When Things Go Awry

Definition of AWRY

1

: in a turned or twisted position or direction : askew

2

: off the correct or expected course : amiss

Today I downloaded some photos of our splendid Indian Summer & found that I had reached my max on my memory. Only 20 of the 150 photos would download. Ugh! I have 19,096 photos on my Mac. I have them backed up, but hesitate to delete any out of iPhoto should I need one for a blog post of one of the scrapbooks that I will eventually make for the kids. Here is an example:

A blurry pic of Mr. F defending the goal. This kid takes his job very seriously. Man is it ever hard being the mom of the goalkeeper! Can anyone else relate to this? It's funny how I never really noticed this pic until today. I love this blurry photo!

The glorious weather beckoned me for a walk on the bike trail. I invited a few people to join me, but they were busy. So I took my companion, Miss Canon Rebel. 

A lot of people bemoan living in our small town. I appreciate the hidden gems, like our bike trail. It wasn't crowded and it was budget friendly (free). You can tell that winter will soon be upon us!

A glimpse of the moon during a bright sunny afternoon!

Some type of weed. A pretty weed. I love how it captures the November light.

So my plans to show you how I forced the kids outside to play will have to wait for another day! 

New Assignments

I have two new assignments. I am not being paid for these assignments. They have to do with business and photography & women. A mixed bag, but I think you will have fun checking in on me. Wish me luck on setting my computer straight. 

Hugs,

Cathy M. 

Indian Summer with a Chair & Table Teaser

Was wondering if you have selected your picture for your holiday card, yet? If not, that is your challenge this week! Leave me a comment & let me know how it is coming along. 

We are enjoying our Indian summer. I have been mandating that the kids have to go play outside after school this week. They don't mind. This is our "in-between time" when they start pining for snow. Really! We visited some good friends this weekend in Cleveland & my kids were overjoyed to have a snowball fight! Please pray for my friend Mrs L. as she is recovering from an incident in which she was burned by a coffee spill while at the drive-thru at *Starbucks*.  She is a mom of 3 and had to spend 3 days in ICU & is still bandaged from knees to the waist.  Please just pray for my sweet friend Mrs. L. And be very careful with all hot things. 

Here is what today looks like around here, with a few leaves left on the Japanese maple and the gorgeous blue sky:

My trusty companion, who does NOT smell like skunk today, as she did 2 weeks ago! Poor thing had to endure numerous baths of Dawn, hydrogen peroxide, & baking soda. If your dog gets skunked, email me & I will give you the protocol. That was a crazy day! Very funny now!

A few leftover roses, oh how much I adore these:

Chair & table teaser. Stay tuned for my kitchen table & chair project! I have to sort through the before pics. Post coming very soon!

Blessings
distressed white furniture
slipcovers
good smelling kids
a de-skunkified dog
sunshine
a lunch date with friend
a soccer tournament win
smell of chlorine
glasses adjustment
cookbooks & recipes

Hugs,
 

November 1st, Really?

How can November already be here? I am sure you are feeling the same way...aren't you? In the past few years this has been my busiest time of year. When you sell stationery and personalized Christmas or Holiday cards, as I do, this is THE time of year when all of your business hits. The problem is (at least in my area) that no one wants to think about their card until we get our first snowfall. We have frost now, but we certainly do not have snow! So I prepare for the holidays & work on multitudes of cards & help people design the perfect card. My family suffers as their crazy momma panics while wondering where the UPS woman or FedEx man is?? I pace back & forth the front of the house, just hoping to have a sound or a glimpse of a delivery truck. And then the realization hits, how come my order wasn't delivered? Then I call my suppliers in a frenzy, which in turn leads to another call to my customer. The panic & sleepless nights ensue, until the last order is delivered around December 23rd. (I think my heart rate has jumped  just typing this paragraph.)

Go ahead & ask me. Are your Christmas cards done, Cathy? Why yes, they are! I received them last week (in October).  This probably sounds extremely boastful. It is. Just remember that I started the process in June, which was when I ran into my photographer in Barnes & Noble & booked a family photo shoot. Lucky me!

To keep it real, my house is a mess, and I won't even think about decorating for the holidays until after Thanksgiving. That's how I roll, one holiday at a time. All the while searching for that delivery truck, which won't make it up our driveway in late November & December, due to the snow!

Would you like a sneak peek at the photos that weren't used in the Christmas card? Ok, here are a few:

All photos above are by Aimee Ferguson.

More later on holiday cards. Start thinking about them & then I will write another post on the 

"do's and don't's".

Weekend review

(after volunteering @ school on Friday for my 2nd grader's fun Halloween party)

pick up 3 kids from 3 different schools

drive by apple orchard with windmill for 6th grade science project idea

drop off @ soccer practice

drop teen off at friend's house

dinner out with 4/5 of family

movie @ home with hubby: It's Complicated

drop off teen jr high to board bus for swim meet

buy donuts & birthday card 

 zip to swim meet to watch teen swim fast (fast meet & fast swimming)

lunch @ McDonald's with youngest

quick trip to Wal Mart

pick up teen @ jr high

home to bake triple batch of brownies & appetizer

sort receipts with hubby

take girls to friend's tennis match

go to new neighbor's family party

race to ski resort to join pre-season festivities including bonfire

church

grocery

home to change & then to lake to winterize outdoors

take 8 year old for haircut & shopping @ mall

get pumpkins ready for carving

take pictures

take Miss M's friend home

de-slime pumpkin seeds

bake yummy pumpkin seeds

enjoy awesome fall dinner cooked by hubby

family tv time in snuggle fashion

Wonderful Halloween!

(glad we trick or treated last Thursday!)

Now I know why I am tired today! Here are a few Halloween pics:

End of "never-ending" blog post.

Hugs,

 

Blessed

We all need reminded that we are blessed.  The fall splendor of color reminds us that we are blessed. (view from my garage)

The view from my son's bedroom window (I see this view every time I walk up the steps!):

Love this photo of pumpkins that I snapped at our local "Pumpkin Glow" which showcased more than 700 carved pumpkins in our city's beautiful botanical gardens:

My view out the front door:

There are days or times where life can be really crappy difficult, challenging and sometimes just downright poopy!

A few things I am blessed to notice at this time of year:

• fresh honeycrisp apples
• a big pot of homemade chili (made by hubby & enough leftover for dinner tonite)
• a family bonfire on a beautiful night
• yellow mums
• red & orange leaves
• a new video "Sculpt & Tone Ballet"
• pumpkins & squash
• not too scary ghosts (hanging from the tree)
• the precious minutes when no one is arguing or teasing

(Dear Reader, please know that I realize that my eyes are closed in this pic and that this is not a fantastic pic of hubby. However, all 3 kids are smiling @ the same time!)


Be blessed. Be happy. And remember...
Hugs,
 


Stay tuned...upcoming topics: Family Pictures, Christmas Card, To Monetize or Not