Tuesday Question...

Have you ever heard of spreading (unused) coffee grounds in those damp basement areas to ward off the musty smell? My brother in law from Texas shared this with his mother on a recent visit.
This will come in handy once the fall rains begin in Indiana.
We have a sump pump, and the dehumidifier runs nearly non-stop.
We always have the musty smell.
So, plan to visit the Dollar store and buy the cheapest coffee grounds possible, and spread away, if you have this problem as well.
I'm thinking the coffee house smell might be delightful!
What say you? Ever heard of this?

Blustery day...

The frost is on the pumpkin today. Dang...it's downright chilly in northeastern Indiana! We're not prepared for this nonsense!

The birdfeeder is busy; the cardinal couple are messy eaters, and feed the masses below, with their droppings. Corn is growing under the feeder, and is nearly a foot high....how strange.

When the weather cools, it makes my project list go into high gear. The gauntlet's been dropped, and the race is on to get-r-done before snow flies. Yard, flowerbeds, winterize house and rv. Sigh....where's my hot cider and afghan?

To TV or not to TV...

Y'know, for the past three years we just haven't got into the new shows. We really had no idea what was on television that much as far as weekly programming.
This year, maybe because Jim is on the road, (and he's not here for me to torment) I've watched and liked two new shows this week.
On Tuesday, The Good Wife premiered. Okay, I could easily get hooked on that one. Tonight offered, Mercy, and the calendar is already marked for next week with channel and time duly noted!

That's it, two shows that I'm allowing myself to watch during the week. In the summertime, it's America's Got Talent, and the nightly news. Since we no longer get the extended basic coverage, and have downsized to the basic-basic, meaning 5 networks, the tv just hasn't been that appealing to watch.

What shows are you planning to watch each and every week?
Are there any "new" shows that have sparked an interest for you?

I'm more of a book gal, when not in the front bedroom/craft room making cards or scrappin' on long, lonely evenings.
No matter where I am, the corgi kids are there, sitting on my feet, or in the kneehole of the desk.
If the phone rings, oh my, it's like trying to climb out of a trench. Bodies are everywhere!

Sharing Maya's Wisdom...

In April, Maya Angelou was interviewed by Oprah on her 70+ birthday. Oprah asked her what she thought of growing older. And, there on television, she said it was 'exciting...'

Regarding body changes, she said there were many, occurring every
day...like her breasts. They seem to be in a race to see which will reach her waist, first.

The audience laughed so hard they cried. She is such a simple and honest woman, with so much wisdom in her words!

Maya Angelou said this: 'I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today,
life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.'

'I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.'

'I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.'

'I've learned th at making a 'living' is not the same thing as 'making a life.'

'I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.'

'I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back...'

'I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.'

'I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.'

'I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.'

'I've learned that I still have a lot to learn..'

'I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.'

Special thanks to sis-in-law Carolyn for emailing this to me!

Autumn Blessings...

This week at our local Big R farm store, they had huge, rounded, beautiful mums for three bucks each! I selected a golden bronze and a burgundy. The circumference of these plants is nearly two and half feet across!


Jim got home late last night, and will be leaving early Sunday morn, so today we went to the area's apple orchard as this was the first weekend for their delish cider. We both stood in line for a yummy cider slush, then walked around, sipping, as we looked through a Plexiglas cut out of an active, and busy bee hive; selected a peck of apples, and found a tiny orange pumpkin for 50 cents.


I bought a Boo pumpkin, exactly like the one in Penniwig's graphic yesterday at the produce farm I visit weekly. They're such a nice young couple, with a passel of children, all usually barefoot. It's a treat to go there and visit such a homey atmosphere, where hard work, nature, and thanking God is the norm. These perfect September days should make us all thankful. It's just so darn nice, being alive, and healthy enough to be able to be out in the day, and experience Autumn perfection. Little blessings come in so many ways. We just need to be aware enough to recognize them as they happen. There usually are no fireworks going off, or parades. The moments are quite often very small. We just feel a brief glimmer of warmth inside, just a fleeting moment, but it's there. Just be open enough, so ye can receive!

September's Song...

Here and yonder, high and low,
Goldenrod and sunflowers glow.
–Robert Kelley Weeks (1840–76)

Seemingly overnight, September has decided to move away from summer into autumn. Tinges of red and orange fill the Hoosier state, as the burning bush, sumac, and walnut trees evolve into their cloaks of many colors.
My brother had called a few days ago, saying a neighbor's field had been newly plowed, unearthing a new supply of field stones to rim our flowerbeds. We filled our car trunks, and then set off in search of bittersweet on a dusty, isolated gravel road. A large praying mantis caught our eye; as did the yellow finch, flying on any updraft.

Nothing is as lovely as a blue-skied, cloudless September day. The warmth of the sun is still with us, yet, it's a more gentle sun, reminding us that we're moving towards the end of the year.

October is crisper, sharper, waking our senses up a little. September...sort of rolls along, still summer sleepy; taking us on a path towards autumnal hues. There is an obvious shift in season.
The air feels differently. There's a sense of expectation.

I want to make pots of soup, and bake with apples. Being outside, basking in the sun's warmth is mental and physical therapy. The dogs roll in the grass, and graze along the fence row, chewing a cud like an Indiana bovine.

Don't you adore this time of year? Every day changes because there is color in a new tree or bush. It's a nature treasure hunt. The brilliant colored mums with their rounded tops, and pumpkins on porch steps, just seem so right, following summer's jewel tones.
There's reason to get up early to go explore.

Ahhh... September, what's not to love?

They were here, now they're gone...

It was great to have the North Carolina kids up north for a few days. It gave us a chance to enjoy little Emmy, daughter April and her hubs, Keith. Uncle Josh always reads Em a story. Of course it was a book about corgis! I always try to have a new one on hand for when we get together.



Emmy likes to help her mommy. Cook, clean, set the table, doesn't matter, she just likes to help. She dusted the television screen while here, and her Grammy appreciated it very much! (Note the cheerleader outfit she has on!) She's such a hoot...she kept us laughing.


Emmy right now is very much into stickers. These happened to be Thomas the Train stickers, a book I gave her during our last visit to NC, in March. Her GG (great-gran), both corgis and Grammy (me) all sported many stickers over the past few days.



She spent the night here last night and slept in the big bed with her Grammy. She's a bed hog...just like her Grammy! We held hands, rubbed feet, and whispered in the dark. Oh my...I miss her already.
Will miss my big girl too. We never have enough time to share all the talks and activities that we want to. Oh well, more reason to start planning a trip south soon, to go see my girls!

Chatty sent me this...

Quotation:
'May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.'


Women are strong. Some look like marathon runners and are lean and mean. Some are doughy, soft and cuddly (ok, that's me). But, no matter what the outside package looks like, most of all, I believe that we all have a backbone of steel...scars on the insides of our mouth from biting the inside cheek...and a power that keeps us going each and every day, whether we want to face our problems of the moment or not. Sigh...really...truly...women are something else!