Monday, October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween and Meet Me On Monday





Welcome to the 55th edition of 
"Meet Me On Monday!"



Questions:

1.  My current weather is _______? 

38 degrees, 3C and cloudy but sunshine is in the  forecast and a high in the upper 60s
2.  What is your favorite sound? 

The absence of...or silence

3.  What is the worst flavor of ice cream?
I'm not sure there is one...of course there might be some weird flavors but I've never tried them...I don't particularly like the solid chocolate...I would rather is was Chocolate Swirl or the one with 3 flavors side by side.
4.  What magazine do you look for when you are stuck in the waiting room? Well, I usually take my current book along if I know I'll have to wait....but occasionally, I forget it and have to choose a magazine....usually one of the ones that are Home oriented, not gossip or sports.
5.  What is your favorite condiment? black pepper



Brought to you each week by Java.

I'm going to Pea's Halloween Party
dressed like this
Trick or Treat!!

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Sunday Morning Coming Down


I've always enjoyed this poem...
As we drove through the forests on
our vacation to the mountains recently...
This poem just kept running through my mind...
When I was a child, my sister who is 3 years
older than I, had to memorize it in school...
hearing it from her over and over, I memorized parts
of it also...
Trees
THINK that I shall never see 
A poem lovely as a tree. 
  
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest 
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast; 
  
A tree that looks at God all day,        
And lifts her leafy arms to pray; 
  
A tree that may in summer wear 
A nest of robins in her hair; 
  
Upon whose bosom snow has lain; 
Who intimately lives with rain. 
  
Poems are made by fools like me, 
But only God can make a tree.
                 by Joyce Kilmer






These photos were made on the 
Cherohala Skyway
The snow was at 5000 feet.


Saturday, October 29, 2011

Pay it Forward

Last year on September 23, I posted about
PIF
Here are the rules:
1. The first 3 people to visit my blog & leave a comment here on this post saying they want to participate will receive a homemade gift from me. You are allowed 1 year (according to the rules) in which to send out the gift, but I plan on making something & sending it on much sooner than that.
2. You must have a blog of your own to participate in the PIF.
3. You must post about the PIF on your blog & you must offer the challenge of a PIF.By accepting my PIF, YOU agree to host a PIF on your blog, you will agree to send a homemade gift (within 1 year) to the first 3 people who sign up on your blog to participate in your PIF & so it continues.
Donnie at New Blessing Everyday
Kathy at Eds Funny Bunny
&
Kayren at Pink Daisy Girl

Answered the challenge...
I bet you girls thought I'd forgotten...
See rule #3...it says you have a year and
I missed it by a little but
I am gearing up to send out my gifts...
email me your snail mail address
and just watch out for your postman...

This and That

One of the things we did at our ACHL conference this week was a tour of buildings in Eufaula Alabama. I want to share some of this tour with you.
St. James Episcopal Church
1905
Gothic in Style
Named to honor President James K. Polk
 The church has 3 front entrances with red doors
A fountain in the courtyard behind the arches
 Beautiful stained glass windows


 
 The alter was hand carved in Germany
 The Pipe Organ

Friday, October 28, 2011

Funny Friday

Hello there every bear,
Wil here
with a Funny Friday post on Friday
how about that...
Mama just returned from her AHCL conference
and she said I could write about it here...

Have I introduced you to the twins?
This is Cornelia and Cornelius...
They wear these cute little Halloween
costumes all year long...
Mama decided to let Cornelia tag along
on the trip...here she is riding in the
van...
She reports that the beds at the
Lake Eufaula State Park were very
comfy...
On Tuesday night, everyone dressed in
Halloween costume so she fit right in...

Here is Mama and her Daughter...
Cornelia said the Blackberry Cobbler
was tasty...
The rest of us Bears are a little jealous...
Have a wonderful weekend,
Wil

Please welcome Wilbur over 
at Kays Kids..

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

What's on your Nightstand?

I'm linking to 5 Minutes for Books
for this monthly blog carnival...

Wednesday Sisters was one of my Book Club's
selections for October. It is the story of
a group of young married women
who meet at a park where they've taken their children. It begins in
the late 60s and follows not only their lives
but the changing times in our nation and women's
 struggle to become more than the 'weaker sex'. 
I really enjoyed this book. I was a young mother in the late
sixties and could relate to what they were experiencing
in so many ways. It is a story of the special connections
women have with one another and the bonds that
form between them.


These are the last two books in the Cedar Cove
series...I loved being a part of this town
and following its characters through the
ups and downs of daily life. The only
downside for me is that in each book, the
author has to tell us the entire story of her 
characters. For a reader who is reading the
series from the beginning, this is tedious. For someone who 
just picked up the current book to read, a little background
might me necessary but could be much more brief.
I saw this book on someone's blog and since it was free
on Kindle, I downloaded it. I pick it up from time to time when I am between reads. The American Woman's Home was
written by the Beecher sisters and became a textbook for
teaching young women how to run a household.
From the cover: The American Woman's Home, originally published in 1869, was one of the late nineteenth century's most important handbooks of domestic advice.
It interests me for its historical content and I find it a 
fascinating read.
Ancient Rage was our second book club selection for October
because both of the books are quite thin. I didn't read this
one before our meeting but after the discussion,
decided I wanted to read more.
Elizabeth and her cousin, Mary meet in their
golden years and talk candidly about their 
sons, the lives they led, their deaths and
the way they, as Mothers, feel about it
all. It is loaded with scripture reference
and flashbacks which give us a glimpse
of how the incidents in the Bible
might have been experienced by these
Mothers. It is, of course, fiction
and should be read as such.

This is next on my list (our Book Club's November selection)
From Amazon.com.....—Lisa Genova, author of Still Alice says Second Nature is a love story like no other. Sicily Coyne survives an unimaginable tragedy, skillfully imagined by Jacquelyn Mitchard, and must then face seemingly insurmountable obstacles and struggle against impossible odds in her quest to find what we all want—true connection, fulfillment, and lasting love.”
* note: I've read this book since I wrote this post. I thoroughly enjoyed it....I was a little disappointed with the ending, however...

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

A Simple Woman's Daybook


Outside my window...sunny and 82 degrees...beautiful Lake Eufaula State Park is where I am and the view is awesome
Hearing...the AC 
I am thinking...what a special Autumn this is
Feeling thankful for...A safe journey yesterday...it is about a 5 hour drive but my friends and I stretched it to 7...we stopped at antique malls, fabric stores and at Cracker Barrell for lunch.....friends: both old and new....this organization and the work they do all over the state in their clubs, communities and Counties
I am remembering...How much fun I had on our mini vacation.
Creating this...I brought some projects to work on but so far there hasn't been much idle time...
I am currently reading...Love Transcends Time
One year ago today...I was getting ready for State Conference....reading a Jan Karon book
I am hoping...everything goes well here at conference and my entries in cultural arts do well
On my mind...getting my pumpkin on....we're dressing up in costumes tonight...
Noticing that...I've been straying from my diet
Pondering these words...A smile is the light in your window, that tells others that there is a caring, sharing person inside...Denis Waitley
From the kitchen...Its closed
Around the house...N/A
I am praying for...everyone who came to conference and their travel home
A few plans for the week...conference ends on Thursday around noon and we return home....I have no plans for the rest of the week
One of my favorite things....spending time with friends....renewing acquaintances each year at this conference
From my picture file...

Monday, October 24, 2011

The Appalachian Quilt Trail


Appalachian Quilt Trail
 is a great way to experience one of the country's most scenic areas.

I'm back to tell you more about the quilt trail
and our journey along the way...
 Sunbonnet Sue

 Englewood History

Flower Garden
All three of these were on the side of the 
Community Action Group of Eglewood 
building.
 Listed as "Unamed" in the trail guide.

 Jacobs Ladder

These two were listed as being at Katy's Fabric 
in Englewood
We couldn't find them on the building anywhere,
so we went inside. The blocks had never
been put up. I made the  photographs
of them leaning against things in the storage room.
This one is just extra...she had done it in a window
frame...
Bear's Paw
We found this one on the outside wall
of the Cherohala Skyway 
Welcome Center
in Tellico Plains
Wagon Wheel
Robert E. Lee Restaurant 
Jacob's Ladder
Greeks Bearing Gifts
Log Cabin
Glen Whiting Building
 Shoo Fly
Riddle and Wallace Soda Shop
Flying Geese
Sir Lamps-a-lot/Pam's Pizza
Wrench
Cantrell and Burton
Courthouse Steps
Gentry's Gifts Gallery
Sailboat
Old Greyhound Bus Station/Gibson House
Does anyone know this pattern?
North Star
Madison Square Antique Mall
Drunkard's Path
Java on the Square
There were 15 blocks in Athens, Tennessee....
most were in the downtown area around the square
so we did a walking tour to find nine of these.
I would love to drive up to Shelbyville and Fayetteville 
and maybe Franklin one weekend 
and photograph the ones in that area.
There are also quite a few in the Knoxville area, 
maybe someone who lives there could photograph those.


Today, I will be traveling to Eufaula, Alabama
with some of my club members to
attend our state conference. Hopefully,
I'll have time to post while I'm there for the 3 days.