A Little Color From Farm Country Iowa~

Good Morning! As part of my "learn to love fall" therapy, I tromped all over my little hilltop paradise looking for spectacular "Fall Color." Now I have been seeing blogs all over the web with the MOST Gorgeous fall photos. So off I went seeking splendor, with my trusty companion Freeway, hiking under dripping trees and through saturated bushes over damp muddy ground in 40 degree weather, trying my hardest to enjoy the great outdoors in fall! It just wasn't workin' for me.....So, back onto safer ground.. the tree is right in my front yard as is the sedum at the bottom, the other red bush is in my neighbor's yard. And frankly, I'm a mess, muddy from head to toe, cold and damp!! Perhaps I should stick to my front yard for awhile until I really get in the spirit of fall! For now, I will take a steaming hot bath, light my candles, and have a nice cup of hot tea. Actually fall IS rather nice...looking towards the outside from cuddly warmth of the inside!

Oh yes...did I mention that the wind is blowing 30 miles an hour?!
Ahhh yes...the Great Outdoors!!

Show & Tail~The Sun's Up...Don't Wake Me!

Ugh! Not Again With the Camera!!!

Sun's Up~Rise and Shine!

Oh Yea, It's a Great Day! Now...Let Me Back In~

Time for a Morning Nap!!

Believe it or not...there is a beautiful brand new dog bed at the foot of my bed. Won't use it!! Maybe if I put a pillow on it?? She seems to need a Pillow! Eureka! Off to the Laundromant for the quilt sized machines!!

It's a dogs life!

Please join Angela at WVTreasures for more Wonderful Show and Tail posts!

~Cold Weather & A Cozy New Quilt!~

Hap-py Monday Mornin' Friends!! Time for a new quilt...and I may keep this one! I just love Cyrus Clark fabrics, and these particular (3 top ones) are my absolute favorites! Because they are discontinued (darn) I think I should keep it. It's so cheerful and bright and those colors are just so appealing! I will post the finished product for you to see. I am actually running on no sleep, (every once in a while that happens), & 3 cups of coffee...better go use up my energy on the treadmill while it lasts! Blessings~

~WHAT THE......??

Bark! Bark bark!! Bark! GRRRRRRRR! Bark! Bark bark!! That's how I woke up this morning! "Freeway Shhhhh!" Bark...bark....bark bark.

So I get up and this is what I see out the front window! Now you might be thinking, not unusual, my dog would bark at horses too...right? Well, Freeway has been around these very same horses, for 7 or 8 months now, sees them on a daily basis with their riders and never once has barked at them, so what's different?? Nobody is riding them!!!! Yes, I do believe that when Freeway sees the horses everyday as they are being ridden right in front of the house, she thinks they are weird cars or something! She just stands there and watches them go by, very calmly, no big deal, the rider says hi to her, and she wags her tail. But put them out to pasture with no rider...and she goes Berserk!!!! Put a rider on them; she's fine with that. I just think that is the funniest thing! I am just doubled over with delight! I love that ol' dog!

Blessings~

~Ordinary or Extraordinary?~

Seeing the beauty in the ordinary, that perhaps was once missed

In favor of, or rather because of our busy lives and crowded minds.

As I was reading my morning devotional I came across a beautiful poem written by Charlotte Adelsperger.

"God can paint rich hues

on the misty memories of my past.

He can shine a guiding ray

on my choices for the future.

But God's love reigns best

when he, in nearness, holds

this very moment in his hand."

Delight in the moment, cherish the past, and welcome the future.

Blessings Friends~

~Hee-Haw!! Look At Her Go!! Ride Em' Cowgirl!~

Look at her go!!

Do you remember when my mom visited? Well, we had such a wonderful time together, lots of laughter and fun...we even did some crafts together! Lunches, shopping, and exploring. Well, the day to mow the lawn came, and mom asked what she could do to help...I have some old metal chairs that I have repainted, and then painted a little country vignette on each one. I mentioned that she might like to paint some stars on one of the pieces. And she did...

I got on the mower and began to mow..around and around...on about the 3rd time around as I passed my mom on the deck, I stopped and asked if she would like to get on and mow for awhile. Whoo Hoo!! She loved it!! Isn't she adorable? She mowed for about an hour (with me running around behind her taking pictures). At 81, I was concerned that perhaps she might be sore the next day, so I took over to give her a break.....15 minutes later, she's back out and ready to mow again!!

The next day...I had trouble getting out of bed, as my legs were so sore from running after the mower for photos...my mom felt WONDERFUL! She said she'd much rather mow than sit there and paint! Here's my question....when did my mom become YOUNGER than I am??

~In The Pink~

In honor of the dreary, cold Saturday we are having here in the Midwest...I decided to make a Pink Sunshine Rag Quilt! Cheerful, right?? It works for me! Hope your day is filled with Family, Friends & Cuddles.

Blessings~

Welcoming Fall~A New Tradition/An Old Favorite~

Wow! It's been a long time! Wishing you a delightful Fall season filled with the beautiful colors
of nature, warm apple cider, & cozy slippers (pink of course). Have fun switching out and changing up to bring these colors indoors as well. My wonderful hubby will leave for meetings on Sunday, and by the time he walks through the door next week, he will think he is in the wrong house!
Traditionally fall has never been my favorite time of year, as it was always the end of something wonderful~~SUMMER!! But this year I have decided to embrace every season as it comes! Yes, it's time to turn a new golden leaf. I have been creating yard-long quilted tablerunners with deep cranberry, browns and yellows, and even orange, (a far cry from pink) and have enjoyed every minute of it. For this post an old favorite, "September Song" sung beautifully by the great Sarah Vaughn.
Also, I have been taking care of yearly check-ups before the weather comes...all good news, thank the Good Lord. I do need to lose some weight so the treadmill is my new friend, and I'm even discovering that although it was a challenge to actually get myself motivated, once I did it has become easier to do it as exercise makes me conscience of so many other areas of my health. I find that I chose healthier foods when I exercise, sinus' are clearer (even with a cornfield drying in the backyard!), and my goodness I am even losing a little weight!!
Of course I can't feel my ribs for the rolls yet!, but I'm working on it (smile).
One more thing I wanted to share with you....
My mom called last week, and told me about a wonderful skin cream. I have a slight skin condition, Keratosis Pilaris, and have spent a small fortune on creams and lotions, perscriptions, to help with itching, to no avail. Well, I have been putting this lotion on for 3 days and I'm telling you it's FABULOUS! This lotion has gotten rid of the itching and burning that has bugged me for 3 years! Those little bumps on my arms and back are disappearing! I have a few small skin tags on my neck which are now barely noticible, and are so tiny, they can hardly be felt!! Let me tell you, I am so excited! So I had to share this bit of wonderful news with you, in case you might also be experiencing some kind of skin issues. Thanks MOM!! The product is AMLACTIN, and I purchased it at Hyvee, but I have seen it at Walgreens as well. I must also include a disclaimer that I have no financial interest or any other interest in this product. I just wanted to share with you a wonderful product. I also found their website as I was trying to find out where to buy it, and the company offers printable coupons on the site for two and five dollars. So...if your skin feels itchy, creepy crawly, burning, dry...Bleck...have a go at this lotion!
Blessings Friends!