traditions and blessings

My second favorite season, that holds my favorite holiday, is in full swing. I did my annual surrender of summer and now am fully embracing fall. I only hate that fall is the last stop before winter. I think that is one of the reasons I cling to summer as long as possible. It reminds me of Sunday School in church. There is usually a Sunday School class that is for the eldest in the church family. You know, the ones that are named the "Joy Class" or something similar...as if that could really make that class any more appealing. You have to drag people into that class when they hit the age that makes them eligible for that class. Who can blame them for clinging to that "second to the last class"? Once you get into that last class, you know that's it! The next advancement you get is....well....you know.

As always, once I mourn summer and accept fall, I am in it deep. I truly do love everything about fall. The way the sun hits the trees in the afternoon, casting a warm glow all around, the lawns scattered with pumpkins and leaves. Evening bonfires wrapped up in a blanket, hopefully with a marshmallow being roasted. Turning off the lights inside the house, bringing the burning glow indoors with candles, creating a cozy setting.

I love all of the produce that fall has to offer. And, sadly, I love the sugary treats that seem to be around every corner. Those candy corns with a handful of peanuts....oh my. I find my coffee pot working overtime now that it makes a wonderful compliment to any cool evening. Which makes me want to eat something ooey and gooey. I live out the story, "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie"!

The most wonderful part of fall is that it contains my favorite holiday. Thanksgiving. This holiday is wonderful because there are no pressures that accompany this day. Well, maybe a turkey coming out edible! There are no gifts to be bought and none to be expected. No elaborate decorations to store since nature offers so many free decorations. Just the simple pleasure of great food, family, and friends. Oh, and the Macy's parade! As soon as it starts, the tv is not allowed to be changed to any other channel. It is a yearly torture for my family because I am the only one who cares a thing about watching the parade. However, I have a sneaky feeling that when my girls grow up and have their own families, they will feel nostalgic and it will become a tradition in their families as well. My apologies now to their future husbands!

The very, very best of fall is the reminder to stop and ponder all of the blessings that we have. A year can sure put one to the test. Many hurdles were jumped and obstacles tackled. But, we have overcome, my friend. No matter how rough things get, we can certainly find something to be thankful for. Fall is just a precursor to the next season. It's like warming up the car on a cold day to get it going. The season of thanksgiving, gratitude and blessings gets us warmed up for the celebration of the birth of our Savior.

What about you? What are some of the things that YOU love about fall? What special memories do you carry during this time of the year?

I am also excited to tell you that I will be having guest bloggers every few days to share with you their heart this time of the year! Stay tuned for November 1st!

history with marie and frank

I am off once again on another travel adventure. This time heading to Colonial Williamsburg. I have been there before but it was several years ago.

Upon graduating from High School, I took a trip to DC with some of my graduating friends...yes, I enjoyed a nerdy history graduation trip and loved it! We also hit Ocean City Beach (imagine that!) and I took a side trip to visit some family. My uncle is a retired Captain with the US Coast Guard and with his connections they took me to the Naval Base in Norfolk (and lucky me, there was a ship coming in filled with sailors..not that I gawked or anything like that). They also took me to Colonial Williamsburg. I fell in love with the place. I am so excited to go once again. I have even checked out some history books to fill in any memory gaps I might have about the House of Burgess, the Stamp Act, Patrick Henry, and the prestigious William and Mary College. I am also looking forward to having some lunch at Christiana Campbell's Tavern (George Washington's favorite hang out) and maybe desert at the Raleigh Tavern (Sir Walter Raleigh's favorite hang out).

This time I am chaperoning Marie and Frank, also known as my Mom and Dad. Marie and Frank? You know...Marie and Frank Barone. My mom doesn't like it when I refer to her as Marie. However, if you knew my mom.... I am also chaperoning the younger Aunt. Poor Frank. It's a good thing I am going along to protect him!

On a serious note, thankfully Irene did not do any major damage to this historical place. Everything is back up and running. So, a warning to Williamsburg...there is another storm coming. She will be short and dark haired, carrying one of those little American flags, riding in a carriage down the West Duke of Gloucester Street to the historical Bruton Parish and hoping no stops will be necessary at the Public Gaol!

turning 39 for the second time

I guess I had it coming to me. I haven't exactly been the nicest person all these years when my friends were hitting milestones. There were jokes aplenty: gifts were nursing home appropriate, dinners were sympathy meals for the dead, tombstones were erected, yards embellished with new ornaments and so many others that I can't keep up with it all. Oh, I harassed them and loved every minute of it. I don't know how many times over the years I heard, "Just remember, you will be 40 one day" or "Payback will be coming". Well.......it did. This is what I saw when I walked out the front door on my birthday. All the pictures below (minus one) are from my amusing friends that have yet to fully come forth for fear that I will take revenge.

This next photo was the one that made ChloeBeth nearly die. She didn't see this one and a car honked at us at her school and she thought it was someone trying to say "hi", so she waved out the window...that's when I told her why they really honked. Mmmhmm...that's right...she slowly lowered herself down into the seat and was mortified!

Poor Abbie....they didn't even spare her! She had to drive to school announcing to the world that her mom is old!

Turning thirty did not bother me. No problem. However, turning forty was a number I was not willing to face. I have been dreading this number. Really, I just wanted to go out of town and pretend it never happened. It doesn't even sound like a pretty number. When you say the word "thirty", it has a spring or a bounce to the number. When you say the word "forty" it sounds like a thud. Ewww. Who wants to be forty???

Some of my friends think that I am having a mid-life crisis. Possibly. I am trying to keep it real. I mean, forty is forty. The only people that use the phrase, "Forty is the new thirty" are the ones that are older than 40. I confided to a friend about a week before my birthday that I had begun reading the obituaries. Not because I was making sure my name wasn't there, but I wanted to know how old these people were when they died. Do you know how many people die in their forties and fifties?!?! Alot! I'm not afraid of where I will go when I die, I just don't want to depart early. And (gasp!) please let me die in my sleep. Nothing would be worse than a violent crime. And, how embarrassing if I fell dead in my Maine blueberry pancakes with blueberry syrup at Cracker Barrel!

I guess that it is time for me to stop telling everyone that I am 33. I have used that number for awhile. But, I still refuse to use the ugly number 40. And, don't even make me think about 50! GAH!!! I will be "one of those" people that hang on to thirty nine...for the second time.

I do have one last departing word for the people who vandalized my yard and vehicle. For those of you that were in on it that are younger than 40, I have a very good memory and plenty of time to devise a master plan for you! For those of you who are older than me and were in on the "fun", guess what? You are STILL older than me!