DATE NIGHT

I've been wanting to see this movie since the day it opened and for various reasons we have been unable to go. When I got home from work a little bit ago my DH asked me if I wanted to go to the movie. Of course I do!! It's always special when your husband takes you somewhere (even if you had suggested it weeks back) when it is unexpected. I realize that tomorrow is Friday--- and that means there is a ballgame he wants to see (he coached for 29 years), but I'm happy he realized that tonight would be a good night for the two of us to do something I would enjoy. I do have a great husband and I thank God for him every day.

THE FIELDS ARE WHITE

I have had several of you ask that I post pictures of the cotton fields around my house so made a few pictures to show you what I see when I look across my front yard and also to the side of my back. At first I thought who in the world would be interested in seeing fields of cotton but then I realized how much I enjoyed seeing Linda's pictures and posting of bittersweet. I didn't have a clue what bittersweet looked like growing (and there is absolutely none to be found around here), so this is for all of you who have no idea what fields of cotton look like before it is harvested (or picked, as we say in the south). As I sat here waiting for my pictures to upload my mind went back MANY years ago to when I was just a little girl. Our house sits on land that my family farmed and as a child I spent much time in the fields (not working ---but playing and having such a good time). I remember seeing the cotton picked by hand--not machinery--and being brought to the wagons to weigh. After it was weighed the long sacks were dumped in the cotton wagon and off they went to pick some more. There was this long board that stretched across the top of the cotton wagon that you stood on to "shake" the cotton out of the sack into the wagon. As a little girl I would get on that board and jump in the cotton over and over again. Those days were fun for me but I am sure my family had to look at those LONG rows of cotton and think they were never ending! The cotton wagon would stay in the field until it was packed full (my jumping on the cotton helped to pack it, I'm sure) and then it would be taken to the gin. This was another experience I remember.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing these pictures of the cotton that is almost ready to be picked. As I sit here the verse in the Bible keeps coming to me....."the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few" . I know from my list of blogging friends that you love the Lord. May this be a reminder to all of US that there is a huge harvest out there and we need to work hard to get it harvested!

LOOKING LIKE FALL OUTSIDE

I wanted to show you some pictures of my mums that our church recently sold for missions. These are absolutely beautiful. This fund raiser was very successful....491 mums were sold. I took these pictures late this afternoon and the colors aren't as pretty as the mums really are but you get the idea.
You know from an earlier post that I dress my bunny for different months or events. I dressed him in over-alls and a flannel shirt for fall (I do have a Halloween costume that I found at the Thrift store that he'll be wearing before long). Mr. Bunny greets all my visitors as they start up the steps toward my sidewalk.

This is the front of my house. You can see the hose stretched across the yard going to my rose bushes. It is so dry right now and I'm having to water them. I didn't take the time to move the hose before making this picture. I don't have any pictures yet of the leaves turning on the trees but it is beginning to look like fall with the mums and pumpkins.

A GREAT GIVEAWAY

One of my favorite people to visit each day is Tammy at Country Girl at Home. She is so creative and has a husband who can build whatever she dreams up!! Today is her 100th post and look what she is giving away. I love this little table and want to win it (along with the other goodies), but I'd be selfish if I didn't give you the chance to get your name in the drawing also. All you have to do is visit her blog by clicking on her name and leave her a comment saying that you want to be entered for the drawing. Hurry because she is going to draw a winner this week. I'm sure you will make her site one of your favorites also.

I will probably post again tonight (twice in one day!!!!) and show you my beautiful mums.

FALL TABLE SETTING

This has been a very busy and fun weekend with my son and his family home from Louisiana. Today was my husband's birthday so we celebrated all weekend! Of course I have already told you that my DIL and I went to Homestead Hollow on Friday while my husband and son kept their three girls. My daughter wasn't able to take a day off from school to go with us because it was Homecoming and the parade festivities would be too much to leave with a substitute. On Friday night we all went to the football game. My husband coached football there for 29 years before retiring a few years ago. We saw many former students and friends and enjoyed the victory. On Saturday we had a friend, who is a wonderful photographer, come here and make pictures of all the kids (all six of them). She made pictures outside, in the cotton fields, on the railroad tracks, and in the pastures. I cannot wait to get these and of course, being a proud grandmother, will share some with you.

Now for the table setting....I got the idea from Susie for my dining room table. She posted this several weeks back and I found my placemats and napkins at the thrift store for a very cheap price. I got the pumpkins at the dollar store and the centerpiece is just Indian corn and gourds and pumpkins from the produce stand......very simple.....but very fall!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

Homestead Hollow

Yesterday my daughter-in-law and I went to my favorite fall arts and crafts festival--Homestead Hollow. It is located in the neatest place where the past is brought back to life. This is a picture I took from the entrance while waiting to go in. As you can see the mums were absolutely beautiful.
There were various old buggies around for you see the mode of travel years ago.
On site is an old log cabin and inside there was a demonstration of how to spin cotton. You can see some school children (that some foolish wonderful classroom teacher) brought for a class trip. Seriously, the children were well behaved, but I can't imagine bringing a class here to have to keep up with, when there were so many other people!
This is the kitchen area of the log cabin. Pancakes are being prepared and each person who passed through was able to sample a small piece. DELICIOUS! I loved seeing the way they had the cabin furnished. Also, on the front porch there was someone making cornshuck dolls. Out back was a smoke house, a small garden, and chicken house.....made you see how simple (but hard) life was many years ago.
The crafts were wonderful. I can't believe I didn't make any pictures. I bought a wool pillow that I'll post about later and some cute little seasonal shirts for my granddaughters. The longest line of the day was for the fried pies....VERY LONG....but well worth it. I came home with fried apple, peach, coconut, sweet potato, pecan, and chocolate pies. WHAT A FUN DAY WE HAD!!!

THURSDAY TRUTHS ABOUT ME

I don't have any completed projects to post today so I thought I would write some facts about me that you may or may not find interesting. I got this idea from Darlene while reading her blog this morning. I know I enjoy reading what you write about yourself so here goes.....

1. I don't mind buying groceries, but I HATE bringing the groceries from the car and putting them away.
2. I don't mind putting dirty dishes in my dishwasher, but I dislike taking the clean dishes out and putting them away.
3. I don't mind washing and folding clothes, but I hate putting the folded clothes where they belong. (seems like I have a problem with putting thing in their proper places!!!)
4. I really don't like eating a meal out of a paper plate--I know it would prevent me from having to wash (and put away) a plate but I would rather have that "real" plate.
5. It is rare if I don't make my bed before I leave the house in the morning. I just feel better if my bed has been made up.
6. I love holidays....especially Christmas and get excited about decorating. Last year I had a tree in every room (they were not all big trees, but I did have one in all the rooms). I plan on doing the same again this year and I can show you pictures.
7. My favorite food is vegetables from the garden---peas, corn, fried okra, tomatoes, cornbread. I'm definitely a country girl.
8. I'm not picky about food...will eat just about anything other than buttermilk and raw oysters. I'll eat them fried but not raw....yuck!
9. I worry too much...I know that it's wrong to worry and I am trying to do better. I want to make everybody happy but I'm learning that I can't do that either. Guess I'm learning alot in my old age!
10. My family is the most important thing in my life (other than pleasing God). I am truly blessed with a wonderful husband, children, and grandchildren.
11. I don't consider myself to be "creative" but I will try any project that I have seen. I wish I could come up with these wonderful ideas that you all have, but I'll just settle for copying right now.
12. I love to laugh and have a good time with friends. Life is too short to dwell on the problems we have (and we will have problems).
13. I love cats....have two of them.
14. I am addicted to blogging....I have found friends that I must visit every day.

Well....you know a little more about me. I'll be watching to learn more about you. I'm going tomorrow to a wonderful arts and crafts show. Can't wait!!!