Counting the days...

Our Sailor Son will be home for Thanksgiving!! YAY!
I am counting the days....Oh, what to make? What to make?
Of course turkey with all the fixin's, and I will bake apple and pumpkin pie too!
I will have dips and crackers, and all sorts of treats, especially the favorites that our son loves.
I can't wait. It has been too long since we have seen him last. I don't cry as often, but I still do every now and then. I am proud of the man he has become, to go out on his own and serve this country.
In the Nuclear Program of the United States Navy, there are many study hours. It is not an easy undertaking. I admire my Son so much.
I can't imagine seeing him again, to give him a big hug, I just know I will cry!!
I am going to start the Thanksgiving list today, I don't want to miss a thing!

I am trying to keep busy at home with my stitching and crocheting. Working on more scarves at the moment. This is a little piece I have started for myself...

This is a Design by Notforgotten Farm. As most  of you know I love rabbits and miss my Peter Rabbit terribly. I am stitching this in memory of him. The fabric is 30 count coffee stained raw linen, a piece that I had won from Notforgotten Farm. I love the primitive look of this piece so far.
Fall has really set in, and now you can really see almost through the woods in our backyard. It is wonderful to sit out back and have this awesome view!

 I have been enjoying watching all the leaves flutter to the ground, sometimes in masses. Although not trying to think about all the raking that will have to be done! :)
Another finished pin pillow for a dear friend completed...

If you crochet, you must stop in to your local Pharmacy, or Walmart. They have tins filled with candy for the Holiday seasons...I have found that these tins perfectly hold crochet hooks! I love using them...(especially because I lose everything all the time) Ha! But, to keep them in these tins, they will hopefully never get lost again :) I picked up this one the other day...just love the pale yellow color of the tin!

As you can see here, the hooks fits quite nicely...

 I am very excited, I received an email from Debbie of My Big Toe Designs stating that I am a doorprize winner from the Online Needlecraft Show! I couldn't believe I won!! I am not sure yet as to what my prize will be, but I am happily waiting in anticipation, because I know it is going to be wonderful!! :)
I will keep you all updated on that...
I had a reminder this morning that God is always present...
I went to make myself some eggs for breakfast, and when I opened up the carton for eggs, this was printed inside! I have never taken notice of this before, but isn't it wonderful?!!

I purchased these eggs from Aldi. It is a wonderful grocery store that has fine German chocolates and their prices are so much more reasonable than other grocery stores. I shop here weekly.
The last time I visited there, I was at the register and spotted these....

Advent calendars filled with real German chocolates. This has been a tradition in our home since our children were little. At the price of just 99 cents, I couldn't pass these up! Usually I find them with the birth of Christ depicted on the front, but living in the country now, there is not as much as far as variety here. I believe I used to purchase these at Hallmark in the past years.
I am off to prepare my lunch now..some leftover chicken and perhaps a salad or veggies.
Whatever you decide to do today, do it with all your heart :)
Blessings,
Louise

Pine Cone Patrol, Stash

Most people might think Florida is mostly pretty palm trees. I can tell you it is not. :)
We live in Northern Florida and our backyard is jam packed with pine trees. Yes, pine trees. It is sort of nice, a reminder of living up north, but not nice when they start dropping all of their pine cones and you have to pick them up!
So...the daunting task begins...over a span of many months!
Noooo...they don't drop all at once. That would make it much easier. They drop on a continual basis and it seems like you never get any headway with clearing off the lawn. They even drop right when you are picking them up and bagging them. Almost as if they are laughing at you while you are doing it. I was hit on the head once while I was doing it!
Here is a section of our yard..you can sort of get an idea of how they are spread out everywhere...

At first, it seems like it would be easy to pick them up...but bending over and over a zillion times is a real workout and I guess it could be considered aerobic exercise? hee hee :P But! It is beautiful out today, and I was really enjoying being out there in this beautiful weather we are having!
I worked and worked..and this is what I gathered up....
4 whole bags!

Some of them are quite large..as you can see in comparison with my hand..I have small hands...so some of these pine cones are quite large!

By the time I came around to the front yard..I was about exhausted! I laid down on the grass to rest..and noticed how beautiful the front lawn is coming in.....this was grass that we planted from seed last year!

As I lay on the grass...well...ummm...I shouldn't have looked up into the trees...because..this is what I saw!!
YIKES!

Busy yard work for another day! Nature is providing in abundance!
The mailman just came and I had a sudden "pick me up"! :)
3 new charts arrived in the mail today. Aren't they sweet!!
Just love bunnies, and when I saw Rabbit Folk..I knew I had to add it to my collection :)

Happy Monday Everyone!
Louise