Afternoon Coffee and Evening Tea

Crisp, cool mornings

Sweaters and fuzzy socks

Pumpkin Spice everything

Candles burning all day long

Pumpkins, cornstalks, and colorful mums

New crayons, pencils, and schoolbooks

Earlier evenings

Crockpot meals simmering in the kitchen

Comfy throws on the sofa

New seasons of old, favorite shows

Football on Sundays

Apple pie and pumpkin muffins

Green becoming red, yellow, orange and purple

Hot cocoa and a good book on a Saturday

Leaves swirling in a breeze

Smoke swirling from chimneys

Feeling all the cozy.

How about you, my friends??

Random Photo Friday And Try This Pie Recipe!

Happy Weekend, my friends! I hope you had a lovely week with your people. Our week was full of fun and felt like fall. Here is a quick peek!

This was my view on the way home from Mass last week.

Ask me how this happened.

I have no idea.

Yesterday, I was driving and he was in the back, buckled in a carseat, playing with Matchbox cars.

He's doing awesome though, and I am super proud of him.

That you all for the kind words in honor of my six years here in Blogland! I am thankful for each and every one of you, my friends. We did indeed choose two winners for the fancy schmancy giveaway, and here they are...

How I Make Time For Me

Last week I wrote this post about the importance of slowing down and making time for myself each day. How do I accomplish this in our chaotic fast-paced world where society dictates that busy is better? How do I nourish my own soul in order to be able to bring peace and calm to my home and family? Well, my schedule constantly changes and evolves depending on which season of life I am in, but I continue to make time each day for calm and peace and coffee. I began to create this special time when I was a young mother who decided one day to pour a cup of coffee and snuggle in a chair as her sweet little baby girl napped each afternoon.

Random Photo Friday And Happy 6th Birthday Little Blog! A Giveaway too! ( Closed.)

Can you believe we have been having afternoon coffee and evening tea together here for six years??? Me either! Thank you for sharing your lives, homes, holidays, recipes, joys and sorrows with me, my friends. This little space is a great source of comfort, joy, fun, and wisdom for me. And although the more popular platforms have replaced Blogging for many, I plan on remaining here in this slower paced, cozy setting for as long as you will have me. In celebration of this momentous event, I am having a little giveaway at the end of the post. Before that though, here is a peek at the past week here in our family home. Which for some reason, involved a great amount of food.

It's OK. In Fact You Really Should.

What now? You are probably wondering what I am advocating now. Well, it isn't anything earth-shattering, I promise. It is nothing new, or crazy, or trendy. In fact, it is just the opposite. I am talking about slowing down. And taking time for you. Life is busy for us all. Choosing to pause and step out of the chaos for a bit each day does not make one weak or lazy. In fact, I think it makes one stronger. I am a firm believer in the idea that in order to take care of others, we must first care for ourselves. This can mean different things to different people. For me, slowing down and taking time for me means...

What does it mean to you, my friends?

I'd love to know.

What I Wore Saturday Night

Saturday night means many things to many people. For me it means real clothes and makeup. Sometimes I get it together early enough to convince a less-than-willing family member to take a few awkward photos of me to document the occasion.

Hmmm. Little bright.

Random Photo Friday And Christmas In July 2018

Happy Weekend, my friends. I hope you are enjoying your summer days. Things are slowing down a bit here, and my thoughts are beginning to move toward the new school year. I am loving the slow pace of the summer days, yet cannot help feel anticipation and excitement about beginning lesson plans for my favorite third grader. Rhett will continue cyberschool which involves minimal involvement from me, with the exception of random checks and technology help. (Which I promptly refer to my assistant Peyton, of course. )

Almost One Word Wednesday. (Ok. Maybe Not.)

Just seven kids from two families, who live in different countries on different continents with an ocean between them, who met because two of them fell in love and are engaged to be married...

And who instantly became the best of friends while spending a week together laughing, talking, playing cards, watching movies, eating tacos and ice cream, playing with pups, and staying up late.

And who I hope are all together again very soon!

How Many Days Until...

I know, I know. Don't hate on me! I am enjoying these glorious days of summer as much as the next guy. Or girl. But this time of year always tugs on my heart just a bit. OK. A lot. A few cooler days sprinkled among those hot and humid ones make me realize that my beloved days of September, October, and November are now closer than farther away. And that makes this pumpkin~flavored~everything lover, cozy sweater wearing, changing autumn leaves watcher VERY happy.

So. How many days until...

AUTUMN?

(IF YOU WANT TO BE TECHNICAL)