~ Have a BOO-tea-ful Halloween ~ We Are OK

 Oliver is enjoying his spot amongst the  pumpkins ... what a handsome young lad.  I/we so adore Oliver, he is so mature & sweet.  He is the son of Bunny, theparishouse.blog.

 Our partying will be home, quietly enjoying one another as I continue to mend.  This was not a fun surgery & will be laid up for a few more weeks.  To 'boot' the day I came home my other Dr. called to tell me I had a bad UTI ... swell!  Am so ready for Oct. to be over.  So enjoying all your notes & well wishes. Thank you for remembering me. It means a lot.

  Our little Mackenzie is modeling her new outfit from 'aunt' Sherry (countrywingsinphoenix.blog)

 She loves the 'ow' (kitty) on the front of the dress ...

 We have so much fun dressing her up ... She is showing off her new rocking chair that she loves.  May your holiday celebrations be fun & safe.

For those in the path of Sandy, please know we are lifting prayers for us all to weather this nasty storm.  We are hunkered down ...

~ I'll Be Down For Awhile ... ~

Foot surgery at hospital as you read this ... be back soon.  It has been a month.  I apologize for not getting back to each of you, but I am working on it.
Have a beautiful autumn day ~

~ Out Of The Mouth ... ~ Love Is...

      One child wrote the following:
       We always used to spend the holidays with Grandma and  Grandpa.   They used to live in a big brick house but Grandpa got retarded and  they moved to Batemans Bay where everyone lives in nice little houses,  and so they don't have to mow the grass anymore!

        They ride around on their bicycles and scooters and wear name  tags because they don't know who they are anymore.
       They go to a building called a wreck center, but they must have got it fixed because it is all okay now. They do exercises there, but  they don't do them very well.     
There is a swimming pool too, but they all jump up and down in it with hats on.
       At their gate, there is a doll house with a little old man  sitting in it. He watches all day so nobody can escape. Sometimes they
Sneak out, and go cruising in their golf carts!
        Nobody there cooks, they just eat out. And, they eat the same  thing every night---early birds.
       Some of the people can't get out past the man in the doll  house. The ones who do get out, bring food back to the wrecked center for pot luck.
        My Grandma says that Grandpa worked all his life to earn his  retardment and says I should work hard so I can be retarded someday  too.
      When I earn my retardment, I want to be the man in the doll  house.  Then I will let people out, so they can visit their grandchildren.


      PRICELESS!
      Share this with all your "retarded grandparent"  friends and give them a laugh too!!

    

~ Country Roads ~

 These were taken Oct. 1, 2012 near Hampstead, Md.

 The soybeans are yellow & ready for harvest ...

 What I thought interesting, so few trees had touches of autumn up there

 & it is only 25 miles from home.

 AMEN!! Let's hear it ...

 We have noticed how tall & full the soybeans are this year, compared to usual

 crops.  They must have enjoyed our extremely hot & dry summer.

 So love just meandering thru the countryside.

 Coming along ... THANK YOU for all the warm loving notes & cards. You are the best friends ever. Love each of you ...

~ Ahhh! The Autumn Kisses & Uninvited Guest ~ Love Is...

 The crisp air, frost bit morns, clear blue skies ...

 Color palettes only God can create ...

 As the earth prepares for a long rest ...

 We can smell the aromatic pumpkin & apple pies lingering in our homes ...

 Candles flickering ...

 Birds busying for the long winter months soon to arrive ...

 The gentle breezes now become winds ...

 Seeds rest in the fresh earth ...

 Where once again a rose will bloom ...

Listen ... be wise, & keep your heart on the right path. Proverbs 23:19

 It is easier to gaze into the sun ...

 Than into the face of the mystery of God ...

 Such is its beauty & its radiance. (Hildegard of Bingen)

 You have to look for the joy

 Look for the light of God that is hitting your life & you will find sparkles you didn't know were there. (Barbara Johnson)

 We took up over 100 geraniums to keep over the winter in the garage ...

 My wonderful diLove Cathelene's rose ...

 Yesterday around 3PM I saw this 'creature' pass by my office window ...

 Of course the camera was on the other end of the house, so I darted for it to capture the fox.  Never before have we seen one in broad daylight on our property.

I am getting better every day, but assure yourself, you don't want to go thru this. Cover your skin, use sun lotions, wear hats or use umbrellas.  I have a 3 1/2" scar from my throat downward.  THANK YOU ALL for your sweet loving notes & hugs & prayers ... they each more than all the platinum in the world.

~ Surgery this AM ~ I AM HOME NOW

I am in surgery this morning, when you read this.  Squamous cell on my chest ... large space.  It is back on my nose again also.

Thank you all for your sweet notes, prayers & love.  It was a lot worse than thought, I lost a lot more of my upper chest area than anticipated & have a 3 1/2" new beauty mark to heal.


Have a great weekend.  I'll be back soon ...

~ A Wee Walk & Soccer ~ Love Is...

   

 This morning as I reflect

 on the change of seasons

 I think of the different people

 Who have come & gone in my life

 Taking root like new spring plants

 Blooming like summer flowers

 Ripening like harvest fruit

 Resting like snow-covered trees

 Just as the circle of seasons

 Is vital to renewed life

 I accept

 I give thanks for

 The seasons of my own life.  (unknown author)

 It is an extraordinary & beautiful thing

 That God, in creation ... works with the beauty of matter

 The reality of things

 The discoveries of the senses

 All five of them

 So that we, in turn

 May hear the grass growing

 See a face springing to life in love & laughter

  The offerings of creation

 Our glimpses of truth. (Madeleine L'Engle)

 Most of these pictures are on our road that we walk

 The heavens peaking thru

 A touch of color here & there

 Our precious little Miss T ...

 Tatiana (front left) getting ready to kick off in her soccer game yesterday

 Love this action pics of Tatiana

 May the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times & in every way. The Lord be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:16