a stop at Dollar General for some Texas toast to go with the spaghetti.
We had nursery duty at church today and took care of 3 little girls 2 and under. G-daughter RL was one of them and also #1 son helped so it was 3 on 3 and was an easy nursery duty day.
We had our lunch with #1 son's family and daughter.
#2 son and Tif were making family pics with Tif's family.
Unbelievably both #2 son and daughter went under contract with sales of their houses today. They have both had their houses for sale since late summer but for them to both go under contract on the same day is weird. #2 son has been haggling for a couple weeks with proposed buyers but finally reached and agreement today and this is daughter's first offer on hers but after only a couple short counters they came to an agreement so both are in the rental market now.
G-daughter IR and hubbie went to sleep in the recliner after #1 son's family left so daughter and I rode around and checked out the area for houses  for a couple hours.
We didn't find much but the market has really slowed this time of year.
Back home daughter left and hubbie and I did chores early so we could get to the Hanging of the Greens service at church.
Hubbie had to be there at 5:30 as the deacons were handing out the Lord's Supper packets and ornaments for the trees at the doors.
I finished up chores and made it there just before 6:00 . There was another colorful sunset and in the clear sky the moon was all alone tonight.

G-daughter RL was not having the quiet time and hubbie took her out first . Hubbie had a wreath to put in this window and she got to help.

Then #1 son had to take her out for good after she hung her ornament on the tree.

We came home right after the service and didn't attend the fellowship afterward but we were both tired and had some things we needed to get done at home tonight to get ready to get back in the busy routine in the morning.

We need to get in the bed earlier tonight also to get back on the up at 7:00 routine after almost a week off this schedule.

Thankful for the coming season of celebration tonight as we celebrate the birth of our wonderful Savior and also praying for #2 son, Tif , son-in-love and daughter as they get ready to enter a new chapter in their lives.

God Bless and Good Night

CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE AT MARKET

Up and getting ready for market this morning.
I just can't get in the mood for Christmas yet so this red sweater and Christmas vest will be my outfit for this Christmas open house Saturday.

Business was good today as folks filled the market aisles and snacked on the free cookies, crackers and cheese with hot apple cider.

I got out my table decorations and hoped I would get in a festive mood.

Daughter brought grand daughter IR, g-son and Carson by to wait for son-in-love and his brothers to wash cars and then they all went to have lunch with their family.

Hubbie stayed and helped with the selling until the crowds calmed down about noon and then he came home to attack the fallen leaves hopefully one more time.

I am very thankful for all that I did sell today.

I made a stop at Ingles on the way home for ground beef to go in spaghetti for lunch tomorrow.

When I got home hubbie took a break from leaf raking and we got unloaded and got things put away.

I rested while he finished his yard work and then we did chores.

We made some turkey salad with the remaining turkey for supper and then rested for the evening.

G-daughter RL got her first official haircut today. D-in-love found a place in Greenville that only does kids and took her there.

Before.......

During........

and after.......

Hopefully this will encourage her hair to grow thicker and longer.

Thankful for the blessings of this day .

God Bless and Good Night

BLACK FRIDAY BABY SITTING AND BAKING DAY

This is black Friday but we are not getting out in the early morning crowds today. The only one who is braving a shopping trip this morning is d-in-love. She brought the kids up about 9:30 and headed into the mass of shoppers for some Christmas deals.
IR also got to stay with us while her mom went out to the high school for a scrimmage game against this years varsity team and then they had to stay here until their house was shown at 12:15.
Hubbie had charge of all the kids this morning while I baked cakes. I baked 12 caramel, 3 chocolate, 2 pound and 2 blackberry wine cakes. Tomorrow is our open house Christmas kick off and I never know how busy I will be.
Both grandgirls took long naps late morning and g-son quietly played on his I-pod.
Daughter and d-in-love came in and we all had leftovers for lunch before the girls and kids headed home.
Hubbie and I made a trip to Sam's Club to check out the TV's they had on sale but they only had $40-$50 off the regular price so we decided to wait at least until Cyber Monday.
We did our shopping and then came home.
It has been a beautiful day sunny and mid 50's but this evening the temperature dropped quickly as the sun set.

After chores #2 son came after the rest of the left overs. It was good to clean out the frig.
I took a short rest watching the news then finished the day in the kitchen icing cakes and getting things ready for market.
G-son went home with daughter and they went up town tonight to the Christmas tree lighting at the old courthouse. Santa even made his first appearance of the year.

G-son didn't look very impressed with the activities.

He was waiting on his cousin Carson, one of son-in-love's brother's boys who is the same age as g-son who was coming in to spend the night also at daughters house.
Thankful for the blessings of this day and for the never ending love of Jesus Christ my wonderful Savior.
God Bless and Good Night

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2017

Slept in a little this morning until I remembered I had a cake delivery at 9:30. I always meet a lady from Charleston on this morning to deliver 14 caramel cakes. This is the last time she is here in her summer house until after Christmas and she uses my cakes as gifts.
After I got back I did chores late and then had breakfast. With nothing pressing to get done this morning hubbie and I worked on odd jobs all morning.
After a very light lunch we took a walk around the bottom pasture. The waters of Clear Creek were so clear today as the sun glinted off the ripples.

The bare trees and dull colors surely mean winter is just around the corner.

These days Flash is my only walking partner.  He is so handsome !!

When we got back to the house I put the turkey in the oven and started cooking. I made a 7-layer salad, deviled eggs, sweet potato casserole, dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans and Candy Roaster pies.
Daughter came in while I did evening chores and made corn pudding and hash brown casserole.
We had a wonderful evening and everyone enjoyed all the food and fellowship with family.

The kids played well together.

And IR enjoyed her first Thanksgiving !!! 

And I sure do love this little turkey !!!

After everyone left hubbie and I cleaned up and then went to bed early as we are both very tired after the busy day .

Thankful tonight first for my Lord and Savior that blesses me richly everyday and very thankful for the family He choose for me.

I pray that everyone's Thanksgiving day was as wonderful as you dreamed it would be.

God Bless and Good Night