I Love Halloween

Today's entry is going to be long

and full of pictures.

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays

The girls love it too.

The day started with purple and orange

pancakes with bloody syrup

and blood colored apple juice.

Then , this afternoon, Emily fine tuned

the outside decorations.

Dinner started with drinks

of the various blood types

for the girls

and Embalming liquid for the adults

Dinner consisted of purple and orange

mashed cauliflower complete with

crawly maggots

and bloody witch's fingers.

Accompanying this lovely meal

was , of course, an eye ball salad.

The table looked lovely.

All was fun and games until

the candles started bleeding....

After supper, the girls went up to get dressed.

Escorted by the dogs in their tuxedo,

they were "Puttin' on the Ritz"

While they were out "trick or treating"

the Hallowitch left all kinds of goodies,

including the coveted

"New Moon" sweetarts.

As the girls were coming home

I couldn't help but notice the moon....

A perfect Halloween moon...

Then we sat down and watched

"Silence of the Lambs"

Our Halloween was perfect,

I hope yours was too.

Halloween always makes me smile......

Report cards are in!

The middle school

sent home report cards today.

How nice it was to see the girls,

coming out of their skins

with excitement and in anticipation

of my reaction when I would see their grades.

Both Emily and Ashley came home

with not only all "A's" but

High "A's" at that.

The school also held an award ceremony today

to honor the students who performed well

on last year's CATS test (state exam).

Ashley received a gold medal for getting

Proficient and Distinguished grades.

All her grades were well above the state average.

Emily also received a gold medal and

a plaque for Academic Excellence.

She scored all Distinguished,

the highest category of marks.

I couldn't be more proud of our daughters.

They work extremely hard

and are conscientious student.

They earned every one of those awards.

Way to go , girls.

You make me smile......

X marks the spot

It was sunny today.

Well for half the day anyway.

It was a glorious half!

Nothing like a sunny autumn day.

I couldn't take my eyes off the blue sky above.

Planes were creating contrails

all over the sky.

then I saw these.

A perfect X.

It made me smile.......

Area Rugs

Today was gray.

Not raining, but gray....all day.

Last night's storms did leave us

with nice front lawn decorations.

Each of us had lovely area rugs under our trees.

Ours was in hues of reds and oranges,

while our neighbor's was in beautiful shades

of yellows and golds.

Driving around today,

picking up the girls from school,

I saw that some got wall-to-wall carpeting!

How lucky for them......

Have I mentioned that

I love Fall?

it makes me smile.......

last flower

It's raining AGAIN.

It's getting harder to find things

that make me happy

when it's always gray,

always raining,

mostly windy

and getting colder.

THAT is nothing to smile about.

I was out in this mess

with dog in tow

(his idea not mine)

when I noticed a little flower

on a plant that hasn't bloomed in weeks

Nature never fails to amaze me

and make me smile......

Hope Spring Eternal

Tonight, the whole family

attended an orientation session

for Bentley's upcoming training lessons.

Kim comes highly recommended.

She explained a dog's view of the world

and how we make them understand,

lovingly, who this world belongs to.

She had two Golden Retriever in attendance.

A male and a female puppy.

Both dogs were attentive, obedient,

playful and very obviously happy.

I have great hope for Bentley.

How much more wonderful

both our worlds are going to be

when he understands the rules!

That will make me smile.......

She's back!

Sometimes the things that fill your heart

are big and sometimes they are small.

Either way, they can fill your heart

so full you think it might burst.

After being gone for 4 days,

Kayla came home last night.

When you are not used to having

your children gone, ever,

it's a huge thing when they come home

safe and sound.

So this morning, I came down from my shower

to find Kayla sitting in the family room.

What a sight for sore eye.

It filled my heart and made me smile......

The feast continues

Ashley made lunch for us today.

Supervised and instructed by Dennis,

she made Chicken Bacon Pita Sandwiches.

They were beautiful

and delicious.

Ashley had a good time planning,

executing and serving her chosen meal.

it made me smile.......

practicing for halloween

Today Miss Ellie

was posing in the sun room

by the Halloween decorations.

She was letting the skeleton hand

scratch her back and face.

Does she not look like

she is practicing saying

"Halloween"?

Her little mouth is in the "lo" position

And what about that "frightening " stance?....

Better beware!

Or maybe she is giving us her rendition

of Diana Ross' "Stop in the name of Love"

Frightening in itself!

She makes me smile....

got text?

Communication

is at an all time high.

Some of it is good,

some of it is bad,

some of it is sometimes dangerous.

But nothing can bring

a smile to my face

like a text from Kayla,

who is away from us this week

for four whole days

How wonderful that,

at 15, she still takes the time

to share her day with me.

I couldn't be more grateful.

it makes me smile.......

Another Fall Picture

Everyday,

on our way to school,

we drive by this line of trees.

We have been watching

their leaves changing, daily.

This one tree in particular

catches your eye.

It is different from all the others.

I wait in anticipation

to see how it looks

from day to day.

Pictures don't always

do justice to the vibrancy

of the colours.

Each time I see it I think

I'd love a dress this colour......

and smile.....

congratulation it's an it

Today Bentley got neutered.

why did this

bring me happiness?

Well, there are several reasons.

But what made me smile,

at Bentley's expense,

was seeing him in his

"no lick collar".

You have to admit

it does bring a smile.......

P.S. forgive the blur

but it was the cutest picture

Fall tomatoes

Is there such a thing

as fall tomatoes?

We are blessed with them this year.

Kayla bought a $1.00 pot

at Target this spring

with tomato seeds.

I never thought

they would amount to anything.

But we planted, watered and nurtured.

We planted them in pots outside

and waited.

A few weeks ago

flowers appeared.

and now tomatoes.

A fall miracle.

How can it not make you smile......

Happy Breakfast

Today the sun came up,

shining brightly.

We could feel our spirits

rising with sun.

So how to celebrate

such a beautiful day?

with multicolored

pancakes, of course.

they brought a smile

to every face.......

grasping at straws

Today just wasn't a good day.

they can't all be good, right?

So I had to dig deep for this one.

You may even find it a stretch.

I did see something today

You don't often see.

monkeys made out of coconuts.

How can you look at these

and not smile......

Colour Swatch

The weather has been rainy

and windy

for the past few weeks.

Each storm brings colder weather.

The trees are loosing their leaves

before they have a chance

to adorn Autumn's finest.

I was out with the dog this afternoon

and noticed this one branch,

deep within our maple tree,

the only one with changed leaves.

It looked like the colour swatches

you would put on your wall

to try out the colour

and see if you would like

to make the change permanent.

I think this one's a winner !

Isn't nature awe inspiring?

it makes me smile......

The fruits of our labor

Today was another gray day.
The rain this morning
brought frigid temperatures.
But inside the air was sweet
and warm ( sometimes hot!).
The girls and I made our annual
apple sauce and apple butter.
All the while enjoying
warm apple cider
spiced with cinnamon sticks,
whole nutmeg and whole cloves.
How delightful....



Right now the three of them are downstairs
singing along with our wii version
of American Idol.
Now THAT makes me smile.....

Pumpkin carvings

Today was our annual

pumpkin carving day.

The girls and I

have been doing this

for many years.

A few years ago

we started carving

foam pumpkins.

We save them

from year to year.

The girls love o see

the progression

in their caving ability.

Here are today's masterpieces.....

One more thing they still like to do

it makes me smile....

Someone to miss you

Today was pretty uneventful.

The girls are on fall break this week,

so we went shopping.

The fall colours are really hit and miss.

As we were driving around town

I was noticing tree that had lost all their leaves

before they had a chance to change colour.

So I went outside, when we got home,

to take picture of the few plants

that are in full autumn regalia.

When I got back to the house

Bentley was staring out the window,

by the front door,

waiting for my return,

as if I had been gone a very long time.

When I saw him, I thought....

That is happiness.....

someone to miss you.

and I smiled.....

Apple Picking

Every year,

for as long as I can remember,

the girls and I

go apple picking.

We love the smell in the orchard,

we love the cool breeze in the air.

We love the apple cake we make the next day,

the homemade apple sauce,

and the apple butter that has become a favorite.

Every year we look forward to apple picking.

And all the smiles.......

It makes me so happy

that the girls still want to do this

every year..

the making of a great dinner

About a month ago

it was decided

that the girls would all take a day,

Ashley on Fridays,

Emily on Saturdays,

and Kayla on Sundays,

to cook dinner.

Because of our schedules

Kayla has been the only one

to consistently make dinner

on her chosen day.

Including dessert.

( you can check out her blog,

"a picture a day" for tonight's fare)

I would like to think

that this is a gift they are given.

They seem to be enjoying the process.

Cookbooks and the internet

are perused weekly

in search of the next great recipe.

What I love most

is that they are looking past the chicken recipes

to lamb, pork and pasta.

Greek and Morrrocan recipes.

Spices and ingredients never before seen .

What a wonderful pleasures

cooking can bring to your life.

It makes me smile.......

Dancing Ladies

I love orchids.

I own 6 or 7 different plants,

in different colors.

Orchids are like potato chips,

you can't own just one!

One of my favorites

in my "Dancing Ladies" orchid.

I have had a plant for about 3 years.

But this year it stopped producing,

shriveled up and was dying.

Today, I found a new plant.

In full bloom.

Can you see it?

Aren't the Dancing Ladies beautiful.

The look very regal in their yellow gowns.

Like miniature angels.

Finding my new plant made me happy.

a finished project ..... almost

The girl's bathroom got finished today...

Almost !

I have one more thing to do

but the paint has to cure for 30 days.

So stay tuned...

It turned out ok.

The girls like it

and it's all that matters.

When they smile, I smile ........

for the before picture of the bathroom

refer to the "bathroom reno" post

dated 09/22/09

God's Promise

There is nothing I love more

than seeing something

I have never seen before.

Today I saw a rainbow in bright sunshine.

No rain in sight. A few clouds,

but otherwise a clear day.

It lasted at least 15 minutes,

and kept getting brighter,

and darker and more defined.

It even became a double rainbow.

You could see every colour,

brilliant and well defined.

It brought me back to the time

when I was driving to Canada

from Florida, with my dad

as my co-pilot,

on my way to a new life

with Dennis.

And we saw a double rainbow,

halfway through our trip.

I told my dad that this was God's promise

that everything would be alright.

And it has been so much more than that......

Rainbows always make me smile.

What colour was your sky today?

Today was one of those

amazing fall days.

The sun was shinning.

A cool breeze was blowing.

The sky was an incredible blue,

the kind of blue

you wish you could reproduce

on every ceiling, in every room

of your home but can't quite get it right.

The temperature was ideal.

there was not a cloud to be seen.

The kind of day

that makes you smile

the moment you open the door.

I love Fall.

Another Cool Project

Today I worked

on the girl's bathroom.

The floor got painted

and the mats got finished.

They turned out pretty well.

they are ment to look

like stars on the walk of fame

in Hollywood.

It makes me happy that my family

affords me the time to play

and be creative with these projects.

I have a wonderfully patient family.

A few more things remain to be finished.

I hope it makes my daughters smile....

ordinary joys

Everyday we are called upon

to do a myriad of menial things.

We can choose to do them mindlessly,

resentfully or joyfully.

Laundry is one of those things.

A never ending chore

that I find myself doing

at least three days a week.

I can't say that I find joy in it

every time.

But today was one of those days

where I reveled in the warmth

of an armload of clean, fluffy towels

fresh out of the dryer.

I deeply inhaled the sweet fragrance

from the softening sheet.

I found happiness in knowing

I was doing something for my family.

Not a big thing

but a necessary thing.

And I smiled ..............

More Blessings

Today at our church

we celebrated St.Francis of Assisi.

Father instituted the blessing of the pets

on this day, four or five years ago.

Every year we get more people

and a greater diversity of pets.

Today, the dogs ranged

from 12 weeks old Cocker Spaniels

to 6 year old Great Dane.

Cats of all ages, sizes and color.

We had a turtle, a guinea pig,

two parrots and a rabbit.

What a great day.

Young and old gather.

The fellowship and connection with other pet lovers

is as rewarding as the blessing itself.

We all received a medal to commemorate the occasion.

All left with a smile.............

Fall's treasure

Each year

when fall comes around

we feast on homemade

apple cake.

It's a family favorite.

Today, Emily had friends over

as a belated birthday party.

They carved pumpkins,

had chili for supper

and Emily's request

for her birthday cake...

homemade apple cake

with vanilla ice cream.

It brought a smile to all the faces....

Things happen for a reason

Everything happens for a reason.

I do believe that.
I try to live by these words.
But sometimes
it's hard to remember.
Or understand why.
This morning, I didn't get my bed made
before I took the girls to school.
Beds are made every morning
before we leave the house.
When I came back
I looked at my bed
and it was calling to me.
So I crawled back inside and slept until 10:30.
I can't remember the last time I did that.
It's been a long hard week.
I woke up feeling better.
A good reason to smile.......

Wisdom teeth are nothing to smile about

Today was not a very happy day for me.

I had to cancel a hairdresser's appointment

to spend the morning at the oral surgeon's office

to have an abscessed wisdom tooth removed.

Although everyone was kind,

and everything went well,

it did not make me happy to be there.

But... "c'est la vie".

I should be able to get a good night's sleep tonight.

That will make me smile.....

Good night to all.......