Family, Flying....and Fun!

And I should have added fear, also. I may have said it before, even though my husband loves flying, and is the most amazing pilot, I am not comfortable in the air. So sad, but true.

So, what this is all about, we flew down to Kentucky to a family reunion this past weekend.

It was so great to reconnect with family and even meet some cousins whom I had only known through blogging!

I only wish we could have stayed longer.

Loading the airplane, what a face!!

Big Sister was "copilot" she was so proud of her job.

We flew above the clouds, they were beautiful, so huge and the sun was really bright. When we had to go down under them, the contrast from bright, blue skies to overcast weather was interesting.

So the sky really is always blue, sometimes we just can't see it.  :)

I forgot to switch out camera batteries for the trip, so I didn't get as many photos as I would have liked, but we had an awesome time!

Happy Monday!!

Sunday Morning Coffee...

.... and I'm reflecting on God's love and care for me.

 Why do you complain, Jacob? 

   Why do you say, Israel,

“My way is hidden from the LORD;

   my cause is disregarded by my God”?

 Do you not know?

   Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God,

   the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

   and his understanding no one can fathom.

 He gives strength to the weary

   and increases the power of the weak.

 Even youths grow tired and weary,

   and young men stumble and fall;

 but those who hope in the LORD 

   will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

   they will run and not grow weary,

   they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40 27-31

Picking Apples

Last Saturday our little family went to a local orchard on a mountain and picked apples.

I've been trying to enjoy and savor these last days of summer, but the temperature dropped and it was a perfect introduction to fall. 

For my local readers: this is a great way to experience fall. It was so pretty and the apples are amazing.

The Jonagolds were our favorite.

They had fresh, apple cider donuts, the smell was heavenly!

 The Pilot looking for airplanes.

Children tumbling down the hill - I used to love to do that!

Sign ideas.

My sweet girl.

Ending the day with soup.

I made two batches of applesauce, so good.

Painting and Sewing...

I've been working on curtains for Big Sister's room. And I am painting her dresser turquoise.

It came out really bright and garish, so I toned it down by adding dark gray paint. Now I just need to get it finished. 

I'll show you all when it's all done!

Have a great day!

How I finally made a skirt for my sink...

This old sink was salvaged from an old house that sits on the lot behind ours. We bought this lot soon after we bought our house that we live in now, and someday, we may build and move back there.

Anyhow, I love this sink, it's so useful for gardening, chicken and dog chores, etc. For keeping some of the dirt out of my kitchen. This actually was my kitchen for quite some time as we remodeled our real kitchen.

My husband built the sink base, he did a great job!

I guess I didn't make a curtain sooner because I always wanted everything to look nice on the shelf, pretty baskets holding cleaning supplies, you get the idea. In reality though, it is pretty bad under there, lots of paint cans, my sewing machine, toilet paper packages and on and on.

I would show you a before picture but it's too embarrassing.

I reused some old curtain panels, hung them sideways and sewed a strip of the same material cut on the bias. (That way it won't unravel.) I was going to gather it but for some reason decided not to - and I like it very much!

Orchard Ladder Love

Last Saturday, we stopped at an outdoor flea/yard sale, and I had a good feeling about this one. There were tables of stuff set out in front of an old man's shop and old furniture spread around everywhere.

I asked again as I had at every sale that day, "Do you happen to have any old wooden ladders for sale?"

(I had gotten used to the funny looks by then.) 

This older gentleman let us rummage around inside his shop. There were old tractors, lots of furniture and machinery. Just as I asked him, I saw them. Two ladders in the back! He says his father got them from an orchard years ago.

$20 later we drove away with two wonderful ladders! (And a few other things.)

I had to trim about two feet off and then I gave it a light sanding with the random orbital sander to get rid of the surface grime.

Then I cleaned it with mineral spirits and found a spot for it in my dining area.

I found the flour sacks at a yard sale earlier in the day.

I love this, and it was rewarding to finally find it after looking for awhile.

I'm saving the second ladder, I haven't decided what to do with it yet.

I'm linking up to the Primp Link Party.

One of my "finds"

I think this was part of an old headboard, or maybe a buffet? Anyhow, for five dollars I was willing to give it a try.

I thinned some white paint with water and whitewashed it.

 I like to think of it as an architectural element, but what do you think? Does it make you wonder, why would she hang an old headboard on the wall?

My husband had the idea of putting some hooks on the bottom and using it as a coat rack. I think that would be amazing - but I don't have an entry wall available, so for now it fills my above the couch space.

Eleven Years Together

Friday we celebrated our eleventh anniversary with a nice dinner on our downtown mall.

Dinner was so very good...

We shared the apple pie - yum!

Fridays After Five was in full swing. We stayed and watched awhile, I could not believe how loud this band was!

The pavilion is always interesting, especially at night.

Yesterday we went antiquing and I found several awesome things that I'll share later.

I really enjoyed spending a relaxing weekend with my husband/best friend!

Smile With Me....

Even my coffee is happy - it's going to be a great day folks!

Rainy Evening Thoughts....

The children and my very tired husband are asleep now and I'm sitting here knitting to a very gentle rain.

And I'm just thinking about all that has happened in my world recently. My own little household, nothing major, the beginning of the change of seasons, the end of summer gardening and beginning of a bit of fall gardening, 1st grade starting for Big Sister and with that, only one more year before Little Brother will begin school.

My thoughts tend to lead back to myself, at the end of the day, I'm full of gratitude for these blessings, yet sometimes there's a good deal of regret, I wish I had more patience, was sweeter to my husband.

I'm thinking about the little one that I'm knitting for, (a friend's baby) coming so soon to this world.

And how my own were little not too long ago. Newborns, completely taking over my life and leaving little socks and blankets and hats littering the halls.

There's a hurricane happening right now just a few hours away - I'm praying for those caught in it.

The earthquake was interesting, a reminder that I don't really have as much control over my life as I like to believe. 

At the end of my day....  I want,

 less regret.

More living in the present, more joy. 

Because it's out there for the taking.

Life really is beautiful.