"Makes Me Smile" Monday

Signs of the season . . . finally here !!

(Santa's little helpers, taking a rest after decorating !)

Happy (pine-scented) Monday !!

Better Late . . .

So Thanksgiving was a bit of a bust this year: I ended up getting sick and spending most of the past week on the couch recuperating. We'd planned to have my parents here for our holiday meal, but decided to hold off . . . maybe next time !!!

This guy was hanging out in my fridge defrosting, though . . . so now that all sickness is gone, it was time to roast him up ! He turned out pretty well for my first turkey . . . all 16 pounds of him !! I guess it'll be turkey sandwiches, turkey soup, and any other turkey dish for Jack and I this week !!!

Happy Belated Turkey Day !!!

"Makes Me Smile" Monday

Another post of random tidbits !!!

* Jack got the results back from his recent liver biopsy . . . a clean bill of health! The very best news !!!

* I've been steadily working on this year's nifty Christmas gifty for my co-workers . . . 13 down, and 15 more to go !!!

* The "Twilight Saga: New Moon" movie opens this Friday . . . woohoo !!

* And last but not least . . . the Girl Scout cookies have arrived !! Hello, lovely Thin Mints !! Glad I snapped this picture before these cookies disappeared . . . I lost count of how many I've eaten today (oops) !!!

Happy Monday !!!

"Makes Me Smile" Monday

It's a mish-mash here today . . . a smiling stream-of-consciousness, if you will ! But I'm finally posting again, and that's a good thing !!

* Loving my new IPod Touch !! I'm not into technology and gadgets and all (just not my thing!), and I'm clearly super slow to catch up . . . but it's new and handy and fun !

* Loving my new shower !! We had our old shower torn out last week, and new beautiful tile put up in its place . . . it looks so great !! Before and after pictures will be upcoming once all is done !

* Tom Turkey is in the freezer, waiting for our Thanksgiving meal !! It's my first turkey, so we'll see how that turns out !! Seems like I've cooked everything else but turkey . . . so here's to learning new things !

* Enjoying the fall weather . . . and all sweaters, cords, fleece, tweeds, etc. that come out of hiding !! Here are my new favorite tweeds making an appearance on my feet this season:

Work shoes, and . . .

. . . fun shoes !! (I haven't done clogs in a loooooong time . . .

glad to have them back !)

Happy Monday !

What Should Be On Every Bookshelf

(Leo's new nap spot)

Jack's Nemesis

Welcome to our world of golden autumn leafiness . . .

and Jack's nemesis !!!

We love the beauty and function of our tree-filled property (keeps us cool in the summer, even without air conditioning !), but fall is a different story all together ! The yard is one big carpet of gorgeous-colored leaves . . . all needing to be raked up !

I remember being so excited our first fall in the house . . . having our own yard . . . spending time outside raking our own leaves . . . . . and then trying to bag them all !!! We got a little smarter the next year, hauling them on a tarp into the woods. That, coupled with the riding mower that mulches those suckers up . . . and we're good to go ! The trick around here is trying to get the leaves taken care of before the first snowfall . . . . sometimes there's not a lot of time between the dropping of the leaves and the dropping of the snowflakes !

And since we only have one rake currently . . . and being the wonderful wife that I am . . . I let Jack handle the raking ! And he is soooooooo happy about that ! He even tried to make a deal with his brother involving a flat-screen TV and raking duty for the next 5 years !!

I took the video above yesterday, just a mere 2 days after he raked the lawn . . . you get the picture of what he's up against out there !!! He raked this morning for a while, too . . . and the yard looks like it hasn't even been touched . . . only the tops of the trees have lost their leaves so far !! Here's to conquering the the lawn, one leaf at a time !!!

"Makes Me Smile" Monday

Oh, fabulous fall and glorious gourds !!!

After a gloomy and rainy start to our Saturday morning

(had to work, as well !), things cleared up

and gave us a beautiful fall afternoon . . .

So, I made my way to my favorite

farm market for some fall lovelies . . . .

Thank goodness I had some help decorating with the gourds . . .

my assistants are the best !

Happy (pumpkin) Monday !!