Feeling Fallish

Yesterday I had the day off and was feeling well enough to take a mini road trip to The Green Dragon in Epherta. It was the perfect fall day- cool and crisp -walking around the open air farmer's market was so much fun!



I bought a few pumpkins for Pumpkin Palooza next month. They were only $3 ea and since the weather is cool enough I just had to buy them. If I waited and got them around here they would have been double. I also bought the last of corn on the cob, some peppers, cauliflower, cucumbers and a huge head of cabbage.



I'm thinking that we may do Applesauce Sunday tomorrow. And after we're done with all the prep work we can watch on of these (2) fall favorites and save the other for Pumpkin Palooza. We're headed to my brother's tonight for cake and ice cream for the girls. Alison will be 16 on Tuesday and Nicole just turned 13 this past Monday. Time flies doesn't it?

Pale Pink Favorites

Gladiolus are my absolute favorite flower. We had them at our wedding - some people (who shall remain nameless) mentioned that they were considered "funeral flowers," but I love how graceful they are.


Last Saturday, after we went to the market we went to Costco. And, it just so happened that they had these beauties in the floral section. I just couldn't resist and Mr OP thought they might help to make me feel better.



I didn't get around to taking photos til this morning, but they still look beautiful! Thanks so much for all your care and concern with my health issues. I'm still working through things and am fatigued a lot, but the show must go on right. Don't worry I rest when I need to.

Wishing you all a Happy Pink Saturday!

A Beginning in Texas

What a wonderful way to start the week...our Texans got engaged! We are so thrilled for them. This tiny photo is the most recent one of them - sorry that it's so small. They sounded so happy. Our Fireman called earlier in the week to tell us that he bought the ring and that he was going to ask her Dad first. We are so proud of the man he has become.

Get a load of the ring - how gorgeous is this? All kinds of sparkle and bling - so perfectly My Jade (another bride to be). We better really start saving some cash- who knows how quickly they'll set the date, it may be sooner than Flyboy and Little Bride to Be. We are so blessed - God is good.

Paying it Forward

Just for fun, I'm playing along with Sarah and a few other blogging friends with "Pay it Forward." I promise to send something handmade to the first 3 people who want to play along, just let me know in the comment section.

To be eligible, you must also post this on your blog, offering to do the same thing for 3 other people. The rules are that it must be handmade by you and it must be sent to your 3 people *sometime* in 2011.

I hope that someone wants to play along, so that I am able to bless three people who will then pay it forward. I did this a few years back and it was fun! Sarah's blog Hope in Every Season is a great place to visit, why not pop on by!

Happy Fall Y'all

It's official girls - the first day of fall is finally here. High of 70 today - heaven! I'm thinking of next week's menu and it includes a chicken pot pie and chili. Thanks for all your support with my health. I am not letting it go, I am continuing to follow-up with my OB/GYN and family Dr. Hopefully I'll be feeling 100% soon because this is my favorite season and I've got a lot of plans!



The bug man was here yesterday and I had him look at the woodpecker's handiwork. There aren't any bugs or larva in the column so we think it's just the bird being a nuisance. We're supposed to have rain the next couple of days so it looks like a good weekend to clean and organize or, depending on how I'm feeling, kick back on the couch with a good book or movie.

Enjoy your weekend!

Another Dead End

Well the trip to the Rheumatologist was a dead end. She said that she thinks it's a virus which just has to run it's course. Which was something that my family doctor said it might end up being. I'm feeling a little better than last week, but am still really fatigued.




These are the last of my Black-eyed Susan's - just had to pick them for a mini bouquet. They're a quick little pick me every time I look on top of the entertainment center. This Sunday is Rudolph Day (25th of every month), there's only 3 left including this month's before Christmas. I'll be working on my cards and watching Football.

Will you be doing something to prepare for Christmas?

How much wood could a...

Woodpecker peck if he just keeps pecking? I know that's not how it goes, but darn it, looks what's happening to our front porch column. We were at our family reunion on Saturday and when we came home and pulled in the drive we noticed the "hole." Now of course it must have been working on the big hole for awhile, but we just noticed it. The column is now splitting and can you see the other holes that he/she is making?

I finally caught the little sucker on Sunday, it was out there going to town. Any suggestions on how to deter them? I did a little research and it said to hang strips of aluminum foil to scare it away, and that it won't be around forever. But what if it keeps going around the pole until it cuts entirely through? Of all things right?

Anyone else ever have a woodpecker become a nuisance?

Woo Hoo Doing the Happy Dance

Remember Joanne's fabulous giveaway? Well don't cha know that I was the lucky winner! I'm in love with the feminine goodness. It is so beautiful and it feels good too. I work at an advertising agency and we choose the paper that's used for different printed materials after things are designed and it makes a difference.

I'm not sure the average consumer might notice, but this smooth coated paper gives it added umph. Joanne really did a really wonderful job with the magazine and her blog Vintage Rose Collection is just as beautiful. Be sure to pop on over and check it out.
This is my favorite photo/page in the mag. Isn't it dreamy? I love the way they draped the mirror. I've been reading and reading, finding new things every time.

Thanks so much for all of your well wishes and good thoughts. I'm headed to the rheumatologist tomorrow, and I'm hoping that they'll be able to shed a light on things.

Enjoy your day my friends!

Paper Crafting for Halloween

Sorry for my absence this week. Mr OP and I were out junquing this weekend and I had an "episode." I felt as if I might pass out. The kind of feeling that you get with low blood sugar. So we got a hot dog and a drink. Mr OP knew that I really wasn't feeling well when I asked to go home.


Long story short - the symptoms got worse and we went to the ER - they ruled out heart, lung, anything life threatening and sent me home with a shot to calm my nerves. I followed up with my family Dr, he did more blood tests. Everything came back fine.



So now I'm to see a Rheumatologist. I feel like my arms and legs were wrapped around a tree for hours holding on for dear life and then let go. I'm so fatigued. Just typing at my computer is tiring. I missed work on Monday, worked about 2hrs on Tues and 'til 1pm yesterday. I'm really tired too. Anyone care to make a diagnosis?

I whipped up these Halloween cards last week. The stamps are from Tattered Angels. I bought them in a set last year. Aren't they darling?

Hope that you are all having a wonderful week my friends!

Friday at The Old Parsonage

We continued to get heavy rains yesterday and had additional flooding. The creeks, rivers and ground are so saturated that the water has no where to go. People were still cleaning up from Irene and now this. So many people are displaced from their homes again or worse. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them and those in Texas battling the extreme opposite.



Thank goodness our Texans are safe. The closest fire is about 50 miles away, but they are able to smell the smoke if the wind is blowing the right direction. I get to watch Miss Audrey Rose for a few hours on Saturday. Her Mummy has to work and her Mimi is getting her hair done. I live right around the corner from the hair dresser so it only makes sense that she stays with me - can't wait to get some sweet baby smelling in :)



I got so many birthday cards from family and friends and display them on our entertainment center in the living room - there are a lot more than in the photo. My Mum always did this, so I guess that's where it comes from. She even used to tape our Christmas cards around the different doorways in the house (I don't do this). Can you read the pink card? It's from Flyboy and Little Bride to Be - he's so funny and always knows how to make me laugh. Then he wrote the most sentimental message inside that it made me cry.


Do you display your cards?

A great big Thank You to Beverly for hosting Pink Saturday! Enjoy your weekend my friends.

I remember!

Birthday Fun

I am having a wonderful birthday week. Flyboy and Little Bride to Be came home on Monday for a surprise visit. It was so great to see them. They lost everything in the fridge from Irene knocking the power out last weekend, but that was the worst of it for them.



I got today off from work since it's my birthday. Mr OP surprised me with season two of Vampire Diaries. I know it's more of a teenager's series, but I really like it. It's got the whole 2 brothers in love with the same girl plot. And I'm a sucker (no pun intended) for a Vampire movie that has a love story in it.. Twilight series...True Blood...Dracula, you name it!


Obviously Mr OP doesn't watch it with me - see how he drew fangs on all the characters? Well Elena isn't a vampire - silly Mr OP!



I am lucky to spend all my birthdays with my Mum. We usually start at 7am and head for Lancaster County. We stopped for breakfast and Mum got creamed chipped beef over home fries with a side of scrapple - talk about Pennsylvania Dutch cooking. She was in heaven! I don't eat any of that, so I just had scrambled eggs and bacon.


We headed next door to shop at Goods (a small kind of Wal-mart Mom and Pop kind of place). Loved this sign telling people where to park their buggys and tie their horses. I didn't take any photos of the Amish, they don't like to be photographed.


We had such a wonderful day together! My best deal of the day were these huge fairy tale pumpkins - $3.99 each!!!! I know it's early, but I just couldn't resist! Hopefully they'll last through Thanksgiving since I don't plan on carving them. I wanted to buy a few mums too, but it was torrential downpours every time we passed a road side stand that had them.

Gotta run the pizza was just delivered! Mmm...pepperoni and mushroom!

Handmade Autograph Book

I decided to make a handmade autograph book for our family reunion this year. The reason being, I thought it would be neat to see how hand writings change over the years.


I'm going to give prompts each year to encourage something other than just a signature. This year's prompt will be what do you think of when you hear the word "Family?" This was so easy to make. I covered a 99cent composition book with scrapbook paper and added a few embellishments, then covered the inside front and back covers too. If you're going to make one, sign the book first so that people get the idea. Don't forget to date it each year.



We also designate one person as a photographer each year to snap candids and get prints made. Then, I add them to a photo album that I started a few years ago. Be sure to document the photos too, names and ages are great when you're trying to identify people years from now. I also keep copies of all the invitations that we send out. We use family photo's on the invitations so they are extra special.

Do you have family reunions?

Happy Anniversary!

I snapped a few quick photos of the anniversary card that I created for Tom's parents this morning. Tom and I have worked together for over 15years and today's his parents anniversary.



Happy Anniversary Judy and Dan! I was creating away in my studio last night making cards and embellishing the autograph book I'm making for our reunion, when I looked at the clock -11:30pm. I couldn't believe it, it seemed more like 9:30 tops.


It's a little dark here this morning, but I'm hoping that you can see the little bit of sparkle that I added to the flowers. I love the French filigree roller stamp that I used on the edge of the card and the back of the envelop on the flap.


I think adding some kind of embellishment to the envelop that matches the card adds a little pizazz. I just ordered a new stamp set for my Christmas cards and can't wait to get started on those. Only 113days till Christmas!

Do you send Christmas cards?