October 28th

I had to work today. Sigh... The weather finally feels like fall. Before church, we got to talk to Ben for a few minutes. He got a promotion to Specialist. He's also reenlisting for and extra year (3 years left instead of 2) and he's changing his MOS to photojournalist. He'll be sent for training in March. I'm really thrilled that he has chosen something that will give him some skills for when he gets out of the military. He sounds great, very upbeat!

October 27th

My fireplace for real! The lady from Fireside came out today and worked for about 3 hours getting my fireplace to work. She ended up taking it all apart to replace a valve.

October 26th

So we had a wonderful day of nothing. Well not exactly - but we didn't have to do anything. We went out to see a house a realtor friend wanted us to see. We had told him how we were thinking we'd eventually like something smaller, on one floor in the country and he told us about a house that we might like. We rode out there to check it out. It was very nice, updated with a bonus room. However, he had neglected to note that it only had 2 bedrooms! After that we went to IHOP and had brunch. We got the groceries done and then just hung out at home. That night we had our Crown Ministries Financial Class. For dinner, I cooked French Meat Pie, a favorite of Dan's. If you're from RI, you're familiar with it but if your from anywhere else, and don't have a French-Canadian background, this probably sounds a bit odd. But it is really yummy!

French Meat Pie

1 lb ground pork

1 lb ground beef

1 1/2 cups water

2 small onions, chopped

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 1/2 cups crushed saltine crackers (about 1 sleeve)

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground sage

1/4 tsp ground cloves

In a large pot combine first six ingredients and cook over medium heat while continuously breaking up meats to a fine consistency. Cover and let simmer for about one hour. Remove some of the liquid and discard - leave enough liquid to equal about one cup when well is made in meat mixture. Add remaining ingredients to meat mixture and mix well.

Place slightly cooled filling into prepared pie shell. After fitting top crust brush with milk or egg white as preferred. Bake 45 - 50 minutes at 375 degrees.

Thankful Thursday

1. I have tomorrow off and I have a whole lot of nothing planned.

2. Arthur also has tomorrow off and will join me in doing nothing.

3. It rained- finally. North Carolina is in extreme drought right now.

4. Gummy Bears!

5. 28 days until Thanksgiving

6. Andy might (key word is might) be able to come home for Christmas

7. The State Fair- lots of good clean fun

8. My Ladies Bible Study group

October 25th

More Rain!

October 24th

It finally rained! This was the rain on my windshield while I was sitting in my car waiting for it to slow down enough to walk into work.

October 23rd

I see you... Not sure how this got on my camera but there is was.

October 22nd

A visitor off the side of the screen house

October 21st

Back to the fair again! Today was the last day of the fair.

Rose and I had tickets for Trace Atkins but we went a bit early. This is one of the healthy things we ate - potato ribbons (fried of course!)

The sunsetting over the fair grounds.




Trace Atkins! This picture might come down because Rose has a better camera and I may use one of her shots. We were able to get right to the bottom of the stage.

October 20th

Back at the fair. Arthur and I went early so that we could see the exhibits. The day started with Country Ham Biscuits at "church row". Church row is the long row of church booths selling food.


Then Arthur willingly wandered among the various animal exhibits. Ok so I dragged him...


Onto the vegetables!


A pig pile!

We had a lot of fun and only ate a few bad foods .

October 19th

Rachel's actual 21st birthday! Happy Birthday, Rachel!

Kind of a cool picture - it looks like the table is on fire. It was only 21 candles.

October 18th

We had Rachel's birthday dinner tonight. We couldn't find my camera so Arthur took this with his phone.

October 17th

The leaves are starting to change! I don't know how since it has been so hot.

October 16th

Arthur made pasta primavera. The recipe is from the Pioneer Woman Cooking website:

http://www.thepioneerwomancooks.com/

October 15th

More flowers

Yesterday we stopped at Home Depot and I saw this beautiful hanging flower. I thought the colors were very fallish so its hanging by the front door.

October 14th

I was so happy that I didn't get sick yesterday. I know it sounds stupid but I really expected to be sick all weekend. After church, we stopped at On the Border for lunch. This was Dan's dessert. I can't remember what it was but it looks delicious! Arthur worked a bit on the patio extension and then we went down to Rose & Joe's to watch the football game. (Well, Arthur watched football; I sat outside and visited with Rose and Lynn).

October 13th

More flowers from the garden.

Today was D-Day. I didn't leave the house. I took 16 amoxycilin tablets, 4 flagils, 4 Pepto-Bismal, and 3 Previcids. Yum. It was suggested that I stay close to home . Amazingly, I felt absolutely fine! Thanks everyone for praying. I also got a lot of odds and ends done around the house.

October 12th

The State Fair has opened! Now you have to understand that in North Carolina, the State Fair is serious business. All this past week, there have been reports on the news about the fair being set up and how many rides have passed inspection. During the week, I commented on how beautiful the weather was, and the gentleman's reponse was "Yes, it's terrific fair weather!" The schools even used to close for "Fair Day" although I don't think they are doing that anymore. We went tonight mainly for the Mercy Me concert so we didn't see much of the fair. I'm hoping that we can get back Sunday after church if I'm feeling ok, or next Saturday.

There are all the cool rides - well cool to take a photo off since I'm afraid of heights.


Games,


More games,


And every food known to mankind. And a few that haven't been know before there were state fairs. We got there about 7:00 so we didn't have too much time to weigh our options. Arthur chose the cheese steak and I went with the healthy choice - a chili cheeseburger.


We got into the arena and although you can't complain about the ticket price ($10.00), the chairs are not the most comfortable.


Once the show started though, I wasn't paying attention to the seats. We saw Meagle and Muggle, then Aaron Shust, and finally Mercy Me!


We did walk around for a little bit after the concert.




Neat photo opportunities


And finally I had to have a true Fair food - Roasted Corn on the Cob. It was so good and was steaming hot. Considering it was freezing (a bone numbing 51 degrees!) , it was the perfect choice!

October 11th

My mums have bloomed!

October 11th

I havent' done Thankful Thursday in a couple weeks. Not because I haven't been thankful but just time gets away from me. So here we go in random order...

1. I had an upper GI done today and he didn't see any ulcers! Acid reflux and some other weird anomalie but no ulcers in that portion of the stomach!
2. Arthur still enjoying his job. It is such a difference when you go to work and don't feel like a failure everyday.
3. Daniel getting a new job at Discount Tire. The pay is a lot better and he'll be home by 7 every night instead of getting home at 11:00 most nights. We'll get to eat dinner together.
4. Aunt Margaret's surgery went fine.
5. 46 days until Thanksgiving!
6. 43 days until my Mom comes to visit!
7. Ben has been safe for another week.
8. Andy also started a new job (in RI unfortunatly) and seems to like it.
9. The high temperature today was 67 degrees! Bring on Fall!
10. How soft Gracie is after going to the groomer
11. How happy both dogs are to see me no matter what time I come home. I feel loved.

October 10th

Ssshhh.... Don't tell Fireside but my fireplace works - sort of.

I had Surburban Propane out on Monday and he started it up and insists that it is Fireside's problem (the fireplace maker); Fireside insists that it is Surburban's problem. I am just getting frustrated with all of them. The guy from Surburban left it all connected so periodically I turn it on just to look at it. I don't want to blow the house up and it has but 90 but still... I have a fireplace!

October 9th

Black-Bottom Banana Bars

I actually made these yesterday (it was on my list ) but I figured I'd better get a picture before they were gone. We had some over ripe bananas and I didn't feel like making banana bread so I pulled out one of my cooking magazines and found this. On a side note - I love lists and I love cooking magazines. Perhaps because a recipe is in the form of a list?

Anyway here's the recipe!

Black Bottom Banana Bars

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cp sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1-1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 medium)

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup baking cocoa

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add egg and vanilla, beat until thoroughly combined. Blend in the bananas. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well.

Divide batter in half. Add cocoa to half; spread into a greased 13 in x 9in x 2 in baking pan. Spoon remaining batter on top and swirl with a knife. Bake at 350 deg for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool.

October 8th

The List

I am a listmaker. I love lists. I like checking things off on lists even better. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy to accomplish something. I have even been known to write things on a list after

I have done it, just so I can cross it off. Lol! Today was a good day. I had the day off of work and I crossed a lot of stuff off of my list .

October 7th

Aunt Margaret

After church, Arthur went to visit Aunt Margaret who is staying at his cousin, Velvet and Andy's in Garner. I had to work so I couldn't go so I sent my camera instead. Aunt Margaret had a pacemaker put in earlier this week. She's weak but doing fine and is hoping for the doctor's ok to go home to Fairmont. Thanks for everyone who prayed for her!

October 6th

I had to work all day today. This little guy was sitting outside the office door most of the day. When I left he was gone so I guess he was ok. I'm just in a mood. Not sure why. It just seems when I work weekends, I end up spending my days off running errands and cleaning so I don't really get a day off. I just need some "me" time. I know that sounds selfish but sometimes I just want to sit back and do nothing. Sigh... Ok, I'll stop whining now.

October 5th

Tonight Arthur and I started a Crown Ministry class at church. We are technically co-leaders but we are learning as much as everyone else. We took the class about 20 years ago but neither of us remember much. Arthur losing his job helped us get a better perspective on our finances.

October 4th

I visited my doctor today. I was positive for acute h. pylori infection, which is the bacteria which causes ulcers. The old treatment was just to live with it and deal with the symptoms or a 2 - 4 week drug regimen that was almost worse than the infection! They have since come out with a 1-day treatment which my doctor described as "dropping the nuclear bomb" on the infection. I'll take about 30 pills in one day. It will be one day of misery but I can handle anything for one day. I've been feeling better lately. I've actually have been eating - I wasn't eating much since I wasn't sure what was causing me to get sick. I make sure I never get hungry and always take my Pepcid.

October 3rd

Just a cool sky picture

October 2nd

Our fireplace that still isn't. I had the fireplace lady come out. She was here for an hour and now I have to call back the propane company because the pressure is wrong. Then the fireplace lady has to come back out. This has turned into a much bigger production that I thought it would be.

October 1st

We went to see Sierra's apartment tonight. This is the living room! It is really cute but a bit empty right now. They haven't gotten the living room furniture yet so they are going for the Japanese style. We brought over KFC since she didn't have any food in the house.