Autumn's Smile

“Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.”

William Cullen Bryant

Hodgepodge, Sept 12

Join us at Joyce's Place for the Wednesday Hodgepodge.

1.  ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?  The NFL is back in action along with all the college teams.  Are you a fan?  Who do you root for?  If you're not a fan what do you do while the rest of America watches Saturday, Sunday, Monday night, and now Thursday night games?

I LOVE football, but don't get to watch it very often. 
We don't have tv at our house and I work on Sundays. 
 I have always loved the Dallas Cowboys and the Chicago Bears. 
I live outside of DC and I am NOT a Redskins fan.  

Proud of that!

2. What's something I'll always find in your closet?

A little black purse. It doesn't get out that often. :)

3. Share one of your earliest memories.

When I was 3 years old my parents and I went on a vacation out west. We went to visit relatives in Oakland, CA and I remember playing with some toys on the coffee table. All of a sudden the room started shaking and the glass of ice water started moving on the table in front of me. I had just experienced my first earthquake. (BTW, my parents don't remember it; no big deal to them, I guess.)

4. What circus act best describes your week so far?

How about the pre-show feeding of the elephants. 

It's been pretty quiet around here, but there are still hungry mouths to feed.

5. What's a food you disliked as a child but you love now?

Beets.  I heart beets!

6.  Describe your summer in three words.

Busy, disjointed, and unpredictable

7.  Where were you on September 11, 2001? Will you do anything special to mark the day this year?

I was just getting started on my day. My family and I watched repeated clips of the 1st plane hitting  the World Trade Center on tv and the commentator was saying, "It looks like a plane got off course and crashed into the WTC." They thought it was an accident. I said, "That was no accident!" and within moments we saw the second plane come into view and crash into the other tower. Then the commentator began talking about the attack. I remember thinking I wish I had been wrong and it had only been an accident.

Little did we know that just a few miles away the Pentagon was also under attack. The lives of people we knew were changed forever that day.

We did not do anything special to mark September 11th this year.  I have been in the Pentagon Chapel that is located where the plane hit the building. There is a big window looking out and as you stand there you can't really imagine the tragedy that occured that day.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Today is National Chocolate Milkshake Day.

Just in case you needed an excuse.

The Apple of my eye

I have a new computer! My husband bought me a new MacBook Pro on Saturday night. I'm struggling to "unlearn" PC navigation, but I'm thrilled to have a laptop. Can't tell you how many times I've been jealous of you couch bloggers! Smile.

Anyway, I was fooling around with Photo Booth and thought about how often I don't take pictures of myself. With this application, I can snap a pic of me in all my glory whenever I want. (or turn it on and see how my hair looks - might have done that yesterday while working at church.)

Here I am just a few moments ago, a little wind blown since I had my window down in the car. 

Being quite proud of my picture-taking accomplishment, I showed my son what I had done.

He introduced me to the effects button on Photo Booth...

This is the Comic Book effect.

I sense a new form of entertainment. So glad I can do it from my couch. 

Autumn's Harmony

There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in its sky, 

which through the summer is not heard or seen, 

as if it could not be, as if it had not been!  

- Percy Bysshe Shelley

Delicious Autumn!

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.

 ~George Eliot

September 1st

 

I wrote in my journal today that there is quite a BIG mental shift for me between August 31st and September 1st...summer to fall. Is there for you?

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE autumn. It is my favorite season. I love the cool nights that segue into cooler days. I love the changing colors. I love the scents we associate with fall...cinnamon, apple, spices. I love the new school year. I love making molasses cookies, soups and bread. I just LOVE fall.

This morning the daily reading from Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach resonated with me so I thought I would share it with you.

Turning Over a New Leaf

Autumn to winter, winter to spring,
Spring into summer, summer into fall -
So rolls the changing year, and so we change;
Motion so swift, we know not that we move. - Dinah Murlock Craik

Since ancient times, September has been viewed as the beginning of the new year, a time for reflection and resolution. Jews observe the High Holiday of Yom Kippur, the day of public and private atonement, a sacred withdrawal from the world for twenty-four hours in order to become right with God and others, so that real life might be renewed with passion and purpose.

Change in the natural world is subtle but relentless; seasons seem to give way gently to one another, even if the monthly motion is so swift we don't realize we're moving. But when the leaves start turning colors, it's time for turning over a personal new leaf so that our lives might be restored. "What we need in autumn is an emotional or spiritual shot in the arm," Katharine Elizabeth Fite wrote in Good Housekeeping in 1949, urging the beginning of a new tradition for women: personal and positive resolutions in September. "Why do you suppose so many of us waste the autumn? Why don't we make the effort that would provide something new in our lives?" January's negative resolutions "are made when we are worn out in spirit, body, and pocketbook, and have no real urge to do anything but rest."

It seems to me that January resolutions are about will; September resolutions are about authentic wants. What do you want more or less of in your life, so that you can love the life you're leading? It could be as simple as seeing friends more often, setting aside time to have adventures with your children while they still want your companionship, rekindling romance in your daily round, calling a solitary hour a day your own, or just taking more walks in the dazzling sunshine.

The beauty of autumnal resolutions is that no one else knows we're making them. Autumnal resolutions don't require horns, confetti, and champagne. September resolutions ask only that we be open to positive change. I can try to do that. So can you.

Joinin in the Hodgepodge

1. I included this quote (attributed to William H. Danforth) in my blog post yesterday... "The best cure for a sluggish mind is to disturb it's routine." When was the last time you 'disturbed your routine' and how'd you do it?

My routine has been disturbed all summer, but the mind-challenging activities have included organizing props and costume closets at church, learning new quilting techniques and designing my own curriculum for a home design and decorating course I will be teaching in the fall. (And you wondered why you haven't seen me in bloggy world much!)

2. What's your favorite fried food indulgence?

I usually don't indulge in much fried food, but within the past few weeks I've had TWO funnel cakes (one at Six Flags and one at the county fair).  That should hold me over for a few more years.

3. Did you have an allowance as a kid? What did you do with it? Do you give your own kids an allowance?

I did have a small allowance and some of that had to be tithed and saved.  I spent what I could as fast as I could...on what I can't remember.

Mark and I chose to pay our kids for their chores. They understand that we do chores because we're all apart of the family, but I wanted them to enjoy earning money. We have weekly chore charts that we faithfully follow and they get paid for each chore they accomplish.  We encourage giving and saving and they have hopefully learned a lot.

4. What's something you wish you knew more about?

Computer programs/software. I would like to have a great working knowledge, in general.

5. Is there anything you feel too old to do anymore? If so, what?

I am too old to ride roller coasters. I call that wisdom.  Adrenaline rush? No thanks!

6. What's a song you think has a great first line?

I have heard so many songs,
listened to a thousand tongues,
but there is one that sounds above them all.

The Father's song, the Father's love,
You sung it over me and for eternity it's written on my heart.

(The Father's Song by Matt Redman)
This first line of the song immediately brings peace to my mind and body. I have often cried through this song.

7. Who are you writing to/for when you create a blog post? In other words...as you write, who is the audience in your head?

At the beginning of Angie's Ad Lib, I began writing for myself. It was a way to remember the ordinary days, the devotional thoughts, the funny moments; a journal of sorts. However, if I were just doing it for myself, I would have quit long ago. Now the audience in my head is often my sister-in-law or my married daughter. They both live too far away!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I recently read a post from a widely read blogger who takes time off every once in a while. She said she just has times where she doesn't have anything to write about and/or doesn't have the motivation to write everyday. She's accepted this about herself and graciously lets her readers know when she will be taking a break. She doesn't set a length of time, she just dismisses herself and unplugs for awhile.

I identified with her and admired her honesty. If you've been a faithful follower of mine for any length of time, you know I fall off the blogging bandwagon every now and then. Life gets busy and I just have no motivation to sit and share it in a post. However, I go and "live" a little and then come back ready to share what's been happening, hoping to connect with my friends and family who are blessed by my Ad Lib ponderings. Thanks to all who stick with me!

If you'd like to join the Hodgepodge,
 join us over at Joyce's From This Side of the Pond.

Blue is the Color for July

So Scrappy hosts a linky party each Saturday where quilters can share their latest creations that pertain to the color of the month. July's color is blue so I've included a picture of two mug rugs I made for Susan, a fellow blogger who won them during May. I forgot to take a picture before sending them off to her (I was a little excited!), but Susan took this picture and posted it on her blog. I borrowed the picture so you could see my blue creations!

I tried 4 new blocks and I love how they turned out, especially the tea cup. I used patterns from 130 Mini Quilt Blocks by Susan Briscoe, which I had borrowed from the library. I enjoy the book so much, I ordered myself a copy on Amazon.

Now that things have settled down for a couple of weeks, and the electricity is back on, I'm hoping to get a lot of quilting done this month! There should be more blue posts to come!

New Experience/Old Movie

Have you ever watched an old movie for the umptieth time and responded to it in a new way?

That happened to me last night as I watched

Barefoot in the Park is a great '60's film starring Robert Redford and Jane Fonda.  Last night I was strolling through the new releases on Netflix and came across this old classic. I've seen this movie many times, most often identifying with the different character traits of both husband and wife depending on the circumstances.  However, last night I identified with a new character, the mother of the bride. 

You see, my oldest daughter left Pennsylvania on Thursday towing a UHaul with all her and her husband's belongings and are trekking across the country to settle in Colorado so they can attend seminary. 

She's moving away.

I've had moments of sadness and tears, but they been coupled with joy, knowing that my children are following the Lord's leading and embarking on their new life together in a new place.

As I watched Jane Fonda's character so desperately want the approval of their new apartment from her mother, a stinky little place with no room for a real bed, a hole in the ceiling that allows the snow to fall into the living room and the 6 flights of stairs, I got teary and said aloud, "That's Ashley on Saturday!"

My daughter and son-in-law will have their first real apartment today and I know they will love it! I loved mine and it was a hole-in-the-wall. Their first apartment is sure to be much better.  They have texted details along their journey and arrived safely, but I wish I could be like the mom in Barefoot in the Park, there in person to gush my approval and be an encouragement.  In time we will visit, but for now I wish them well!

It's funny how we can experience a movie or a song differently when our circumstances change. I enjoy the evolution, but it certainly makes me feel old. If you haven't seen Barefoot in the Park, I highly recommend it!

O' Pioneers! (Weathering the Storm!)

How did the pioneers do it?

Back story: on Thursday, we had family arrive from MN for the graduation of my son, the baptisms of my younger daughters and a week's vacation. We enjoyed each other's company eating and relaxing together on Thursday night; Friday was a workday for both me and my husband so our extended family went to DC to see friends.

On Friday evening we went to the church and all pitched in to make Rhett's homeschool graduation a success. He graduated alone, but we had about 40 family members and friends who celebrated with us. At the conclusion, we tore everything down, packed up the mini-van/truck and headed West for home...right into the strangest storm in which I've ever driven.

There wasn't a lot of water, not like the walls of water we have encountered in other VA storms, but the wind gusts topped 90 miles an hour, we later learned. The rain came at our car in waves, like I was driving into a shallow sea. We couldn't see much but crept along the freeways at 25 miles an hour, until the storm had passed. By the time we reached the last paved road before our own street, we were down to one curvy lane, dodging trees, branches and dead animals.

We turned into our street to see several cars lined up along one side. We had trees down blocking the way home. We drove up to the barrier and the boys started coming up with a plan. TJ, our son-in-law, climbed over so he could go back to the farm and get his jeep and straps to pull the trees out of the way. Mark had his truck on the entrance side and they tossed the straps back and forth until they could get a pass for the four young girls to be handed over. Ashley, my oldest, climbed over (rock climber that she is, in a dress, no less) and ferried the girls back to the farm so they could get to bed. We were, of course, out of power, so she got the candles all set up around the house so that when the other 6 adults got back, everything would be in order. That was about 11:30pm. My sister-in-law and I tried resting in the car while the men worked on moving the debris until they made a pass-through for the cars. We made it home, sat and chatted for a few minutes and fell into bed, exhausted about 1:45am.

The next morning we awoke and Mark ran to find some water and ice. While out, he heard that over 1 million people were out of power in our area. On the IPhone we saw the map from our local power company and realized we were probably in for a long outage.

We had planned to have the girls' baptism in our pool and share in a potluck around noon on Saturday. The phone providers were out and we could not get through to most of our friends to tell them not to come. Out of 12 families, I only reached and turned away 4. The other 8 came on out! We tried calling back the other 4 to invite them to come anyway, but again, we could not reach anyone. We had NO ELECTRICITY and NO WATER (since we're on a well), but hosted a party with 28 in attendance. We used pool water to flush when necessary and grilled burgers. I LOVE friends who can go with the flow and party, despite adverse circumstances. The girls were baptised by their uncle and the day is sure to be etched in their minds. We ate, chatted on the breezy porch and the kids swam in the pool for the afternoon. It was a lot of fun!

Saturday night we suffered through the heat and slept at home. I went to work on Sunday morning and got ready at church. The rest of the gang (9 of them) went to the neighbor's house who had a generator and got showers. I was surprised by how devastating the storm had been once people came into church telling their stories. Most of the staff in our children's department did not have power. I was amazed by the dedication of the staff and volunteers who came to serve.

Sunday afternoon/early evening we spent at my parent's house for dinner. Mark, his brother and Ashley made a big German dinner which was a treat for all. My parents had company so we headed back to the farm to endure another night of sleeping in the heat and humidity. We dragged mattresses down to the main level and slept camp-style, because the heat upstairs was unbearable.

On Monday we ended up at IHOP for brunch and then packed our bags to go back to my parents. Their company had left and we descended upon them. The air conditioning and running water are daily conveniences we certainly take for granted! We ended up spending part of the days and nights camping out at their house through Wednesday afternoon, with either Mark or I sleeping at the farm to take care of all the animals. We were watching our neighbors animals and house, as well, so it was necessary for someone to be around for the evening and morning chores.

The electricity came back on at the farm on Wednesday at 2pm! Hallelujah!! I got the animals taken care of, then headed to my folk's house for one last dinner together. Mark took our extended family down to DC for the fireworks and Rhett and I came back to the farm with everyone's belongings, the remnants of my fridge/freezer and our laundry. We got the house put back in order and then collapsed into bed.

flushable toilets, running water, lights at the flip of a switch or computer technology, but that doesn't diminish the stuff they were made of! Way to go, pioneers!

I'm so thankful that we weathered the storm and I continue praying for the workers trying to restore power and for those folks who are still without power. May everyone be safe and back up soon!