I went surfing a bit yesterday and this morning and found a few treasures…

First from Kim’s Starry Sky Ranch, a beautiful posting about simplicity. Kim’s thoughtful writings always inspire me in some way. I bought the book, which I found for a bargain price of 71¢. I love one-click buying! *smile*

Rocks in my Dryer (found via Susan) has fantastic ideas in her Works for Me Wednesdays postings. Read the whole blog though (the link goes to just the category) as she’s a good writer and quite entertaining! And for literally hundreds of great ideas, click on all the links of those that participate each Wednesday. I downloaded her grocery list in pdf format and opened it up in Photoshop and printed it out…worked like a charm. I especially liked this week’s idea about the organization binder.

Simple words, beautiful photos…HERE.

Happy Birthday to my beloved sister, Colleen!!!

Hey, you’re catching up with me in age!!!
*smile*

I love you so very much.

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She knows the things I dream of, the places that I’ve been,
she accepts the person I’ve become, she’s a very special friend.
She’s always been there for me, no matter where I roam,
and whenever we’re together, it’s just like being home.
~unknown~

My Momma, who has been fighting skin, bladder, and colon cancer (stage 4) received news yesterday that it looks like the cancer has gone to her liver. She’s to have a CAT scan but has decided that she will not undergo any more chemo treatments this time. Your prayers are so very much appreciated.

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Where to start.

I guess I’ll start off by saying that we really did have a nice time camping. My car’s GPS navigation system got us there with no problems and since we left early, traffic was light. I put the tents up with my boys help quite easily by reading the directions, which actually made sense this time, and we settled in. The boys used the smaller tent and I had the larger one all to myself…it was a lot of space and I really was quite comfy; with the potty, my toaster oven, hot pot and little tv (though the cable cord would only reach as far as our picnic table so I couldn’t watch it in the tent) I had all the comforts of home. We were right on the river, under some big old trees and had a pretty view. And then on Saturday night it rained…

The boys came into my tent around 11:00 as their tent floor was getting wet. We didn’t have a tarp down for either tent…drought conditions in Hagerstown and no rain was forecasted when we left. Cade said that he had a bad feeling after saying his prayers and so did I. I settled them down on my nice queen sized air mattress and they quickly fell back asleep. However, after watching so many shows about flashflooding, I continued to watch the river. My tent has a nice awning on it and even though it was raining very heavily I was able to keep the flap open so I could periodically shine the flashlight outside to watch the river. God’s light (lightning) was also helping me keep an eye on it…however, I soon realized that I was watching the wrong river.

The campground was tiered with us being in the corner at the very bottom. The heavy rains soon rushed down the road in a torrent of water that cut a gully under my car, around my tent and flooded out my campsite. I put my foot down on the floor and sunk about a foot as water rushed under our tent. I started packing up and woke the boys up and told them to get their shoes on. Then the fun began. We gathered up all that we could and tried to make our way to the car. I could hear the rushing water but didn’t know where it was coming from though I quickly found out as we trudged through it, up to our knees in it, fighting the current. We had a bit of trouble climbing up onto the gravel pad as it kept giving way. I dropped my cellphone but it was saved due to quick reactions from my twins. Finally we were at the car, soaking wet from head to toe, and I couldn’t push the right button on the keys to open the door! I kept locking it and it kept beeping at me. Finally, I pushed the right one and the boys helped me throw our stuff into the back, while trying to keep out the torrent’s way and I got them safely into the car. I went back 3 more times to collect our stuff, leaving only the tents, camp chairs, potty, air mattress and sleeping bags.

I stopped at the boy scouts camp on the way out…they tried to talk us into staying but we were freezing cold, soaked to the bone and had no dry clothes to change into so I headed on back home, driving through the torrential rains and getting home around 2:00 in the morning.

Quite a camping adventure.

Michael and the boys went back on Sunday morning to bring the rest of our gear home. I know that Michael didn’t quite believe us when the boys and I told him what had happened but after viewing our campsite and talking with our neighbors who heard the water rushing down the hill…he did.

And how was your weekend? *smile*

Well, close enough. *smile*

Prayers for a safe and fun-filled trip for the boys and me (and that I get the tents up!) would be greatly appreciated.

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No Photo Hunt this week!

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Autumn Leaves

Wind blows
and fills the skies
with gold and yellow
butterflies

which flit to earth
with skips and hops
to dance and twirl
like spinning tops.

The last one dips
in a puddle to float
like a single scarlet
sailing boat.
~Marilyn Helmer~

Shelley has an “urge to bake” and I do too but I’ve been sidetracked by trying to get ready for our camping trip. Michael borrowed a tent from someone at work and he spent yesterday morning coaching me on how to set it up. I think I did a fairly good job of it but he then decided that the tent wasn’t large enough so off to Target we went to buy a “bigger tent” and more supplies. After we got home, we set that one up too…but it was much harder! Well, anyway, I now have two tents…one for me and one for my nice Coleman potty. Yep, we bought a potty for me. Now I’ll have all the comforts of home, well, except for my computer. *smile* I’m just praying that I remember how to set the tents up…if not, I suppose I’ll be sleeping in my car.

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Please keep Jeanne in your prayers as her son, Justin, leaves today to return to Asia…I know she will be very sad to have to say goodbye to him again.

Blog notes:

Spunky Homeschool always has something of interest.

Via Shelley, I found this lovely blog, Rose Cottage, by the sea. Don’t forget to check out her links…lots of new places to visit.

A beautiful Catholic homeschooling blog, A Garden of Roses and Lilies looks like a really nice and useful read.

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The sunflower children
Nod to the sun.
Summer is over,
Fall has begun!
~old school rhyme~

Autumn winds begin to blow;
Coloured leaves fall fast and slow.
Twirling, whirling all around.
‘Till at last, they touch the ground.
~ Author unknown ~

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The twins’ scout troop is going camping this weekend…and I will be too. Dad is not the outdoorsy type so Mom will be the one swatting mosquitoes, singing campfire songs and probably having the time of my life. *smile*

Of course the thought of sleeping in the woods by myself (the twins will be sleeping with the other scouts) doesn’t thrill me and I keep wondering what in the world am I going to do when I wake up at 3:00 a.m. and don’t have a computer to play on! LOL

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CAMPING OUT

Sticks and sleeping bags and ants
Dirty hands and grass-stained pants
Gathering wood and piling up leaves
Carrying toilet paper and finding a tree
Sitting by a fire and dodging the sparks
There’s nothing greater than
The great outdoors after dark.
~Gina Marie Lauchner~

I always use my most recent Poser creation as my desktop. I’ve fallen in love with this little doll (click to see it full-sized) that I’ve created and haven’t wanted to replace her so I’ve been working on autumn-y graphics instead so she can stay on my desktop just a wee bit longer. *smile*

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I make these for my own enjoyment and to put on my blog but if anyone wants one (or any of the graphics that I make) for their own blog/webpages, just leave me a note and I’d be happy to send you the graphic in PSD format on a transparent background so you can use it too.

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See the early blossoms springing
See the jocund lambkins play
Hear the lark and linnet singing
Welcome to the new-born day
~ from a Sampler made in 1828~

Hope you all are enjoying the last of the summer days by lazing about; eating up summer’s bounty of sweet, fresh vegetables and fruits, and just enjoying spending time with family and friends…make good memories for yourself and for your children. Autumn will be here before we know it.

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Lazy Day
( Spanky & Our Gang )

Blue sky, sunshine
What a day to take a walk in the park
Ice cream, daydream
‘Til the sky becomes a blanket of stars

What a day for a pickin’ daisies
And lots of red balloons
And what a day for holdin’ hands
And bein’ with you

Lazy day just right for lovin’ away
Lazy day made for a stroll in the lane
Baby you and me
And a honey bee
Lazy day, lazy day
Lazy day for you and me

Blue sky, sunshine
Flowers bloomin’, squirrels are sayin’ hello
Rowboats, bird notes
People smilin’ everywhere that we go

What a day to be together
And what a sky of blue
And what a day for thinkin’ right out loud
I love you

Lazy day just right for lovin’ away
Lazy day made for a stroll in the lane
Baby you and me
‘Neath a shady tree
Lazy day, lazy day
Lazy day for you and me

[break]

And what a day for thinkin’ right out loud
I love you

Lazy day just right for lovin’ away
Lazy day made for a stroll in the lane
Lazy day just right for lovin’ away
Lazy day Music by George Fischoff-Lyrics by Tony Powers, copyright 1967

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Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.
- Sam Keen

Check out the beautiful creations from Rik Pierce of Frogmorten Studios. I put in my Christmas present request to Michael. LOL

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August rushes by like desert rainfall,
A flood of frenzied upheaval,
Expected,
But still catching me unprepared.
Like a match flame
Bursting on the scene,
Heat and haze of crimson sunsets.
Like a dream
Of moon and dark barely recalled,
A moment,
Shadows caught in a blink.
Like a quick kiss;
One wishes for more
But it suddenly turns to leave,
Dragging summer away.
~Elizabeth Maua Taylor~

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My friend, Shelley, always has beautiful photos/images, postings, recipes and poetry (that she writes herself). Go visit.

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Today is church, it’s the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the boys have skateboarding class again.