Monday, November 24, 2014

But what minutes! Count them by sensation, and not by calendars, and each moment is a day. ~Benjamin Disraeli

November, we hardly knew you! Where did you go?  ~ Some random picture postcards ~
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“Flurries early, pristine and pearly. Winter's come calling! Can we endure so premature a falling? Some may find this trend distressing- others bend to say a blessing over sage and onion dressing.”
― Old Farmer's Almanac, The Old Farmer's Almanac 2013
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Birds have the most fun
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Blackbird ~ Go ahead and sing it ~ you know you want to
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Exposure gone awry ~ made for an interesting photo ~ either that or the neighbor’s tree is on fire
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Shelby and Knox
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Elijah ~  almost had it
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Shelby ~ contemplating her choices
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"The stripped and shapely
Maple grieves
The ghosts of her
Departed leaves.
The ground is hard,
As hard as stone.
The year is old,
The birds are flown.
And yet the world,
In its distress,
Displays a certain
Loveliness"
-   John Updike, A Child's Calendar 
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Knox ~ mom made him wait until after lunch to eat his Superman cookie he picked out at Santa’s Workshop ~ good things come to those who wait
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“November is usually such a disagreeable month...as if the year had suddenly found out that she was growing old and could do nothing but weep and fret over it. This year is growing old gracefully...just like a stately old lady who knows she can be charming even with gray hair and wrinkles. We've had lovely days and delicious twilights.”
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Avonlea
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"O wild West Wind, thou breath of Autumn's being.
Thou, from whose unseen presence the leaves dead
Are driven, like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing."
-  Percy Bysshe Shelley

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Down on the farm ~ cows and giraffes and T-Rex, oh my
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The time has come once again ~ how did it get here so fast?! ~ tagging our soon-to-be Christmas tree at the tree farm ~ we actually took the time to do this on a warm day instead of waiting for the coldest day of the year [which we always seem to do]
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All the area school’s 3rd graders competed in the Olympics at TTU ~ Elijah won the bronze medal [he was representing Italy] for the javelin throw ~ the javelin in this case being a pool noodle ~ he got to stand on the winner’s platform with first and second place [Mexico and Sweden] ~ they even played the US national anthem ~ very cool ~ proud of you, Elijah
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Knox at Poet’s Coffeehouse ~ you know, it’s a law that you must eat a chocolate chip cookie and play on an iPad when you hang out at a coffeehouse
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The works at Gondola Pizza ~ extra large
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My most fave times usually involve spending time with these peeps of mine ~ and most likely there is food ~ that’s a law, too ~ this was after they all went to see the movie Big Hero 6 ~ around the table from left: Neil, Shelby, Elijah, Holly, Knox, and Kelly ~ Kelly, Knox and I skipped the movie and enjoyed caramel apple cider at Poet’s
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American graffiti ~ never ignore anything in the shape of a heart
"Yea, I have looked, and seen November there;
The changeless seal of change it seemed to be,
Fair death of things that, living once, were fair;
Bright sign of loneliness too great for me,
Strange image of the dread eternity,
In whose void patience how can these have part,
These outstretched feverish hands, this restless heart?"

-  William Morris, November





Wednesday, November 12, 2014

HAPPY [38TH] BIRTHDAY, KELLY!

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So hard to believe our first born daughter Kelly celebrated her 38th birthday today. Of course, we say this every year, just fill in the number for that year. She wanted something different this year ~ an Oreo ice cream cake from Baskin-Robbins.
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Her sweet hubby Kerry gave her a basket of beautiful roses.
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The number on the cake may change, but the birthday girl never seems to age.
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Party animals ~ from left ~ Jane, Neil, Knox, Sarah, Kerry, birthday girl, Julia, Holly, Shelby and Elijah [and moi, plus Don arrived a little later]. That cake was delicious!
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Flat presents are always appreciated [especially when they contain a little ‘change’].
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Holly and family gave her an actual wrapped present ~ pretty scarves and boot socks and gloves [or ‘glubs’ as Kelly called them when she was a wee tot].
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Happy Birthday, Kelly! [our snow baby and almost-Thanksgiving baby ~ I was glad you were two weeks early]. Your Momma and Daddy love you so very much.

Sunday, November 2, 2014

PICTURE POSTCARDS FROM OCTOBER IN TENNESSEE

The human soul is slow to discover the real excellence of things given to us by a bountiful Creator, and not until the shadows of death begin to gather around the object that we love, do we see its worth and beauty. Autumn is the dim shadow that clusters about the sweet, precious things that God has created in the realm of nature. While it robs them of life, it tears away the veil and reveals the golden gem of beauty and sweetness. Beauty lurks in all the dim old aisles of nature, and we discover it at last. ~Northern Advocate IMG_4808
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Do you see the face?
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Bidding a reluctant but fond farewell to October