???????????

The post office in our little town was empty except for the father of a friend of S2. I hadn't seen him in awhile so stopped to say hi and catch up on what was going on with their family.

"Oh" says dad, very proudly. "You should see "Clark" now. With all that beer drinking and eating in college he is well over 200 lbs. He looks like a football player."

I cannot get photos to

appear on the blog today.

But will instead tell you something that happened to me yesterday. While I was leaving a comment on a blog the word verification that came up was my last name.

Now how cool is that!

I found my dream house

this morning.

Not a dream house in the sense that it has high end appliances, the best carpet, huge rooms etc. Instead it is one that the looking at of the photos gave me such a feeling of peace and tranquility, home and hearth that it was overwhelming. Almost 3 acres of utter beauty.

But we will not be moving. Husband growled as I informed him that I had found our next house. (Probably had something to do with the fact that I announced it while he was on his way out the door to work :-). Our house is not sale ready.

And then there is the fact the dream house is on a major highway.

But it was fun to find, fun to enjoy.

Wishbone and Sport surveying their kingdom

Thank you to Aunt Amelia and Jane

S2 got in touch with me last night and today. Good choices are being made this week regarding class work and an extra class outside of the college that he needs to take. Choices that I hadn't thought of.

They are his choices and he is happy. (and so is his mother).

Aunt Amelia, you are so right. As I told one parent last year - you are only as happy as your unhappiest child.

A request for this week

If you get a chance this week say a quick prayer for S2. He is such a delightful and good person. The stress of school is getting to him at the moment - 2 bio classes, organic chemistry and . . . I'm praying and hoping that he has a good week. It would boost his confidence for the rest of the semester.

Thank you.

Today's Thrifting

The weather outside is absolutely beautiful - a perfect fall day. Not too chilly, not too warm and perfect for a thrifting adventure.

The first stop was at a church that I had never seen before. An Episcopal one out in the country. The graveyard in front and the priest's house that looked like it had been transported from Nantucket.

The second stop was for a sale that an older woman holds each year in her barn. I love it. The smells in the barn are wonderful and today I got to see the previous owner who had her wedding rehearsal dinner in the barn many years ago. Now today she was there with her daughter and granddaughter. Very sweet.

The third stop was followed by a sighting of wild turkeys, a male with a group of hens. No photo because I forgot all about my camera in the excitement of seeing them.

Lots of bounty for 3 stops. A quilt for $20 from the barn along with some fabric that will make a wonderful tablecloth were my prize finds. The pink earrings are clip ons and I will make pins out of those. They came from the church along with the pillow. The pillow was great for 50 cents. I just need to cover it. A cheap pillow form. The red and gold table cloths came from the third stop and may look good in the diningroom. And the pretty pink plate that also came from the barn. Another 50 cent piece because of a nick in it.

Hallstatt, Austria this morning

In order to have a

calm class this year I had decided not to be silly.

I tend to be silly at school, well maybe not just school. My kids would include home. But anyway I make up silly songs, do silly dances, read silly stories, make silly jokes. Not constantly but interspersed through the morning.

Not this year though. I was turning over a new leaf. Thoughtfully serious would be my new mantra.

So today, the first day of school, I bit my tongue so not to say funny things. I was calm - friendly but serious.

After about an hour, T went up to my coteacher with a smile on his face and said "Mrs. ____ is so silly."

:-)

Bella swimming at the lake with a new friend

It's hard to keep

the man you married interested and still have time for your library books.

Daisy - Keeping up Appearances

Today was orientation

 

at preschool. I looked out my doorway into the hall, and saw a little girl running to me. A smile on her face as she was yelling "I'm in your class."

Every day this week,

no matter what the time, when I get home from work I sit in the front yard and watch the dogs play for awhile. I sit under a maple tree with a few rays of sun that have gotten through the canopy of leaves. And I sit. And watch the dogs. Maybe read a little. Drink a rootbeer.

It is a calming time of day for me and I think a good habit to get into.

There was a lot on my mind

today as I left work. I went to the grocery store and actually remembered the two items that I wanted to buy without writing them down. Walking out of the store I looked down at the two items in hand, which were not in a bag.

I had walked out without paying. AND no one stopped me. Thank goodness.

So I walked back into the store and paid. No one still said anything.

Coming home I drove very carefully.