TOTAL RANDOMLINGS & OUR FAVE LADY, MARTHA S.

Another glorious fall week and a little walk through the leaves...okay, just so you will notice my brand new shoes.  Actually they are sort of short boots and I flipped over them.  Perfectly faded aqua blue suede and so comfy.  I really have to stay away from footwear for awhile.

I'm feeling good...no mention in this post of that horribly stiff and sore hand that still has two sore incisions and though now un~bandaged, refuses to cooperate in the simplest of things without sending me through the roof.  Nope, no mention.  

We got the yard cleaned up for the winter.  It makes me feel content.  I'm not one to like loose ends.  Funny, I used to throw caution to the wind and believe me, I had lots of caution to throw!  The marigolds in the container in which I grew my cherry tomatoes are still loving the cold, rainy and downright chilly nights.  I may just plant a few pots of these here and there next spring to carry me right through November.  And the cute picnic table I got for a song in the spring?  I had a can of polyurethane to seal it and never got to it this summer.  On one hand, it weathered to a nice sort of driftwood gray for the most part as opposed to the fresh lumber that was delivered.  Yet I don't have an indoor place to store it and I don't want it saturated with snow and rain for the next six months.  I have an area of the house with a roof overhang and hope I can get the boys to lug it over.  Then I'll be not only content...just totally Zen~like.  

I'm already dreaming of ways to change my backyard next spring.  You can see the shed in the corner...to the right of it I have that big old walnut tree and about 6 feet away, my cobblestones from my garden bed border end.  I want to carry that down to the shed and curve out  alongside it in front of the tree.  I know with the shade I will only be able to plant hosta's, which I have galore.  Maybe some ferns and columbine?  My mind never stops working.  Even when it comes to next year.

The morning glories  are hanging on to the porch railing even though the leaves have turned brown and shriveled up.  They owe me after blooming so late!  These are actually more pink than they look.  I ordered the seeds from Renee's Garden a few years ago, a mixed packet of blue and pink...very, very pretty.  I take the seed heads in the fall and crumble them off the porch down to the bed below.  And then they start over again every spring.  I save a few heads to give away and to start in other spots.  Let me know if you'd like some...they will be easy to mail...just email me.

This is another bouquet that I got at my grocer last week for a song.  Some type of mum, a huge head in a soft reddish brown color.  So pretty and still looking fresh.

As we move on to the great indoors, I finally bit the bullet and realized that I could not have a cream colored rug in my living room, not when the front door is just a few feet away.  We do not have a "shoes off" policy (does anyone anymore?), so we track stuff right in onto the area rug here.  The dirty spots on the cream colored wool rug I had were mainly along the border where you step off the hardwood floor on to it.  So...I found this rug after much soul searching as well as Internet searching.  This is a "trellis or lattice" rug...very en vogue right now.  I am not fond of trends...you can see by looking at any of my rooms or any of the pieces that I have or buy, but I am very transitional...I buy what I like.  But in this case I knew I needed some color so I wouldn't see dirt and stains and I really, really loved the tufted cream colored areas. I also have the old faded floral sofa and it made sense (and looks great) that a "trellis" would compliment it (at least mentally!).   Wow, I have over~waxed poetic on a darned rug!! lol!  Do you like it?  We really do.  I found it on special at Joss & Main.  Just my opinion...no compensation. 

Ta Da!  I finally made an apple pie, courtesy of a lovely recipe from Kathy at Kathy's Cottage.  She is the Queen of Pies!  Her crust is one I truly believe in...half butter, half shortening.  This turned out delicious, but as usual, I get stingy with the apples thinking I have way too much.  Alas, they shrink and my top deflates! Seriously though, we ate this in less than two days.  Three of us!!  You can find the recipe here.  By the way, I will never win any awards on looks or presentation.  Let's just call it rustic.  Actually I simply took a quickie on my phone to send to my daughter to let her know I had been busy that afternoon.  They think I sit around looking pretty all day.   :) 

Emily has a way of coercing me into trouble.  She has Mondays and Thursdays off so we usually get together.  The other day she picked me up and we were randomly driving down a street.  We had sort of exhausted all the things we could do over the past few months...other than hiking a few trails or volunteering at a soup kitchen.  Or not.  Then she perked up and informed me that Homegoods had some Christmas things out.  "No, no, Em."  Not falling for that.  I promised myself nothing else for the house for Christmas.  We both have really small homes, I'm not kidding.  But we went.  And she found this little lady in a tutu.  Awwwww...  We may or may not have each got one.  Okay, what can I say.  They are all in different poses.  I said, "Em, we have to name them."  Right away she responded, "Josephine."  And without missing a beat I said, "Daphne!"  Like one of those psychological tests, "Say the first word that comes to your mind." Remember the movie??  Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis?  Of course!  Some Like It Hot.  A classic.  My favorite character...maybe Beinstock (poor tortured guy), but my heart lies with the millionaire, Osgood Fielding, III.  Remember that laugh?  He just opened up his mouth like a marionette and the raspy "Haaaaaa!" came out.  Oh, dear God, what a great movie!  So we have names for our 4 foot high reindeer's.  I have absolutely no room in my house so you may find Daphne on the roof this December.  

Okay, I confess...I saw this natural wood and grapevine "window" at Plough and Hearth.  LOVE.  I'm completely finished now.  I am ready to start on gifts (Did I mention I picked up some cool gift wrap at Homegoods).  Okay, enough confession here.  

I am projecting to November 11.  Tomorrow is Halloween.  Laundry and packing between Trick or Treating.  Not me of course, the children in the neighborhood!  Then Saturday we are off to Asheville.  We've planned some great things to do during our week there.  We both really need it.  When we come home I have a day to get oriented again and then I have the next surgery November 10.  Enough said.  So I'm projecting because that's how I love to keep myself awake at night.  I am neurotically thinking of luggage weight restrictions, how the dogs will do with no one  here all day except a brief popping in of one of the kids to let them out.  Will Abby lock the doors when she leaves, turn off the flat iron?  Will I have enough time to get ready for Thanksgiving?  Will I please. please, please everyone?  I know better now but somehow, it keeps me up at night.  Last night I laid awake for 4 hour.  Nothing new, I've always been an insomniac.  The worst thing is (besides some horrid song running through my head over and over) is worrying about how tired I will be the next day.  And then last night I had an epiphany...maybe I just don't need this much sleep.  Maybe I'm like Martha Stewart and can get by on five hours.  Without looking like I'm bragging or anything (and, dear, forgive me), my niece has worked as a Senior Editor for Martha Stewart Weddings magazine for the past few years.  And hurray!  J got engaged a few months ago.  Think of all the wedding ideas she will have!  Oh, I love her Martha stories!  How did I get on this tangent??

I may bring my laptop...we'll see how much I can stuff in my bag.  If not I will see you sometime after the 10th.  Shhhh...wish me luck, I will sleep better! :)

***Just wanted to mention that I have added a little thingie on my sidebar where you can get my posts in your email inbox.  Just enter your address and you will be surprised with a post once or twice a week***

Jane xx 

Emily's pre~Halloween party.  Three Blind Mice. :)

A CRAFTY APPETIZER & A MOST WONDERFUL ENGAGEMENT!

I have been having so much fun the past few days, so many exciting, happy things to talk about with you!  I'm starting with one of three bouquets of flowers that I got for a song at my grocery store.  The first time I've paid $$ for flowers since before spring, I think!  I will share the others in my next post.  Aren't these gorgeous?  Both are types of mums and last forever!  And I wanted to start my post with something pretty...

Are you tired of seeing my hand yet? lol!  In all it's various stages of healing I might add.  And it is now doing just fine.  Yep, big infection, my surgeon said some people react differently to the stitches.  Personally, I think the hand should have stayed dry until the stitches came out.  So I'm on antibiotics.  The morning I was scheduled to have the suture removal, I was awake and up at 4:00 a.m., although my appointment was at 8:50.  That's how fretful I was.  I was so nervous (and it WAS painful) that I babbled away while he snipped.  "So, you seem to like to get up early.  Are you enjoying the mild fall we're having?  Are you putting your garden to bed?  Do you have a garden?"  I came home and took the antibiotic and two pain pills and slept all afternoon.  It was quite blissful and I'm feeling so much better.  Funny, as I awoke from my nap feeling quite groggy to answer my phone, it was the hospital wanting to schedule my next surgery in 2 weeks.  I wanted to hang up on them.

I mentioned a hush hush surprise in my last post.  Well, here it is!  My oldest son, Jeff, proposed to his girlfriend, Deirdre, yesterday!  And she said YES!!!  Isn't that a gorgeous ring?  He had it made by his own design.  We all knew for several weeks after he had asked for permission from her father.  I have a very blurry video of the proposal, complete with him down on one knee.  The Husband and I cried while we watched it.  She was in such disbelief!  Jeff is very independent, and he holds people to very high standards (yes, we butt heads a lot!).  I think Deirdre is his match...very happy with her career and the traveling it requires, she's focused and fun and has great family values.  We've just loved her since Jeffrey "brought her home".

He didn't want anything over the top, he proposed in the early morning and then gave her warning...he had invited over 100 of their closest family and friends over for an engagement party that evening!  Well, a little chaos ensued, all the girl wanted was to go out and shop for a nice outfit and to have fresh flowers in all of the bathrooms! 

I bought this cake at the grocery store I go to, it has a fabulous bakery.  I didn't plan it, I was actually going to just get an assortment of sweets.  Red Velvet.  Sigh.

I offered to make an appetizer and saw that I had Pinned this recently.  And lucky for you, its not too late to make it in time for Halloween.  I'm going to give you the recipe as I fiddled a bit with it.  But it's here.  And it's very simple.

~~~~Cheese Ball Pumpkin~~~~

8 oz. cream cheese

10 oz. fine sharp cheddar

1/4 c. blue cheese crumbles

2 t. Worcestershire sauce 

1/4 t. celery salt

1/4 t. onion salt

A mixture of finely chopped walnuts (about 1/2 cup) and 1 t. paprika. 

Mix the first 6 ingredients well,  I used my KitchenAid mixer.  Mold into a pumpkin shape.  This was a little weird, and yes, I did it with one hand so I know you can do it, too!  It was like shaping a meatloaf and I was doing it on parchment paper.  It just wasn't looking right so I gathered the paper around it and rolled it around to make it a ball shape.  Voila!  Press the top down a bit if you want a "fatter" pumpkin!

I put the chopped walnuts in a gallon freezer bag and crushed them for the most part with a mallet.  I would definitely crush them more the next time, perhaps on pulse in a food processor? Just looks better without the larger pieces.  Then you can run a butter knife down vertically spaced every few inches to make the natural lines in the pumpkin.  For the stem I used a real one from one of my pumpkins on the porch.  I rinsed it well and then wrapped the bottom portion in plastic wrap so it wouldn't come in contact with the cheese ball.  And though this all sounds like a huge process, it took about 15 minutes.  Note***  I doubled the recipe to get the size you see in the picture.  It would be one tiny pumpkin if you followed the amounts above!  And it was delicious with Triscuit crackers.

There were so many delicious appetizers on the island already, Deirdre's family gave it their all.  And it was elegant.  Later in the evening 12 pizza's were delivered!

I flipped over these cookies.  It wasn't until I looked at my pictures today that I recognized the diamond rings in the middle!! :)

So this was one exciting night and I'm glad it all went down as Jeffrey wanted it to.  He was walking on air for the days before and channeling all his nervous energy into this.  He said that they had vaguely discussed marriage, but it was never a "plan".  The Husband and I are so happy that our son found such a great girl and he's embarking on a whole different stage of life.  And we love Deirdre already.  Mary Clare, Kevin's wife,  fit seamlessly into our lives.  She and her family are wonderful people and I'm so close to them.  And...another surprise, in the midst of the engagement party, MC got a call to go to the hospital, her sister Katie was in full on labor! 

Welcome Margot Brennan, born at 3:10 a.m.!  Healthy and cute and her parent are bowled over.  You have read about Katie and Kevin's love story here.  Oh, I can't wait to hold that bundle of cuteness!  Again. MC's family is like family to us.  I love each and every one of them.

The Husband and I also met Deirdre's family for the first time last night.  Her father, mother and sister are just the nicest people, very Irish (just love brogues!).  How I love these people already!  I think we will be great friends.  What is with all those horror stories of in laws?  We are loving it.  Maeve and I will be friends and future grandmother's together!  I am so lucky!

All play and no work...a week from now I will be in Asheville!  The last time we took a trip, back in May when we were gone over 11 days, I had a luggage packed over the limit and having to shamefully open my suitcase in front of strangers in order to not pay $75.00 extra, I have no intention of doing it again.  Not so positive...the weather changes everyday this time of year...heavy sweaters, jackets, boots and plain old flats.  Very positive, our condo has a washer/dryer.  I am going to be a very 'mix and match' girl so I can wear a few things over and over.  Totally against my nature of wanting to have a whole look every day, but it will work whether I like it or not!

These are a pair of shoes I've been longing for that I recently purchased on Zappo's.  I love the cutout on the sides.  And the ankle strap makes for a flat that fits perfectly.  If they are too tight, ugh.  Too loose, they flop off at the heel.  Love them with skinny jeans rolled up a bit.  Oh, I love vacations and the excuse to shop beforehand!!  :)

That's it for now.  I will be back again later in the week!

Joining Cindy at Amazing Mondays!  Please visit to see so many amazing things!!

Jane xx 

GOODBYE SUMMER

It really is feeling like fall here in the Upper Midwest.   No more running out without a sweater or jacket, the flip flops are packed away and the boots are out!  We had tons of rain last week, non stop gloom.  I kept busy though.  My little partner in crime, Miss Emily, flew off to Seattle with Mike to visit his brother.  She texted pictures everyday.  They had a great time (their plane just arrived back in Chicago) and I was happy to see them get away.  They work so hard.  I've only been to Seattle once and just for a brief time; we flew in and stayed two days and then rented a car to drive to Vancouver.  Just a beautiful, beautiful part of the country.  

I made a trip to Hobby Lobby and Michael's Thursday (and totally forgot which street each one was on so it took me 45 minutes instead of 15).  I had come across a craft on a blog and I got so excited about  making it that I nearly peed myself!  Well, it's a Christmas craft and I'm still working on it...maybe I'll give you a peek in my next post. :)

This (above), my friends, is Hungarian Goulash and you can find the recipe here.  This is one of our favorite comfort food meals here and I was even heating up bowls for the boys when they'd stop by (the key is to not tell them the name).  I think I gave you the recipe last year, it's a stew that has a little kick of nutmeg, allspice and cloves that just takes it out of this world.  Tyler Florence does not add these spices, but I do.  And this recipe makes a lot of goulash so you'll want a good heaping tablespoon of these things.  Also, he used potatoes for starch, I used egg noodles.  Play with it.  Yum! :)

Friday night was rain and gloom and cold and it's hard to leave one warm house to walk into the cold lakehouse at 11:00 p.m.  So we set the alarm for 5 a.m. Saturday morning, which in my book is not much better, and we were there by 8.  Alas, the rain never abated.  While we were gone this week, The Husband had a guy come in and install a wireless thermostat for us so that we can now control the heat and a/c from wherever we'd like.  Well, fiddling with that kept The Husband busy most the day.  I sat and pouted over losing another day to the rain.  Around 4 he saw my glum face and said, "Forget about that chicken and squash I bought for you to make." (puleeeeez) "Let's go to the bar for a burger and a beer!"  And all was good.

Sunday dawned sunny, the lake sending up a mist into the cool air.  The front lawn looked so pretty I didn't even want to rake! 

Sadly, the flowers had to go.  Go ahead, call me a Murderess.  I don't know what I was feeding these things this summer, I lost the annuals in the city weeks ago.  But I tossed them, poured the rich soil into my old veggie patch, and scrubbed the pots with a dry brush.  The Husband lovingly stored them in the shed with all of my other decorative pieces and we bid adieu until next spring.

Milo took a few runs up and down the dock looking for signs of life on this gorgeous day...

...while I sat on the cold wet beach on an old rug, plucking at the errant grass and watching the leaves scatter.  

I have a rule. I never take anything from the lakehouse to bring home.  Some things are just "meant" to be there.  But I had to make an exception for this big old wooly throw.  It is thick and soft and heavy and it has provided me with The Best naps anyone could ask for; in the dead cold winter in front of the fire, or in the summer, atop a cotton sheet when the a/c is making my sunburned skin chill.  So it's here in Chicago with me for a few months. It won't get lonely here.  

We will be back up soon, we have commitments here for the next three weekends but I'm sure we'll have a weekend to squeeze in before Thanksgiving.  After all, we have all those truckloads of firewood!

If you've ever met Carol from Art And Sand, you will know that nothing matches her creativity and love of art and color other than her big heart.  She made these banners and we all fell in love with them.  So she had a giveaway and we could choose what we wanted her to spell out.  I was a winner!!  Thank you so much, Carol!  Pay her a visit...she has a wonderful blog. :)

I have so many websites that I love to shop at and I love to share the wonderful things I find that I think are really unique.  One of my favorite places to go to when I'm planning a casual party, especially one outdoors, is Smarty Had A Party.  I bought some of their disposable dishes, napkins and serve-ware for a party at the lake a few years ago and I never received so many compliments. If you don't want to use good dishes, or even your melamine, these products will take your event up a notch and people will be loving you for your good taste! Below you will see the bamboo forks and knives I used for a backyard barbeque this past summer.  And I keep these on hand for Abby to bring in her lunch at work (she gets the compliments, too).  I was really, really surprised the other day when a box arrived in the mail and these cute disposable Leafware dishes were inside.  Made from fallen palm leaves, they are just perfect rustic goodness for this time of year.  Can you imagine a fall bonfire  with S'mores piled high on these?  Maybe to serve your goodies on at a tailgate party?  And you know what?  I've only mentioned this website because I really like it, I've never been asked to promote it.  And this was their "thank you".  A big thank you back at ya!!

Go have a peek! :)

And I almost forgot, I brought these home from the lake.  My original ice skates, ca. 1991.  I found them hanging in a corner of the garage and I thought I would be really all Pottery Barn-like and hang them on my front door at Christmas.  God knows I can't stand on them now! lol!

And look what came today!  Finally, after a month without a stove.  I nearly threw the electric skillet and crackpot out the window!  We decided on this model which was available right away as opposed to another we would have had to have waited weeks for.   And honestly, I don't remember what the other model had that I wanted so badly.  I love the little griddle.  And it has 5 burners!  I have a big stew bubbling away on it right now.  I wanted to make a nice roast for my "first dinner", but I'm trying to use up that abundance of veggies I still have.  Bon Appetite!

Tomorrow I have a very early appointment to get my stitches out.  Normally this wouldn't bother me much except my hand took a turn for the worse and my incisions are infected.  This started happening Friday so there wasn't very much I could do.  I talked to my surgeon's nurse and since I don't have a fever or oozing, I'm good until tomorrow.  I am such a baby...I'm praying this can be taken care of without the need for a sharp needle or stiff brush.  My hand is so sore as it is, I can't bear the thought of anyone coming near it.  And today I also scheduled my next surgery for November 10th.  Gulp.  To add injury to insult, this surgery will be on my left hand and yes, you guessed it, I'm left handed!  I guess things are going to get worse before they get better.

I have some good days ahead of me, a few things that are very hush hush (!), but I will be back this weekend filling you in! :)

Jane xxx 

A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING

We decided to skip the lake this past weekend.  It had been a very slow week for me here and I am feeling the cold weather blues setting in there which make me yearn for the warm sunny days.  Still, it's tempting to curl up in front of a fire with a book  while the wind howls outside.   Soon the holidays will occupy most of our time and then we will have a few quiet weekends there every other weekend before all the preparation for summer starts in April (and fishing season!) and we are there non-stop!

So, I came up with the brilliant idea of visiting some of the interesting towns and neighborhoods around here in Chicago on these rather quiet (boring) weekends.  We decided to drive north to Evanston, about an hour away.  My friend, Melanie, from Comfy House goes with her husband once in awhile for a little escape and they seem to have fun.  They even go down to the beach for a little picnic.  Unfortunately, the beaches are now closed.  So off we went on Saturday.  

Most of the trip was along Lake Shore Drive.  This is one of the harbors on Lake Michigan.  We were a little surprised to still see boats moored.  And there were sailboats and all sorts of watercraft out on the lake even though it was in the mid 60's.  Brrrrr...

The town is very nice...about 4 blocks of various shops and restaurants.  I expected more independently owned businesses but that wasn't the case.  Very pretty town though.  We saw a restaurant through the pretty outdoor plants..

We have a secret little method of scoping out the restaurants by having  drink at the bar and casually asking to see a menu.  Very nice place.  

Beautiful decor. We later found out it was a chain so maybe there is one near you.  Bravo Cucina Italiano.

We found a rare book store and I came across a book over 100 years old and it was actually only $8.00.  I was amazed.  And The Husband found an old book about Civil War weaponry and artillery...just up his alley.  I peeked over his shoulder to see what he was looking at and all I saw was Stonewall Jackson and I knew I had some time to kill.  And we also found a little boutique and I picked up a few things for the girls.  I saw a pair of oxfords that I really wanted but they didn't have my size.  Have you seen those in stores?  I am loving them.  They look so sharp with slim pants.  I'm on the hunt for the perfect pair!

Last Thursday I got my "craft on" and made these little candle jars.  You can get the directions here.  These were fun, just simple mason jars from the Dollar Tree.  Make sure they are smooth, as in not the real Mason or Ball jars with the raised letters.  The leaves were also from The Dollar Tree.  They are actually some sort of fabric and although I scoffed at ironing them as suggested, next time I will.  The edges would have stayed down a bit better.  And make sure the Mod Podge is tacky when you press the leaves on.  My first few slid around.   I was going to get better pictures, I just snapped these with my phone.  And then yesterday my son, Jeff, came over, saw them and asked if he could have them.  Well, knock me over with a feather!  Next he'll be Pinning craft ideas! :)

 

He did a little fall decorating at his house over the weekend and texted me this picture.  Look at my granddog, Tulo!  His first fall!  Awwwww...

This isn't for the squeamish and I probably show little class in putting this on my blog, but today I got the wretched cast off.  Stitches come out next week.  You can see how invasive it was by the bruising in the palm and up the wrist.  It was pretty easy to move my fingers, hence the blogging over the past week.  Now is the really painful part.  My hand and wrist have been immobilized for a week and now I'm supposed to be gripping things and turning my wrist and boy, that hurts!  And I can't cover the incisions as they need air and that would also hamper moving it.  Ugh.  I made a trip to the mall after the doctor visit to pick up Abby's work blazer from a tailor there and I just couldn't help myself from browsing in a few stores.  And of course I left with a few shopping bags that I tried to clutch in my arms.  Silly girl.  My next surgery is scheduled for 4 weeks from now.  I just can't get enough of this stuff!

This is my new best friend.  No stove in sight.  We picked out one that won't be available for a few weeks.  The Husband has a client who works for Sears so we may get a break.  I am really, really tired of take out food.  Even the independently owned, nice, dine in restaurants in my neighborhood, where you can order anything from pizza to a whole chicken or steak entree from their full menu, has gotten very old (and expensive).  So I'm trying to do more at home and the closest I can get to a normal meal is with this thing and my crackpot.  Tonight I made Tomato Chicken Stew.  The chicken and main veggies are done on my electric skillet...

...then into the pot.  This was a great dish because I have frozen tomatoes and my basil is still growing like crazy. 

We were very grateful to have a home cooked meal.  The house smelled delicious.  Last night I made chicken breasts with sauteed red onion and mushrooms and Pepperjack cheese melted on top, all on a thick roll.  Yum.  And Emily has a slow cooker cookbook that she is going to bring me tomorrow.  I know I can get some recipes from the Internet but my printer isn't hooked up (long story).  I hope I can find something that can be served on a plate rather than in a bowl. :)

So that's the last week in Blondieville.  I just take things day by day, try to keep myself busy during the day, and then blog or read in the evening.  I did a little work in the yard last week.  I carried armfuls of garden decor (birdhouses, outdoor candles and all sorts pots and tools) to the shed, making a little dent until I can get some manpower here to put away the furniture.  The same goes for the lake soon.  I just need to get my daily dose of fresh air.  It has been raining here since yesterday morning and it's supposed to continue until Thursday.  Well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see what sort of adventures arise!

Jane xx

FALL UNFOLDS & MANY THANKS!

In an effort to give you a break from my monotonous fall pictures, I did this one with the Waterlogue application on my phone!  The only new additions are the four pumpkins on the bay window ledge.  See how they glisten under all that furniture polish?  Not a squirrel in sight!

A little of the good before the bad and ugly.  Actually, it wasn't that bad.  I'm stuck with a cast almost up to my elbow but that's good, every little movement is painful.  I want to thank all of you for the well wishes.  I always knew how special you were, but I can't even put into words how I felt when I would read your comments prior to the surgery.  I really felt like I could cry.  So thank you from the bottom of my heart, dear friends.  

Everything went well.  I came home, The Husband had the whole day off from work and Emily came over and helped straighten up the house.  She is so much like me, it's scary.  She can't stand for anything to be out of place and she is constantly fussing.  She decided at the last minute to invite us to dinner (no stove yet...more on that later).  She  was making a corned beef and that got me excited, we never have that except around St. Patrick's Day.  So I went with her to the grocery for some odds and ends, still feeling fine, took a little nap and then we went to her and Mike's about 5:30.  

This is how she has the front of her home dressed up for fall.  She has the rainbow mums, too, except hers are more of the gold where mine are pink.  She has a much neater look, too.  Here in the city where the exteriors of the homes are so much alike, you really have to be creative to get something different.  Don't you love the lantern with the mini white pumpkins?

Dinner was SO good...corned beef with cabbage, carrots and onions and rye bread.  I forgot to get a picture of the food and her table setting.  I'm bad.  She has so many beautiful things that she received at her wedding showers and then wedding gifts.  I'm envious of her pots and pans!  She had chalk board place mats with our names on them.  Really, really cute.  She made the corned beef like her in laws do...baked and basted with a mixture of mustard and brown sugar.  We were swooning!  Coconut macaroons for dessert.  :)

See the little pumpkins on the hay?

I had a hair appointment with Katie yesterday.  She is due to have her baby girl in two weeks so I HAD to get in.  I was wondering if I could use the gear shift in my car and it worked, thank goodness.  She took 4 inches off my hair.  I wanted a Long Bob, or a "Lob" as they call it.  I actually wish she had taken a bit more...next time.  I hadn't realized I had "let it go" again, especially with wearing it up or in a ponytail most of the summer.  And I think you all know how much I long to have a "hairstyle"!  Getting there!

My daughter in law, Mary Clare was there as well.  She told me she and Kevin were pretty sure they are going to name the baby Elsie.  I think that's very cute.  I know Mary Clare has a soft sort of country side to her, her pup is named Tucker.  If the baby had been a boy, they wanted Ben.  She is feeling good and looks great!

Emily surprised me with this, she made it with some bushel barrels she had on hand.  We arranged some of my dried flowers in it and sat back and looked.  She shook her head and said, "Dear God, I have never seen so much clutter in my life!"

Oh well, I think it's the perfect time to celebrate the abundance of God's green earth.  Don't you agree?

As I said, I did well Monday but yesterday and today is another story.  The doctor had given me a local anesthetic as well as the sedative that knocked me out before the surgery.  I think the local kept me pain free for a very long time.  Yesterday was reality and I broke down and took a pain pill before dinner.  All it did was make me sleepy.  Today is worse, but it's nothing really terrible.  I am supposed to move my fingers and that feels fine, hence, I can somewhat peck away here on my laptop.  It's gripping anything (when I'm not paying attention), my palm and around the two incisions that makes me wince.  I find it sort of challenging to do things one handed.  I'm cleaning the house, doing dishes, making the bed.  I'm drawing the line at laundry and scrubbing the bathtub. :)

Would you believe, no stove yet?!  I guess it just goes along with the dynamics of my marriage.  First, the reality of the situation has to sink in (for The Husband).  Then the gravity...is a stove really a necessity?  And then the research, web search, actual search, price comparisons, more reality checks...it just goes on.  Last night I simply said, "I want the same stove I had.  That's all."  So I am supposed to be looking for that online at Home Depot but instead I'm typing this! lol!  Oh, how we love that electric skillet.  And Chicago style deep dish pizza. And Chinese, Mexican!  No cooking, paper plates, licking our fingers!

We will be at the lake again this weekend, I'm going to set up camp outside and watch the leaves fall (as long as it's not rainy and miserable like last weekend).  It really has been a picture perfect summer and fall.  Our farmer's market will be ending soon so I want to go tomorrow just to walk around and breathe it in.  Never got around to those apple pies, nor did I get all those plants I wanted to when they were marked down, but there's always next year.  And right now is pretty darn good!

See you soon! :)

Jane xx