It's finally October!!!

I know that "technically" Fall begins in late September...but it never really feels like Fall until October!  I'm excited now...I just love Autumn...the sights, the sounds, the smells and the tastes...oh boy!! I love seeing all the trees change colors. We have a lot of aspens in our yard, and not only do they turn a brilliant shade of gold, but they have a distict sound as they rustle in the wind...almost like natures wind chimes. Then...there's the sky...that blue that seems different than any other blue thru out the year...waiting patiently (or not so patiently, LOL) as a child for Charlie Brown's "The Great Pumpkin" to air (yeah...we didn't have cable, VCRs or DVDs way back then, lol )...the Farmer's Markets and vegetable stands all over town...My Denver Broncos flag flying outside on the deck on Sunday mornings...big orange pumpkin bags filled to the rim with leaves...pretty yellow and rust colored mums...and let's not forget that magnificent harvest moon...just gorgeous!

On to the "sounds" of Fall...I've already mentioned the rustling of the leaves...but there's also the sound of marching band as high school football games...the sounds of raking leaves on Saturday morning...the crackle of wood in a fire place or bonfire...the sound of the zipper or snaps of your jacket on a crisp, cool morning...the sound of the oven door opening and closing as baked goodies go in and out...and even that kinda weird smell from turning on the furnace for the first time...to name a few, LOL!

Now the smells of Fall...I can't think of a season that smells better than Fall. Autumn mornings the air smells crisp and clean...bringing out and lighting all the Fall candles with scents of warm vanilla, cinnamon and cloves...a yummy soup or stew simmering on the stove...hot spiced apple cider...burning leaves...the inside of a pumpkin...the smell of roasted green chiles at every vegetable stand...and of course, nothing can beat the smell that the house takes on as a juicy turkey roasts in the oven all day....awwww, I can smell it now!

Finally, the tastes of Fall...well, I have to admit, that I LOVE pumpkin pie...but this time of year is when Dairy Queen has their delicious Pumpkin Pie Blizzards...roasted turkey and stuffing...hotdogs and beer at a football game...caramel apples...spiced cider...smores...hot coffee on a chilly weekend morning...Halloween candy...roasted pumpkin seeds...a spicy pot of green chili to top burritos or fried potatos...to name a few!

And few of my other favorite "Fall" things...shorter days/longer nights...my favorite holiday: Thanksgiving...Football season...back to school...Fearfest on the AMC network...my pretty Fall Leaves Flag for the front porch and my Autumn Angel that hangs on the front door...and no more yard work, LOL!

Is it any wonder that Autumn is my FAVORITE time of year???

Now that's a big COOKIE!!

Like I said...that's a BIG cookie...well, it's Taylor's big cookie, LOL! It was all part of gift bag of goodies from Max! I wish I would have taken pictures of everything...but I'm lucky I got a shot of the cookie before all the kids consumed it, LOL! Anyway...this was all part of his Homecoming Invitation to Taylor. Let's see...along with the giant chocolate chip cookie and a fresh bouquet of flowers...there was a bottle of "Orange Crush" (cause he has a crush on her), a box of "Red Hots" (cause he said she's "hot")...I know there was something else, but I can't remember! Anyway...homecoming is this Saturday night....awwww...I'm excited for her!!

Where does the time go?

I was just sitting here pondering my next, uh ummm...birthday, when I realized that with said birthday approaching in a couple months, I have been with Nolan HALF my life! Wow! Yes...I met him when I was just a wee 23 yrs. old, LOL! We're well into our 23 yr. together (18 of those, married) and I wonder where has all the time gone? Where did all my babies go? Seems as though for a time, babies were coming quite frequently, LOL...and at a time when I thought I'd never be out of the diaper stage...it now seems like a flash...a blink of an eye! And...with so many relationships falling apart around us (2 neighbors on our cul-de-sac are splitting up...my sister's 27 yr. marriage is ending...my BFF's 12 yr. marriage is over...and on and on and on), I'm wondering what really is the secret to a long, happy marriage.

While I can't speak for everyone, I can speak for myself and honestly...I think most people are good (in general)...but it's the "mixes" of people that are bad. Kinda like when we mix certain foods. For example...pair milk and mustard together...and it's just a bad mix all around...but take the milk, pair it with chocolate and pair the mustard with a hotdog and it all tastes pretty good (good mixes). I think sometimes people just aren't paired up with the right person (mix)...that and...it really helps if you LIKE your spouse, LOL! I mean...it's fairly easy to love someone, but it's not always easy to LIKE them, kwim? I think for Nolan and I...we're a good mix because we honestly enjoy one another's company...there's no one else that we'd rather hang out with...and we're all in all "best friends"! Is our marriage "perfect"?? Ummm, NO...but it's good! Do we agree on everything? Ummmm, NO...but most of the time! Are there things we could improve on? Ummm, YES...and we work on it everyday! Nobody said marriage was going to be easy...in fact...it's work! Hard work at that...

Whether it's good times or bad...there's no one else I'd rather have by my side than Nolan...so babe, just gotta say, I'll be your wing man anytime!

Taylor's first car!

Well...our patience and faith finally paid off! We have been worrying for months how we were going to afford a car for Taylor. We're in full FPU (Financial Peace University) and do not want to finance anything and we didn't have the money saved. We were able to work out a deal with the company (Nolan's) for an advance on some money they owe us, which is awesome so we don't have to have a car pmt! Taylor really needed to have her own car. Firstly because I cannot afford to fill up the tank on my Expedition 3 times a week because of all her running around...secondly, with Taylor's busy schedule (varsity cheer, student council, etc.) she really needs to be able to get herself where she needs to go, when she needs to go...Thirdly, as of the second school semester, she will have a P.A. first hour and would have lost her ride to school...and lastly, I want MY vehicle back, LOL!!

We were fortunate enough to find this car from our neighbor right around the corner from us! It's a little 2002 Ford Focus Hatchback! They bought it new and both of their kids (who are now in college) drove it thru their high school years. It's obvious from the records that they took very good care of it. It would be nice if this car could get her thru the rest of high school and maybe even college! It's got leather seats, cd player/stereo, cruise control, FWD, sun roof, etc...Hey...it's much better than my first car, LOL! It does have one dent on the rear driver's side door...but as a first car (in a high school parking lot), it's bound to get a few dings and dents anyway!

Pie anyone?

At last...I have accomplished something that I never thought I would. It may not be a big deal to some, but it's something that has weighed heavily on me for years. My mom had always wanted me to learn how to make a pie from scratch...she would call me whenever she was making a pie and ask me to come over and watch her...but it seems I was always too busy, and said I would come the next time...well, then one day, there wasn't a "next" time and she was gone. I know that I had tried to make a pie once when Nolan and I first got married, but it was a complete disaster...and I just never tried it again. It always seemed easier to just by a ready-made or frozen one.

Well...last night, I decided it was time to get back in the "pie" saddle (so to speak). I had bought a couple baskets of peaches at the farmers market and wanted peach pie. So after processing the peaches (removing skins and slicing them), it was time to make the crust. Surprisingly...I actually had enough peaches to make two pies, so I froze half to use later. I just followed the pie crust recipe on the back of the Crisco box and it was easy. The dough just rolled out beautifully! Needless to say...the pie is gone, LOL!!

All the lovely peaches, mmmmm...

The top dough added...ready for the oven!

Out of the oven and ready to eat!!

Hair??

Oh boy...I really should get my head examined because I've embarked on a new journey of growing...hair that is, LOL! I have had very short hair for so long, I can't even remember the last time I grew it out...so now the agony begins. It has grown past the length of it's normal style, but it's far from long enough to do something different with...so I guess you could say that at the present moment, I'm in hair growing "limbo". I'm trying to do a little flip with the sides and back...but it is just so NOT in a style and I hate it! I just keep setting my sights on next year and where it will be by then (if I don't crash and fall off the hair growig wagon). I saw a hair style on "It's Always Sunny in Philidelphia"...where Dennis was at a night club, and the cute girl who offers him  a "pill" has the most adorable hair...it's a chin length layered bob. I'm just ready for a change I guess...something new! We'll see, this is going to take a lot of will power to stay away from scissors, LOL!

Obsession???

In 'love' terms, Obsession is when you are trying to control someone that you think you are in love with. You get them or try to get them, to do what you want them to do. If you break up with them you get all angry and want to destroy their lives and hurt them (inside). This is true obsession. Thinking about someone loads is NOT Obsession.

or

something that you can't stop doing because you are officially addicted with it.

There's a new song by Sky Ferreira called "Obsession"...and I love it!!! So...it got me to thinking about my "obsessions"...and I have a few, LOL! Okay...I'm obsessed witht the movie, "The English Patient"...and I know that part of it is the amazing story and then there's Ralph Fiennes:

okay...so yeah, I'm a little obsessed  with him, LOL!! What is not to love here???? LOL

Then...there is my obsession with Pumpkin Pie Blizzards... which are only available for one month out of the year, thank God or else I would be 800 lbs...because as I stated earlier, I'm obsessed with them!!

I am also obsessed with perfume! I cannot NOT wear it...even if I'm just hangin' out at home...I have to "smell" good! For years...my signature scent was Coco Chanel Mademoiselle:

But...I have since found a new "obsession"...and it's a scent by Jessica Simpson (the only thing about her that I actually like, LOL), called: Fancy Love:

I'm also obsessed with having my toenails painted. They are always painted...winter, spring, summer or fall...always! I cannot stand unpainted toes!!

I'm very obsessed with music...always have been all my life. I do not play my piano as much as I probably should...but music in general is very much an obsession to me. When I download a new song, I will listen to it over and over and over until I get it out of my system (so to speak). I drive my kids crazy in the car cause they can't understand why I have to listen to a certain song over and over and over. I literally listen to music all day from the minute I get up, all day at work and before I go to sleep! I'm lucky cause I can pretty much listen to what ever I want to at work!

I'm obsessed with mexican food. I could seriously eat mexican food 6/7 nights a week!! I love, love, love it!

I'm just recently obsessed with "It's Always Sunny in Philidelphia"...OMG, I can watch that over and over!!

I know there's more, LOL...but my Benedryl is starting to kick in so it's nighty night for me!!