One of my favorite things is to...

...open my front door and look outside on a fall afternoon...

What's On My Nightstand

I LOVE to see what other people are reading!!

I LOVE to read!!

It's been awhile since I've linked to 5 Minutes for Books, but I always enjoy checking out their site.

Right now, I'm working through this stack of books:

The top book is a book that I just brought home from the library today - Motherland by Fern Schumer Chapman. It is the story of a mother who is a Holocaust survivor. After a lifetime of hiding her secrets, she takes her daughter with her back to Germany to face her past. I'm anxious to read it.
Rooftops of Tehran - by Mahbod Serji. I have read a lot about this book and I enjoyed The Kite Runner so I thought I'd check this one out as well. I'm finding that I don't always enjoy vocabulary choices even though story lines may be well written. (Enough said about that, for now.)
A New Kind of Normal - by Carol Kent. I am nearly finished with this book. I also just finished her book: When I Lay My Isaac Down. Both books are about a major change in the life of her family. I would highly recommend these books, so I don't want to give too much away. Let me just say that her life changed to a "new normal" overnight. She came to a crossroads of trusting God or walking away. She found hope when she felt like giving up.
While We're Far Apart - by Lynn Austin. This is another book that I brought home from the library today. I always enjoy reading Lynn Austin. This is a new one from her; I haven't heard much about it but I'm looking forward to reading it!

Finally, Authentic Faith - by Gary Thomas is on my stack to read this month. Gary Thomas is by far my favorite author (non-fiction). He has such a great ability to take lots of material and condense it into one thought provoking line. I have read and re-read all of his books. I'd encourage you to check him out. The sub title for this book is: The Power of a Fire-Tested Life. Then, the question "What if life isn't meant to be perfect but we are meant to trust the One who is?" is written across the bottom. I chose this book for a new book discussion group that I am forming with some friends. So far there are 4 or 5 of us who will be reading and discussing this book. The plan is to read a book every month or two and get together for some disccussion.

So, that's enough to keep me busy for awhile!!

Connecticut Trip

On June 8th, my husband and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary.

I'm not sure where the time went, it sure doesn't seem like that long.

It's been a great 25 years...looking forward to 25 more!!

The last week of August we took a trip to CT to celebrate!!

We took in some great scenery, viewed several historic sites and enjoyed some relaxation.

Mystic Pizza!

Mystic Seaport Museum

Looking out onto Long Island Sound.

The USS Nautilus

(My husband's favorite part of the trip!)

We spent quite a bit of time at the Mystic Noank Library (taking advantage of their free wireless!!) It was a great old library with lots of character.

(I work at a library, so just humor me here.)

The pictures of the library are not the greatest...did you ever walk through a library and try to take pictures inconspicuously?

Abbott's Lobster in the Rough - enjoying the clams and mussels...

but the lobster was much better!!

Lots of fun, lots of great memories!

Basement Renovation

Today I’m linking up to Today’s Creative Blog – Get Your Craft On. There are so many crafty ideas there. I never have time to make it through all the links, but it's a great place for inspiration!!

I’ll take care of the “crafty” part right away in this post. The rest is a reveal! We’ve been working on our basement all summer. I call it a “faux” finish, because it’s not a total finish…(not doing the ceilings and a few other things, yet). It started with these materials for curtains (LOTS of curtains):

The leftover material became a pillow for the crib (for when grandson visits!). I copied a picture onto transfer paper and ironed it onto the white. I’ve wanted to make something with a picture on it and was pleased with how easy it was to work with the transfer paper! I purchased mine at Wal-Mart. The main area of the basement, BEFORE:

DURING:

AFTER:

*ignore the pink pillow...I'm not sure what it's doing there!The bathroom area had been framed in for about 4 or 5 years… Finally getting it finished!!
This last picture is for a special friend!

Thanks for the box!!! :)

There’s still some work to do…painting the stairway, putting a few things up on the walls, repainting and redoing the bedroom and putting in the kitchenette area. It’s getting there and I’m loving it!!!

Cabinet Re-Do

This morning I spent some time looking through some of the Frugal Friday Posts at The Shabby Nest. Lots of great ideas and fun things to look at…so I decided to link up and share the re-do of one of my favorite frugal finds!!!

About 15 years ago my husband stumbled upon this HUGE cabinet. He was reading electrical meters at the time & spotted this buried under hay in an old barn. The owners parted with it for a mere $20. For years it stored canned goods and just sat as we found it…kind of a dirty white.

I’ve always wanted to do something with it, but was afraid to attempt it. Let me just say…if that’s you, DO IT!!!! APPLY THE PAINT!!!!!!

I LOVE it in black! Also, I removed the hodge-podge of stuff and am now displaying the dishes that my daughter bought at a garage sale for $10!!!

Aren’t they pretty? I’m so glad that we bought them. We stood there for awhile debating. What in the world was the debate about? $10??? Goodness!!

I love my nook!

A few weeks ago I purchased a Nook e-reader from Barnes & Noble.

I have used it non-stop ever since. Well, not quite, but almost!!

I chose the Nook over other brands mainly because it is compatable with what our library uses for checking out e-books (the Kindle is not). Since I work at the library, I wanted to take advantage of ebooks our library offers. I've also been able to get quite a few deals on ebooks, some even free. I purchased a NASV of the Bible for $2.79 and have used it during church and even have done some highlighting and notetaking right on the Nook!!

On our recent trip to CT I listened to an audio book that I had loaded onto my Nook.

I have actually put several audiobooks on a mini-SD card and can then listen to those books on either my Nook or my netbook.

Travelling with the Nook was great & it's nice to have lots of books in one location - just pick up and go...However; I don't imagine that I will ever give up the old standard...there's just something about the experience of reading through the actual "hard copy!"

(This picture is a portion of my library that is located in my basement. We've been working on the basement ALL summer and are still not finished with it, but there are parts of it that I'll be revealing to you SOON!!)

Time Flies...

It's been about 4 months since I last posted on this blog.

A whole summer!!

Time surely has flown by...

But...I'm itching to get back in touch with the blogging world.

I've been preparing and sketching out plans for the past few days.

Please hang in there with me...

I have a lot of catching up to do.

So much to show you,

Ideas to chat about...

Here's a preview - my FAVORITE picture from my summer!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Labor Day,

filled with family gatherings & picnic-fun!!!

Stating the Obvious

I think that it goes without saying, that I have been taking a break from blogging for awhile. I will continue with that break for the time being. Not sure when I'll be back, but I'm trying to focus on several other areas of my life right now. Hopefully I'll be back - refreshed & ready to go - at some point!


I enjoyed this rainbow last night!! We got some much needed rain.

I've not been posting much lately...what's up? Well, some of this...

• reading
• cleaning
• working
• visit from daughter & grandson
• trip to mackinaw
• working
• reading
• cleaning
• reorganizing
• reading
• working
• couponing

Seriously...that is about it. Over and over!!! (well except my daughter doesn't keep coming back for a visit, but that WOULD be nice!) Speaking of my daughter, she has gotten me hooked on couponing and it has been lots of fun and I am saving some serious money. Some day I will blog about that.

Don't forget to check out my book giveaway. It's a great book.

Spring is finally making its way here to northern WI. Daffodils are blooming and the trees are budding!!! Sorry no pics, perhaps soon...

Book Giveaway!

I have another book to give away! Start Here - Doing Hard Things Right Where You Are

I was thrilled to see another book by Alex and Brett Harris. Their first book Do Hard Things was a wonderful read & this follow up book is even better (in my opinion).

From the back cover: Do Hard Things inspired thousands of young people around the world to make the most of the teen years. Now Alex and Brett Harris are back and ready to tackle the questions that Do Hard Things inspired: How do I get started? What do I do when I get discouraged? What's the best way to inspire others? Filled with stories and insights from Alex, Brett, and other real-life rebelutionaries, Start Here is a powerful and practical guide to doing hard things, right where you are.

What I really appreciated about this book is that it focused on being faithful right where you. So many want to run out and accomplish something that seems "important" while leaving their first priorities unfinished. This book gives great examples of how young people can learn from observing what others have done, how to take the first steps and how to make plans. Brett & Alex have a great way of keeping the would-be world changer grounded. There is an order to stepping out, such as first being under the authority of one's parents and keeping a focus on Christ. The chapter "How to Move Against the Crowd - And Why" is great. It answers such questions as: Can hard things be fun? What about my friends? How should I relate to pop
culture?

This is a book that I will have my college-aged son read this summer. It is super practical and very motivating.

Leave me a message and you will be entered for a chance to win this book!!!!

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Morning Coffee & Two Giveaways!!

Welcome to all of the Company Girls coming via Rachel Anne's Home Sanctuary blog!!

This morning, I not only am having some coffee, but I was ambitious enough to make Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon rolls!!!

They are AMAZING, of course, as are all of her recipes!

This blog is a "catch-up" as I have two books to share with you that I should have posted last week...but that is another story.

The following books were provided for review by the Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Please read the following reviews, post a comment letting me know which book you are most interested in, and you will be in a drawing to receive that book, FREE!!!!

The first book: Mother - Daughter Duet: Getting to the Relationship You Want with Your Adult Daughter. This book caught my eye because I have two adult daughters. It is my desire to have a sweet relationship with them.

Cheri Fuller, along with her daughter Ali Plum, use lots of personal stories along with the wisdom of experience in describing what the mother-daughter duet should look like. Having the insight and perspective of the daughter certainly is a benefit!
After discussing such topics as Respect and Belief, Communication, Connecting and Bonding, Now that she's a Mom, When Crisis Arise, each chapter has a section entitled "A Daughter's Perspective." These were very helpful. Also included at the end of each chapter is a section entitled, "Two-Part Harmony." This section wraps up the chapter with some real practical application. The author and her daughter share what has worked for them, lessons learned and just open their hearts with the reader.
From the back cover: "Mother-Daughter Duet" helps moms open wide the door of communication so that daughters want to walk through it."
I highly recommend this book! I must say that I have enjoyed transitioning to this stage of mothering two very beautiful adult daughters.

Here they are:



The second book is: Dancing with My Father by Sally Clarkson. I have been a fan of Sally Clarkson and have read some of her previous books, so I was excited to be able to read her latest. The sub-title for this book is: How God Leads Us into a Life of Grace and Joy. Sally wrote this book after a time of noticing a lack of joy in her life. It's very easy for us, especially as women, to become overloaded with "busyness." She describes for us how we can take the time to live in beauty, grace, joy and peace. I love the title of Chapter 9: "Exchanging the Drudgery of Duty for the Dance of Delight." Sally's writing reflects her heart and she shares so much of her life with her readers. She comes across as someone who has been there and understands.

I know that I will be returning to both of these books again and again. They are both packed with practical advice and wisdom.

Don't forget...leave a comment and let me know which book you would prefer and I will put you into a drawing for that book. If you don't leave a preference, I'll just put you in both drawings!!

If you are entering the drawing for the Mother-Daughter Duet book, I'd love to have you comment about how you adapted (or are adapting) to this stage of life.

Before I leave you...here's one last look at those marvelous rolls. (All credit goes to The Pioneer Woman) I suggest that you take some time out and whip up a batch. (You know you want to!!)