My very few Halloween Decorations

 We have never been big on Halloween. But these are a couple of things my youngest son brought home this year. The Frankenstein is made out of a baking sheet and will hang on the door. He also made the cards at school.

This is a little Lego bat and pumpkin that Alex brought home from the neighbors a few weeks ago. He was so excited! It really is kind of cute.
I told the boys that I thought middle school is too old for trick or treating, considering they are as big as many adults! But I will take them to the Halloween carnival at their old school and let them have some fun.

A Little Bit of Fall Loveliness from Lake Mac

A few weeks ago we had our family pictures taken by the little lake. While we were waiting for the photographer I snapped this because I just loved the colors.
Fall is probably my favorite season. I don't know if it's because we finally get away from the hot summer days or if it's because the colors change and get so intense but I love fall.

I pulled this recipe from a magazine a few years ago and I always think it's a perfect dish for when the weather starts getting cooler.

1 pkg of Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage
8 oz cooked pasta (I double the pasta and use a whole box)
2 cups heavy cream
2 tsp cajun seasoning
1/2 cup grated parmesan
Prepare pasta, drain and set aside. Saute sausage for 5 minutes, I brown it good, and add cream and cajun seasoning. Bring to a boil and reduce heat, simmer for 3-4 minutes or until it begins to thicken. Stir in parmesan, add pasta and toss.
YUM!

An Old Canning Jar

According to a website that I found this jar is 80-90 years old. Obviously I still use it. :)

Pray for all of our Emergency Services People!

Between all the fires in the northwest and the hurricane in Houston our emergency services have been heavily worked. Many volunteers from all states are helping to fill in the gap. And now another large hurricane is headed towards Florida. I don't write much about current events but I do consistently pray for the people who have to step in and help, I pray for the people who have lost homes and property and I pray that those of us who have not been affected will step up and give generously to those in need.
Many businesses have made it easy to give. I noticed at Walmart and Safeway when I checked out that I could give directly to the Red Cross to help victims. I also heard on the radio that you can text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross disaster relief. This will be directly added to your phone bill.
I know there are other places you can donate if you want to take the time to find one that you're more happy with. I would just plead with people to reach down into their pockets and share out of their plenty with others who are in desperate need.

Then after you give, pray for all involved, and  then pray and ask God to show you how you can give more.

August Wrap Up- part 2

 After we got back from our vacation we started a new adventure. After four years of homeschool the boys went back to school. They have three weeks under their belt. There have been some adjustments.
Preston is in 8th grade and it's a lot for him to remember. He's used to working on a subject until he finishes and bells interrupting him have been a trial. He is having to learn to organize his time better and not to be afraid to ask questions if he doesn't understand. He is is also easily distracted. Since I am the same way I can totally understand how hard this is for him. I am sure he will find his way but until he gets there it's been painful. There have been tears of frustration and feelings of incompetence but he is actually liking school and some of his classes he really likes.
Alex on the other hand is finding it an easy adjustment so I am hoping and praying that this continues. One day a week he gets to go to the high school and they do life skills. He is also in band and is finding that exciting.
Mom is struggling a bit too, not to be too involved. I'm trying to find a balance between interested and not pushy. Any tips would be fantastic~

First day of school 2017

6th and 8th grade

Hubby and I on eclipse day. We spent it canning green beans, grape juice and tomatoes. 

Lunch alone at a newer restaurant

 Preston decided to go out for cross country. I thought it might be good for him to find a way to relieve stress after a day of school. He seems to really be enjoying it. He had his first meet last week and ended up 32nd. I thought that was a decent showing for a newbie runner.

August Wrap Up- part 1

I kind of left you hanging about our vacation. But it's been a wild and crazy month and blogging had to take a back burner to vacation, the start of school, a garden needing attention and a thousand other little things that needed doing.

Okay, first a vacation catch up. As I said earlier we had planned on going to Kansas City. I had even booked a little apartment for us to stay in so we could really relax. But one day hubby came home and said, "the boys are always wanting to go on a plane ride and tickets to Las Vegas are really cheap, why don't we go there?" So we did a little looking, really wanted to go see the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam, so after checking things out we decided to fly to Las Vegas and then rent a car to drive home. We have friends who live in Las Vegas so they generously invited us to stay with them.

 Picture in the Denver airport to prove to a certain skeptical daughter that we really were flying to Las Vegas!

 The New York skyline was fun to see!

 The next day we were off to see the Hoover Dam. Living close to a dam I wasn't sure this would be that interesting but we've always wanted to go so we did.

 Bridges are much bigger here than Nebraska! This bridge alone knocked my socks off!

 We have one of these at our lake. They call it "Morning Glory". These were bigger though but it was fun to see the ducks swimming around the bottom.

The next day we bid farewell to our friends and headed on the long drive home. It was a beautiful day! At the advice of our friends we drove back through Zion National Park and the to the north rim of the Grand Canyon. I think it was a great decision. Zion was breathtaking and I wish we had taken more time there.

Then it was time to go see if the Grand Canyon was really all that Grand!

 IT WAS!!

The one thing that really struck me was how good the pine trees smelled. It reminded me of walking in the canyons back home when I was a kid. It's just such a pure, homey smell. There are cabins for rent right on the canyon. I think it would be fun to stay there sometime and just relax and enjoy the breeze and take in the aroma. 

 This was taken on the drive between the North Rim and Page, Arizona. It was beautiful country. Great cloud pic!

 They call this Ship Rock. I can't remember if it was in New Mexico or Colorado. I know we saw it right after we left the four corners.

 Mesa Verde, Colorado

 Poor Alex! He is scared of heights and everywhere we went he had to face fears, but he did exceptionally well and by the end of the trip I think he may have conquered a few fears.

 I told Preston to smile and he said he was. In so many ways he is like his big brother Ian. (smile)

It was a fun trip although perhaps too much driving. And the sight below is always a welcome sight after a few days away.

Loveliness in my Garden

These beauties are blooming again. I wish you could smell them. They grow underneath my bedroom window.