Finished By Friday

As some of you know I've been on a bit of an organizational "kick". While transferring some "keepsake" things from one tote to another last week I found these great pictures and just had to keep them out to share! (I am not to be held responsible for any marital problems caused by these images!)

I realize I have been MIA for a little while here, but I have a good excuse! For the past 5 1/2 weeks, I have been so incredibly busy with school! My schooling is a fast pace thing anyway. Depending on your part or full time status, you complete one or two whole classes in 5 1/2 short weeks! This is great for me, because I'm the kind of person who needs to see results happen quickly, but. . . I have been attending only part time which isn't bad at all. You only have one class at a time to keep track of, but because I took the first of two sessions in this quarter off, I had to double up and take both classes at the same time during the second session. This should not have been a big deal (especially because work has been slow, giving me more time to focus on school during the day) BUT, both classes were very involved and time consuming! I finally finished these classes on Saturday and needless to say, I am still lacking some sleep after several weeks of spending late nights and...

OK, I got this magazine in the mail a couple days ago, but just took the time to actually see what it was last night. They advertise "making luxury affordable" - which of course means that they still charge you outrageous prices, they just let you pay it in smaller installments. This, to me, is more trouble than it's worth anyway even if you don't think about the fact that they (like everyone else in America) are encouraging you to spend more money than you have. The thing that really caught my attention, however, was not the flat screen TVs and computers and living room furniture and mattresses and jewelry. . . Like I said, I looked at this thing last night. It wasn't until I picked it up to throw it away a few minutes ago though, that I realized some of the things I had seen listed! Would you believe they have purses and sunglasses for sale on payment plans?!? This to me is just wrong! I've thought this whole craze was nuts before, but the idea of making a $...

I know you have noticed the slightly brighter, retro colors by now, BUT. . . Are your speakers on? As only Lester the Lion (Critter County) can say. . . "Ladies and Gentlemen! My mostest favorite song!". . . I've found that this makes a GREAT get up and get goin' song!

Today was Relay for Life at "the oval". 12 hr.s of people walking to support and raise money for cancer research. The day started with a survivor ceremony to remember those who have lost the battle, and honor those who have survived or are currently fighting. Each survivor was given a t-shirt and medal to label them as a survivor. They also received a balloon with the number of years they have been cancer free on it. The youngest survivor there today was 20 months old! Two of our favorite survivors - Mom Catton and Rev. Dan Shumway making their victory lap. I believe they are both survivors of 3 years. Watching the balloons disappear in the sky. More pictures coming soon!

Happy Birthday Sweet Husband! Happy Birthday to you! I just wanted to say how much I Love you and how Proud I am of you!! You make me proud to be your wife! I Love You!!! Now for the rest of you, let me tell you the whole story. As some of you know. . . My Dear Husband can be a bit childlike when it comes to Christmas or new toys at any time! (His gift arrived yesterday and I had to listen to him beg to open it all evening!) This has always been a fun little part of the Jon I Love. This morning, however. . . This was AFTER I was awake enough to see halfway clearly, and AFTER he realized I would be taking pictures and had to go fix his hair and who knows what else! Thought this one was especially good with the whole foot action! The brand on the box. . . He really is mentally OK, I just interrupted him mid-project! It's an acoustic bass. He has a regular one, but this one doesn't require an amplifier. And now there's not time to go back to sleep, but I DID crawl back in b...

Here it is! I know you have been sitting at your computer just waiting for me to post this picture of my great and mysterious project. . . can't eat. . . afraid to sleep lest ye miss this momentous post! Weeeeellll. . . you can sleep peacefully tonight becaaaauuuse. . . HERE IT IS FINALLY!!

So I was a bit disappointed that the installation didn't end up happening Friday like I thought. Turns out that the installer needed measurements and a materials list! I didn't think it would be that difficult, but. . . Sooooo. . . He's coming back this afternoon to actually finally install the crazy thing! THEN I will post pictures! Next up - my new table and chairs set! I'm very excited about this! Just waiting for the store to let me know that they have arrived!

Just wanted to say hi so you wouldn't think I was gone forever and quit checking! Nothing exciting happening around here. I've started to pull out long sleeves and light sweaters! It's been in the 30s the past couple mornings when we woke up. The temperature about doubles during the day, but it's still a bit cool for my poor skinny, cold natured self! It's nice though. It's always exciting when you can smell Fall and you start seeing colored leaves and pumpkins everywhere! Makes me want to learn how to make an apple pie - I think I have a recipe. . . But, for now I have my favorite old sweatshirt, cappuccino, homemade toast, and Mama's apple butter to keep me warm. What more could I ask for?

at Bud's Expense!

I am finally making really good progress on my next big project. I will be posting pictures soon!

Just wanted to share some pictures that I took of Daisy. I realize that they aren't very clear (at least Daisy isn't) but you get a bird and ask it to hover in mid air so you can take a picture... see what happens. I was practicing with some new features I'm learning about on my camera. P.S. The title comes from her nick name, Daisy-Doo. Often we call her Doo for short!

Call it brother appreciation day or whatever you want. If it gives me an excuse to post my prize winning picture of my big brother, it's fine by me. For a while now, everyone (my sisters) has been posting old and silly pictures. Many of them are of my big brother "Bud". Well. . . I just happen to have a more up to date photo of him. This one was taken only a couple of months ago at Vermontville camp. Some of the ladies decided to set up a place to swap old clothing. So they brought their old things and went home with some things that were new to them. Most of the clothes were ladies, but there were a couple of guys suits too. "Unfortunately" they couldn't find anyone tall and skinny enough for them. They thought Bud might be a good fit. . . Apparently he was too tall and not quite skinny enough.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

The last activity of the long weekend was a boat ride and a picnic on an island. Lots of sun, lots of food, and lots of fun! Thanks Beka and Bill!! (more pictures coming soon!)

I just wanted to share some pictures with you all. Dad, myself, and possibly two others are hopefully going to be returning to the woods this fall in persuit of getting that trophy 8 point buck! But sadly, we could not get to our stand today because of a severe storm we had earlier this summer. There were so many trees down that we couldn't find the path back in. So we had to come out. We will be returning again when we have more time to plot out our course and go in search of our hunting stand. I just wanted to share a few pictures that I took while I was in there. We found the remains of a deer and I just thought everyone would be as excited as me to see bones. Dad thinks that coyotes must have got to it because these are the only bones we found.

So can I! I went shopping the other day. Nothing big just grocery shopping, but while I was out, I went to the Dollar General to pick up some things for work. Now I'm not crazy about the Dollar General just because of the type coustomers they seem to attract. I always find good things there, but it seems like you have to dig to find things sometimes and then you really need a good dose of hand sanatizer . But alas, it's the only place we have been able to find what we needed, so here I go. I didn't even make it in the door before I noticed like three carts of "bargains" out on the sidewalk. Most of what I saw looked like cheap end of summer junk, but the first thing that caught my eye DIDN'T look like junk. It was this pretty little candle wall scounce thing (as pictured below). As I had mentioned, this was a "bargain" so I grabbed it up and continued on into the store. I grabbed what I went in for and a can of Pringles :-) and stood in line forev...

This one hardly needs an explanation.

So here I am finally! I've been pretty busy lately with school, work, and now the holiday weekend. The weekend started early, and still isn't over. We had company for a short time Saturday afternoon, then a cook out with some friends and family Saturday night. Church, of course, Sunday, then Sunday night snacks with different friends and of course family. That lasted until pretty late Sunday night, and now here I am trying to catch up a bit before the next event this afternoon. It's been a busy week and now long weekend! But now on to my title topic. My brain gets a lot of down time while I'm working. I guess I spend a large percentage of my time at work either vacuuming or mopping, neither of which require a great deal of thought. Some of this time is spent praying, some singing with the radio or CD, some just enjoying the blissfulness of not thinking of much of anything, and SOME (especially lately) thinking about how blessed I am to have the husband I do. I don't...