Dreams can come true.......maybe!

It all began with my daughter asking the always fun statement she makes in November when she blasts out the email to her family asking for their Christmas lists.  In recent years I find it amazingly enjoyable to " Walter Mitty" about fun things.  In case you're not familiar ----

Walter Mitty is a fictional character in James Thurber's short story "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty", first published in The New Yorker on March 18, 1939, and in book form in My World— and Welcome to It in 1942. It was made into a film in 1947.

Mitty is a meek, mild man with a vivid fantasy life

SO......here's my newest one........

You know, I've been thinking about this new Kindle thing and for some unknown reason it just sounds like we all should have one.  My family keeps laughing at me saying, oh sure, it's JUST what you should have...........you can go to the library and for free!!! take out a book.  I know that and yet, just think about it for a minute:

• You have to drive to the library and back to pick up what you want so kindle saves gas!
  
  
• You can read the newspaper without sneezing so kindle saves on tissues!
  
  
• You won't have the papers laying around in a pile somewhere so kindle saves on clutter!
  
  
• You'll not have to buy paper books so kindle saves trees and you KNOW I love trees!
  
  
• Just think.......nobody has coughed or worse on the book you're holding
  
  
• It holds about a gazillion and a half books so no problem choosing which one to read and maybe the 'bestest' reason:
  
  
• It only comes in one color so I wouldn't have to agonize over which color to pick!

It just dawned on me..................

Is there a franchise for this product???  No really, because I think I should SELL it!  Do you think they give employee discounts?  

Sure hope so because I may not get this kindle thing  AND a 60" tv ........do you think???

Just in case Santa's not on my Walter Mitty wavelength I may default to a couple of Pampered Chef spatulas (in colors if possible)  These are terrific and a pair of navy blue sweatpants and a zip up sweatshirt.

 It is amazing how I can dream....while visions of sugarplums dance in her head...

As a little sidenote I will say that if I could I would truly buy two kindles: one, for my sister who as I told you reads more books in a month than others read in a year and also one for my friend Sue who reads 5 books at a time and travels all over the world, all the time!

Autumn Bed Update!

Just a quick little update on my Autumn bed..............it was almost cold enough to force me out of the outdoor bed idea this morning.

It was only 24 degrees but don't worry........it'll warm up here really soon.  We're experiencing a 'little thing' this week that has made our temps about 20 degrees cooler than normal.  I suppose that made it cold enough to snow now didn't it, or did I just dream that happened?

OH, and by the way.......just in case you were interested in the background of my bed in the woods.......

Hard as it was to believe I was actually seeing something that I've only dreamed of finding someday, there it was, right in the middle of this beautiful park.   THEN I saw the photographer and so I simply HAD to ask him what was up with it.  

 He had been hired by a bedroom furniture designer who lives in the area to photograph her designs for_____ magazine.   Apparently he'd have to kill me if he told me which one.

Wouldn't it just be too funny if he comes back to take some more pictures and he finds me sleeping in it?  My family wouldn't be too surprised but boy, that photographer would be if he saw me at wake up time!

  

THAT would be amazing alright!! or should I say, downright scary?             

The Church of the Amazing Ladies Room!!

How about that for a title huh? 

I believe I've mentioned it before, but just in case you didn't hear me.............things cease to amaze me no matter where I go, and I happen to be talking about a 'literal translation' in this instance, just in case you have The Message or something!

The worship service was wonderful.  You would have thought Michael W. Smith himself was up there and he brought his 'peeps' with him.  The pastor gave us a message that was excellent and made us really think if you know what I mean.  

Now, all of that still couldn't change the fact that when the last amen was spoken, I was in my mind, charting my course to the ladies room, and yes, I was going there before we drove home, thank you very much Mr. Barista!Ok, ok, I won't be long.

I casually fast-walked to the ladies room and just before I hurried in, caught a glimpse of this V E R Y pregnant lady and decide that I really should hold the door for her and she should go first. Her urgency to get to the bathroom is certainly greater than mine I deduct in my thinking and yet.. talk about a gracious lady......she insisted I go first. The stalls (what an uncouth word for such a feminine place) were all-but-one occupied and even though she insisted I go first, I absolutely could not go ahead of her.  Now there were two other women waiting and here I go again with the"you first, no, you first, no really, you" dialog......wow, these people are amazing for certain!!!  They each insisted that I take the empty 'place' so finally, I did.

Well! I open the door and I cannot believe my eyes!!!!!  The toilet looked just like all the others I've seen behind the closed door but ..........it was tiny.   No I REALLY mean tiny.......... and 

                                    It was about 12" off the floor! 

                                                

oh, and did I say 12" at the most!!!!!  Well, I'm telling you, these strong leg muscles are not for nothing girls!!!

Yes, I did go and yes, they were all smiling big 'ole smiles at me and then I smiled back and told them that it really pays to be agile in these special places.....

..and NO, I didn't 

 sprinkle on the seat either!!!

Obviously, this church caters to the children which is very nice, even at a newbee's expense.

Maybe my code name for this place should be The Church of the Tiny Toilet.  

You're laughing but when I asked my newfound friend several months ago where she and her husband attend, she told me straight-faced I might add, that most of the time they attend services at:

                                    The Church of the Holy Mattress!!! 

  Amazing!                       

THIS has got MY name all over it!!

Just on the heels of yesterday's posting to you, I may have found THE solution for me until it snows. 

Again, today, my eyes took in some of the most incredible colors and scenery around.  PLUS on top of the beauty is the fact that we traveled less than 5 miles from our house to see all this and had a great walk together at the same time! 

Here are just a few pictures we took to try 

 to capture the spectacular 

 sites we saw with our eyes!!!

but the next picture takes the prize for me..... and you can only imagine how excited I was when I came upon this 'site' as we walked...............

THIS  is MY idea of going green and if there is a sign up sheet...........I'm THERE!!!!!!

can you read the initials VLS on the bedpost?  

Autumn Food Coloring!

It's Fall and to me nothing could be better!  What is there about this time of year that makes you want to just rake up the leaves into a tall pile and run and jump into them like when you were in the 4th grade again?  Just open the door in the morning and let me out to play.  I'll breathe in that fresh crisp air and listen to the rustle of the leaves as I walk on them!  I'll come in as it turns dusky and then see the breathtaking colors come alive by candlelight inside!  

My eyes could never tire from taking in the beauty that is all around as the leaves change to such yummy colors.  When I look at those trees immediately this is what my mind sees:

cinnamon

cranberries

nutmeg

dry mustard

cumin

clove

oregano

basil

chili powder

curry

pumpkins and the multitude of squash colors available

...........and here is the most terrific part of the visual.........it's FREE!!!  .....we didn't have to rent a video or go into a dark movie theater to see it.

Now, for those that visit the Hastings Farm Bistro, the best part begins..........my brain sees those leaf colors in the form of:

Homemade Chicken Pot Pie 

 

Mushroom & Barley Soup .............and let's have.......Sourdough Bread with it......YUMMY!

  

Cinnamon Rolls with golden raisins & pecans or

 

Baked Empire Apple with dried cranberries

  

let's 'present' the table for our eyes to feast on while we eat!

     

oh.......and don't forget the buffet for Autumn beauty and always candy assortments!

No matter where you turn, warmth and comfort prevail in the Autumn home.........

color can be truly amazing !! 

Aren't We Just Something Though!

Take a look at these little guys.....or girls....

Aren't they just something though?

It dawned on me while I gazed on these adorable creatures that just very possibly we're not so far removed from them in God's eyes!  

'What?' you say.  Well think about it for a minute and look again at them.

I'm wondering if we don't spend way to much time squawking about all that I want and I need

and I think and on and on and on.............

without ever quieting down enough to hear what HE wants

God wants us to talk to him and ask him and come to him:

 Philippians 4:6-7Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

But we can't have his peace without quieting ourselves and listening to hear him!!! 

Calming down from our busy pace and snuggling up and relaxing in a cozy spot with his Word and simply just listening (for a change) and not chirping every minute.....ahhhhhhh...

                                

  

.......there..........now doesn't that feel better?  Amazing!

Our Amazing little Eucalyptus tree!

 

I thought it would be fun to collectively watch our little tree grow.  We planted it two weeks ago on October 11th, Columbus Day weekend.  That's funny isn't it, because I mentioned that nobody celebrates that holiday here and didn't we go and plant a tree!  

Now, anyone that knows me, knows that I love trees but I never dreamed that I'd live somewhere that I could have a Eucalyptus right in my own back yard........amazing!  In case you aren't familiar with this little species.......it has a beautiful smelling leaf and it's color is very unique as well, probably best described as a sage to blue spruce color.  Very nice against the other greens in the surrounding area. You can see that Arborvitae in the background but you can only see a glimpse of that beautiful Deodar Cedar off to the left.  That should grow up to about 70 ft.  That makes me laugh out loud (wish you were here to hear me now........lolol) only because my brother-in-law tells me that almost everything I like is going to be 70-75 ft. tall!!!

Here's the general rule of thumb that all the arborists that I know use ...... oh yes people.....I am versed in these matters you know....

first year sleeps....second year creeps.......third year leaps!!

I'll keep you, shall we say, POSTED, on it's progress.  

Just in case you aren't familiar with this tree, here is the description:

eucalyptus |ˌyoōkəˈliptəs| (also eucalypt |ˈyoōkəˌlipt|)noun ( pl. -tuses or -ti |-tī|)a fast-growing evergreen Australasian tree that has been widely introduced elsewhere. It is valued for its timber, oil, gum, and resin, and as an ornamental tree. Also called gum 1 , gum tree . • GenusEucalyptus, family Myrtaceae: numerous species.• (also eucalyptus oil) the oil from eucalyptus leaves, chiefly used for its medicinal properties.

Did you see that word timber?  Wow, maybe we'd better brush up on our pruning skills during it's first year nap time......what do you think?

Christopher who? ya'll !!

I don't get it !  Columbus Day 'didn't happen' in NC yesterday.

What's the deal? It was simply amazing to me!  Nobody seemed to care. 

Did they all just forget what day it was?  Or did everybody have too much barbecue on Sunday and simply say no to the holiday on Monday? All the kids had school and we got mail delivered right to our mailbox!

  

I know, I know, some people claim that Columbus treated those on his ship poorly, and when he got here those people already present on American soil were not treated fairly.  I was not here at the time to be able to give evidence to those facts but I can assure you of this fact..........

Some large NC based businesses for many, many years had thousands and thousands of hard working people in tobacco fields,

              (HELLO!! did 'somebody' not say smoking is bad for your health?)

and people, who knew people, that first-hand KNEW people, who were treated poorly as well.

 NOT A GOOD THING!

                                                

So what do you think..........we should ignore a place like NC who among it's accomplishments:

• Pepsi was invented in NewBern 
• Krispy Kreme donuts were founded in Winston-Salem
• The first miniature golf course EVER was in Fayetteville

                and come on people.............

• Babe Ruth hit his first home run in Fayetteville NC on Mar. 7, 1914

So let's wake up people in NC.........let's cut old Christopher some slack and give him a bit of credit...........

It's not about his nationality and he wasn't sponsored by the Nina, Pinta or the Santa Marie boat manufacturing company to try out their boat line for hurricane endurance status........although ultimately that company would have gone under.   Oops! get it.....gone under? Because, as we all know, it broke apart.

It IS a holiday you know!   President Roosevelt in 1937 named October 12th, Columbus Day and Congress, in 1971, declared it a Federal public holiday (that means America!) 

                              

Columbus Day celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492 on the American continent, and guess what??

I'm an American, no matter what State I'm in!

Happy Columbus Day Chris, you 'good 'ole boy' !!

oh..and would you please pass me a cold Pepsi and hand me that Krispy Kreme!

Bait & Gas

It's funny but all 6 of us kids each have lots of stories that start with 'when we were little, I remember when we would go fishin'........... 

Now really, at least for us girls, it wasn't like we went often but we always look back on the fun times when our family would rent a camp on a little known lake in central NY, full of weeds and lily pads but a fun- to- fish place.  We never kept them or ate them, but boy oh boy!! we were gonna get the BIG one!  

Eventful fishing, yes....productive no!  Couple of things that stick out as memorable to me--

-Trying to find a doctor, on a Sat. morning, in the tiny town nearest us to remove the fishing hook out of our oldest brother's ear!  How in the world did it get there you ask???........let's just put it this way.......he became much more proficient at casting as he grew up!

- Then there was the time that everything was just 'peachy' in the rowboat until my sister let (at least that's how it all played out) the fish not only take the worm, but the whole fishing pole and reel!  Oh boy, THAT fishing expedition was not fun anymore!!

Can't we JUST HAVE FUN!! I was thinking!   Okay......maybe tomorrow besides, now we're out of nightcrawlers and minnows.

Early on Sun. morning my dad sent me, the new driver, and my sister to get bait and gas.Keep in mind that this is WAY before everything was open on Sundays and we are not in a 'thriving metropolis' or any facsimile thereof. 

Now our dad has pretty much held the world's record for driving "on fumes" although sometimes having as much as 1/16 of a tank of gas,  but now we're heading out to who knows where with a 9 passenger V8 station wagon to get worms for bait and gas for the car and guess what?? ( Dad was definitely going for the 'on fumes' title this weekend I was soon to see)

For me, it was a chance to drive so let's go!

    +     +  

We drove, and drove and found the bait shop just fine but no gas stations were open.

Did our dad not KNOW that gas stations just aren't open on Sundays or what!!!

I don't know, but I can tell you that after driving around for what seemed like an eternity, I was thrilled to see a car parked outside of a gas station and a couple of workers inside this one place. Sweaty hands by now I drive up to the pump and turn off the car while we wait for the attendant to pump our gas.  No problem.... Linda and I will just listen to our tunes until he comes out to us.

He keeps us waiting for quite awhile but who 'gives a birds beak' !!! .....we've got the Beach Boys on the radio and life is good!

I guess it was several songs later when a guy interrupts our music session and calls into my window-

Oh, miss.........we're not open yet!

Fine, I'll wait, I reply.  

 

Believe me, in my mind I didn't care if I had to wait even an hour

because at least I made it to the gas station and we're not sitting on the side of the road somewhere at the mercy of anybody who just might be out on a Sun. morning in rural America.

Well miss, you've got quite a wait he smiles at me.............didn't you notice that there are no nozzels or hoses on these pumps?  We're not openin' for another week yet!!  

                

We drove away, sheepishly, and then we started laughing and I'm not kidding you, we laughed so hard we thought we were gonna..........yup.......but we didn't..........

We were directed by this man to a station down the road 'a piece' ( WHAT in the world does that mean ???)...... now, turn right, turn left, and then go ............you've got the picture but miraculously we made it to the station, got gas and then drove back to camp,  still laughing our heads off!!

Oh, but I can just tell you .....this would have been a whole other story all together if we'd have run out of gas and not brought that bait back to camp for our next fishing trip. Be sure of that!

 

Although, when I think about it.......what was the rush??  We were already down one fishing pole and the brand new reel so what were our chances of catching 'the BIG one' today anyway?

You know, it is pretty amazing that a grown girl has resorted to catching fish this way but when I think about it........it's probably Linda's safest way!

GO FISH GIRL!!!!  

Shine Baby Shine!

Just look at this guy..........

I'll bet you're thinking that this would have been a good picture if the flash didn't go off on his glasses aren't you?  Well, I hit the 'do not shine' button on the camera and so I'm thinking that it's simply because he 'shines'!!

  Call me crazy but do you think that there should be a law or something against somebody looking so happy and cheery after working 8 hrs. and of course before that having set the alarm to get his power walk in???? 

Let's try to figure it out .............could he be smiling because:

• He can have his fresh-brewed and favorite choice beverage whenever while he's working?

• He has to wait on women all day that smile and say........ 

                   I don't know, what do YOU suggest?

• He has just gotten to sit for the first time in 8 hrs.?

• He's outside in 70 degrees with NO HUMIDITY listening to the band and the fountain in the background at the place he calls "his" village?  (You'd better hurry back Tom, he's taking over!)

• He is waiting for a grilled salmon sandwich with some exotic sauce on it?

• AND the most likely reason..............we are together!!!

Shine all you want Mr. Barista....you are amazing!

On a Side Note..........

On a side note to my little story about the DMV office:

I just thought of something while in the shower last night and it's pretty amazing.......

.......(no, not that I was in the shower) but the actual revelation to my brain.............

My sister didn't even request a special plate or say please or anything and guess what????

She got an easy to remember prefix  alright..............  how about:

                                   XTC

Now I don't know about you, but when she and her hubby ride around town, don't you think that people now KNOW how special they are?   oh yeh they do!  

Then I've got my other sister with this plate:

With these results, I have got to rethink my strategy for that 'all so special visit' to the DMV!

What a Dress It Is!

I find it quite amazing to discover in myself that at no matter what age in my life, there has and still is something exciting about putting on that 'just right for the occasion' little dress.  I clearly remember my favorites from kindergarten up............ the brand- new- for- school plaids......and then my springtime birthday was the perfect excuse for a new pastel.....loved my first 'little black sheath dress' (still favor that style)....

....oh, of course the prom and ball gowns and then ........the ultimate princess style for my wedding gown that my sister Linda and I shared.  We both loved that dress and always dreamed that one of our FIVE girls would feel the same about it. 

By the way.......no one did.  They obviously did not inherit our sense of style!

This posting is not about any of those styles though.  This story is about a very, very, special dress that has always been my favorite since my first baby girl was born.  This dress was sent by a dear friend of my husband's family named Helene who lived in Chicago and heard about the birth of our daughter and just 'HAD to send something really gorgeous' to her. 

 

She certainly did.  This 'sweet wonder' still has the Marshall Fields label carefully sewn into the soft lining that ends, just before the hemline with a tiny ruffle edge. Quite honestly, everyone that ever saw this pale yellow dotted Swiss creation marveled at how beautiful it was, first on baby girl #1 and then on baby girl #2.

In between, my nieces looked so lovely in it as well, but when they grew out of it, I washed it, wrapped it up and have kept it safe and secure for 'future wearings'.........a.k.a 'being hopeful'

We're reminded in Ecc.3:6 that there is a time to give up and and to keep and (a slight paraphrase) "give" away. 

Well, my baby girl #1 just had a grown up birthday yesterday and now ................today that beautiful dress got wrapped up in a pretty pink box and hand delivered to little 8 wk. old Hannah who is the daughter of my husband's nephew.  It just seemed right to keep it in the family.

 

 

Thank you Helene..........you'll never know how much enjoyment came from your most generous gift but God certainly does!   How amazing!

How about you..........is there anything special you're saving, that might be better off shared?

Now THAT'S Birthday Excitement!!!

If only everybody enjoyed their birthday like this huh!   

Sept. 18th is still her favorite day!

Oh yes, you are looking at just one more of 'the best of family attributes'

sheer joy!!!!

over a home-baked birthday cake.  That bib is simply to catch the drool, not the cake, believe me.

This little cutie petutie  is Mommy's Baby Girl and trust me on this one, it's accurate!

She was most comfortable with the title Queenie because she always felt that she belonged to royalty somehow.  

There was a time during her younger adolescent (oooh, she couldn't stand that word) years that probably any person that saw her out thought her name was Squeeze Me!!!  Mom washed the shirt and no sooner was it dry that she had it on............again!

Thank goodness she grew out of that.......literally!  She could actually have been on the roles of American Mensa by IQ alone,  the title of Little Miss Reader of 88 books  in the first grade was no small project, of course now she reads that many in a month!!!

Since then she has picked up a few very note-worthy titles that should make her feel much more important than the earlier ones..........devoted wife, loving mom, most serving friend to a huge cast, and now probably her fav.........Grammy to her little grand-tadpoles.  

She deserves ALL the cake today!  Happy Birthday MBG!!!! 

                                                             You really are AMAZING!!

Avoid!!! at all cost if possible!

Right now, the only person not laughing at this cartoon, is someone who has never had the experience of taking a trip to their local DMV office.

If that person is you and you're thinking that all this time you have missed out on a trip that you've GOT to go on, here are a few alternative 'visits' you might consider if you care to keep your blood pressure from skyrocketing!!!!

 


• book a root canal..... as soon as possible, maybe today! 
  
• travel your busiest interstate at 5:15pm with 1/8th of a tank of gas and a full bladder!
• call your online banking helpline and 'visit' another country thru 20 prompts and 40 min. and still wind up where you started!
  
• wait in line for an hour to be told 'we JUST sold the last one'
  

The above are just a few of the much easier things for your to do list........trust me.....I know!

Oh yes, we arrived 15 min. early to avoid the rush.  Okay......good start!  We go up to the counter all smiley and say 'hello, how are you today?'  She says.........'yer not from here are ya'?  

Oh no, I quickly reply, we're from New York!!!!  My sister Linda warned me about saying that and yet it seemed like the right thing to do.........it was NOT!!

This girl proceeded to simply try to trip us up on every piece of paper and signed and notorized document that we were required to have for this process.

Oh, but, little did she realize that I had my MVB Expert with me.........a.k.a. Mr.Barista himself.

Try as she may, we had it all!   Every last completed form!    Whew! 

So I got up my nerve to ask her as she was just about to go to the stacks of license plates behind her ............

Could you possible give us a plate that has some  

catchy number or letter sequence or something like that.... PLEASE?

ABOLUTELY NO!!! was the exact response.......................................

and she was about as friendly as my Mr. Post.

See that first in flight inscribed on the plate?  Well, 

visions of Jackie Gleason blurting out his famous Pow! right to the Moon Alice! came flashing before my eyes!!

Well, unbeknownst to little Miss Grumpy......             she handed over a plate (not the one depicted here)

with three letters and then the first four numbers of my Barista's drivers license !!!

Who could ask for anything more??? (hmm..that'd be a good song now, wouldn't it)

We giggled to ourselves all the way home........oh, and of course thanked God for his hand in even the little things of our lives!  He is AMAZING!

Psalm 118:6.....the Lord is on my side