Well, I guess I won’t get Grandmother of the Year! I wished Peyton a happy birthday on facebook and sent a card (of course with money — a teenager!) but forgot to mention his 19th birthday on the Word Garden. So sorry, Peyton!! So Happy, happy birthday to my Oldest Grandson – with a wish for many more! Love you!

I did some work in Jeannette this morning, stopped at the bank, got a few items at Walmart, and came home to leftover veggie soup for lunch. Did some laundry and emails and switched out some purple lights for two strings of orange (more fall-ish), answered some emails, and plan to watch Biltmore Christmas later. Big surprise there!

I did spend some time reading book 4 in the Asheville Christmas Cabin series (Traditions). There’s not a lot of Biltmore history in it, but as it’s set in Asheville and partially at the Biltmore I am enjoying it. I’m halfway through.

I updated my spending ledger spreadsheet and created next year’s to get a jump on things. It’s so much easier to compare expenses, etc, from that rather than digging through receipts and check registers. Especially utilities and taxes. So I’m glad that’s done. Then I looked outside at the sky and was rewarded with pink and blue and grey!

My blessing today was getting through my whole list – except for an ongoing long-term project!

PEANUTS Thought for the Day:

TOMORROW November 5th is:

American Football Day; National Pink Day; Bonfire Night; Election Day; Gunpowder Day; Guy Fowke’s Night; National Chinese Takeout Day; National Redhead Day (Love you Beth!); National Donut Day.

Yesterday’s fake day was National Devotions Day. Tomorrow: I will vote, and maybe have a donut. And sending hugs to my favorite redhead! God bless…

It was fun waking up to sunlight! Usually I enjoy hitting the snooze once but I didn’t need to do that today. But it’s still a little chilly. It is, after all, November!

November is our month to not teach Sunday school. So I again went to my own class. Since today was National Give Someone a Dollar Day I found Max and JJ after church and explained the ‘national’ holiday to them and gave them each a dollar. They were both excited. Those boys have done so many nice things for me (and Mary) over these last few years it was fun to do something back. They are young enough to appreciate a dollar bill!

Todd’s message was ‘Less is More’ and about having too much stuff. Reminded me of the Veggie Tales DVD about Madam Blueberry going to Stuffmart and she had so much stuff her tree house fell right out of the tree onto the ground! And like Madam Blueberry stuff doesn’t really make us happy. We shouldn’t put ourselves first (selfish). We need to lose ourselves to God (selfless). ‘Throw off everything that hinders…’

I went outside after lunch and did a few very small things. I needed to empty the lint in the outside dryer vent, hose out a storage bin, bring the Halloween projector and extension cord inside, and switch the Thanksgiving flag for the Fall one. I wasn’t out long but was glad to feel the sun — the air was really brisk!

I’m hoping to work a little on ironing the linens and my own laundry from Friday. The linens alone will probably take well over an hour…

Autmn, Noah and Cameron stopped quickly to give me the the baby Ruth candy bar that they saved for me from Cameron’s Trick or Treat. They were on their way to Noah’s family – they had an uncle from out of town visiting – and popped in here. Got to see my baby!

My blessing today was actually GIVING! To JJ and Max…

PEANUTS Thought for the Day:

TOMORROW November 4th is:

Color the World Orange Day; Job Action Day; National Candy Day; National Chicken Lady Day; National Day of Community Service; National Devotions Day; National Easy-Bake Oven Day; Roast Dinner Day; Use your Common Sense Day.

Yesterday’s fake day was National Fig day. Tomorrow: Celebrate candy; what better thing! Probably good to hang on to common sense, as well. God bless…

Before I go on to the tea, I want to post a picture of last night. Paul, Kathy, Mae, Sarah, Kyle, Millie and Wyatt (and I) went to Cracker Barrel for supper. It was very crowded! But it was a nice evening and the food was good. Outside there was a parcel of ducks that followed people around and took a liking to Millie. They were very friendly and fun!

This morning I changed my sheets and got dressed and ready for the Tea at Hanna’s Town. Charles Dickens was our guest host and stayed in character to talk and visit with the guests. He did a great job!

The girls had put up a few more fall decorations before they left yesterday, and AJ got the final quote on the chalk board by the door. I love that quote!

About 10:45am we started cutting and plating the sandwiches, scones and sweets. There was so much good food! After the guests were seated they were served spiced tea, then offered figgy pudding. It was a very dense square of cake with warm caramel sauce and clotted cream. It was a huge hit.

We offered orange/cranberry scones and sugar-frosted frozen grapes as the first course, then the sandwiches. We had pimento cheese spread on white bread; Ham and Brie on party rye; raisin bread with honey pecan spread; and smoked turkey, cranberry relish and brick cheese on sour dough bread.

The desserts were pumpkin cookies, Hershey kiss acorns, mini apple crisp bites, and gingerbread thumbprints with Dulce de Leche icing. The fun part is the volunteers get to eat the leftovers!

Kathy came about 2pm to help with the second seating and with cleanup. All the volunteers did a great job and all worked together. Kathy got to talk to Mr. Dickens for a few minutes on his break, and I took their picture.

It takes a lot of people to make this event a success. Thank to every one of them, especially our ‘General’, Claudia and the other Lieutenant Roxane. I still have three loads of linens to launder, iron and fold — so I’ll be busy with that for a day or two!

My blessing for today was this dear group of lovely friends.

PEANUTS Thought for the Day:

TOMORROW November 3rd is:

Cliché Day; National Fig Day; Daylight Savings Ends; Give Someone a Dollar Day; Jellyfish Day; National Homemaker Day; National Sandwich Day.

Yesterday’s fake day was National Leaf Day. Tomorrow: I’ll have a sandwich! God bless…

A New Month! Let’s see what November has in store for all of us.

My month/day started at Hanna’s Town. Tomorrow is the semi-annual Hanna’s Town Victorian Tea. This year we are privileged to have Charles Dickens as a special guest. He will act as a co-host and entertain our guests with quotes from his books and stories from his life. I’m sure I will miss most of it as I’ll be acting as scullery in the kitchen the whole day!

But this morning our committee gathered in the parlors at the Steele house to set up tables, set the tables, and decorate for fall. It looked very festive when the girls were finished. We have a plan, and people in place, to make this our most successful tea ever.

This is Mae’s last day in Greensburg. She’ll leave early in the morning to head home to Kentucky. I believe we are all (Kathy, Paul, Mae and I) going out to dinner at Cracker Barrel this evening. That will be a nice evening to finish up her vacation.

My blessing for today was my sweet (if not overly excitable love-to-be-in-control) friends on the Tea committee!

PEANUTS Thought for the Day:

TOMORROW November 2nd is:

All Souls Day; Be the Impact Day; Look for Circles Day; National Leaf Day; National Deviled Egg Day; World Pallet Day; National Play Outside day; National Bison Day.

Yesterday’s fake day was National Water Bottle Day. Tomorrow: Deviled eggs! And play outside. And maybe, read a Dickens quote (I made that one up!). God bless…

I woke up this morning to a dramatic sky, and to fog in the valley. Very spooky and appropriate for Halloween!

I worked in Jeannette and did a few things for Rege and Joe, then stopped at Walmart. I needed to get items for the Tea on Saturday (Hanna’s Town) and since set up is in the morning seemed like I should take it out there tomorrow.

I came home and started taking down the Halloween part of the fall decorations, and put the Thanksgiving ones up. I knew I was leaving this evening and wouldn’t be home – and no one would see them anyway. Also changed the Snoopy calendar to November.

The home health nurse came about 1pm, and did a wellness check. Everything went well so I passed everything. Also got a call from Dr. Baker’s office and all is well with the test. There was no evidence of …. whatever they suspected! So on to the next thing.

Kathy and Mae picked me up about 5:45pm and we went to the haunted tour at the Palace Theater. I think they did a really cute job with decorations and actors and stories. They had venders in the courtyard and the kids could walk though and get candy and treats. Well, adults could too! It was a nice event.

My blessings today were passing my med tests, and spending the evening at the Palace!

PEANUTS Thought for the Day:

TOMORROW November 1st is:

Scented Candle Day; National Water Bottle Day; All Saints Day; Deck the Everything Day; Extra Mile Day; Fountain Pen Day; International Pet Groomer Appreciation Day; Love your Lawyer Day; National Author’s Day; National Toothbrush Day; National Cinnamon Day; National Cook for your Pets Day; National Vinegar Day.

Yesterday’s Fake Day was National News Day. Tomorrow: Author Day! I don’t cook for myself so I doubt I’d cook for my pet. I could probably deck everything every day. Have a wonderful November! God bless…

Today was an almost-typical cleaning day. But it started out with a CTAP scan at the hospital – scheduled back in September. I can’t really interpret the notes they post on my Health record but so far as I can tell there’s nothing of concern. Just have to wait for them to call me, I guess.

The test was a little nerve wracking. It was really just a glorified CT scan, it’s just that the scan took longer and after about 15 minutes I felt hemmed in! I was playing mind games and singing Bible songs (in my head!) and playing the alphabet game. I was even singing Henrietta Pussycat and X the Owl songs (if you know, you know…) although not out loud, of course. I had to have the injection, wait an hour, have the scan, come home for 2 hours, then go back and have another scan. No pain or distress – I just didn’t like it!

So I got home the second time at about 1:15pm and started cleaning. I took my time and stopped every now and then to read a bit. When I came downstairs I put Hallmark movies on. I watched Heaven Down Here which is an excellent movie – highly recommend it! And speaking of heaven, the sky was blue and pink and went the whole way around. I took a pano picture of what I could see from my deck.

And that’s it for the day – just have to find supper!

My blessing today was to cross that scan off my list!

PEANUTS Thought for the day: Happy Birthday Charlie Brown!

TOMORROW October 31st is:

Books for Treats Day; National News Day; Girl Scout Founder Day; Halloween; National Caramel Apple Day; National Doorbell Day; National Knock-Knock Joke Day; National Magic Day; World Savings Day.

Yesterday’s fake day was National Sunshine Day. TOMORROW: Books are good, and of course Halloween. Enjoy if you celebrate. God bless…

I was in Jeannette about an hour and a half – doing deals and titles and catching up with Sir Rege. Got gas in the Ford, then came home and grabbed lasagna for lunch.

At 1:30pm I drove over to the funeral home. There was a line starting but I was pretty close to the front. I saw a few former co-workers, and got to talk to all the Smail’s. Loni – Jeff’s wife – said she was devastated. Talked to both Kathy (Jeff’s sister) and Kelly (sister-in-law) for a short time. This has been a hard thing for them – since losing Mark back in February.

On the way home from the funeral home I took some fall pictures – just to focus on beauty and peace. This has been rough – for the Smail family and for all of us with a life-long connection.

My blessing for today was offering comfort and a small connection to my Smail ‘family’.

PEANUTS Thought for the Day:

TOMORROW October 30th is:

Haunted Refrigerator Night; Mischief Nite; National Candy Corn Day; National Checklist Day; Nation Sunshine Day; National Publicist Day; National Treat Your Pet Day; National Wicked Day.

Yesterday’s fake day was National Visit Day. Tomorrow: I always have a list — and I don’t think my fridge is haunted, but you never know. Food can really disappear out of there… God bless…

Another day of frost on the car windows. One more day of being parked outside and then I can drive on the driveway. Since I had to walk through the yard to get to the car, I took pictures of the two lone flowers I found in bloom. I had a few things to do in Jeannette. Ken, Barry, and Sir Rege were all there, but Rege was very quiet.

I stopped to help Mike P with something, then went to the bank to handle a few things. I had Mary’s treat for breakfast, and she sent me the recipe. It was very good and healthy, as well! Then for lunch I had lasagna from Sarah.

I made some phone calls, answered some emails, and did laundry and ironing. One more email and this Word Garden to post, then I can grab supper. And I finally got my prescription refilled and picked it up.

Autmn and Cameron stopped by. They were visiting Lauren (Chrissy’s mom) and Lauren sent up a few things for me that she found. She knows I love Snoopy. I can’t wait for Cameron to put the puzzle together, and for Easter to have a cup of tea! Thank you, Lauren!!!

Cameron – as usual – was happy and fun and had a good time rearranging my family room décor! He also enjoyed pulling around Queen Buzzy Bee!

My blessing today was having Autmn and Cameron here!

Quote for today:

PEANUTS Thought for the Day:

TOMORROW October 29th is:

National Visit Day; National Cat Day; National Hermit Day; National Internet day; National Oatmeal Day.

Yesterday’s fake day was National Food Day. Tomorrow: Jen will celebrate CATS! I will have the last two pieces of my Oatmeal rounds that Mary gave me. Enjoy! God bless…

The view out my bedroom window this morning:

We had a nice class this morning – Cody, Jackson, and little Silas. He was the youngest but he was very good and excited to hear the lesson. You could see by the expressions on his face that he understood the story. We learned about Naaman.

Mary brought me a treat this morning – a healthy breakfast alternative. I sampled it when I got home – it was made with oats and eggs and cinnamon – not sure what else – but it was very good. I’ll have it for breakfast in the morning.

When I left church I stopped at Dollar Tree and got two birthday cards, as I have 2 family November birthdays. Then I popped into Walmart (Norwin) and picked up just a few necessities. One, of course, would have been Klondike bars!

I had just finished lunch and a few small chores when Sarah called. She was dropping off a lasagna for me! It feels like I haven’t cooked a real meal since 1983! Now I have options for two homemade treats – breakfast and supper. I hardly know how to react. Except to say a big thank you! Yum!

I forgot to mention yesterday that I wore a ‘costume’ (not entirely period authentic) to Hanna’s Town yesterday. I made this outfit the year a bunch of us went to Williamsburg in the fall. Sarah was young, and had the Felicity American Girl Doll, and there was a program at Williamsburg that was patterned after the Felicity books – where you met Penny the horse and went through some of the same houses, and also had lessons at Miss Manderly’s and we made pin cushions. I loved that outfit. And it was fun, because yesterday I got more compliments on that outfit than for anything I every wore at Hanna’s Town! Even though it wasn’t ‘authentically accurate!’

My blessing today was the generous gifts of breakfast and supper! Thanks Mary and Sarah.

QUOTE for the day:

PEANUTS Thought for the Day:

TOMORROW October 28th is:

International Animation Day; National Chocolate Day; National Food Day; National First Responders Day; October Bank Holiday; Plush Animal Lovers Day; Wild Foods Day; National Internal Medicine Day.

Yesterday’s fake day was national Brush Day; Tomorrow? CHOCOLATE! God bless…

Autmn sent me a few pictures of Cameron in his Snoopy PJ’s! He’s so cute!

As per usual for a Saturday, I changed my bedsheets and washed them. After breakfast I got organized for a morning at the Fall festival at Hanna’s Town. I was stationed in the Tavern from 11am to 1:30pm. Tom came over and built a fire in the fireplace but it didn’t stay lit. I kept feeding it newspaper but it didn’t help much.

Jim came over and started over, and before long we had a great blaze going. It was chilly in the Tavern so I was happy for the extra heat. We had a steady but not overly busy flow of people so my morning went fairly fast. When my shift was over Amber came in to replace me. I grabbed a piece of the sandwich ring set out in the kitchen for the volunteers, then walked around and took a few pictures.

My favorite were of the ghosts, and the lanterns!

Hanna’s Town was given another log cabin. Here they are prepping to reconstruct.

Nate was finishing up sealing the driveway when I got home. We got a different brand and grade this time – hoping it works well and keeps the driveway from chipping over the winter.

I put the new tree together and plugged it in. All good! I didn’t fluff the branches like I would when I was going to decorate it but it will work just fine. I’m happy with it!

Quote of the day:

My blessing today was being back at Hanna’s Town!

PEANUTS Thought for the Day:

TOMORROW October 27th is:

Cranky Co-Workers Day; National American Beer Day; National Brush Day; National Black Cat Day; National Mentoring Day; National Mother-in-Law Day; Navy Day; Visit a Cemetery Day; Grandparents Week.

Yesterday’s fake day was National Sweep Day. Tomorrow: Avoid cranky co-workers! AND Black cats. I think it’s safe to visit a cemetery, and remember those who touched your life! God bless…