First Sunday Drive This Fall

Our area has such a beautiful layering of mountains all around us looking North, South, East and West. The photo above is looking South.

We are choosing to drive some roads in our area that are new to us to continue familiarizing ourselves with our county. On this first Sunday in Fall we chose Greenwood Loop Rd. which took us to Mingo Mountain Road. When the road became Primitive we turned around and went back the same way we came.

We had a good weekend and I hope you did, too. Happy new week to you all.

My computer only let me upload a couple of my collages. I’ll add the rest of the photos when my computer behaves. Bright and early this morning my computer is behaving so I added the rest of the photos!!

This will be a busy week for us. I’ll be very scarce come Wednesday and beyond.

Hello Fall Hodgepodge

Thank you to Jo for coming up with the questions for the weekly hodgpodge! Click over to From This Side of the Pond to join in.

This photo of JJ and Addy covered with leaves is from last Fall after the leaves fell.

1. It’s fall y’all. What’s something you love about this season and also something you don’t?

Fall clothing is something I enjoy. I really can’t come up with something I don’t like about Fall. Fall might be my favorite season of all.

2. When you think of the colors of fall, which one is your favorite?

Hmmm…I think I like the combination rust, gold, olive green, maroon, and brown. If I had to pick one I’d pick olive green.

Is there somewhere you could easily day trip to see the leaves in all their glory?

There are lots of great drives in our area where we can enjoy fall colors.

Will you? Yes, we will.

3. What’s one thing you’ve let ‘fall’ by the wayside during this season of staying home and staying away?

We aren’t taking as many roadtrips as we have in the past.

4. If you’re wearing a sweater is it most likely a cardigan, crew neck, v-neck, or zip up hoodie?

Most likely a cardigan.

5. What’s your secret to dealing with change?

It’s not a secret but sometimes we forget that God is sovereign, that He is in control. Reminding myself that I am not in control takes the pressure off when change happens.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Each Thursday until we have gone through the alphabet I’m hosting Truth from A to Z Bible Verse Challenge. Tomorrow we are on the letter C. If you’d like to join in you can add a verse in the comments on my post tomorrow or let me know that you posted a verse on your own blog. I’ll add a link to your post or add your verse from the comment section onto the Thursday challenge post. The word/words that start with C can be anywhere in the verse. It can be a key word or not. Not a lot of rules just an exercise that encourages you to search the treasure we have in the Bible.

Hello to Fall 2020!

I’ve added a few touches of Fall Decor for 2020. We have some exciting events happening in October. Lots of family time with our little circle and extended family, too. Fall is a favorite time around our parts. Time will tell if the Cider Festival will be happening. (So far it hasn’t been cancelled). We know the corn maze is opening soon. Hunting season opens in October, too. For Christmas our kids gifted us a family photo shoot and we are getting our clothing choices coordinated for that. We hope to get the photographer scheduled during hunting weekend when all our kids will be on this side of the mountains.

Do you have any Fall plans?

UPDATE: Sad news that the Ciderfest has been cancelled. 😦

What’s New?

Dear and our son laid out and fastened all the rebar over the vapor barrier last Saturday.

Now all we need is the Concrete contractor to fit us into his busy schedule. We hope that’s soon!!

Addy started Awana this week for the first time. She’s in the Cubbies class. She thought it was GREAT!

I was gifted this new puzzle and it’s not an easy one. This will be our 7th COVID puzzle to date.

Even though it’s not easy I love it. Thank you, Linda!

We are still smokey but we are suppose to get some rain on Friday or Saturday.

We have a pie social tonight with our JOY group at church. (Just Older Youth) I’m bringing a cherry pie. What would be your favorite pie?

True Confession: I do not bake pies but I did find a handcrafted frozen cherry pie that looked real good at the store. It was pricier than the name brand frozen pies. I’ll put it in the oven to bake tomorrow before our event. I’ll let you know if it was worth the big bucks!

True Confession #2: I am not fond of cherry pie. Other pies were already signed up for and no one had signed up to bring cherry and that’s why I ended up with it. Dear enjoys cherry pie.

***Update on the store bought pie…It was delicious per Dear (he had two slices) The crust was flaky and the filling was wonderful. The pie maker was Village Pie Maker. I think I bought it at Wal-Mart in the frozen section.

Mortgage Burning Sunday!

Today we had the privilege to gather together as a church family and celebrate the fact that our mortgage is paid in full. We had two large re-modeling projects the last 5 years and the loans are paid in full as of a few weeks ago. At the end of our service our two pastors enjoyed the task of burning the mortgage.

Backyard BBQ from Kettle Falls provided a delicious lunch for our church after the service to continue the celebration. Brisket, beans and rolls…delicious. It was a great day for our church.

1 Chronicles 29: 9 & 10-13:

Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord.

Blessed are you, O LORD, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name.

For a historical picture of what this day was like outside I’ll add this photo of our skies on the way to church. We usually can see mountains, hills and blue skies around here but the smoke has poured in from the south to us from many major fires burning in Washington, Oregon and California.

Praying for rain and fire containment!

Morning Visitor

Outside, inside, all around the yard. JJ and Baba had fun for several hours on Friday while mommy and Addy joined Granny and Granny Great to help at their garage sale. Sales went well and not having charming, busy JJ made life easier on everyone. Addy had a great time selling things and people even offered her change just for being cute.

Hope y’all are having a good Labor Day Weekend.

Family Room Before and After

A while back we decided that our family room would work better if we moved out the wood stove which we have never used and don’t intend to use and move things around to flow better.

Before we moved the wood stove out the TV sat on a corner cabinet close to the slider which was the only available spot.

The new arrangement. Blame it on COVID. It’s something good that has come from it for our comfort.

The recliner by the slider patio door will be leaving once we find a good home for it.

More of a straight shot to the kitchen from my end of the sofa! We are really enjoying the openness of this arrangement and the fact that the TV is tucked in nicely to a larger corner.

Roof Panels Complete!

Here’s the last steel panel ready to hoist onto the roof of the shop. Be forewarned that this will be a photo overload post.

So happy our son could help.

Me and my shadow are happy to see that last panel fastened into place.

The Ridge Vent is the last part to install on the roof.

Dear is busy preparing the shop pad for the cement to be poured later this week or early next week. We’ll have to have a roller skating party when that’s done before the shop gets filled up with stuff after the walls, windows and doors are in.

Signs of Fall Hodgepodge

1. The Hodgepodge lands on the second day of a brand new month. Tell us one thing you’re looking forward to in September.

Looking forward to the beginning of Fall and all the events we will enjoy with family near and far.

2. Do you enjoy browsing second-hand shops? Last thing you bought or ‘inherited’ second hand?

Yes, please. This is our latest purchase from the Red Barn in Colville back in April.

3. Something you had second thoughts about after committing to, purchasing, or posting/commenting online?

I’ve gotten pretty good at not committing to things. I might be having second thoughts about purchasing an instant pot since I’m such a creature of habit in the cooking world. What we’ve made in it has turned out real good but I haven’t used it in about 3 weeks now.

4. What’s a product or service you use that you’d rate as second to none?

Amway scrub buds and their Pre-Wash spray.

5. Something you do so often or that comes so naturally to you it’s second nature ?

Creating a post for my blog. Coming up with a meal even if I haven’t defrosted something. Not saying the results are always stellar…

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Mornings in our neck of the woods have already felt very fallish.

Thank you to Joyce From This Side of the Pond coming up with the questions. Click over to to join in the fun.

Walking the Dog…

The August Bible Verse Challenge for August 17th is the next post down.

We are dog sitting for our kids this week. Early on Sunday morning Dear took Rayna for a walk around our property to get some exercise and air before we left her home alone while we were at church.

Our kids are enjoying themselves on the Coast all together. We are thankful that they enjoy being with each other. Rayna will be happy when her little family returns on Sunday. She doesn’t get to eat scraps that fall from the table here. At home she’s always alert to what Jaymison or Addyson might drop from their plates. 🙂