Fall is coming… and so is the obsession with PUMPKINS!

For some reason this year, as fall is approaching, I have developed an obsession with pumpkins.  I don’t know if it’s the fact that it’s been so dang hot this year, or if I miss the glorious autumn colors of my hometown (in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia), or if I’m just super psyched about Christmas decorations this year and that’s bleeding over into all the other holidays.

Who knows?

All I know is I’ve started an impressive collection of adorably cute pumpkins, and I’m loving them all!

 

My first pumpkin, found at an awesome little shop in Stewartsville, VA.  I lugged this puppy all the way home to Dallas in a tote bag on the plane.  😉  Found the little pumpkin salt and pepper shakers at JoAnns.  =)

 

A few more pumpkins I’ve picked up at Antique Malls and also a couple from JoAnns as well!

 

This picture is very important…  See those adorable little felt pumpkins in the front?  I loved these from the moment I found them yesterday – happily peeking up at me from a little basket full of pumpkins in the Antique Mall.  Pay special attention to these pumpkins, because NOT AN HOUR after I put them out, they met their demise at the paws of our cat, Checkers.  I managed to salvage two of them and placed them in a room the cat is not allowed in, however one of them was a total loss.  I’m really sad about that one =(

 

And my last set of fall decorations thus far.  I think they make a rather cute centerpiece!

If you think this is bad, wait until you see the Christmas collection I’m amassing.  😉  It’s really quite awesome.

 

Somewhere along the way…

I stopped being a Plumeria “Enthusiast” and somehow crossed the line into “Hoarder”….

I prefer to think of it as simply: I’m a Plumeria Farmer 😉

The little things in life

One of the things I learned from my scuba diving instructor has bled over into my everyday life. Appreciate the smaller things in life. Whenever we dive together, he is always looking into the little crevices, around the coral, and in the sand, and he always finds the neatest little things that would normally go unnoticed.

I have always enjoyed finding the beauty in the little things. For instance, where some see an old, dilapidated barn – I see color, history, and rugged beauty.

And this tiny hummingbird that graced our yard yesterday…. What do YOU see?

He’s a busy little guy – but he sure did love our esperanza!

Worth Waking Up For

Sunrise over Lake Lavon

Full Moon Tonight….

 

Why the long face??

Going Dry…

We’ve had a long, hot, dry summer and it’s really starting to become very obvious that the drought is really bad news. Yet, I still see people watering on the wrong days, or watering the sidewalk, the street, the driveway….

This is Lake Lavon on my way out to Princeton this morning… These tree stumps used to be covered by many feet of water – now there’s hardly any water covering them at all. This is our reservoir, and it’s quickly being reduced to almost nothing… Scary to think what lies ahead if we don’t get some rain, and soon!

Monday Again…

We had a very busy weekend – mostly yard sale punctuated by college football and a haircut.  The yard sale went off with relatively few hitches, save for the woman who woke us up at 6:55am on Saturday ringing our doorbell non-stop because the stuff wasn’t out on the driveway yet.  *sigh*  You just can’t fix stupid, especially when it’s overzealous stupid.

So after that experience, we got up extra early on Sunday thinking we’d beat the early birds out there.  Joke was on us again, as no one showed until 9:30 or so.  We finally figured out the best days to do yard sales are Friday and Saturday.  Sundays are just absolutely dead.  We ended up donating all our “leftovers” on Sunday to In-Sync Exotics, the exotic cat rescue out in Wylie, TX.  They’re having a yard sale this coming weekend to raise funds for their tigers, lions and other cats who have massive medical bills from being infected with canine distemper.  It’s been really devastating to the rescue as a few of the cats have died from a disease they can’t fight as there’s not much known about canine distemper and big cats.  Just a really sad situation.  We love this place and have visited a few times and were happy that we could do something to help.  Even if you can’t donate garage sale items, they also are accepting tax-deductible monetary donations through their website and also have an Amazon wish list.  If you’re able to help, please do!

Related articles

• Canine Distemper Virus Strikes Big Cat Refuge in Texas (natureworldnews.com)

 

 

Nothing to say…

So I’ll leave you this evening with some old favorites 😉

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Everyone, I think, remembers where they were when they heard the news 12 years ago.  I was working at a veterinary clinic at the time, and I remember we were just giving Aspen her shots when a customer came in and told us what was going on.  We didn’t have any TVs at the clinic, but turned on the radio.  When I went home for lunch I just sat there and stared at the TV.  I distinctly remember the flurry of emotions; shock, confusion, disbelief, and a deep penetrating sadness.  It’s easy not to think about the atrocities going on all over the world when we’re somewhat removed from it here, but that day stared us right in the face.  I hope that the families of those lost on that day have found peace, my heart goes out to them.  My admiration and respect goes to those first responders that ran towards hell instead of away.  Wherever you are today, take a moment and say a prayer for those lost, and those still living their lives without the ones they love.  ❤