Day off/Quilt finished

I took the day off of work today as it's supposed to be just a gorgeous fall day here and the amount of those left are few.

While waiting for the dew to dry so I can work in the yard, I was able to finish the binding on a quilt I've been making for our bed. The pattern is called Bar Hopping. I've been wanting one in all beige's for a long time and it's finally completed. I just love the simplicity of it.

But like any other project, now I see what else needs to be done.
Have you ever started a house project to do one thing and that one thing leads to another and then to another. I'm afraid that may be the road I'm heading down. For now, though, I'm happy the quilt is completed! Yea!


Well, I'm off to clean off flower beds and this afternoon we're taking what may be our last motorcycle ride of the season. :(

Have a great Friday everyone!

Ideas needed...

Only a few more days to go until my giveaway is over. I'm still hoping for some more ideas on holiday decorating from all of you in blogland! Don't forget to chime in.

Loss of privacy

There are cornfields on two sides of our home which affords a nice amount of privacy, but alas, that privacy is always fleeting.



When I got home from work tonight, our natural fence on the south side of the yard was coming down.



However, there is something about watching a combine harvest and smelling the smells; the smell of corn husks and diesel fuel mixing that I absolutely love!
I know, I know, I'm a strange one and never professed not to be.

100th post and a giveaway!

What started out as a whim on March 21st of this year has hooked me. At that point in time I would have never expected to ever reach 100 posts! I've never been a big writer but I have found putting my thoughts down on paper so to speak to be a somewhat cleansing experience.

I have met some incredible people while in blog land and have even been blessed to meet some in person (you know who you are, Michelle).

Besides getting to know you all, I've gotten some wonderful inspiration for projects.

That being said, I'm having a give away to celebrate my 100th post and looking for some inspiration as well.

Tonight will be our first sub-freezing night this fall, so my giveaway has to do more with cold weather comfort than the fall season we are currently enjoying.
We even had flurries blowing around this afternoon already!
It's still October for petes sake!


Included in this giveaway are 3 half-yard cuts of homespun, a set of 6 snowman note cards, a wonderful smelling votive made by my sister, and a jar of Fireside Coffee(decaf) mix and a corn bag made by me.

Corn bag? What in the world is a corn bag?
Let me tell you it's the best thing since sliced cornbread!
It's a microwaveable hot pack and no, the corn does not pop when heated. I get asked that question the most. The bag is filled with field corn. Just pop it in the microwave for 2 minutes and you have the best heat pack around. It holds heat a nice long time and when I get a sinus headache, the only thing that will usually knock it out is to go to bed with the "corn bag" on my face.

Now here's the catch to my giveaway...

I, in a weak moment, agreed to be part of a local Christmas housewalk held the first weekend in December. This housewalk benefits the American Cancer Society which is a cause near and dear to me as 25 years ago next week, I lost my Mom to cancer.
However on the upside, I am a cancer survivor.
My mother-in-law, sister, sister-in-law and niece are all survivors too! Praise God!
I have a good friend who is fighting breast cancer right now as well.

So anyway, weak moment aside, I'm looking for suggestions in decking out my front porch for this housewalk.
I want to do something different for outside decorations than I've done in the past or at least change it up a bit.
I usually have a big wreath where the fall wreath is on the front of the house and in the past I've swagged the railing with greenery and lights as well as lit the bushes around the porch.
I know it's early to be thinking Christmas but hey, all the decorations are out in the stores already so I may as well get going on this too.

I am hoping for some unique ideas on how to decorate. Can you help?


The porch -- We use the door on the left side of the porch the most but I don't want to neglect the other door. Your thoughts on the porch?


This is a little corner off to the left side of the porch between the house and garage. I'm thinking I'll fill the wheelbarrow with greens maybe? I've lit the birdhouse in past years.

You can enter one of three ways...
1) comment on this post
2) comment with a link to pictures of your holiday decorations from years past on your blog and a return link to mine
3) email me with your ideas and pictures

If you include a link from your blog to mine, I'll enter you twice in the giveaway drawing.
You have until this Saturday, November 1st at 6pm CST to post all the great ideas and suggestions I know you have.
I will draw and post the winner's name on Sunday.

Help me celebrate my 100th post by sending those suggestions! I'm looking forward to getting inspired by you! December will be here be I know it!

Before and After

BEFORE...

Bland white primer door - blah





AFTER...

Doesn't it look great? It's not quite the red I thought I was getting. I picked out more of a brick red and I would call this closer to terra cotta but I love it!

Lunar landscape?

What could this be? a spaceship that has landed on Mars? a new fangled telephone booth? maybe a strange shaped chicken house?





And what about this? a fun slide?






possibly the start of a water tower?

Give up?



Inquiring minds just had to find out.








If you put all these pieces together with alot of really big bolts, you'll get one of these!

It's amazing the things you come across on a Sunday ride. You just never know what you're gonna find!

Back home again

We arrived back home yesterday after five wonderful days in our mountains to a very cold 55 degree rain. While we were gone, I whined (what me whine you say?) to Dan about how we should have ridden the motorcycle, but after driving home in the rain yesterday, was I ever glad we didn't. I probably still wouldn't be warmed up.

Today was spent playing catch up at work and here at home. A vacation is always so much fun until you come home and everything you left is staring at you again. If you can figure out a way to bypass the coming home stuff, let me know and we'll bottle it and become rich and famous!

You'll indulge me with a few more vacation pictures won't you?

The East Rim overlook at the Big South Fork Recreation area in Northern Tennessee.

The friendliest staff and the best food in East Tennessee is at Donna's in Madisonville. This is a "must stop" every time we visit. If you are ever in the area, you won't be disappointed.

A clear blue Tellico River. The rivers in the area are down considerably due to the drought conditions they've had the last couple of summers.

My best friend and traveling partner along the Cherohala Skyway. This is a gorgeous 50 mile drive that runs between Tellico Plains, TN & Robbinsville, NC. There are so many pull-offs worth stopping at, you'll want to allow at least a couple of hours to drive it.

More Skyway

The vista from a piece of property we looked at. It would be really hard to take having your morning cup of tea on this porch, wouldn't it? Soon, but for now, it will be a nice view of the cornfields ripening.

Sunday relaxation

What a beautiful yesterday here in the mountains. After church we went to Cades Cove for a picnic, then took a jeep ride through the cove loop driving tour.


On the way to the Cove. As you can see the trees down here are just starting to turn.



Dan & Linda kickin' back and relaxin'



Bruce grillin' burgers



Linda & I in the back of the jeep riding through the cove. It's an 11 mile loop but it took us almost 2 hours. The speed limit is 10 mph and there are many times, you are at a total stop.


Like this picture..


This picture, my friends, is what they call a "buck jam".

There is alot of wildlife in the cove; deer, fox, coyote, bear, turkeys, etc. We were hoping to see bear, but no luck.
Cars come to a complete stop when they spot an animal. In this picture, someone up ahead saw a buck deer. I guess it's all in perspective. Back home we really don't want to see deer by the road no matter how slow you are going!



I can't think of a better way to spend a warm Fall Sunday, than in the mountains.

On our way...

After arriving home after work Thursday evening to a home without electricity (still not sure why - it was a beautiful evening but we were out for 3-1/2 hours), we were finally packed and in bed by 12:30am. We left an hour later than planned but still made it to our MTN(Motorcycle Travel Network) friends, Gary & Pat, in Danville, Kentucky in time for a gorgeous sunset over the hills.


I am always in awe of the Kentucky fences. They just have a certain look about them that says Kentucky.



especially those made of old limestone. I know they used materials that were common to the area back then, but it still involved such craftsmanship. I often wonder if people 100 years ago even thought about the fact that the fence they were building would still be standing a century later.

The leaves were turning just right in southern Kentucky/Northern Tennessee. There were alot of reds and yellows with just enough greens left for a great contrast.


Tonight and the next few days we are in Maryville, TN staying with our good friends, Bruce & Linda. They are missionaries with MNA - Mission to North America and work primarily with Native Americans. Check out their blog here.

Til later...

Do you hear it?

See these mountains?


Can you hear these mountains?

Can you hear what they're saying?

They're saying...come, come, come..

and you know I always do what I'm told, right?

Yup, I'm listening alright! We're leaving Friday for Tennessee. We'll only be gone a few days but I'll take what I can get when I can get it.

I think I hear Sonny's BBQ calling too! **Burp** - see you hear it too, don't you? I knew I wasn't crazy(well, not much).


and maybe Donna's in Madisonville.


Can you say eat your way across Tennessee? What's a few pounds among friends?

Not sure how much internet access we'll have along the way but I'll blog when and if I can.

One word answers

Marlene at Stitchin by the Lake threw down the gauntlet on completing this little info sheet. I’m up for the challenge, I am. Answers are supposed to be one-word but you know how I like to stretch the rules a bit.

1.Where is your cell phone? Desk

2.Where is your significant other? Garage

3.Your hair color? depends

4. Your mother? Heaven

6. Your favorite thing? photos

7. Your dream last night? None

8. Your dream/goal? Host

9. The room you're in? office

10. Your hobby? quilting

11. Your fear? birds

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Tennessee

13. Where were you last night? home

14. What you're not? skinny

15. One of your wish-list items? dog

16. Where you grew up? Illinois

17. The last thing you did? Drove

18. What are you wearing? Clothes

19. Your TV? One (but almost never watch it)

20. Your pet? None (Dan has cats but they don’t count as mine)

21. Your computer? HP

22. Your mood? Excited

23. Missing someone? family

24. Your car? Bonneville

25. Something you're not wearing? ???

26. Favorite store? fabric

27. Your summer? FAST!

28.Love someone? Absolutely

29. Your favorite color? Orange

30. When is the last time you laughed? today

31. When is the last time you cried? Hormonally?

I did it! and you thought I wouldn't be able to, I know you did. The few explanations I provided, don't count right?
Now it’s your turn! Be sure and drop me a comment if you do so I can check it out.

Just one more sign of fall

I came outside to this yesterday morning...

We received our first good frost yesterday morning. I guess this means I need to get my act together and start the car a little earlier in the mornings.


Once again, I love fall but don't even want to consider what comes next...

...and I'm not referring to the sledding in this picture. It's the white stuff you need to have to use a sled that I'm trying not to think about. I'm going to live in denial as long as I can and that's all there is to it!