hot doughnuts and pretty leaves

Raise your hand if you love Krispy Kreme. I am raising both hands. An original hot n-ready doughnut is absolutely wonderful.

Dave had to go out of town on business on Wed, so we drove him to the airport and then stopped at the downtown KK for an impromptu field trip.

We sat by the window and watched in awe as the little 'pillows of goodness' floated by in the hot grease.

Then they go under the icer for an icing bath. Heart attacks on a conveyor belt....


we were mesmerized...


I am sooo thankful that by some miracle I did not cave under the pressure and 'just buy a dozen because it is the cheaper way to go.' One each and we were good. Except that with a hot n' ready it takes about 2 seconds to inhale - then you are left staring at the doughnuts on the conveyor belt.

Then we walked around downtown a bit- crunching in the leaves, eating a hot dog on the street corner (the doughnuts had long worn off)

A beautiful fall day. It was just what we needed. (if you don't count the calories :)

purple

A year ago I would not have allowed purple into my living room or kitchen. It has crept in somehow....and I like it.


This was supposed to be a photo of my purple mums- see them hiding at the top of the can....brightening my day.

Purple is the new red.


This girl has always allowed purple....and orange, and green, and pink, and red, and yellow.................................................

Have a wonderful Friday! I am sitting on the couch with my poor child who has bowel issues.....prune juice, fiber blend, an enima....(yes! It is that serious!)....and nothing! We would appreciate your prayers to get things moving around here!!!!!!!!!!!! (that may have been too much info...........???)

more cozy

We made a spot of my art room into a reading corner. The light and blankets make it especially cozy. Plus the low shelving. And there was a pillow.................."BOYS! WHO TOOK THE PILLOW FROM THE READING CORNER?"

OK, I am back- it appears Nobody took it. But usually there is a pillow in that corner.


To me there is nothing cozier than to curl up with a good book.


The rest of the art room looks like this.....so we will just focus on this:



and the clean and organized state of this corner.

Speaking of books! Dave reconnected with an old college friend on facebook and found his wife's blog for me. Read Me a Story is a great site to find good books to read to your kids. I especially like the fun books on art history.

haunted candy houses

This week is Kids Cook Week at the Franklin School of Arts and Academics!!!! (our homeschool). Our 9 yr. old got to pick out 3 recipes to prepare, our 7 yr. old picked 2, and the 4 yr old picked one.

We had a few kids cookbooks from the library and one recipe that caught the middle child's eye was Christmas gingerbread houses.

We compromised and made little Halloween houses. I have to admit that we have never made gingerbread houses! So this was extra fun for the kids.

We did it the simple way...


start with graham crackers...


get your glue! (buttercream and lemon)



candy! Check.


Sprinkles.....of course!


I went ahead and "glued" the crackers together- the older ones maybe could have done it...but I had enough trouble trying to get them to stay standing.


candy and frosting....what is not to love?!?!?!


"Mom, can we eat them today?"


"Absolutely not. If we are going to alllllllllll this trouble, we will keep them around to admire for a few days."


Can we eat some candy, then??


"OK," (chomp, chomp, chew, swallow) but just a few..."

cozy, fallish, comforting, warm

It's not as if the baked oatmeal looks like much here....


But the warm cozy treat, eaten outside, surrounded by colorful fall trees....


Shared on a quilt with those you love....


took on special meaning and taste...


Except for the child who, "thought it was gross and mushy."

The special moment came to a screeching halt...the birds and violins stopped singing....

.............it was good while it lasted....... :)

Baked oatmeal recipe can be found here-mine is similar but you add a peeled chopped apple, peeled chopped peach, and 1/3 c. frozen blueberries to the final mix before dumping into the baking pan (I think you could add even more fruit for flavor).

Speaking of cozy and comforting!!! Dave just released a new Christmas piano solo- GORGEOUS. Makes me want to get the tree out today!!!!!!!!

fun stuff

Cardboard doll house that you color with markers! It comes with cardboard people and furniture. My 4 year old is getting this for Christmas and I hope she lets me decorate the house too!!! (should I just ask for one myself?!?!?!)


This is quite momentous in our house. I have always, always gotten a Mary Engelbreit calendar for Christmas. Always. Our calendar takes up a prominent spot in our kitchen- it is one of the main focal points- I look at it about 100 times a day- we write anything of importance on there. So it has to be loved and beautiful.

When I saw this calendar on Cathy Nichol's blog I knew. "DAVE! DAVE! You have to order this ASAP before she runs out! Quantities are limited!" (goodbye Mary--hello Cathy :)

So like a good husband- he bought it for me (I promise to act surprised when I open it)

You can see it here (she only has a few left!)
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p.s. look at this cute owl globe at family fun

p.s.#2 Great fall get together for our church ladies yesterday. In the woods with gorgeous trees, beautiful weather, fire in the fireplace, soups, donuts, coffee, pumpkin bread, girl time, testimonies about our Wonderful Lord, and white elephant gift exchange. What could possibly be better?!?!? This is the only photo we got after everyone else left. I love these girls! Thank You, God for these sweet Christian sisters!!!

hair

before

after

I got highlights! This time I got a partial and love that it is dark under and blond over top. My regular stylist, Renee, quit doing hair! Oh my dear- what an awful feeling- to have your stylist just up and leave you with no notice! I had been with her for 3 years! We have been through thick and thin together- I enjoyed talking to her, knew her kids' names, and the details of their lives.

But God is so kind to me and provided me with another great stylist named Candice. She was so nice to talk to (that is almost as important to me as getting a good cut). This is who Renee recommended and I was blessed with the cut and color that I wanted! Now Candice- don't even think of quitting!!!

dance in the rain...even if you have to get a mammogram.....

This custom painting (3feet x 5feet) was painted for a very loyal customer. Thanks Kellie :)

Hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday. I got my yearly physical done today and am thankful for a good report- they are calling me later today to schedule my first mammogram......what a milestone :) :) My doctor was so encouraging. She said she just had her first one and it was not that bad at all. Tell me what you think...on a scale from 1 to 10, how painful/awful is it (10 being the worst ever)

the bannister...but really more the front door

The bannister is almost done- you can see the color here- it started out as yellow (remember the yellow staircase inspiration?) but a few coats later and it somehow turned into orange- with a little yellow shining through.


Taking a look at the front of the house- it seems the navy blue door was sad and dull.....and since there was leftover orange paint...........


The door is so much happier now!


perfect for October (and November...and the other 10 months too)


Now the door feels as if she belongs with the rest of the house.


This wreath was easy, fast, and fun to make. Just cut out a cardboard wreath shape. Rip strips of fabric- wrap around and tape in the back. Make rosettes with ripped fabric or ribbon- glue-gun onto the wreath.

shopping....

....window shopping that is! I am going to get as many Christmas gifts as I can from etsy this year. How fun! Sitting in my cozy living room, shopping in my pajamas!! Yay. I have already bought a cute little something for a cute little boy, and also an adorable B-day present for my mom. Here's some other fun stuff:

pretty little me

sparkle power

pretty little me

it's a stitch

the speckled dog

little bit funky

Nuxie Made