It's September 2014!

So... I spent all last week at the beach.  And it was glorious.  The weather was beautiful (and HOT), the sand was like powdered sugar and the water, oh the water, was clear and the most beautiful shades of blue and green I've ever seen.  We were in Siesta Key which is down near Sarasota.  I highly recommend it.  It is gorgeous!

We drove back on Friday and got into town just in time to go to the grocery store to pick up a few things for Saturday and then headed to one of our local high schools.  It was the first night under the "Friday Night Lights" and we were thrilled to be invited by a very special young man to see him perform for the first time in his high school's marching band.  You know, when a 15 year old invites a couple of 50 year olds to see him doing something with this High School, we had to be sure we didn't miss it.   He did great and we were so glad we were there. 

After leaving there, we came back home to assemble all of our tailgate supplies because I'm not sure if you know but Saturday was  the GEORGIA'S FIRST GAME OF THE SEASON!    I will be talking more about this later in the week but to say that we had a great time tailgating with E and N and then a fabulous time watching Georgia tromp all over Clemson, well, that's an understatement.  I honestly thought that when D walked in Sanford Stadium and sat down 32 rows above the 49-yard line (thank you CC!) that he was going to  just fall out.  It was a great day! 

Okay, so here is what I think about the first day of September .... Yay!  WooHoo!  WOOP! WOOP!  Y'all seriously, it's the beginning of FALL!!  I can hardly contain my excitement about this time of the year.  I.  love.  it.  September is going to be super busy for us but we are good with it and have been preparing for it. 

Here's what's on the Agenda:
1.  This weekend we are going to St. Simons.  Several months ago we went to the Gateway House Gala and I walked away from our table for 30 seconds and when I got back, D had "bought" this weekend during the Live Auction.  We love St. Simons and are really looking forward to being on the Golden Isles this weekend. 
2.  Next week our Birthday Group will be hosting a Bridal Shower for a very special young lady, one of our own Birthday Girl's daughter.  We've watched this girl grow into a beautiful young lady - what a blessing.  So excited to be celebrating with a shower and then her wedding next month!
3.  On Saturday, the 13th, I am so looking forward to attending Beth Moore's simulcast at Blackshear Place Church with 2 of my best buddies.  I've seen Beth in personal several times and each time it's been a spiritual life changer.  Even though she won't be live for this event, I can't imagine that her message will be any less impactful.  Prayerfully preparing now for the word she will bring. 
4.   On Sunday, the 14th, D and I will be hosting our Sunday School class at the Farm for our Fall Get Together.  Praying for the weather to cool off just a touch so it will seem like fall in the mountains.
5.  On Saturday the 20th I'm blessed to be a part of a very special girl's Wedding Day.  We've been planning this day for months and it's almost here!  Looking forward to a great weekend of celebrating Matt and Whitley!
6.  On Sunday, the 21st our good friends from Illinois are coming to stay for the week.  These folks were both in our wedding and here we are 30 years later, still friends.  Even though we've lived 8 hours apart for all of these years, we still feel like family.  So looking forward to being with these precious friends. 
7.  On Tuesday, the 23rd, I'll slip out from our visit to speak to the Golden Nuggets group at our church.  This is the vibrant group of "seniors" ( of which I will qualify to be a member in November - age 55, you know) who meet once a month in our Fellowship Hall for lunch.   I have no idea what I'm going to talk about yet.  I'm hoping it comes to me soon.  :)
8.  September 27th is D's Birthday.  Several months ago when the Georgia schedule came out I immediately looked to see if we are playing at home on his birthday and we are.  So I sent texts to the kids telling them that we all needed to be in Athens together on that day because D's birthday + Georgia Football = A Perfect Family Day for us.   It was all set.  Then we heard that D's cousin is getting married that day and we really can't miss it.  The wedding is at 3:30 in Watkinsville.  We are hoping for a late game (they haven't set the time yet because of tv schedules) so we can go to the wedding and then to the game.  However, it won't be a big Birthday Celebration for my sweet husband like we planned.  However, a birthday celebration will happen, just not on the 27th. 

And that my friends, is an overview of our month.  This doesn't include bride's meetings, committee meetings, Bible study, prayer groups and a host of other fabulous things that my life includes.  So let's set back and enjoy the ride.  Life is good! 

Fall is Definitely in the Air

This morning when I went out to walk the dogs, the air was cool and it was glorious!  It seems when you live in Georgia that you usually don't get cool mornings until maybe around mid-November so this is a welcome surprise.  I was feeling it so much that yesterday I decorated my house for fall.  My very special girlfriends were coming over last night so it seemed like a good time.   Thought I would share a few photos with you ...

Yes, I know there aren't any fall decorations in this room but I had to share.  This room just makes me happy.  Most folks would call it a formal living room but to me, it's not that at all.  This is my quiet time room.  This is where me and God meet and talk. 

Okay, a little more fall décor going on here in the dining room. 

Have I Mentioned How Much I Love Fall and My Camera Roll

Oh y'all ... I can't wait for it to be fall.  Granted, this summer has not been the hot-sweaty-humid-think-I'm-gonna-die kind of summer but still.  Is fall not the best?  So we're off to a great start with football and all (go Dawgs) but bring on the pumpkins, fall festivals, cool temps and of course, the food.  I can hardly wait to start baking with apples and sweet potatoes.  Of course, I know we can do that most anytime but it does just call for it in the fall.  Just as a little teaser, I'm making Slow-Cooker Applesauce for supper tomorrow night.  I just couldn't wait.  If you've never made it, it is super easy.  Just put 10-12 peeled, cored, diced apples in your slow cooker with about 1/2 cup water, 1/2 brown sugar and a shake or two of cinnamon.  And that's it!  Let it cook for about 7-8 hours on low and you'll be glad you did.  Your house will smell amazing and the end result is fabulous.  Try it - you'll love it! 

So... what's new with you?  I've spent most of the morning over on the Cooking with Crevolyn blog writing posts for the week.  Today I wrote about Saturday's tailgate and a post for Thursday about the Pound Cake Challenge.  I'm loving doing this cooking blog now that I've finally figured out how to do all of the features like post pictures, schedule posts, etc. The internet thing ... it might catch on.

So since I have figured out how to post photos, let's take a stroll through my camera roll.  These photos are in such random order but here goes.

So this is Kirkley, she's our older Cavalier.  Kirkley and Sadie are both foster dogs which is a great program with a local breeder.  Someday when I have lots of time, I'll tell you about it.  Anyway, we are crazy about our two little girls.  This photo was taken yesterday when I picked Kirkley up from the breeder where she had been on a little "vacation."  Let's just say that in about 2 months I'll take her back to the breeder for her to bring forth a litter of little Cavaliers.  Awww....

 This was last night.  They were glad to be back together. 

Last Saturday we tailgated in Athens with these three.  It was so much fun!

So remember I told you that we went to see The Jesters at Chateau Elan last Sunday.  We danced until our feet about fell off.  We could not have enjoyed these fine musicians more.

This is currently my favorite cookbook.  It came out last year.  It has great recipes for tailgating but in case you're not into that, it has great recipes period. 

The Atlanta Falcons came to City Park a few weeks back and we decided to walk down the hill and take in all the fun.  It was great!  Before the game started, four sky-divers landed in the middle of the field.  It's not everyday you see that.   Aren't these two just the cutest?

And here's the rest of the crew that night. 

Back on August 3rd, Kenny and Zac came to the Dome.  It was an amazing concert. 

This is where we went after the concert.  It's a tradition. 

Oh and this is the picture I texted my family on August 16th.  The day Elvis died.  Moment of silence please. 

Look who sits with me in the morning while I have breakfast and read the paper. 

Well, hey ... how about me and Joe Nichols?  We went to the Poultry Federation's Night of Knights which was a big old hoop-de-doo at the Cobb Galleria.  Joe was the featured performer for the evening.  After the concert, we went to an after party and lo and behold, look who showed up and signed autographs?  Side note:  my word at the cute.

Not sure you know Joe?  Check this out.

Me and D at the after party. 

This was before the boys walked out the door to go to the Clemson game.  Side note: my word at the cute. 

It's Fall Ya'll!

Woohoo! Fall is almost here! And fall in North Georgia is the best! I love decorating my house for fall, mixing up the cashews, peanuts and candy corn, going up in the mountains to the apple barns for all sorts of deliciousness, the fall festivals, pumpkins, mums, the colors of the leaves and the most wonderful of all – the cool weather. This will be no surprise to some of you but I am extremely hot natured right now in this season of life, if you know what I’m saying. It is miserable. And it is still 114 degrees in the South. But thankfully, fall is on the way! We have had little glimpses of it with some cool mornings and evenings. Now I probably won’t wear a sweater until after Christmas and may not put a coat on all season but that’s okay. Even with that being said, fall clothes are still my favorite! I made a little run over to my favorite clothing store on the planet this past week with my mom and boy oh boy, that was pleasure. I was there for almost three hours, touched everything, tried on a few things and bought a blouse. Isn’t that the way it goes? If my husband had been there, he would have gone bananas or to Chickfila. That’s why I went when he was out of town. Anyway, something I want but didn’t get was a scarf. Now, I’ve seen my fashionista friends (and I have some friends with some serious fashion sense to be sure) wear these great scarves, tied in all these cool ways but I just can’t pull it off. I need to be tutored in the fine art of scarf buying and tying. So maybe I’ll go back, buy one and take a class. Do they offer classes on such? If not, they should.