Eh.

I have heard lots of opinions about Christmas merchandising and decorating LONG before Thanksgiving and how OUTTA HAND it is... I really have been unruffled by all the hype. Christmas seemed MONTHS away.

Then, a friend of mine posted on FB today that she had brought home 22 boxes of Trader Joe's Candy Cane Joe Joe's. If you  like chocolate mint these babies are only around for a short time and when they are gone they are GONE.  I can pass them by...but my family? They go nuts over them. SO, maybe I WILL buy early? (I will NOT be buying 22 boxes.)

Then I saw this nifty tree and I do love re-purposed decorating ideas...

Then we got a bag of these beautiful OLD bulbs and ornaments at The Shoppe and I think they are WONDERFUL. (I have GOT to tell you about The Shoppe!)

When I got home from an out of state trip THIS was neatly dug in preparation for our annual root ball Christmas tree...THAT excites me!

Our family has fallen in love with Nate's Companion/Therapy Papillon, Luka...I ordered these darling painted cards for Nate to give out this Christmas...what's not to love!? (Find these at Etsy.com)

I am REALLY looking forward to a LONG Thanksgiving weekend next week but will embrace the Christmas season too!!!!

Didn't we just HAVE Christmas though?

The plan.

In our first home I put things up on the wall that I was NOT happy with...I disliked seeing lots of blank wall space. Subsequently I found myself detesting what I had placed on the wall but not changing it.

Fast forward to our moving into Killeny Glen. I vowed I would never hang items on the wall that I did not love in some way. Our foyer/entryway at Killeny Glen is large and somewhat cavernous...as much as I do not like this stark, large stair case I did not know exactly what I wanted hanging in such a big area.

Over the last six years I gathered clippings and bits of ideas from various places and finally collected exactly what I wanted...then I solicited the help of a handsome handy man to help me out with the hanging of my foyer wall plan. He is precise and fastidious in the way he does things so I knew he would be the ONE for the job. (He also fears ME doing it as I have a fondness for jute, duct tape and "eye balling" things!)

Bob's fancy new ladder was just right for the job.

 Bob had two furry assistants always at the ready.

I collected each item with care.  I found all the frames at auction or thrift stores. 

I love that each thing is specific and has meaning to our family:

needlepoint "K", our favorite hymn, music from Nana, my favorite photo of our children, China, etc.

 

I thoroughly enjoy this grouping each and every day.

Worth the wait!

Fall thoughts...

We have thoroughly enjoyed the beauty of fall this year...gorgeous colors and fall experiences...I never grow tired of looking at hundreds of pumpkins waiting to be chosen...

One of the countless blessings of being a mom to five kids is the beautiful and VERY unique relationships each child has with his or her siblings...the love that they show each other never fails to enchant me...

The perfect pumpkin chosen...it brings a great sense of satisfaction. Sam loved this photo since the Angry Bird on his t-shirt looked like it was about to GOBBLE up his pumpkin. BOYS - love them!

This tin can robot dummy was such fun...isn't she awesome??

The colors of fall...are truly miraculous.

J-O-Y

My rain lilies are blooming AGAIN.

In October.

On a rainy day.

SO welcome. Joy in the small things.

12 seconds of free time....

Things of late at The Glen...

This is a favorite "to go" snack...no processed crap in these and they really are a treat. I haven't tried all the flavors but the ones I have....SO good!

Now on the FLIP side of processed foods I had to buy my annual bag of these yummy morsels...I just need a handful...just ONCE a year!

Our two high schoolers went to the Homecoming Dance and the two kids in this picture CANNOT be MY sweet babies!?!?!? They are beautiful inside and out. We are so thankful for them...but REALLY friends...WHO are these young adults????

I am helping with a VERY BIG project for our community. It has the potential to be AWESOME. It is a TON of work. Old building = lots of GROSS things including BATS...

Jill HATES bats flying around her head!!!!!!!!!!!

I laugh EVERY. SINGLE. TIME I think about me screaming and jumping ALL over that building with bats flying around. I KNOW I woulda won 10k had I been on a video show.

I REALLY want to read Tattoos on the Heart.

We live in the country...neighbors are not physically CLOSE in the country...but our closest neighbors are moving this week...I AM VERY SAD...they are wonderful, amazing people...we wish them the best...and will miss regular visits from this sweet face too.

And my FAVORITE e-card post on FB today:

"Don't you just love those twelve seconds when all the laundry is done?"

WHY YES I DO. SUBLIME!

random on a friday

Fridays at our house = FOOTBALL.

 We love football! And...we happen to have THE cutest cheerleader on the squad.  And a very cool tenor saxophone player in the band. We play our rival tonight. I have actually thought about taking a COW BELL! Hmmmmm. My family may disown me for my unchained enthusiasm.

My rain lilies keep blooming. They are kinda AMAZING. Pure joy.

I love it when there are tons of kids at our house and we get piles of shoes at the door. It does this Momma's heart good. They eat a lot too. WHOA!

I am a TRUE Midwestern girl and LOVE being surrounded by corn fields (and soy beans) as I do my daily driving!

I have a question...what IS Nasty Bingo? AND...do I want to play it? Maybe.

Yes, I think I do.

Happy Weekend ALL!

Fort Samuel

Do you remember building a fort as a kid?

Finding EVERY pillow and blanket you could lay your hands on to set up an indestructible shelter that would keep out enemies and also be a great place to eat animal crackers? 

Remember the feeling of HOW COZY it was on the inside...YOU against THE WORLD - - OR the pirates that are looking to reclaim their treasure...or in Sam's case--- keep out the older siblings...

 This is the LOOK OUT to sound the alarm for intruders. When intruders come, there is screaming and lots of artillery sounds....oh, sirens and smoke too (pretend of course.)

 Do not be fooled by a sweet cuddly bear...he guards the front entrance and has vicious teeth. The AT AT walker is prepared to attack as well. Do not be deceived by a "smiley face blanket" either...it is to catch you OFF guard.

One must ALWAYS be prepared for AIR ATTACKS...and in this case Batman and a few friends from A Barrel of Monkeys will keep the enemy at bay while you make your escape out the secret back door.

Oh, and one more thing...forts and hideouts are THE BEST place for your kitten to nap safely.

Just another day...

On our regular drive to a neighboring village for breakfast, I snapped these photos...it is a path we travel at least weekly and it is a treat EVERY time...beautiful scenery and wonderful company.

I love it when it is time to bale hay. I love all the wagons and bales of hay dotting the open fields. I LOVE living in a Midwestern farm community.

I have decided that I would look fabulous driving THIS truck. I would fill it with ALL kinds of goodies from the Farmer's Market and wear my big black, farm boots while driving it!

 This teepee is just around the corner from Killeny Glen. Our area is RICH in Native American history. I would love to go inside!

This goat is one of a large group of mostly white goats...they are full of energy and antics and jump and prance all over their pasture.VERY entertaining.

Have a wonderful day friends.

Nana's Hands II

In memory of Nana Boo August 1913 to August 2013

This is by far my favorite post about Nana Boo...this photo of her smiling is how I remember her best. Her music room (in which she sits) is such a hallowed place. We all knew how seriously she took her music and almost ALL of our family play instruments and sing because of her influence.

In May of 2008 The Shelbyville News featured my dear Nana Boo in an article written by Bettina Puckett entitled STRIKING A CHORD. It was a lovely article written about her incredible life as a music teacher. The photos that Dayla Thurston took were wonderfully heartwarming! She expertly caught Nana's beautiful smile and I adore these photos!

My beaming Nana Boo in her music room...she has taught piano for more than 60 years! Isn't she beautiful?  

My Nana's hands...oh how I love them! I remember sitting in church and holding her soft hands...she has always worn an opal from Australia (A place she and my Grand-dad traveled MANY times, they have dear friends there) See the charm bracelet dangling? This is also a beautiful piece of jewelry featuring all her grandchildren on charms. (I am eagerly awaiting my framed version of this photo for MY piano!)

My Nana is ninety five years young! She still makes some MEAN Corn Chowder and plays her music!

Buttons and Memories

In memory of Nana Boo August 1913 to August 2013

I love OLD things and have a very sentimental side. I am NOT crafty in ANY way but enjoy the art and expression of others. My Nana Boo has always done needle crafts and knitting and MANY years ago she did Button Bracelets. Years ago, the little village she lives in used to have a button factory. My grandfather would get handfuls of the buttons and had quite a collection of unique buttons. These buttons were largely used in my grandmother's bracelets. I love this button bracelet so much and have taken to wearing it again! It is stylish and unique and makes me feel a bit exotic when I wear it!

Madeleine wanted to model the bracelet while practicing the piano. 

I love the old and unique buttons that make up this bracelet!

Nana Boo is coming to dinner this week (she will be 96 years old this month) and she will be surprised that I still have this bracelet, that I wear it, and that I featured it on the blog.

First published 7/30/09

Treasures

In memory of Nana Boo - August 1913 to August 2013

I love things with a history, with a story to share...I love to imagine all the things that happened in the room where an antique sat...so you will understand how THRILLED I am to be the caretaker of my Mitchell family grandfather clock. My grandfather wrote out the clock's history and placed it inside the door. This clock was crafted in London, England in 1751. A man, named Freeman, bought it at auction in 1924 and brought it to the U.S. My great grandmother Grace bought it in 1926 and then passed it along to my grandparents when they broke up the contents of my grandfather's family home. It came to rest at Killeny Glen on October 8th, 2008. This clock is full of memories for me. It rings loud and clear like a trolley car and it reminds me of my grandparents home. It was the first thing you see as you walked into their house. My Nana still lives in that house. As children at Christmas, in the absence of a mantel, my brother and I would hang our Christmas stockings from tiny hooks on the side of the Grandfather clock -those hooks are still intact. The ticking of this clock adds a warmth and life to Killeny Glen that I truly embrace every day.      




My grandfather penned a poem regarding this clock:

I am old and worn, as my face appears,
For I've walked in time for two hundred years,
Many have fallen since I begun,
Many will fall ere my race is run.
I have buried the world with its joys and fears,
In my long, lone march of two hundred years. 

Originally Published November 28th, 2008

Post Script:
This is a photo of Nana and I June 2012. One of the reasons Nana wanted me to take the clock was so that she could SEE it residing in its new home. I cannot tell you how excited I was to show her where I had placed this dear treasure.

Camera Glimpses

In memory of Nana Boo - August 1913 to August 2013

John Peter Berger said that "A camera relieves us of the burden of memory." A day spent with my Nana...capturing the essence of WHO she is and HOW I want to remember her now and always is a gift. As I age and my memory fades and distorts faces, colors and details, I find that some things are NOT worth remembering but many things I truly want to GRASP and hold tight. My camera assists me in providing me these photos to treasure now and even twenty years from now I feel confident that I will REMEMBER.


My Nana is elegant and enjoys jewelry and color. At almost 97 years young she still wears nail polish AND these shoes...I love these shoes.

The toys...in the "boys room" are antique and heavily used for DECADES but STILL ready for a little boy to come and open up a world of adventure.

Nana is always willing to have a photo taken and we all jump at the chance to sit close to her.

Nana (and my GrandDad) made MANY trips to Australia...these rugs are around their home and OH, so very soft. I snuggled on them as a little one and now my kiddos do too.

Nana entertained often and has many beautiful serving pieces...she still invites the neighbor over for dinner from time to time.

I have always adored Nana's brilliant smile.

All my life as we drove away from her lovely home she stood in the door and waved.

Precious memories made today. 


~First published June 2010.