Good Friday morning NC!!

 Yeah!!! It's the beginning of the Long Labor Day Holiday Weekend!!!  Which denotes the end of a long hot summer and the onset of autumn.  How wonderful are the seasons God created!  How thankful am I to see yet another change to cool breezes, falling leaves and pumpkins sprouting!  Can you tell it is my favorite time of year?  I watched the children last Monday, so excited, waiting for the school bus on the first day of school.  They were all dressed up, admiring each others new clothes, toting a new, almost empty book bags, sporting new hair cuts and fancy new shoes.  I could see such anticipation in their eyes!  A new season, another year of learning, a new teacher, new kids in class;  a wonderful sense of renewal that will fill them every time this year for the rest of their lives.  In Connecticut where I grew up, it grew cooler earlier and faster.  The warm days of summer faded quickly after the passing of Labor Day.  Summertime became a memory and our focus was on school.  Even the Thanksgiving holiday seems a long ways off.  Oh to have time move that slowly now.  At 55, time flies by.  I find myself struggling to savor moments, breathing deeply and slowly as if it might make this weekend last a long 3 days.  As for me, I'll be home, here, sewing, cooking and decorating for fall.  My only labors will be labors of love.  I pray yours will be the same.   Blessings, Diane

Diane, Happy Friday to you.  I'm still battling the unpacked boxes from my recent move.  It seems like the boxes are hiding and just jump out over and over.  I have two in school.  My husband is a newly minted teacher and my daughter is attending a new school and loves it.  She begged to ride the school bus and loves it.  I feel a little lonely because they are both out of the house and so happy. I quit my job to move, but I predict as soon as these temperatures drop I will enjoy being close to the beach.  I plan on trying to spend a few mintues wiht my husband this weekend.  I feel like his career is stealing him away from me, all within a week.  There's never enough time anymore. We are laying low this weekend. Being from Western NY I miss the aburpt changes of seasons that September brings.  My last fall season was when I got married and I haven't had another Autum in NY.  I find it difficult to enjoy the fall seasons here because it's so darn hot here.  I bought my daughter a second set of summer clothes so she'd have some new clothes to wear for school.  I do feel like NC is Similar to NY in the resepct that instead of 9 seasons of winter clothes i now have 9 months of light weight clothes. Have a great weekend.  I agree that the calander and time really speeeds up.  Jennifer

Hey Jennifer, It seems like you have your work cut out for you this weekend!  I am changing into fall colors!  I grew up in CT, so I know what you mean about the seasons here.  I live in Alamance County and I drove with my son up to Halifax, VA.  We were both impressed with the fall foliage up here in the northern part of the state.  It is a dramatic difference from when I lived in Sanford.  Eric says it is the same as CT.  This is my plum color!  I love plum and pumpkin colors in the fall. I am itchin to be stitchin! It all begins in the morning with a fresh pot of coffee, the official lighting of my pumpkin candle, and turning on the music.  Ahhhh, rest and relaxation.  I just came off of a 12 hr. shift. Looking for the pumpkin color... oh well.  I have some fabulous fall fabrics, ri*****olor and igniting my creative spirit. Have a wonderful weekend and holiday.  Crank up the A/C and pretend  you are back in NY! Hugs, Diane

Good morning,   Hope everyone is having a wonderful morning. I watched the sun come up this morning. It is was very pretty. We had some rain last night and the morning was just so pretty. It is friday and I have monday off work. And today is pay day..........who could ask for more. I am so happy today. I can pay my bills. I can sleep late for 3 days. Wooooo Hoooooo!!!!!! Feel like a kid in a candy store. I wish I knew hot to sew. I am not a crafty person. Have a good long weekend to all. I want some devil eggs and ham biscuts. Would love to go on a picnic. Don't have anyone to go with me. My daughter is so much better. I think she is going to spend the night with a friend. My son don't do anything that has to do with outside. I don't like to do anything by myself........I look lonely...........Later people..... Amy Jo

Hey Amy Jo! I just love watching the sun come up!  I am a morning person by nature, however I work 2nd shift.  So I get off work at midnight.  Kinda hard to be up at dawn, but I am always up at 7 a.m. to walk the dog, make coffee and get my morning chores done.  Then I go back to bed.  I was able to pay my bills this week too!  I've been concerned that I wouldn't have enough, but the Lord provided!  I love deviled eggs too.  Can't eat ham biscuits yet.  Have you ever had pickled beets and boiled eggs?   Don't drink beer with them tho... it's a deadly combination!  I'm glad everyone at your house is ok... sleep tight, relax and enjoy! Your friend, Dianef

Time really does fly by. I can't believe it will be Christmas in no time! Freddy and I pretty much had our kids raised and then started a new set of kids through adoption. So here it is, school time again and we have two who are seniors in high school and two who we homeschool in 4th and 9th grades. Some days I think I am just too old for this but the truth is I love it and wouldn't change it for anything. The boys have Monday off from school and Freddy will be home so we may go on a picnic. I hope it isn't too hot. Beth

Hi Beth! My hat is off to you.  I have so much admiration for adoptive parents and for parents who home school their children.  Look at you Beth, you do both!!!  You and your husband are amazing and I salute you! God Bless you for who you are and all that you do. DianeF

This morning is lovely and not too warm. A wonderful morning for a nice walk. I'm looking forward to the cooler weather. I'm definitely a San Francisco girl and the heat and humidity of summertime in North Carolina nearly melt me. I'm looking forward to seeing the fall leaves turn with the cooler crisper weather to come. I love walking with the leaves falling around me ... I can't wait!

Well, the first week of school is almost over and it looks like it might be a good year. I sure hope so... Last year was kind of rough. My daughter rode the bus today with one of the girls who lives across the street; it's the first time she's taken the bus in several years. I hope that she enjoyed it and will do so again.

My mother, who lives with me most of the year, is getting ready to go back to the SF Bay Area for one of her annual extended visits, so this week-end I'll be helping her pack up for the 4 month trip. Amazing all the stuff you "need" when you are going to be gone for a long time.

My husband and I are going to work on spending some "quality" time with Sarah, our 13 year old, this week-end. We'll probably see about playing some games, Ben might take Sarah fishing, we'll go for a walk around the lake, may take in a movie, and we'll probably cook together.

I hope that this week-end finds you all well and relaxed.

Have a great one!

Barb

Hi Barb! I pray Sarah will have a stellar year this school year.  Sounds like yall are really doing the family thing this weekend.  Those things I miss with Sam.  Savor every moment; hold it to memory because time passes quickly.  Special weekends as you describe are a real blessing indeed. Keep well my friend.  I look forward to seeing you Saturday, Sep 8. DianeF

Diane -

Thanks for the well wishes. I absolutely agree that the time passes quickly. I think having older kids makes me really appreciate the fact these years are so fleeting ... Need to take advantage of them while I have the opportunity.

I know that you are going to have a blast this week-end. I hope you'll take some photos of your handi-work. I'd love to see it.

I'll see you next Saturday. Enjoy your week-end!

Barb