Labor Day

Hope that you've enjoyed a break from all your labors today as we end the last holiday weekend of summer. Nothing like going out with a bang. In our case, it was with a splash.

We have been having a pretty quiet holiday weekend. I have been most blessed all the same. John was taking notes during the sermon Sunday and pointed one of them out to me. It said, "Lunch?" So after church, we zipped off in my car leaving John's truck in the parking lot. This is only a problem when we forget to pick it back up on our way by. We have forgotten more than a few times.

So it was a lunch, three flea markets, and an ice cream Sunday afternoon. We had been out for ice cream Saturday evening as well. That's when John announced that he'd be having a banana split. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had one, which makes it altogether too long ago. So he had his split and I had a small hot fudge sundae. Yummo!

This morning started with coffee, Bible study on tv, and breakfast at our local haunt. The parking lot was packed with cars from all over. I feel sorry for those poor people who must return to Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, and Connecticut. It means that summertime in Vacationland is over.

~look at those drips!~

Labor Day 2013 is one that many, including my grands, had counted on to be sunny, yet has been rainy and miserable. We needed a canoe to get to the door both at the restaurant and at our own home.

We have just returned from visiting the disappointed grands. I had some Smarties to deliver and some pillowcases I had made, and some fun little workbooks, and a cake pan shaped like a baseball glove, and some cupcakes and cookies. I hope that it helps with the sorrow of missing out on a beach day and a BBQ.

~my favorite candy from Canada~

Oh and we made a lovely trade...they got Smarties from Canada and we got toffee. ☺

Enjoy the remainder of your day!

Treats and Trees

It has long been understood that anyone in the family who visits Canada must return with treats for the less fortunate who were not able to visit Canada. It goes without saying that the treats will include the following: at least one loaf of King's Landing bread, Coffee Crisps, and Macintosh toffee. As you can see, there was a slight variation from the list. There was a switch from toffee to Cherry Blossoms, which are glorified and amazing chocolate covered cherries with toasted coconut. And they are big. Very. Oh yum. The memory of them is still fresh. What? Yes. Gone. All gone now.

You may remember that I have created a King's Landing bread that I now realize is not quite the real deal, but close. I've always said close. The recipe can be found here *printable recipe*

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The tree I told you about a few days ago was removed yesterday. We must wait for some sun to see if John will need sunglasses at the breakfast table.

Sadly, I think the next tree will be going soon. It's much more diseased than we could see. The tree service said that fir trees have a lifespan of about 35 years and that these trees had reached that limit or nearly. Interesting. Guess that fir trees (Christmas trees) should be used judiciously in yard planting.

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And there is more though I will save it for another day. 

We are still in the soup around here. Hope that you've managed to climb out!

Round~Thursday Inspiration

In the past two days, I have received at least three round gifts. That's right. How convenient! And especially with Mary's prompt this week being round.

First, God sent snow to greet us for the first day of spring. It's not what I usually think of for spring beauty, though it is beautiful all the same.

So there I was doing dishes at the kitchen sink Wednesday morning watching the sunlight on the icicles and appreciating all the beauty of the last-day-of-winter snowstorm...ahem. (Lies this big really could come back to bite a gal.) There was sort of a rainbow effect going on with the icicles glowing in all the various shades. The icicles were dripping and I found myself wondering if I could capture a little round drip.

Many tries later...I think 87 or something...I succeeded. At least, if we are not talking about perfectly round.

Second, my complimentary wine glasses arrived from The Wine Enthusiast. They are lovely and parts of them are definitely round, perfectly so. After all this snow, I needed some wine. No, don't let me josh you. I don't drink wine. (Not opposed, just haven't found any that tastes better than Sierra Mist™. My tastebuds are obviously very immature.) I do love pretty stemware, though, so come back tomorrow and I'll tell you more about it.

Third, the incomparable BJ of Sweet Nothings sent a package that lifted me from the doldrums. There was so much round in it, which I have merely hinted at in this photo and my header. So, you've got it, come back tomorrow!

Have you ever noticed how round the bottom of a Hershey's kiss is? Thanks for stopping by.

Linking to Mary at Little Red House for Thursday Inspiration. Won't you join us?

ツ

P.S. A big thank you to all the participants in this month's Note Card Party! I so enjoyed finding spring all over the place. It did a lot to buoy my spirits, which were pretty much on the floor after all that snow arrived. I'll try to do better with the reminders in April! Our next party is scheduled for April 17.

Molasses and Other Gifts from New Brunswick

*Music for Today*

Oh dear, I have no patience for selecting music that complements a post. None. I am floating along like a downy feather on the breeze here. All I can say is that this particular selection can cause me to shed a tear. Sometimes there is no rhyme nor reason why seemingly unrelated elements have connections for me. Would it help to know that it brings back memories of my grandfather playing his violin into the night long after my sister and I had been sent to bed? Or that I've been thinking of my grandfather because my son and daughter-in-law made a flying trip to New Brunswick, Canada last weekend? Nah. I didn't think so. ☺

~The View from the Cottage taken by the travelers~

They went to the lake to check on things and button up against winter. My son asked if there was anything he could pick up for me while in New Brunswick. Oh good man! I remembered Crosby's molasses and he remembered Coffee Crisps. 

I shall have molasses for years to come...all the better to make that sweet brown bread I told you about last spring winter. Alas, the Coffee Crisps are no more.

***

Sam was joining me at the picnic table with his dish of ice cream saying as he arrived, "...and a yellow leaf fell down..." It makes me grin that he notices life's little gifts. Later he would show me that he can tie his shoes. Yes, his father very successfully taught him to tie his shoes following an eight-step plan. What? An eight-step plan?! Whatever happened to the little bunny with two little ears? 

Anyway, here's my contribution to autumn whimsy...

~azalea leaves wearing jewel tones~

Now don't look at that dust... 

A lovely Wednesday to you!

An Evening Out

An evening out sounds grand. And it was! An evening, all 47 minutes of it, with the grands. What with our being sick and their being sick, we hadn't seen each other in too long. So with treats stashed in my purse, I was off. (Thanks to Carol for a great idea!)

The "carrot" treats confused the littlest grand all to pieces. Jake just couldn't make a connection between carrots and cheese puffs. The older thought they were funny.





And in the end, I came home with a treat. It's not in the fridge, but on it and signed by the artist, too.



So that's my first coloring book page from a grand. I also received an "I love you, too" that warmed my heart; although, I may have tried to push it too far because after another request for a kiss, Sam looked at his mother and said, "You kiss her." Cheeky little bugger!

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Look for my final thoughts for a while on comments and commenting tomorrow. And a collective cheer arose in Blogdom... Edited to add: I see that Blogger is naughty again today making commenting too much of a time waster. Hope to get back to visiting when things improve.

My hubby bought me a biography of E.B. White so I'm planning to curl up and read as much of this rainy, cold day away as possible. Enjoy your day, too!

Aha! I Knew It All Along

M&Ms are good for you! Source



Hmmm, wonder if only three blue ones will be enough...