Snowy, Snowy Day

The morning started out with the first snowflakes of the season.



Kitty cat wasn't quite sure. Should she catch the flakes or go inside?



In came the firewood and in came Kitty Cat.



And a cup of hot coffee to start the day.



The snowy, snowy day.

Fall Pictures

I have been slow in editing the pictures from November.
I usually love editing, but for this shoot the light was just a little tricky and many of my photographs did not come out as sharp as I like, which is frustrating for me.

But here are a few that I liked for one reason or the other.








Regina understands my frustration with black and white digital photography. I try, but I'm never really pleased so much with the results.





I can't believe that it's almost time for Christmas card pictures.

I always wish for a nice snow day so I can get a wintery picture for the Christmas card, but it never seems to turn out that way.

Baking with Butterscotch

This month's Bunko included a cookie exchange. I needed to come up with 6 dozen yummy somethings. Fast, easy and different.
I dug out my Step Mom's family recipes book and this one caught me eye. Not only was it easy, but it noted that it was my sister's favorite, and my sister only likes the most excellent of things, so I decided that this was the thing to make and take.

You will need:

1/2 cup butter
1 package graham crackers (not the whole box)
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup butterscotch morsels
1 can coconut (I know right? Who knew coconut even came in a can?)
1 can sweetened condensed milk.
1 9" X 13" baking dish
1 oven at 350*

And here's how you do it:

First you melt the butter in the dish.
Then crumb up the graham crackers.

Put the graham crackers in the dish.

Sprinkle the walnuts over the top.

Sprinkle the butterscotch pieces over that.

Then the coconut goes over that.

And the can of sweetened condensed milk over that.

Pop in the oven for about 25 minutes.

So easy that even a brother can do it.

With out an apron!!

Amazing!!

Still Around

We're still here. Just been busy with football playoff and friends coming to visit.

So I'll leave you with a little snippet of Amanda and one of her kittens.

The Pro-Quo Model

Today I decided to get some fall pictures in before the rains came.
Amanda likes getting her picture taken as she loves to pick out the outfits to wear.
We haven't gone out for "picture taking" for a while now, and she became just a bit Diva-ish.

We started at the log pile:



Then to the top of the hill where she had to sit to catch her breath.
She won't mention that she made me carry her half of the way.



But eventually she let me stand her over here:



Then she insisted on a picture with her pink fluffy hand muff...


... and nice fluffy hat with the pink tails:


Then she demanded that if I didn't let her take pictures of me then she was walking home.

First she told me to "look beautiful"...

...then cross my feet over like this....

...then stand like a ballerina....


...then "get down low like this".....

Then Mama said, "OK give me back that camera."

And we headed on home anyway.

Until I can talk her into going out another time.

Leaf Raker

When trees turn pretty colors like this:

They leave big messes on the pond like this:

So Amanda and I grab some rakes and prepare to clean out the pond.

First some ballet poses to limber up:

Say hello to kitty...

...and get to work.

Yippee for stretch jeans!

Get those leaves out!

Then rest after a job well done.

For at least another couple of days until the pond fills with leaves again.

Living In The Sticks

A few months after we moved to the 10-OC, I took a picture of Jonathan and his little stick gun. He was having so much fun with that little stick and imagining all the things he could shoot with it.



But how fast they grow.



Now he's shooting cans like a pro.


It's good to be a boy in Tennessee.


And a girl too for that matter.


I think Amanda is going to skip that whole stick gun stage!

Autumn Is Here!

It starts out innocently enough, with a sweet little Lady Beetle.



And soon you spot a few more...


...and soon it becomes apparent...


...that every lady bug in the world has finally decided to listen to all the little girls who told them to "Fly away home."

(click picture to enlarge)

And picked ours.


Then decided they wanted to stay for the whole winter.


After a few early fall frosts, on the first of the Indian summer afternoons, the Lady Bugs swarm to find a place to hibernate over the winter. Autumn is Here!! For the next few weeks we will be finding Lady Beatles on our pillows in the morning, floating in our coffee, crawling across our keyboards, squeezing in between the floorboards and generally making themselves at home. Only to disappear from view.

Until spring arrives and they all decide that they want back out!

T&T in 10-OC

Trunk or Treat time in Leipers Fork!!

Franklin High School played their last regular season game on Hallowe'en night so it was up to me and the 3 youngest ones to have some trick or treat time at the Trunk or Treat out at Grace Chapel while Rick and Derick cheered on Austin at the game.

Here's Amanda, me and Jonathan hanging out in the Trunk Zone. Like my hat? It came straight from Moscow during Rick's visit to Russia. It's very warm and you'll probably be seeing me wear it ALLL winter long!


This princess needs TWO princes. In silver is Jonathan, in gold is Timothy:



Hay rides Tennessee style!! That's Pastor Steve Berger with his trailer full of joy!!!


Hey Timmo! Shout out right back at'chya!



"WHAT? That's ALL we got?!"



Post sponsored by my local dentist; who thanks me for indulging in the Trick or Treat tradition with the next generation of future dental insured patients.