"Bee" Entertained ...

While we choose a winner!



See you in the morning
with the results!

900 Posts! It's A Giveaway!!!

Blogging is such a great teacher!

I have learned...

The JOY of bread making!

The wealth of knowledge and
caring out there in Blogland.

That I love to take pictures...
and now want a better camera.

That there are many kindred spirits out
there and that our blogs help us to
find each other.

That apparently I have a lot
to say...lol

That blogging is Addictive!!!

That without reader feedback blogging would
lose so much of its pleasure...although
I have convinced myself I would do it
anyway...I wonder!

So...on this 900th post
I want to celebrate you.
Thank you for being there.
You have made so many days
shine bright!

This is going to be very simple.
I am giving away $48 in my soy
candle products. All you have to
do to be entered is leave me a
comment telling me your favorite
candle scent(s) from the list on the
sidebar at the candle site...HERE!
You may enter once per day...for a
total of three entries.

If you are the winner you will choose
your candles. You can mix and match...
choose jars, colors and fragrance.



Anyone may enter...even those of you
who live outside of the United States.
I have thought long and hard about it
and decided that you are so worth it!

If you aren't a Follower,
this would be a very good time to
become one!
I love to visit Follower
Blogs...

The winner will be announced on or around
7am the morning of Friday, the 13th.

Blue Monday Orchids

Ater many tries we finally got to
Longwood Gardens yesterday.
This was the first time since
Mikey worked there this past
Summer and I was excited to take
him back and hear stories.



It was as I had hoped.
Everywhere we walked he had
a memory or a story to tell.

We looked for his favorite kitty,
Iggy, by the brickwalk...but there
were too many people around.



We walked through the Conservatory where
he had so many neat experiences.

It was as if he were greeting old friends
as he saw certain plants. Ones he had
deadheaded, cleaned, made cuttings of.

I do believe he is cut out for this line
of work. It makes him happy.





We finally saw "the bees".
While Mikey did his rotation in the
Mum Field these bees were being prepared
for this display. He had to "plug" plants
into bare spots on the bee frame.
We were very excited to
see how they turned out...
at 150 pounds each they are
hung and looking quite
beelike.



Coming tomorrow...a Giveaway for my
900th Post.
Yikes!
That is embarrassing!

Nonetheless...I will be offering
you your choice of $48 worth of
my soy candles.
Head on over to the Candle Site
and see what you will choose if
you win.
Then COME BACK tomorrow
and enter!!!

Thanks Sally, for hosting Blue
Monday so faithfully each week!

I have to tell you that we were
at Goodwill last week and my
Eighteen Year Old son, Jonathan,
noticed a display in Blue and
suggested it would be good for
"That blue thing on your blog".
I found that just amazingly cute.
He really is paying attention...lol.

Great is Thy Faithfulness...

Morning by Morning new Mercies
I see...

All I have needed
Thy Hand Hath Provided!

Great is Thy Faithfulness...
Lord, Unto Me!

Saturday Chat...

We have heard from "The Moms"
over in Israel. They are enjoying
themselves, immensely.

Mom said that it is all she had
hoped for...and more!

Their guides have been excellent
and the time spent reading scripture
at the various sites has been a
wonderful experience.

Warren's Mom, Georgia, has apparently
been saying, "Oh my Gosh" a lot!
This is a very good thing. Made us
laugh out loud to hear about it though.

A weather issue at the Sea of Galilee turned
their one hour excursion into a ride all eight
miles across. Thrilling them. There was music,
a Bible Study and fond memories to experience.
My Dad had enjoyed singing on the water when
they were there in the '70's.

So... I could go look at their itinerary and know
what is up next but it is more fun to get the
spontaneous updates.

Mom felt badly because I had told her about
her dog, Bear, eating a whole steak from our counter.
It was out to defrost and he helped himself
while we were out to the Dentist office.
I think he deserved it...I know that he will
do this and didn't protect it enough.
He is a silly dog.
I love him.

Speaking of Bear,
it is time for his morning stroll.
Then I have to go to work.
Real work.
My Financial Services Job has mandatory
Continuing Ed this morning.
There are many changes.

I do wish there could be less regulation...
just once. But that is not going to happen!

I purposely don't talk about that part of
my life very often here.
Finances are so sensitive.
The rules are so intense.

Gotta Run!
Have a great Saturday!

An Unexpected Performance...

Our area of the country has
been hit very hard by the flu.

This has meant that for the
last two weeks we had so many
families out sick that we had to
cancel our homeschool co-op day.
That means two less practices
for our Fall Concert.

Since I am the person in charge of
pulling the concert together, and
direct two of the choirs, I have been
extremely nerved up. Wondering if we
might have to reschedule...
and if so, to when?

It didn't seem like a decision to make
lightly with so very many people involved.

I asked our Co-op Committee to wait until
after our first post illness co-op day
yesterday to see how everyone did.

As each Choir came in we discussed the fact
that their performance of this particular
practice would decide if we could go ahead
with the concert on schedule and if we would
have to drop any songs.

Let me tell you...Every Choir, from Preschool
to the High School reported unbelievable results!
My High School choir was the highlight of the day
for me. They took a song that we have been working
on for a couple of weeks, sang it beautifully and
then asked if we could perform it acapella!!!!
YES!!! I can't wait to get back together with
them. They sound so good. Sure, there is work
to do but I am confident they will pull it off.

The 4th-6th grade choir was just plain fun yesterday.
They are so high energy. Harnessing that and
directing it into music is the challenge.
We are at a place in our practice that I know they
will be ok. How fun to hear them sing,
"Give me oil in my lamp,
keep it burnin'...burnin'...burnin'!"
No one can just stand still.
We are all Mooo-vin'!

So my heart is much lighter today.
The decision is made and we can get
on with the business of having a
concert!

This may seem like a small thing
but with nearly 60 families involved
the thought of having extra practices
or moving the concert date was daunting.

Of course, I would be less than
truthful if I said that
having two Fundraisers going with
my candle business didn't add in to
the stress.
But, they are going well also.

One ended yesterday and those orders are
in the mail to me. It is a nice collection
of orders but a very manageable one.
So...a huge breath of relief there,
as well. I had no idea what to expect.
It is just right.

Thanks for bearing with me
in my rejoicing.
I love sharing these little
triumphs with you.

Til Later!

New Sheets and Duvet...

Just this side of Heaven!

When you are tired as a dog...

Dog Tired (Yellow Lab)

Chelsea, Jonathan and I had some
time to kill yesterday afternoon
before a dentist appointment.

We visited Goodwill...nothing.

We went to Target...Paydirt!

This reversible duvet cover with matching shams
was just $12.98 - marked down from
$49.99. It is so silky smooth and
soft. Of course, I did have to find
matching sheets but remarkably that
was not a problem.



Is it time to
go back to
bed yet?

Ahh...linens!
I love them!!!!

Do You?
What is your favorite part
of dressing a bed?

Pillows?
Sheets?
Comforter?
Something else?