{ Crochet, a little sewing and finally Fall - Blogtober 2018 }

The past two days have been all about crafting, in one way or another.  I've pulled out my Ubuntu CAL and made sure to work diligently on it, until I was completely caught up.  Which I'm proud to say, I am!!!

It is all ready for tomorrow's Part 8 to come out.  It is definitely a labor of love, and really so are all my crochet blankets, especially these intricate ones I've made the past 2 or 3 years.

{ Blogtober 2025 - Day 1 - Welcome }

Welcome to the very first day of October, 2025.  

 

Ahhhh I have been anticipating saying that for so long.  Not that the weather is at all reflective of the month we are entering, but that's ok, one step at a time.

 

With a new month, come new possibilities especially as we head into the busy but beautiful family gathering months of Fall and Winter.  It is by far my favorite time of year.  The food, the colors, the smells, the family gathered around a huge table chatting and laughing and enjoying delicious meals.  

 

Soups and stews, crunchy fall leaves, hot coffees and yummy teas along with slices of spiced cake.

 

Everything that we or, I, absolutely adore.  All smooshed into 3 months of pure joy and contentment.  

 

Before I start this Blogtober post, I just want to send you all a huge hug for the sweet comments you've already left on my previous post.  You guys are just so sweet and kind and you brought me to tears.  So often we think we are alone in the way we feel and think about things, then we realize we have like minded ladies who understand and commiserate with us.  Thank you, truly, it is one of the reasons why I will never leave nor delete this blog.

 

Now, let's move on.  

 

 

 

October, and with it Blogtober.  31 Days of daily posts about anything fall related.  You can keep it simple and just post a small little snippet, or go all out, or share a picture, whatever you want to do.  I thought this would be the best way to kind of jump right into more consistent blogging, so here goes.

 

These are the prompts I'll be following, in no particular order, just a list of upcoming ideas for some posts.

 

Comfort Food Crockpot Recipes 

Favorite Fall movies

Favorite Fall series

Favorite Fall books

Create a Fruits of the spirit playlist

Create a Nature Mandala

Make a Pumpkin Bouquet

Baking a pumpkin dessert

Fall Knits or Crochet 

Autumn scented simmer pot

Fall decorations around the house

Fall in the Bible

Fall Workout routine

Day in the Life

Gathering Pecans and Pecan Harvest

Fall Poem

A project on your to do list

Fall look back through my blog years 

Favorite seasonal cleaners

Favorite Fall candles

Around the house

Golden Light Moments

Youtube Vlogtober Favorites

 

There will be many more, obviously, to make up for 31 days in the month, but there will probably be some days where I simply share a fall inspired picture.  

 

I am so excited to participate in Blogtober again, I have done it a few years and you can go back and look at them here:

 

Blogtober 2017 

Blogtober 2018

Blogtober 2019

 

If you do Blogtober, be sure to let me know down below.  I would love to come see how you're spending this season 🍂🍂

{ October 2nd - Blogtober 2018 }

Hi everyone, welcome back to my blog :)

First I want to congratulate myself for actually sticking to and blogging, for the whole month of September.  I didn't think that I would be able to do it, if I'm to be honest with you.  I've tried before to get back into blogging and it didn't work, and I think it didn't work because it wasn't meant to and I wasn't in the right frame of mind....so to speak.

I'm so happy and proud of myself for not falling off the wagon though :)

And since I've been daily blogging, it has made me fall in love with my blog all over again, which means, I don't want to stop blogging or go long periods of time again without posting.  I'm sure I'll be able to stick with it, but just in case I don't, I have given myself another goal and that is to do a Blogtober through every day this month.

{ Another rainy day - Blogtober 2018 }

Well, another super dark and rainy day.  Both hubby and I were surprised at just how cold it felt this morning, we both had on sweat pants and long sleeves and sweaters.  It was that much of a temperature change from the usual hot weather around here.

{ When things start falling apart but you push through - Blogtober 2018 }

Oh friends, my heart is so sore.

Our dear Bella is not doing well, and we are watching her fade away right before our eyes.  I find myself going between wanting it all to just end so that she can be pain free and at peace, or wanting her to stay with us longer.

It's excruciatingly heartbreaking witnessing a pet go through this.

Feels like the past two days we've received blow after blow.  At times like these human nature wants you to yell out and blame or question God, but if there's one thing I have learned is that, it is never the solution, and so instead of questioning or flailing my arms in despair, I thank God even in these dark moments.

We are going from minute to minute, hour to hour, just pushing through, just making it.

I'm sorry if I don't have anything else to share with you, or a long post about my day, my heart is just not in it.

I'll keep you all updated though, and I'm sure by tomorrow or Monday I'll be back to normal blogging.

Have a blessed night!!!

{ Unusually warm day - Blogtober 2018 }

It's been a bit of a scorcher today.  82 degrees.

After two weeks of cooler temperatures, I was a bit surprised with today's warmth and as much as I've complained about wanting cooler temperatures, I will tell you that I used today's heat to my full advantage.

There's nothing better than clothes drying in the warm sun, and it felt good to not have to turn on the dryer for at least one more day :)

That pumpkin up there is the only pumpkin we picked up this year, to carve.

{ Prayers needed - Blogtober 2018 }

Bit of a hard day with a few things going on.

First and foremost I would like to ask you all for prayers for my mother in law Pat, she has been fighting breast cancer for so long, and is faced with yet another hurdle.

Secondly, our Bella hasn't been doing well and we fear she may not make it the next few days.  It's always so hard watching a pet slipping away.

I will be back tomorrow with hopefully a better post for you all, but for the moment, we are just struggling with a few things and holding onto the Lord's hand quite tightly.

{ Carving Pumpkins - Blogtober 2018 }

It's the last day of October, my word, how did we get here so fast?

The morning started cold and wet and stayed that way all day long.  It was just the most perfect Autumn Day, yet.

{ Winter Tea Syrup - Blogtober 2018 }

Hey everyone, come on in and let me show you real quick, how to make a wonderful Winter Tea Syrup, that will surely help when the colds and flus start coming around this season.

The first time I shared this with you all, was back in 2012, and I've been making it every year since, matter of face I make it around this time of the year, and it sits in my fridge for a couple months, all through the winter season actually.

The way to replenish it, is to keep adding fresh lemon and ginger, and let it sit and do it's thing, in the refrigerator.

Since Sue and Jean both asked me yesterday how to make the syrup, I thought I would come in and show you all again :)

{ We lost Bella - Blogtober 2018 }

I wish I had the words right now to say how much my heart is hurting.  But I don't, and I don't want to even try to express it here because I believe that, when you love a pet as much as we love ours, you understand all too well the pain of losing them.

Twelve hours we watched her slowly fading away, there was nothing more that could be done for our Bella and we chose to let her go peacefully, at home, surrounded by her family.

It was excruciating at times and even though we knew it was coming, and we had prepared ourselves for it, the moment it happened, our hearts shattered.

{ I forgot how much I loved knitting - Blogtober 2018 }

I always tell myself that this day and that day, I'm going to do nothing, just relax and not get off the couch.

And then that day comes around, and no matter how awful I'm feeling, I get up and get moving, because that's just how I am.  Or maybe that's how us women are?  I mean, I can only speak for myself, but this seems to be the norm, feeling guilty for taking some downtime.

Anyway, I had every intention of doing nothing, but guess what?  I didn't Hahahah

{ She's Lactose Intolerant - Blogtober 2018 }

Hi everyone :)

Feels like a few days since I did an actual proper chatty post, of course I've had the Happy Homemaker Monday, book reviews etc., but haven't really talked to you.

Folks, the weather had changed here, the temperatures have dropped dramatically and we have had to turn on our little heaters, not the house heater but the small ones, just to take off the edge.

{ One of those days - Blogtober 2018 }

I hobbled on out of bed and dragged myself into the kitchen this morning.  It was dark, it was raining, it was cold and I did not feel like being up doing anything.  Some mornings, I feel like I can't quite gather my thoughts, like my mind is still fast asleep while I'm having to make coffee and prepare my husband's lunch.

This morning, the rain was already coming down and it's continued all day long, never letting up, not even for a second.

{ I didn't even take a picture - Blogtober 2018 }

It was one of those days where I was so busy with house cleaning and cooking, that I didn't even get a single photo taken, of anything, other than the chicken I was making......and well, that's not exactly what I wanted to show on today's post.

But I guess there will be days like these, where the need to get things done, far surpasses the need to snap pics while I'm doing it. 

I gave the bathroom a good clean, and as always when I am scrubbing bath tubs, I end up with a sore shoulder and back.  Par for the course.

{ Finishing off crochet projects - Blogtober 2018 }

I went to let Marley out last night and was in awe of the moon.  It was not quite yet full but it was so big, and bright, a yellow glow to it, that I had to run back in and grab the camera.

No matter how many moon photos I have taken over the years, I never get enough, there is something so fascinating and magical about the night sky, that has always drawn me to it.

{ Reminded me of living on base - Blogtober 2018 }

40 degrees, rainy, dark, cloudy and gloomy and everything that makes me happy.  Kinda weird saying that isn't it, like how many people admit they like gloomy days? 

Usually people will say "it's a beautiful day", when referring to blue skies and hot weather. 

I'm the opposite, I see rain and dark days that only illuminate with candles and I get the warmest and happiest of feelings. 

{ Trip to the bookstore - Blogtober 2018 }

Ever feel like a sermon was made for you specifically?  Like when the Pastor was getting ready to work on his message, God popped into his mind and said "this one is for Sandra, she NEEDS to hear this week".

I swear there are days that I feel just like that.

As I always do, every Sunday morning, I begin my day with coffee, my bible, my notebook and Pastor Furtick's live sermon.

Today's sermon wasn't by Pastor Furtick, but by Pastor Jonathan Josephs, and it was so good too.  The message today?  Changing our minds, renewing our minds and how to change the way we think to align our thoughts with the Lords'.

I know I've mentioned it before and invited you all, but if you feel led, every Sunday morning, afternoon and night, the Elevation Church broadcasts live on Youtube so that everyone around the world can join in and listen to the word.

{ New cookbooks and the usual pottering around - Blogtober 2018 }

3

My mornings tend to start in the same fashion, well at least the past few months.  I get up at 6am, make Curt's coffee and lunch, and then see him off to work.

Marley and I will then head back to the bedroom and climb back into bed.  I don't sleep, I just pop on the telly and catch up on some Youtube vlogs for about an hour or so.

But just that hour of quiet, the house still fast asleep, the sun just starting to rise and the day slowly coming to live, does wonders for my soul.  It really helps set the pace for the rest of the day.

{ Fall days - Blogtober 2018 }

The leaves have yet to turn color.  I spend a lot of time looking out the window, from all areas of the house, just trying to catch that first glimpse that makes the bold statement that Fall is definitely here.

The calendar states it's fall, the earlier setting sun and the dark cool mornings all tell us that this is it, but the trees seem to be taking their time making that announcement.  It's almost as if they're holding on to summer and warm days, for as long as they possibly can.

But I'm feeling impatient, especially when there's days like today and yesterday, where it's blue skies and 70 degrees outside.  It just doesn't feel right.

{ Making a Murderer Part 2....oh my!!! - Blogtober 2018 }

We've been waking up to frost on the grass, and that's usually how I know....like REALLY know that the cool temperatures are here to stay.

There's something about the cool fall mornings that is magical, I think it's the light and the way the sun shines so golden on everything around.   I sometimes take my coffee and drink it out front, just listening to the birds, to the day coming alive and watching the golden sunshine spreading over the fields.

So yesterday was a busy one for me.  I've given up thinking that weekends are just for resting, because that never happens.  As a homemaker and a mom in general, there is no such thing as being off the clock or off work, it's never ending and a 24/7 on call kind of life.

You could take that as me complaining, but I'll tell you that it's actually a life I absolutely adore and wouldn't want to change for anything in this world.  Yes there are moments where I think "boy it would be nice to not have to worry about feeding everyone, I could just sit around and someone would call out DINNER when the food is on the table".

I think as moms, we've all had that thought at one point or another.