Parents

My folks--we said goodbye and see you in heaven to our mama in January--just a few weeks after her 87th birthday. It's really been a difficult year--as she had a major stroke last summer and it was heartwrenching as we watched her health decline so quickly. We had some really wonderful days with her, and I'll always be so grateful that we managed to take care of her at home, where we could spend some quality time with her. We know that Mama and Daddy are now once more together in Heaven, just where they need to be. We love you, Mama and Daddy! We're trying to be strong, and be what you taught us to be.

Saying Goodbye

Happy Retirement Hensrule!

Saying Goodbye is hard enough when you've enjoyed working with folks; but most times, the person doing the leaving will still be seen around town, or home, in the marketplace, at church, etc Then, you've got those that leave and go elsewhere--really do retire! Then, you realize that life is changing! For Real! We threw a party this morning for one of our favorite employees! I do know that life here will never be the same! We'll miss you! No, I'll miss you dreadfully! Yes, we'll still be blogging, and facebooking, swapping recipes and craft ideas! But you won't BE HERE! We've had two retirements this year! Man! That's Hard! New faces will be here, I'm sure, and we'll get to know them and learn to work with them; but let me tell you right now, new folks--whomever you are--you got some mighty big shoes to fill!



 

Getting Creative

I've been getting creative with paper; from the ideas off Pinterest, and scraps of anything I've got! So, found these cute little house designs for creating some tiny houses out of printables found on Pinterest! I made a couple for a display in the kitchen here in the library--they're so easy! You just print them off, cut them out, fold them on their fold lines, glue and put together! Voila! It's done. I'm going to see if I can create me a tiny walkway for them to sit on, from some candy designed scrapbooking papers and make me a little village! Then, maybe I might get creative over the months of winter (as long as I have a heater at my feet) and create some tiny houses and stuff made out of felt--saw this too! Reminded me of when I used to create all the time!

Santa's Watching You

Santa is watching you!
And, I guess it's true...at least if it's not Santa, it'll be the 'elf on the shelf!

Take a look at your Christmas tree and see who is peeking from the branches--after all, we seem to be a very visual generation these days--once, as a young child, all my daddy or mother had to say, is 'Santa's watching you' and I believed in the magic! I didn't have to see him or hear him or feel his beard, to know that he was definitely keeping up with me! Whatever I was doing, how I was acting--you can bet that He WAS WATCHING ME! My EVERY MOVE! Mama and Daddy didn't need a silly little elf--though I still do have one that made its' appearance many years ago--not just one of those 'elf on a shelf guys' either! Santa Clause was always in our household--thru the long winter and short springs, and long, hot, dry and humid summers! He was always keeping an eye out and probably a hand over our mouth!

Apple Cake for Fall

 Fresh Apple Cake....Tastes Like Fall

1 c vegetable oil 2 c sugar 3 eggs 3 c flour 1 tsp baking soda 2 tsp vanilla extra...ct 1 c chopped pecans 3 c peeled and chopped apples Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13" pan. Combine oil, sugar, and eggs. Stir in flour and baking soda. Add vanilla, pecans, and apples. Spread in prepared pan and bake for 45-50 minutes. Cool for 2 hours. Then prepare frosting. Frosting 1/2 c butter 1 c brown sugar, packed 1/4 c evaporated milk 1/2 tsp vanilla Boil all ingredients in a small saucepan for 2 minutes. Set pan in bowl filled with ice water. Beat icing until of spreading consistency. Spread over top of cak

Fall is in the air, and it makes me so happy!

My sweet children in their Senior Portraits and some of my books! You will see my Grandmother's Iron used as a bookstop; and a jar 1/4 full of pennies--I keep having to grab some!

Little Golden Books illustrated by Eloise Wilkin~~some of my favorites!

Antique dresser is my 'coffee table' in my den--as you can see, books are everywhere! I love decorating books; gardening books; birding books; you name it, I love books!

A Fall Centerpiece for my coffee table in my den, and in the background, yep, you guessed it! more books!

Rambling along the Old Federal Road

Old Federal Road

The Old Federal Road between Middleton Cemetery and Holley's Store

Elizabeth, daughter of Luke Derbin, wife of Eli Stroud, slain by Indians in the Ogley Massacre; buried in the Middleton Cemetery, along the Old Federal Road

Historical Marker for the site of Price's Hotel on the Old Federal Road

John Lemley walking a portion of a branch of the Old Federal Road

Middleton Cemetery

Site of Holley's Store on the Old Federal Road