A sample of my indoor fall decorations

I add to my collection of pumpkins at the end of the season.  I love Hobby Lobby's selection and their prices are great.  Several of my ceramic pumpkins and gourds I got last season of $2-$3.  Even my husband can't complain about that.  He tries, but I don't listen. 

Here are some pics of my works in progress.

My collection of Hobby Lobby pumpkins.  You'll see some amber moon and stars dishes throughout the pics.  They were my grandmothers.

My display cabinet.  Most of the old glass and dishes are from my grandmothers collection and snow globes by mother who decided my husband needed to start collecting them.

(don't ask)





 I love my  fireplace and the floating mantel.  It's a  pretty good sized fireplace but the mantel isn't all that deep so I have to be creative.  You really can't layer anything without the risk of it falling off. 

These next few pieces of furniture actually belong to my sister in law.  They were her mothers (my mother in law).  Long story short they've been in my dining room for over six years (since we built the house) and will probablly be here as long as we are. 

Notice the coffee filter wreath.  Love it. 

In case you can't tell, I really love pumpkins.  They never go out of style.

More old dishes.  It seems my family thinks I like to collect old dishes.  Don't get me wrong I do like the dishes, some of them very much so.  But finding places to put them can be tricky.  I've got so much stuff in the buffett that the bottom has fallen out.  I need to downsize but I don't want to hurt anyone feelings.

Anyway that's just the start of what I want to accomplish.  I'm off to make another wreath I saw on another site.  Hopefully this one will be big enought to hang over the bed in our guest room. 

I'll take pics when I'm done. 

Shew, I'm definitely out of practice.

I've been so busy with school these past few months I haven't had a lot of time to post anything.  I just finished submitting my analysis paper for my first 400 level college course in 24 years.  Right now I'm taking a class on Roman's and Galatians.  The two page paper I wrote was on one verse in Galatians.  My fear is I won't sound as collegiate as my fellow classmates.  So far I'm a straight A student, for the very first time EVER!!! 
I'm hoping to start a few projects this week.  It's fall break here and I'm taking a few days off to spend with my son and husband.  I have plans for at least two wreaths and setting up the dining room table.  It took me two hours to get my mantle just the way I wanted it.  I'll post pics of that later too. 
I have so much to catch up on.  There are pictures to upload and photoshop, crafts to make and the table to set.  I may need to take an extra day.  Shew, I'm already tired.

Sometime we never know why.

Yesterday I recieved a call from my mother telling me that a cousin who is only four months younger than me had committed suicide.  He left no note.  Unfortunately that leaves a lot of unanswered questions.  He had three children, two of which live with thier mother.  The third is in foster care for reasons not completely known to me.  It's not my place to judge him or ask the why's or what if's.  I'm am so very sorry that he felt life was not worth living any longer.  I'm even more sorry that we lost touch over the years. 
Part of me is angery with him for leaving his young son an orphan and letting his mother and sister find him that way.  Now they and his two other siblings are left to clean up the mess he left behind. My prayers will be for his family and children, this is going to be a long and difficult road.  
What have I learned?  Don't lose touch with the ones you love. 

Goodbye Mark.

Homework and Spaghetti Mondays!!

I have two major papers to write tonight and have posted by midnight EST.  One I'll get finished the other I probably won't make the deadline for.  Dang it!!!  It's not that I wait till the last minute, it just took me four days to finish the first paper.  I have one class that usually requires three papers a week.  So I finish two a struggle with the third.  Oh well, I'll get it done if I have to work all night.  My son has a baseball game tomorrow night and family is first. 
What else is on the agenda for the week.  Candy making.  Another food related contest at work next week and I'm hoping to make the following:  Mini candy apples, candy corn fudge, cinnamon hazelnut toffee and smores chocolate cups.  I'll take pics of the process and post them.  Wish me luck.

Sanders Sundays

 I hope we've started a new tradition in the Sanders family.  They will be called Sanders Sundays.  This is the second Sunday and our first rotation.  The  idea behind Sanders Sunday is to save money and spend a Sunday meal with family.  Not just our immediate family but with our brother and sister-in-law, nieces and great-niece.  Last Sunday we had baby back ribs and my house and today we had steak at the in laws. 
Next Sunday we're have a taco bar back here on Eminence Pike.    It good food and great company.  I hope we get to do it every week. 

Way cool for me!!

Yesterday I was featured on Texas Monkey for the cakes I made and posted earlier.  They were a real hit and so easy to make.  Thanks for the idea.

It's been a really long time since I'm posted an  update.  I been so busy.  I'm in my sixth online class trying to finish my bachelors degree.  August has been real hectic because a few of my classes overlapped and it was really hard to stay on track.  But I'm only taking one class now and though I have to write several papers, I have an entire week to complete them instead of four days. 

I haven't had much time to do any baking to cooking but I hope to get back to it soon.  My husband and I are trying to cut down the amount of times we eat out.  We were hoping to go an entire month without eating out but I had to go out of town for three days and the boys (my husband and son) couldn't stay away from Beef O'Brady's.  They love that place.  Since my meals weren't provided on my buisness trip I ate out too. 

We've manage to convince my sister and brother-in-law into joining us in our cost savings plan and because of this we intend to spend Sunday eating together.  Trading off on who's house we go to for dinner.  This way we can feel like we've eaten out and not spent as much money.  Last Sunday everyone ate at my house.  We served babyback ribs, green beans, cheesy potatoes, and fresh corn, oh and fresh cookies for dessert.  It was much better and less expensive then going out. 

I'm looking forward to this Sunday.   Maybe I'll make another barrel cake for dessert. 

The cake takes the prize

I made another barrel cake to enter into a cake and pie contest at work.  The cakes were judges on appearance by local dignataries. I was lucky enough to take second place. 

Here is the cake (cupcakes) that beat me.  They were adorable and so unique.