OK, OK! I give up, its fall!

Action shot!
She still hasn't learned to fold the laundry.

What's happening - Alright everybody, I give up! Its fall. I am packing my flip flops away and getting out my socks. I wore my flip flops to the school the other day and froze my feet.

Well, our best friends - Donya and Danny, are moving away. This Friday they will be leaving for Texas. I am happy for them, that they are going back to Texas but we will miss them so much!

Frustration, frustration! I wanted to read "Casting Spells" by Barbara Bretton for my Vermont book. It is a part knitting (casting) and part witch (spells). I can't get this book! Five libraries in our system have this book and no one is letting it out to other libraries. It is a 2008 so it is not new. I don't know what the problem is. I really don't want to have to buy it just to read it. And I really hate to have to choose another book. If anyone has a copy they can loan me, I promise to read it fast and mail it right back! Has anybody else had a frustrating book situation?

I watched the first show of "Mercy" and I have to say... I LOVE IT!!!!!! What a great show! Its all about nurses bashing Doctors, women bashing men, its great! This just might turn into my favorite show! If you haven't seen it yet, its on Wed. at 9:00 (eastern). The first shows of House and SVU were both great! Watched "Trauma" last night, also great! I also watched "The Good Wife" staring Julianna Margulies (she played on ER as nurse Hathaway, married to Dr. Doug, George Clooney) this show was also great! So that's it my shows for the season. Also including - Survivor, Amaz. Race, and Dancing with the Stars. Anyone know when American Idol starts?
The Steelers have lost two games in a row. Not happy!

Knitting - I am starting a sweater! One of my friends gave me enough yarn and it is beautiful! Cute little sweater. Most of it is just knit so I can knit when I am with the kids. I am getting a lot done fast. So far I love it.
I am also knitting a lace scarf. This one takes concentration so I am not knitting it when I am with the kids. Going much slower. I finished the socks I was making, I love them. They are so comfortable.
Books I have read - Skin, by Ted Dekker. Wow, wow, wow, maybe one of the most suspenseful book I have read (next to "Three" of course, also by Ted Dekker) This guy just keeps getting better! If you like Stephen King, you will love Ted Dekker! This is about 5 people who coincidentally?? are thrown together. People in the town are dieing, and they have to stop the killer, Red. They have to do what he says. Its simple, kill the one of them that is the ugliest. Only by now they are getting close to one another, having feelings for each other and none of them are capable of commuting murder. Then if you think that is suspenseful, the town disappears and they are in the middle of a desert! Very well written, 5 stars for Ted Dekker!
From Dar at Peeking Between the Pages, I won a copy of "BoneMan's Daughters" also by Ted Dekker. I haven't been able to read it because of my reading challenge, so that is something I am looking forward to.

Contests -Dar is having a new giveaway, "Highland Rebel" by Judith James at Peeking Between the Pages.
Erin is having a contest at her website - Erin Quinn Books

Reading through the states - Only two more to go!!!!!!
Alabama- Florabama Ladies Auxiliary and Sewing Circle, by Lois Battle (14)
Alaska- Building from Within, Joan Koponan (15)
Arizona – Whispers, by Erin Grady (13)
Arkansas – Sweet Baby, by Sharon Sala (18)
California – Echoes, by Erin Grady (1)
Colorado- Tomboy Bride, by Harriet Fish Backus (16)
Connecticut – Perfect Family, Pam Lewis (32)
Delaware- Unspoken Fear, Hunter Morgan (36)
Florida - In her Shoes, by Jennifer Weiner (2)
Georgia – Wild Card Quilt, by Janisse Ray (25)
Hawaii - Flip Flopped by Jill Smolinski (22)
Idaho – Indian Creek Chrinicles, by Pete Fromm (11)
Illinois - The Perfect Match, by Kimberly Cates (20)
Indiana- Prep, Curtis Sittenfeld (26)
Iowa – The Learning, Love Beyond A Lifetime I , by Ruthann Weaver (3)
Kansas – Waiting for Summer’s Return, by Kim Vogel Sawyer (10)
Kentucky – The Believers, By Janice Holt Giles (6)
Louisiana – Dead Until Dark, Charlaine Harris (40)
Maine- Waiting for the Moon, Kristin Hannah (34)
Maryland- The Old Family Farm: Farm Life 100 Years Ago, by George Grier (47)
Massachusetts – A Year by the Sea, by Joan Anderson (4)
Michigan- What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day, by Pearl Cleage (35)
Minnesota – Hit by a Farm, by Catherine Friend (7)
Mississippi- The Help, Kathrine Stocket (28)
Missouri- Language of Sycamores, Lisa Wingate (30)
Montana – My Hutterite Life, by Lisa Marie Stahl (9)
Nebraska- My Antonia, by Willa Cather (43)
Nevada- Skin, by Ted Dekker (48)
New Hampshire – Handle With Care, by Jodi Picoult (23)
New Jersey- Welcome to the Departure Lounge, Meg Federico (29)
New Mexico- Once Upon A Day, Lisa Tucker (41)
New York - The Lives they Left Behind: Suitcases from a State Hospital Attic, by Darby Penney and Peter Stastny (12)
North Carolina – Scrambled Eggs at Midnight, by B. Barkley & H. Hepler (8)
North Dakota- Nothing to do buy Stay, Carrie Young (33)
Ohio- A Date with the Other Side, by Erin McCarthy (44)
Oklahoma- Children Of The Dust: An Okie Family Story, Betty Grant Henshaw (38)
Oregon- Homesick Creek, Diane Hammond (42)
Pennsylvania- William Henry is a Fine Name, by Cathy Gohlke (45)
Rhode Island- The Maidenstone Lighthouse, Sally Smith O'Rourke (39)
South Carolina - Bastard out of Carolina, by Dorothy Allison (5)
South Dakota- A claim of Her Own, Stephine Grace Whitson (27)
Tennessee - The Ballad of Frankie Silver, by Sharyn McCrumb (24)
Texas- A Month of Summer, by Lisa Wingate (46)
Utah- Heart Breaker, Karen Robards (37)
Vermont- Plan to read - Casting Spells, by Barbara Bretton (thanks to Shanyn)
Virginia - Confessions of a Counterfeit Farm Girl, Susan McCorkindale(31)
Washington - North of Beautiful, by Justina Chen Headley (19)
West Virginia – Lick Creek, Brad Kessler (reading right now)
Wisconsin – Tyler: Whirlwind, by Nancy Martin (17)
Wyoming – Letters of a Woman Homesteader, by Elinore Pruitt Stewart (21)

Top 5 - things you like about fall
1. A country dirt road covered with leaves
2. Cooler temps.
3. Fewer bugs!
4. Good shows start back up on TV
5. Football!

A 21 yr old's first wine tasting

This was our fun filled day of wine tasting.
Our first stop was "Americana Vineyards" This is my daughter posing out front. The winery is an old barn that used to be located in a different location in Trumansburg, built in 1820. In 2002 it was taken apart and put back together again in the new location in Covert. It is beautiful inside. The wines are excellent. This is only minutes from us and it is one of my favorite wineries. A friend of mine I used to work with now works here. I had promised her that I would bring my daughter back when she turned 21. So this was the first place we went.


This is My daughter with my two nieces who came from CT for the day to go with us.
This is the "Frontenac Point Vineyard" located in Trumansburg.


We also went to the "Bellwether Hard Cider" place. None of the girls had ever had real hard cider before. It is just like tasting wine.


This is "Lucas Vineyards", I just happen to know both daughters of the owner and got to see them both when we went. Again - really good wine here!


This is "Buttonwood Grove Winery", This is a great picture of my daughter but not a great picture of the winery. It is a beautiful building which my husband happened to build! This is one of my favorite wineries and I just love their wines.


This is "The Coblestone Winery", This was the first time I had actually been in the tasting room. This is the winery where we go for the cherry festival. We have always tasted the wines outside at the festival. Oh, and that is me with my daughter.

What's happening - The daycare is back in the swing of things. The kids are great, they just know what to do, they are so used to the schedule. They were all happy to be back. I have switched the room around a little and gotten a new shelf. I think the room flows better this way and there is more room for toys. All the children have homework almost everyday! So right after snack it is homework time. the parents love it that they get their homework done before they get home.

I have to say I was a little disappointed in the first 2 shows of "Glee" I hope it gets better or I will be dropping this show! The first show of "Dancing with the stars" was great! Survivor also started and a jerk has already emerged! Other shows I can't wait for are - Trauma, Mercy, SVU, House (I recorded it last night), American Idol, there are other new shows that look good but I think I am going to have to pick and choose.

Books I have read - "The Old Family Farm: Farm Life 100 Years Ago" by George Grier. This was an interesting read. It was anicdotes about farm life back in the late 1800's in Maryland. Some chapters included - The family buggy, The butter churn, Old country store, The tin lizzie, One room school, and many many more. It was a fun quick read.

Top 5 - things you would like about living in the 1800's
1. No phones! (would not miss these a bit)
2. Simpler way of life (you spent time doing what was important)
3. No TV (now that I have one, yeah I would miss it, but if I never had one it would be fine)
4. I could still read!
5. I could still knit!

Happy 21st Birthday to my Daughter!

My lovely daughter
Not to be confused with my lovely cat!


"Ok, Mom - I am packed and ready to go to the Adirondacks!" We would take her but she is a terrible car rider!


Something is not right in this picture. Can you pick out the item that is not in the right place?



What's happening - My baby turns 21 today!!!!! Being the non-partier that she is (boring, just kidding!) we thought that instead of going out drinking for her celebration like so many 21 year old's do. We are going wine tasting this weekend! Then Sat. evening we will have a little party for her with Glen's parents.

The Steelers won their first game against the TN Titans! Whoop, Whoop!

First thing this morning, when I logged onto the internet, This was the first thing I saw - Patrick Swayze dies at age 57 I just sat there at my computer and cried for 10 min. I was like every other redblooded American woman my age, I was hot for Patrick Swayze. I think what made it harder was that he was not some older, overwieght, unhealthy guy. He was always known for his looks, his body, his body (oh yeah I said that already). It just doesn't seem right. I LOVED some of his movies! "Road House", I think I have seen about 15 times! "Ghost" - at least 5-6 and of course "Dirty Dancing"!

Knitting - Almost done with the socks I have been working on. I will have pictures next time.

Books I have read - "William Henry is a Fine Name" by Cathy Gohlke, let me just say - WOW! this book is powerful good! I am going to make my daughter read this (not that I would have to "make" her) but it is that good. It is about Slavery, The Underground Railroad, freedom, and choices. It is about a youg boy "coming of age" during the pre-civil war time. His father is an Abolitionist and helps with the Underground Railroad. The boy, Robert, is forced to go with his mom (south) to visit his sick grandfather. Not only do they own slaves but they do not treat them nicely. Robert witnesses things he wishes he hadn't. Then he must choose between his Mother's and Grandfather's ways or his Father's (which at the time was illegal). I cried several times throughout this book, it really moved me.

Contests - Toni, at "A Circle of Books" is giving away 2 copies of "Traveling with Pomegranates" by Sue Monk Kidd and Ann Kidd Taylor.
Shanyn at "Chick Loves Lit" is giving away - "Ruined" by Paula Morris.

Top 5 - favorite Patrick Swayze Movies (#1 being your favorite). This is a good link to a list of his movies - Swayze Movies

1. Road House
2. Ghost
3. Dirty Dancing
4. Red Dawn
5. Point Break

Off to the Adirondacks again!

We went to our cabin for the long weekend. We had great weather, sunny and warm the whole time. We went on several walks and drives. We had a breakfast buffet in Speculator, ate lunch by a lake, And even stopped for ice cream.

This was a little walk we took off in the woods in the village of Lake Pleasant (about 15 min. from our cabin).
Hubby reading a label on a tree and a tree down over the trail.
Me! on a big rock.


This was a little drive into Gilman Lake. It was one of the roads off the Lake Pleasant Rd. We found it by accident, which is how we most of the places up there.



This is a stop along Lake Pleasant where you can sit and look out over the lake. It is one of my favorite spots.
Cute old people looking out onto the lake, will we look this cute when we are old?
Lake Pleasant , one of the prettiest lakes in my opinion. Also one of the most expensive to live on! Houses on this lake cost from 300,000. to over a million!
This is a house on Lk. Pleasant (I love this house!) overlooking the lake.


This is a hike into Fawn Lk. where we had lunch. It was actually a 4 mi. hike in and back. Much longer than we thought!

This is my wonderful husband!
We are pretty sure a bear did this.


Sacandaga Lake in the village of Lake Pleasant.


The West Canada Creek, just 5 mi. north of our cabin. That is my Husband way down there, I am up on the bridge.


Martina and her favorite place to sleep, a box!



What's happening - We came back from our cabin trip Mon. evening. And bright and early Tues. (6:30) I had kids! Thats right, school started. Back to my old schedule. I have a new girl starting in the mornings only. I am very excited, she is a sweetie!

Knitting - I won yarn!!! It comes from Toni at A Blog of my Own, yea me! Thanks Toni! I am going to make a hat out of it that Toni has shown on her blog. Can't wait to get it.

Books I have read - "My Antonia" by Willa Cather. This was a historical fiction book that takes place in the late 1800's in Nebraska. While I did enjoy the book, I have to say I liked her other book "O Pioneers" better. This one was slow in spots. Whole chapters were slow to me while other chapters were very good. And Ironically enough - The chapters that were about Antonia were my favorites it was the other chapters in between that were boring to me. The book seemed very long and it was a small book!
Also - "A Date With The Other Side" by Erin McCarthy. This was a fun quick Ghost story/Love story (with too much sex - blech!) I did like this book though because I needed a fun quick read between two more serious books. I try to do that so I don't read too many serious books in a row. And remember how I said I am not into Vampire stories? Well... I do happen to love ghost stories! Go figure. So if you happen to have any ghost story recommendations, let me know I will add them to my list.


Top 5 - Questions about where you live. Please copy and paste the questions in you comment space and answer. I am choosing to answer these about our cabin (not our home).

1. Do you live within 10 mi. of a lake? - yes
2. Do you have hiking trails near you? - yes
3. Do you have Mountains within 20 mi. of you? - yes
4. Do you live near the Ocean? - no
5. Do you have bears where you are (wild, not in a zoo)? - yes