Delicous Autumn!

{Last week my family and I took an afternoon walk on the trails at Chellberg Farm.  I had been longing to get some autumn photos so I was quite delighted that the whole family wanted to come a long.}

Why Autumn is my Favorite Season::

• Crisp mornings
• Sipping hot tea all day

• Leaves fluttering on my windshield
• Stews and soups

•  Scarfs and boots
• Harvest moons

 

• Pumpkin rolls & Carrot Cake
• Crunchy leaves

 

• Fall mums
• The pumpkin patch

• Cozy sweaters
• Curling up with a good book

• Counting my blessings
• More time with family

• Fresh apple cider
• Fall decor

• Nature walks
• Caramel apples

 

October gave a party;

The leaves by hundreds came - 

The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,

And leaves of every name.

The Sunshine spread a carpet,

And everything was grand,

Miss Weather led the dancing,

Professor Wind the band.

~George Cooper

Come see some of my photography over at Serendipity-Images.

Dessert for breakfast?

Eating this breakfast treat is a delicious way to jumpstart a morning!

I stumbled across Paula Deen's gorilla bread on Pinterest.

You can blame my lack of blogging on pinterest; it has become a slight addiction of mine.  :)

I have gotten several crafting, decorating, and cooking ideas from there and I

have had the pleasure of trying dozens of things out, you can view my boards here.

Ingredients:

1/2 c of sugar

1 T of cinnamon

1 stick of butter

1 c of brown sugar

8 oz pkg of cream cheese

2 - 12 oz cans of refrigerated biscuits

1 1/2 c of coarsely chopped walnuts 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.

Spray bundt pan with cooking spray.

Mix the sugar and cinnamon.

In a small sauce pan, melt the butter and brown sugar over low heat.  Set aside.

Cut the cream cheese into 20 equal cubes.

Press the biscuits out with your fingers and sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar mixture on it and then place a cream cheese cube in the center wrapping and sealing the dough around the cream cheese.

Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the walnuts onto the bottom of the bundt pan.

Place half of the prepared biscuits into the pan and then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, pour half of the butter mixture, and sprinkle with walnuts.

Layer the remaining biscuits and follow with cinnamon sugar, butter and walnuts.

Bake for 30 minutes.

Cool, then place a plate on top of the bundt pan and invert.

Enjoy with a large glass of milk!!

Bon apetit! :)

Come see some of my photography over at Serendipity-Images.

Where thou art -

that - is home.

~Emily Dickinson

My newest addition to my key ring:

And the lovely house that we now call home:

 

Home, the spot of  earth supremely blest,

a dear sweeter spot than all the rest.

~Robert Montgomery

Come see some of my photography over at Serendipity-Images.

Proud to share a part in...

Customize a picture slideshow My church is halfway through our annual fall campaign and we have seen the Lord's hand of blessing. I am so very proud to share a small part in the big work God is doing through my church. Come see some of my photography over at Serendipity-Images.

BIG news::

 It all started two weeks ago...

I attended 4 consecutive days of classes - a total of 32 hours of listening 

to the same instructor talk about Property & Casualty Insurance.

I learned a lot, and came away with two quotes from my entertaining mentor:

You can't unscramble scrambled eggs.

&

Good, better, best.

Never let it rest.

Til your good gets better,

and

your better gets best.

Anyways...

I poured over books,

listened to over 10 hours of audio reviews,

studied every spare waking moment...

{I am not stretching the truth one little bit-

my family can vouch for me}

And last Saturday it paid off when I took the 160 question, 3 hour exam and passed by 4 points!

I was soooo pumped; I could hardly contain my excitement.  

The next step was to apply for my resident producer license,

which I received this past Thursday.

{I WILL be framing that up in my room! :)}

Now I can dive into these two books that I have been saving to reward myself! ;)

Come see some of my photography over at Serendipity-Images.

looking back...

Then::

{September 8, 1999}

&

Now::

{September 8, 2011}

Happy Birthday to the first man I ever fell in love with.

The guy who I still go to for advice.

The man who knows a little bit about everything-

Who taught me how to ride a bike,

fry an over-easy egg (or as we called it dip-dip egg)

cut in and tape before painting,

wax a car,

shoot hoops,

 how to see the best in others,

and live to please God.

I love you, Daddy!

~your little girl

Come see some of my photography over at Serendipity-Images.

A furniture makeover!!

 I have been in search of a desk for some time now.  

I did not want just any desk;

 I wanted one that I (and when I say I what I really mean is my Dad) could refinish.  

I had seen one at a local furniture consignment shop and drooled over it, but the price was just a little higher than what I wanted to pay and the owner insisted that they would never go any lower since it was an antique piece and worth much more than the sticker price.  

I went into this store several times over the past three months and the desk was always there and then one day I noticed it had been reduced and that on top of that all furniture was 20% off!!  The owner told me that obviously this desk was meant for me!  

And so - I was sold on it. :)

The first thing we did was remove the hardware and spray paint it nickel-colored.

The drawers were painted black...

My dad stripped and refinished the top of the desk:

 In order to not take away from the intricate details we taped it off and painted the rest of the desk black.

It took a couple of coats before it was just right...

My dad did an amazing job;

he is awesome! :)

I LOVE MY DESK!!

And this is what I parted with::

I have had this desk since 6th grade; it was a bittersweet moment...

But, then when I walked back inside and saw this beaut;

I couldn't help but smile! :)

Come see some of my photography over at Serendipity-Images.