Falling For Fall-

I am a bit of a reluctant

Fall decorator this year..

It seems like we got

robbed of summer...

Long, cold Spring,

Short Summer..

And now they are telling

me that Fall is here.

I have a picture that stays

out year round on our

family room mantle.

Even though it has Fall colors.

It is of the
Pavillion at Bay Beach~

Semi-famous in our area.

Our daughter, Mimi,

 got married on these steps,

a few short years ago..

In September...

A glorious Fall day~

We bought this picture soon after.

It is by a local artist and there

were not many of them produced.

This will be passed along

to Mimi-

someday.

Until then, it is ours to enjoy.

I surrounded her with a couple of
pumpkins and a couple of crows..
and some little pumpkin lights
that are lit here.

pumpkins and a couple of crows anchor both ends

It's a big picture- 30" x 40"

and needs  a bit to ground it...

but I like to keep it low so the picture

is still the primary focus.

This picture hangs over a bookcase
in the kitchen.
I bought it many years ago in
Cedarburg, WI on a cold, windy
lonesome day.
Ever have a lonesome day?
This was one of them and I remember
how seeing this cheered my soul..
and home it came.
This is the 4th house it has hung in...

Hard to get a good shot of it..
the light hits it and bounces..
but you can get the feeling.

And over on the side table is a

little birdcage with two

sweet little birds in it...

Ah....but the door is open

and I see they have escaped...

I think they had just a little bit of help~

SOMEONE

keeps freeing them....

Maybe he thinks they are in a crib..

barrred and penned in...

just like him...

when he is sleeping...

Sweet Dreams

Little Man!

All too soon you will be too

big to be

"penned" in a crib...and there

will be another sweet

baby to take your spot

there-in the crib-

but, just so you know,

 that new baby will

NEVER

 take your spot-

in our hearts!

We love you, BabyE!

Now...quick....go move something
around at your own house...
It'll drive your Mom nuts-
And that is a
Nana Promise!

My Fall Chalkboard

Below you will find

a gift from

my husband

and kids....

(although, apparently, he

doesn't remember because he

asked me-

Where did you get THAT)

Yeah-it was that special

of a purchase.

Anyway,

It is made out of an old window

and came from a little store

called

Josephine's Attic

located here in

Green Bay, WI.

Here are just a few of

the wonderful items

you will find there.

Purses and handpainted items....

Birdhouses and things for outside...

And things that cause you to pause...

But...sadly for YOU...

I got the best thing in the store...

Yes.I.Did.

And, although you know that I

am not the best picture taker in the

world (yeah- I know, I know)

I think you can see the beauty

in this old window..

that has been repurposed..

and hangs in  my kitchen

for the

Fall Season.

Overall - It looks like this..

This is a bit better picture

of the bottom part...

A little further away it looks like this..

But for me-

This says it all...

Uhhmm..

Forgive the chicken scratching

at OUR house we have to

use the chalk as quick as

we can and then

HIDE IT..

because otherwise it

ends up here

looking like this...

Nice hair, huh?;>)

Papa-I Wanna Tell You A Seecrut~I Wuz Kiddnapped

Family came from all over town

to gather for pizza.

There is a place that serves

delicious pizza and salads

a few miles from our

home.

Luigi's!

A family run business where

kids hand out the menus

and collect the cash.

A sweet little

place to go.

While we are waiting,

a little face rested on the

hands, SweetCheeks,

called a name.

Papa!

PAPA!

Huh? 

 (you remember he IS

deaf in one ear)

PAPAAAA!

Yes?  What?

I gotta secrut to tell you.

(This should be good-it usually is)

Do you know whut?

Noooo~

I was born in Lundun.

Really?

AND in Englund.

Really?

Yup~And do you know whut?

I was born to a

Queen and a King and I

was a reahl

Princess.

You were?

Yup!

And then...and then..

and then...

When I wus ONE YEARS OLD

I wus kidnapped!

Really?

Yup~ That evil whitch over there

(pointing at her Mom)

stoled me away for her

BABY COLLECTION!

Really?

Yup!

And now I live here in

Amaricuh.

You do?

Yup...

Papa-

This is secrut stuff but

I chan't tell you enymorhe right

now..

Why not?

Cuz the pizza is here

you silly head!

Is it good, SweetCheeks?

Pretty guud~ BUT

Not as guud as the meahls I

had in the Cahstle

when I lived wifth

my reahl parents,

the King & Queen!

Hmmmmm....

Wait till she sees the

lumps in her bed!

A Woman's Guide To Blogging-

Do you know my friend,

Cindy Adkins,

Whimisical Musings?

No?

You must go visit her.

I hope the blog police don't

arrest me for copying her

header here (gulp)

Anyway,

She is a fine artist

and has been featured in

many magazine and

books.

She makes beautiful things

like this...

And, not only is she an artist,

she is an

Author.

Yes-she-is!

She has written a guide for women...

about blogging.

You can find it

HERE

and it is wonderful-

Trust me-

I know!

Cindy doesn't know I am doing this..

but I am going to pop over now

and tell her.

I will tell YOU that she is one

of the most giving, sharing,

loving people I have met

in Blogland...

and has helped me

numerous times...

the blind being led by the lightkeeper..

me and her.

So, if you want to

PUMP IT UP

(Remember Saturday Night Live)

you might want to

check out this book..

it will help you grow your blog...

and make it all that it can be...

and

THAT'S

The Truth!



STAY OUT OF THE ATTIC-SweetCheeks Video

Stay out of the

attic

UNLESS

you want to be turned into

A DOLL!

You will be
AMAZED at what
ELSE is IN her attic~

This is our own

little living doll,

SweetCheeks.

I captured  her

telling me about

what is in her attic.

And do you know how

it got there?

The Witch

put it there.

Thankfully,

THIS TIME

I am NOT the whickhed whitch!

(Her Mom is-;>)

I can't figure out how to

lop off the end of this

video but her

expressions, to me,

are priceless..

and I thought worth sharing.

Got your popcorn ready?

I think this may be

Coming To A Theater Near You Soon~

Enjoy~



It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This!

Yesterday~

I waited all day...

And while I was waiting

I washed the sheets and

hung them out to dry...

I remade the beds

and scrubbed the bathroom..

And then..

I went and got groceries..

to restock the pantry.

Why?

Well-because we have

a very special little

visitor here today.



He is so excited to be here...

I love his little boy pants with

the puppy on the front.

He is carrying his watch and his

little car...

And..wait...did he drop something?

He is always super excited to

see us and he laughs right

out loud.

OR...he could be laughing

cuz we are tickling his armpits...

(your guess)

And what excites him even

more than seeing his Nana?

Showing her his new shoes,

of course.

I said, "Show me your shoes"

and he obligingly flopped on

his back and cocked one foot

over the other.

(I am NOT going to show you

MY OWN
new shoes like that- trust me)

Today

 will be a fun day...

another

PACKER GAME SUNDAY.

So..

I won't be here playing in

Blogland today...

No, indeedy...

I'll be cooking up a storm

and

I'll be extra busy..

because

You-Know-Who

will be here to give

BabyE a run for his money.

Need I say more?

Send wine- Oh-Wait-

I don't drink!

I don't need to...

I get looped just watching all

this family interaction!

Amen~

I hope your Sunday is wonderful

and full of blessings.

Meal In A Minute By Nana Diana

Welcome to the

Midwest where

Hearty Food is a staple..

No, Lulu...not like the

kind you put in your notebook

paper-my literal little girl!

I think you know

MyHero and I both work

at a hospital.

I work some early hours

and he is on call two or three

nights a week.

Sometimes in my haste to get home

I forget to stop and pick up

ingredients I might be missing

for dinner.

Well, this was such a night.

I got home,

kissed the floor coming in..

okay-I lied-the floor needs mopping..

I just said- Hello Floor-you dirty so and......

never mind.

Anyway,

I thought..okay..I am here...

MyHero is not far behind...

what..what..what do I have

that will make a

Meal-in-a-minute

or thereabouts.

Pantry raid..

No..NOT Panty raid..

Pantry raid!

Ah...

What is this?

uh-huh...uh-huh..

What's in the meat keeper?

(what the heck is that called anyway)

Ah...yes....hamburger...good old hamburger..

Our little SweetCheeks loves her a hamburger...

She is not here so we are going to use

it for

Something Else!

Okay...

Brown that meat. (about 3/4 pound)

Hey!  Did you know that a

potatoe masher-the ones with

the squiggley lines

are the best thing ever for breaking

meat up while it is browning?

Try it- You will use it every time you

brown meat!

Now what?

Dump in the box of

Uncle Ben's Wild Rice mix.

Add the water it calls for.

Cut up two of these-

I use scissors- love my kitchen scissors.

I even use them for my toenails...

okay...I lied about that too..

I was just trying to gross you out.

Add 1/3 of one packet of

Beefy Onion Dry Soup.

Cook until water is absorbed

(about 25 minutes)

When almost done,

Drain a can of sliced mushrooms

and add to the mixture.

Heat until mushrooms are heated

through.

Serve with fresh green beans

(I do my own in the microwave)

and some julienned carrots.

I put a bit dollop of sour cream

on the side

cuz that is what

Midwestern Men like.

'Deed they do!

This was SO good..and so quick.

I will be making this again

during our long, cold winter.

Try it!

ummmm..oh yeah

Not fattening enough?

Apple pie is a good chaser~

Your Hero will thank you too!

Prayers For A Friend Of Ours- Yours And Mine

You know-

I have met some of the most

AMAZING WOMEN

in the blogging world.

AMAZING!

I won't bother telling you that

a few of them have told me I

was weird...or crazy...

because we all know it takes one

to know one-thus I am NOT

mentioning any names...

but you know who you are!

As I was saying~

Each and every person I

have "met" here

has added something to my life.

Some of you are funny,

some of you are "sisters"

in many ways.

Some of you are like daughters to me-

Even one special one from

"Down Under".

Some of you have hardships

and use blogging to escape~

Some of you are full of joy

and want to share it with the world.

Some of you are brimming over

with good health,

Some of you struggle with health

issues.

Some of you have lost family

members,

Some of you have lost pets

that feel like family.

Along this blogging road I have

met many, many amazing,

talented, creative women.

One of the sweetest souls

I have ever met is

Rebecca

over at

A Gathering Place.

Not only is she beautiful on

the outside,

she has a beautiful heart.

Beautiful!

Seee! I TOLD you she was beautiful!

Anyway~

She has sent up lots of prayers

for others,

so...today...I am asking

you to pray for her.

She is on some new medication

that is making her sick..

dog sick..

really sick...

and she will be away from

blogging for a few days.

So, offer up a prayer

that our sweet Rebecca

will soon be smiling at us

through her words again.

She is a dear heart...

and I love this

friend that I found

as I was stumbling through

Blogland.

Pop over here and wish her well.

Look at her beautiful posts.

Look at the treasures she paints.

And, if you aren't a follower now

you might want to sign up

cuz you won't want to miss

a single post.

Trust me!

I Got A Good Start on THE PROJECT- NOT

You remember that yesterday

was the day to work on the

pile in the garage?

I got the pile uncovered..

Yes. I. Did.

Remember I promised to

work on that pile..and paint..and recover?

Remember that?

Well, it didn't happen.

I was ready.

I was truly ready.

I was willing.

I was truly willing.

And..

I was able...

I was truly able.

So- What happened?

Well, it started like this.

I got my coffee at Starbucks

and the newspaper.

Here's a funny tidbit most people

don't know about me.

I pull around to the old abandoned

KMart parking lot

and sit and read my paper and

drink my coffee.

It is one place I don't look around

and feel guilty like I should be

DOING SOMETHING.

Sometimes I even read a book there.

But THIS morning..

as I am enjoying my moment of

peace and quiet.

I hear a car

s.n.e.a.k up beside me.

I feel like someone is

LOOKING AT ME!

Huh?

Found!

I am found and I wasn't even lost!

Their MOM went through Starbucks

and they are on their way to school.

Yesterday no one in their house felt well.

They all stayed home from school.

That doesn't happen very often.

This one had strep throat~

I think THESE two just wanted to stay

home and watch movies...

Hey! Mom!  You sure do look pretty this morning..

It is NOT nice to say Shut Up to your Mother!

Nice cup!

(As a side note when my brother found out I was

wearing a bra he called me CUPS for two years-

He's lucky he's alive to read the story)

Anyway, I pull in my drive and get out

to start working on

THE PROJECT

The phone rings and it is

Cup-In-The-Face.

I don't feel good-can you pick

SweetCheeks up from KittyGarden?

Ummm...Yeah...guess I can...

I find her room..

Empty...

Oh..My!

Is it The Rapture?

Are all the innocents gone?

There are a few reminders left behind...

and I heed this one.

Here they come.

They have been outside in the fresh air

and sunshine.

Soon...

We are home and so far we have

had a busy day..watching SnowWhite

And I heard such words of wisdom

fall from those sweet lips.

Nana..Dihdju knohw that baby bohys haff weeners?

Really?

Seriouslhy! BabyE hass onhe and it will fahll off when

he turhns three!

Really?

Seriouslhy, Nana! I readed it!

Wow!  Hope I can get a copy of

THAT book.  It is bound to be a

priceless edition.

(I'm gonna let her Mama handle THAT one)

Any other questions you'd like her

to answer about boyhs

while she's got the book out?

Anyone?

Anyone?