I got my computer back from my BIL...BUT.. it's worse than when I first left it..WAHHH

The spyware is gone... but my computer now sits because my Outlook Express is gone.. so no e-mail.. and all my favorites are strangely favorites from a time before when I had another virus.. it's almost like it's a system restore.. and everything I had is lost... but all my old is found?????

I'm still frustrated...So it's going to a real computer shop...


On a SIDE NOTE...
GET OUT and VOTE!!!

No matter what anyone says.. your vote counts!

Missing you all!! I have pictures to share...

I haven't been blogging.. I haven't been able to read many blogs...

Ask me why.....

You really want to know WHY???

Cause THIS lives in my computer right now..

This computer I'm on is slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww... so I get frustrated sitting here for to long... so when my other computer comes back.. I will be back up and running to blog.. all my really cool pictures are in my computer too.. sniff sniff...

So I promise to be back.. and up and reading when I get a chance..

The POSITIVENESS in all this... My house is CLEANER.. and I'm de-cluttering again...

BUSY! A WORD THAT I DON'T WANT IN MY VOCABULARY!

I'll admit it.. I haven't blogged in a week because of many things that have been going on.. and things I've been trying to get ready for.. but I REFUSE to use the word BUSY!
The word to me means.. "I don't have time for you".. or I find it to be a "big" Excuse to not notice the little things in life... Being to busy means you miss some of the most special, precious moments, with family AND friends...you may miss a moment when someone NEEDS you the most.. a moment that you may never get back.
I think I'm one of those rare people in today's society that says "hey.. you pick the time and day when we get together.. I'll make sure that day is open to you".. yeah.. I really say that.. UNLESS there is a family obligation.. but you won't get off the phone or away from me until our time is set.
How many times have you heard.. "Oh, I'll have to get back to you".. or "Oh.. gosh my days are filled up.. sorry"... ?
Maybe I'm to detail oriented and have to discover and acknowledge all that is around me..?

Of course this doesn't mean I think everyone should be coach potatoes and do nothing... I think to many people ask the question "How are you"? to REALLY NOT wait for their answer.. or hear what they are saying.. or could really care less how they REALLY are doing...

With all the activities of the week ( I'll blog later).. I still took the time to slow down and capture some more of our Fall before it blew away in the rainy wind...

Canadian Geese...My retriever was going NUTS!!

Random Maple leaves

Cat and 9 tails

these things... I have to pick them off my dog after ever walk... I call them pricker balls.. lol lol

Mums.. just a fall favorite..

6 Things That Make Me Happy

I was tagged by the beautiful MERE.. to write down 6 things that make me happy!!
So here it goes...

1) To those that read my blog AND leave me a comment.. that makes me HAPPY! and I appreciate it.

2) Fall and the cool air.. that makes me HAPPY!

3) Seeing my kids faces each and every morning... that makes me HAPPY!

4)A clean and organized home... that makes me HAPPY!

5) An unexpected phone call from a friend whose just calling to say 'hello'.. that makes me HAPPY!

6) the little conversation I had with my son today...
Me:.. hey bud.. guess what?
Bud:.. what?
Me:.. I probably have to go to work full-time
Bud: Why?
Me:.. cause dad's pay was cut and I have to help out with bills and stuff
Bud:.. Great.. whose going to keep the house clean? Whose going to cook my meals? Mom.. nothing is going to be able to replace you...

Ha Ha Ha... that makes me HAPPY! to know I'm irreplaceable! So when my home becomes a pigsty.... and I complain.. please remind me of this conversation!!

Sing A Song On Saturday

It seems just about every Saturday Morning I get up.. and listen to music.. since its a day that I don't normally have to rush around. This morning I was reflecting back on the week.. thinking it was better than last week.. but STILL a hard week...All week long I'm thinking of our troubles and each time I'm thinking or praying about our situation.. the phrase "Lay it at the feet of Jesus" has popped in my head...

Cause seriously.. there is nothing I can do to fix this problem TODAY! I have to wait and be patient..and leave it to our God...

Some may read this and say "Wait.. you're a Christian.. nothing is suppose to be going wrong.. why isn't YOUR 'God' fixing this... "... I hear this a lot.. Well.. it couldn't be more opposite from the truth.. Being a Christian has made me MORE aware that life isn't going to be handed to me on a silver platter.. and I'm DEFINITELY not going to get my own way. ( doesn't mean I still don't act like a brat from time to time)..

Joshua 1:5 says .. "I will never leave you nor forsake you"

Isaiah 46:4 says..." Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you;I will sustain you and I will rescue you."

So no matter what trial God promises me that it may not be easy.. I might not like the outcome... but he is NEVER going to be away from my side.. Now.. for myself..I have to take the time to place all this at his feet.. and let him help me carry all this sadness..weariness.. and defeat...

This song is a great reminder...What are you worried about? Is anything making you sad lately?

BITTERSWEET

This past week and a half has been one of those weeks where I have felt just BLAH.. ( why I haven't blogged anything). If anything could go wrong.. it did.. if I could find the negative in anything.. I did... As I read a few blogs I realized that other's were feeling the same way as me.. but other's had more of a "right" to feel like they did.. then I... So I asked God to ship shape me back into reality and stop sulking about things that I couldn't fix...

This happened to be a little devotion I got in my in box this past week.. and it really spoke to me .. because last week.. I really felt like giving up everything.. Was it worth doing what I was doing anymore... I was trying to budget my bills and expenses.. and here I was sitting listening to people brag about how they were getting breast enhancements.. or how someone was getting something new... but yet these are the same people that told me a couple months ago.. they were struggling to pay their mortgage...
God told me.. it was none of my business.. and He's right..
When has he ever let me go hungry? homeless? or Cold? He reminded me that I don't live OF this world.. I live FOR HIM...But I'm human and He knows that .. and I got sucked into the "beauty" of materialism... it's easy to do.. but it's easier to jump back out of it when you know you have a Loving God who takes care of your NEEDS and your WANTS...

1 Corinthians 15:58
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord's work, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. (NLT)


Meditation
You may feel, "It's not worth it!" today. God knows your efforts and struggles. Don't lose heart! Everything you do for the Lord is worth it. When was the last time you felt like giving up?

My heart has been heavy too.. listening to my daughter speak about college.. I think about the cost.. I think about the traveling.. but most of all I think about the loneliness that will begin in the late summer.. when she starts packing her stuff away and moving on to achieve her dreams and goals.. something that I have always WISHED for BOTH of my children.. but now.. when those moments are staring you in the face.. it's scary... to know when I'm 40 years old.. my kids will be off and doing their own thing.. makes me wonder what am I going to do for the rest of my life...

Yesterday I was faced with a reminder that this school year is already moving along fast...My daughter had her LAST EVER.. Home GAME in field hockey.. All the parents were acknowledge.. and we had our picture taken with our children.. ( don't get excited.. I don't have that picture...tee hee).. but I have a few of my daughter to share... I miss the Barbie Doll Days, The Little Mermaid, The Charlie Brown Specials and the Wizard of Oz Nights... They went by to fast....



Here she is to the right... cheering on the opposite team.. each girl gave the other seniors on the team flowers...


Waiting for the ball..


Defending the net from a corner shot ( I guess these are good for teams if they get the chance to do)So she's standing right in there next to the goalie..
And the team running our way.. They won 4-3.. The game went into overtime.. and they got the next goal with in minutes...
I've watched these girls grow up.. listened to them bicker and fight.. gain friends.. lose friends.. and through it all.. I wouldn't change a thing.. ( well maybe wish for one more year... Ü)

This weekend... this is exactly what we did.. we replaced almost ALL of our old windows.. for the exception of the kitchen ( because I want to knock a wall down and lose a door) and the big .. big window in my computer room because it has the original stain glass on top.. and I'm not going to part with it..
It's about 60 degrees in my home and I have yet to turn the heat on.. My "good buddies".. ( dripping with sarcasm) at my oil company are coming tomorrow to clean out my furnace.. oh how I WISH my BIL lived closer.. that's what he does for a living... but.. oh well.. So after it's cleaned and OK'd.. I suppose I'll click that stupid little red switch back on.. UGH!

On a happier note.. cooler air brings changing colors!! and even though the economy is poor.. I've still seen MANY and I mean MANY out of staters driving around NH &VT!! I did it myself.. so I thought I would share just a few pics with you..

This one is in Cornish NH.. it's a nice little town.. some people around where I live would say it's a "rich" little town.. perhaps it is.. but some take it to seriously about being the "best" town to live in... It's quaint.. but I still beg to differ...I LOVE.. LOVE the farm house and all the buildings surrounding it!!

Here is a barn still on the same property .. just closer to the road.. I was actually surprised to see someone has started fixing it up!!


As I turned to the left a little this was another view.. forgive the "cloudiness" of the pictures.. it was rainy and cold.. but as I was driving home from work.. I KNEW I had to stop...

And this is the top of a church that I got through the trees...


Ok.. here's where I went "CRAZY".. this is Newport NH.. the town my SIL and BIL live in.. again.. another rainy dreary day.. but I took this picture as I was driving by...

And this is a picture WHILE I was DRIVING..shhh don't tell anyone...

This is a picture of my actual town on a back road... I love this area.. probably my favorite area of my town..

And NOW.. the moment you have been WAITING for.. a Picture of "ME".. well.. not exactly "ME".. but "Mii"... LOL LOL LOL... My kids laughed so hard.. because they told me that my character indeed looks just like "ME".. Notice how she looks cute from the neck up.. um I seriously have a round face.. and freckles.. and blonde hair with pigtails.. lots of times.. when I started Wii fit.. my character was so cute and slim.. and then I stepped on the scale.. and she Plumped me right up.. THANK YOU FOR THAT... the Makers of NINTENDO.. yeah.. YOU!! I know you can hear me!!! I love the gentle reminder when I step on the scale and it says "THAT'S OBESE"... real CUTE!!... NOT!! However.. I think everyone whose used our wii fit has been told they are OBESE or they have room for Improvement... My goal.. to change the shape of "Mii" and "Me".... ( sorry for the bad pic... got to learn how to take pictures of the TV!!)

THANK YOU everyone for your wonderful comments on my daughters pictures!! I'm a picture Junky.. I am one of those people you could invite over and show me boxes and boxes of pictures.. and I would be interested.. I'm a nerd!! LOL LOL..

I think we are going to go with the second picture.. but a different shot of it.. so the sign isn't in the picture.. because she's on the yearbook committee she can take her time.. ( cheater.. lol lol) I'll let you know what the final one looks like...

But for now.. during the photo shoot.. I took this picture.. I LOVE it.. the color of this flower.. is the flowers TRUE color.. which amazed me for the Fall Season.. I LOVE them!!


The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.... Isaiah 40:8

Stay tuned for tomorrow... I'm going to share a picture of "me" with you all!! get ready!! You're going to LOVE IT!!

I'm a procrastinator.. I'll admit it.. and well... on top of being that .. I hate.. hate spending a lot of $$ on pictures.. I'm sorry.. I know some do it for a living...and I'm not here to debate the cost factors in it all... I just hate paying that amount of money. YES! I love my children dearly... and have more picture of them than dollars in my savings....but I have NEVER paid large amounts of money for their picture... Maybe I'm saving all that up for their wedding days!!

So.. it was coming down to the wire.. my daughter's senior picture NEEDS to be in by October 1st.. We did pictures yesterday... YESTERDAY!! So I did about 150 pictures.. so we could find the RIGHT one for the yearbook!!
So I'm going to share with you some of the pics I took.. they have not been photoshopped or touched up... I'm still battling with the program!!



















I have to admit.. the above picture.. looks a LOT like me when I was her age!!

Those are only a few that I have resized.. we had about 1 hour to cram those 150 photo's before field hockey practice... and here it is.. 8pm and we STILL don't know which photo is hitting the yearbook.. and she's on the committee...she takes after her mother.. if she likes it or not!!

It's raining here in my neck of the woods... Some reason I planned on it raining this weekend.. not today.. I had plans to hang out a bunch of clothes to flap in the breeze to dry... When it rains though.. my motivation drops down a few notches.. and all I want to do is sit and read...Since I can't do that at the moment I thought I would share a "sunny" picture of my plum tree..

Let me tell you about my plum tree...

In truth there really isn't MUCH to tell other than many people are at "ahh" over it. I guess it's not one of those trees that many people plant in their yard. Hubby and I did it because the tree was on clearance and it looked sad... I really didn't think it would do much of anything. We have EXTREMELY POOR soil on our property and we thought that perhaps the plum tree might have needed a "mate" in order to reproduce. Apparently.. it does not... The older generation in my neighborhood LOVE this tree... I can't tell you how many knocks I get on my door asking if they can have some... and they get sad when I tell them they have to wait til the 3rd week of September... We eat them straight.. It's something I don't can because to hubby and I they taste the best fresh... they really melt in your mouth..

Now that it's the end of September my tree is almost bare.. it's been picked by us, the neighbors and the squirrels..But it's truly pretty for as long as it lasts... I have felt blessed with the abundance of food that I have harvested this year with such a bad economy and the rising of food prices.. I'm also very willing to share with my neighbors.. last week.. I packed up a bag of pears, plums, and chicken eggs for the elderly... most of them are on a fixed income...with no raise in sight.. and if they do get a raise.. medicaid cost goes up for them.. so they still don't get extra $$.

"The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield it's harvest." Psalm 85:12

I'm really trying to put my faith in God and our economy right now. It's frustrating.. but I'm TRYING to find things that I'm still thankful for through it. I try not to speak of the negative in my life to much... and I'm trying NOT to see it as negative.. but a blessing still... my husband's job cut him back to three days a week.. which.. still wasn't bad.. because the days are longer .. so he still gets his 40 hours. However.. after 17 years of being an "incentive" worker.. my husband and all are being cut down to an "hourly" rate. We are losing $6.00/hour. And then his company has told them that they are going to do a "marketing study" to see what the surrounding areas make and pay their employee's .. so their rate can be cut.. yet again... funny how they're not lowering our medical insurance costs though.... The Blessing?? He still has a job. They let go men with more seniority with the company that what he has. They based it on how many times you called out, how many times you were late.. and so on... good thing my hubby is a loyal employee..being faithful did pay off.. at least for now.

So.. back to the sunshine in life....


I got this craft from a fellow blogger..Covered in Crafts... These are your basic marble tiles...4x4 in size. I bought mine at Home Depot since that's the only store around here... I used a Chunky style stamp. I found this to work BEST when designing these. The thin stamps did give as much definition. So the stamp I used was from Stampin UP! along with the STAZ ON ink... STAZ on ink is the best ink to use.. because if you want to seal the "coaster" the ink will NOT run.


This is what the finished project looks like.. I'm country of course.. so I used burgundy gingham to wrap the 4 coasters together...

I also took felt and glued it on the backside so the surface you place the coasters on doesn't scratch...

And these are a sample of what they look like. I plan on giving these to a friend for her birthday this week... along with other little goodies.. I've been DYING to go see her and give them to her... since she's been working so hard all summer... I haven't been able to see her much!!

I have a bit to say.... But I WANT to finish my book.. Ü
So I thought I would share a music video that I'm LOVING right now...
I love the flow of it.. and you have to listen to it all to "hear" that flow....

I PROMISE you.. in the middle of the song.. you'll be tapping something... it's quite catchy...
Ok.. now.. off to read.. Ü

I truly LOVE where I Live... I can't imagine me living anywhere else...If I didn't get to watch the leaves turn colors or look out and see the Green Mountains of Vt.. for what seems forever and ever... well... I would be DEVASTATED ..All though the apple orchard we went to today.. this tree stuck out from the rest.. it was mainly the only tree in our area that changed to such vibrant colors..
Each year we usually grab a group of random kids... and shove them into our two cars and head over to the border lines of VT...Each Year we go to an Orchard Called WellWood. It's the same place where we went out and blueberry picked! Same little town in VT we grab our Christmas Tree as well!

We walked around a bit to check out the varieties of apples.. and the size.. size is a big issue for me.. because when I can them.. I don't want to peel 80 vs 40 to fill the jars... at first we had a REALLY hard time finding good size ones... It seemed maybe we were a bit "late" in the season to get the good size ones... UNTIL.. I found a tree that was hidden on the end of the trail... we picked TWO bushels just from one tree!

That's a pretty good sized apple!!




The year would not be complete unless a few kids were in a tree to pick the apples...
And of course we had to bring "FAKE JAKE" with us.. He didn't make one PEEP.. and we got quite a few strange looks.. as if there was something wrong with use because we were carrying around a plastic "baby".... ahhh ohh well.
.
The Whole Motley Crew..

Their pumpkins are AMAZING!! However.. the cost of them.. is something I can't swallow.. this one pumpkin was $20

You can see the size of it here with my son... it wasn't $20 "cute" to me!! But... as we all know the cost of everything is through the roof...
If you look even closer at my son's leg you can see where I "think" there was a spider bite!!

Tomorrow however... Good Morning America is going to be at Wellwood Orchards around 2pm.. Hubby and I were thinking of going back just to "peek" and see what they would be doing there... more than likely it will be CROWDED.. and I'm so NOT a crowd kind of gal..But I'll let you know!

As for now... I have 2 bushels of apples to can up and use through out the year...Can't wait!

My 13 Year Old Son has made me a GRANDMOTHER!!

Scary huh? I mean seriously what is this world coming to?
There I was this morning.. at 4am.. I had suddenly awoke because I had had a bad dream...
As I lay there pondering what I dreamt about.. and making sure my dog still had her fur ( yeah.. it was that strange) I heard the baby cry. I FORGOT about the BABY.. "Jake" scared me.

Want to meet "Jake"....?? I know you do... Here he is..

Yeah.. Ok.. so "Jake" in a sense is FAKE.... FAKE JAKE... but let me assure you "Jake" cries like a real baby... I mean.. SCREAMS like a REAL baby....
This is my sons Health Project... He is kind of neat... He's battery operated and is neatly wired to know what you are doing for him.. you SHAKE THE FAKE JAKE.. and He'll KNOW... You feed the FAKE JAKE.. he knows... He even knows when you burp him, rock him, and change his diaper... and.. let me tell you FAKE JAKE is NOT an automatic fix... just as soon as you think he's fully fed.. he cries to be changed.. just as you change him.. set him down to continue what you are doing... he cries.. he wants to be burped.. after the burp is out... he's content.. until 3 minutes later he wants to be rocked.. and it's no 2 minute rock... his last rock was 20 minutes long.. his last feeding 15 minutes long... FAKE JAKE acts PRETTY REAL to ME...
After his 9 pm feeding last night.. he did GREAT.. he slept til 5 am.. til he needed a diaper change.. want to see TWO BOYS fly out of bed ( ones a sleepover)... just put a FAKE JAKE in their room.. oh it was tooooo funny watching 13 year olds scramble for a diaper and a bottle...

The Purpose of "FAKE JAKE".. to make sure JAKE doesn't become real to "early" in life...It gives the awareness of the needs of someone else.. and not just your own.. it's suppose to make kids think twice about having sex... will a FAKE JAKE accomplish that?? In my opinion.. I don't think so... Will my constant talking with my son and daughter... about sex.. about being married ( yeah I'm old fashioned... and something I didn't do..).. about consequences for their actions help???? I hope so.. But.. if life were to take a different turn for what I WANT for my children... I have also talked about support.. and never turning my back on them as my parents had on me..

Each and EVERY child is a GIFT.. at 16, 17, 18 and older sometimes it's hard to see it that way... I know.. I had been there at 18... and now that I'm 36... I wished away some of those moments with a many "I can't wait's".... My wish for my kids... that they have kids when they are READY.. and can enjoy and delight in EACH and EVERY STEP.... and to know.. that GRANDMA is taking them to Disney World... WOO HOO!!

Besides being a grandmother this weekend.. I hope to apple pick.. and can some.. I picked some pears off my in-loves tree this past week and canned some... OH MY.. my fingers turned Burgundy.. and hurt .. and I felt it was a TON of work for 10 jars... but.. when the pears get riper I think I'll attempt to make more....



PS.. don't forget to be a "FOLLOWER" of my blog... Click over on the left
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An Award.. and a Gruesome Story....

An Award!! By my loving blogging friend MERE!! Thank you MERE!!

Here it is...



To translate the gift from Portuguese to English, it means:"This blog invests and believes, the proximity"[meaning, that blogging makes us 'close' -being close through proxy] How awesome is that??"They all are charmed with the blogs, where in the majority of its aims are to show the marvels and to do friendship; there are persons who are not interested when we give them a prize, and then they help to cut these bows; do we want that they are cut, or that they propagate?" Then let's try to give more attention to them! So with this prize we must deliver it to 8 bloggers that in turn must make the same thing and put this text:

Ok... I'm lazy.. so.. anyone who reads my blog and responds to this post.. gets to snag this AWARD... because if you read and respond.. YOU'RE AWESOME so you deserve it!! ( But try to follow the rules after.. lol lol )

This next feature will not be combined with photos for the following reasons ... it was gross.. and it was actually kind of creepy.. and shocking... as a mom I had to think fast...

Just a back story.. my son came home from his friends house feeling sick.. fortunately he had an appt with an AMAZING chiropractor here in town.. so he went in and got adjusted and missed school on Monday...
Tuesday he goes back to school feeling better... phew..
Wed back to the AMAZING chiropractor.. ( I'm telling you if you've never gone.. run.. I LOVE it)

Wed Night...

Son.. "Mom.. come here I have to show you something"...
Me.."What"?
Son.. "Check this out... Today in school "R" in class looked at my leg and said eww.. what is that?.. I told him I didn't know.. but he wanted me to pop it"... ( told you this would be gross)..
Me.. I look at his leg.. hmmm.. "Um yeah.. that's pretty gross".. but secretly I'm thinking this could be "cool".. Yeah.. I should be a nurse... So I look at it.. and say "Hold on"..
I run upstairs to grab the peroxide, Q-tips and Bactroban ( RX for his molluscum)... I run back downstairs.. wash my hands and go back to the boy...

Son.."Mom.. are you going to squeeze it"?
Me.. "yeah.. a little".. inside I'm thinking "yeah"!!!

So he props his leg up on my leg.. and I look close.. really close with a flashlight...Hmmm... really hmmmm....

Me.. "Um bud.. I don't want to scare you or anything.. but I think this is a spider bite" ( HE HATES SPIDERS!!) He does NOT freak out.. I'm amazed!!!

So I press firmly on this spot.. now.. let me tell you .. the head is BLACK.. with a RED swollen area around it ( no.. not a tick bite at all.. it wasn't a bullseye).. so I continue to clean it.. push on it.. and stuff just oozes out..
It's starting to hurt him.. so I tell him.. "Push it out yourself for your own comfort level".. and he does.. it's gross.. cool gross to me.. so I clean it up really good.. and look even CLOSER.. yeah.. it's GOT to be a bite.. two perfect size holes????

So I got to wipe it some more... then give it one last push.. and the STRANGEST thing happens.. out comes this LONG.. and I mean a good 4 inches of something that looks like a brown pine needle but only flatter and a bit fatter???????? WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THAT??? Any body have a clue??? Cause I sure don't..

I gave it one last clean up .. put the ointment on it and covered it with a HUGE bandaid.. it's a couple days now and it looks MUCH better.. but now it has this "hole" in it.. the swelling is really down.. and no pain....

My son took it like a champ.. and was excited to head to school the next day to tell "R".. that his mom popped his bump and stuff oozed out.. LOL LOL.. Only Boys...

Happy Sunday!!