Karen at The Bearly There Primitive Bear is having a giveaway, 
and if you like kitcheny gadgets and Christmas goodies, then you will like this giveaway, it’s all rolled up into one. Take a peek at what the winner will get. Is this the cutest little arrangement for your country kitchen. Simply adorable.
Now scoot on over to see the rules to enter and the deadline.
Go on now, skidaddle on over to visit with Karen.
Christmas hugs,
Cindy
"I sure do like those Christmas cookies, Sugar!
I sure do like those Christmas cookies, Babe!
The ones that look like Santa Claus,
Christmas trees, bells, and stars;
I sure do like those Christmas cookies, Babe."
Here we are making our coasters that I had on my “to do” list…
Traci shows you a wonderful tutorial over at “Beneath My Heart”. Check out her blog, it is great!
Mom and I getting our tiles ready.
Tori and Steph (my future DIL) working on getting their tiles ready.
And of course, silly me forgot to take pictures of the finished product. Actually they weren’t ready to be put together when I went to bed, and the girls were gone and so were their coasters then the next morning. I will try to get some pictures. I think Tori or Steph has some and then I will post them. There’s turned our very pretty.
Today we planned on having another crafting session today, but the girls didn’t make it over so guess I will try my hand at the Christmas wreath sometime this week. I spoke about it on my Christmas blog, you can find it here. Eddie Ross offers a tutorial here for the wreath.
Until next time,
Cindy
I’m finally back…wow what a week…I spent the first part of the week finishing up my decorating for Christmas. That took me two days, but I had lots of things that I decided at the last minute that I was going to do. Originally I had decided I was only going to put out a few things, since the house was on the market, but I decided that I still wanted more out. Granted, I still have over 1/2 to 3/4 still in the garage…but I am now pleased. But before I get into my Christmas pictures…I decided to share some of my folks visit when they were here for Thanksgiving.
Tori and Mark
Derek just hanging out!
This is my sick boy Wesley. He had the swine flue and he didn’t feel all that well during Thanksgiving. Thank Goodness he is much better now.
My parents with the kids. Love this picture of them all.
While my mom and dad are here of course Mema and PopPop have to take care of their grandchildren and their needs…Right?
Well here is my mom making my son Derek, his favorite….Biscuits 
and gravy for breakfast….although in here she is actually making sausage.
And no trip to visit would be complete without my parents making my kids several batches of Sausage Balls…he is my dad working up the batch.
We truly had a wonderful visit with my parents and it was awesome having all my kids at home for 4 days instead of overnight. I loved every minute of it.
Happy Monday! What a cold and dreary day it is here today, but the weekend was wonderful weather and we got lots done around the house, which needed it. :) I didn't get here last week to post to my blog, it was busy with various activities going on. Anyhow, maybe I can get here for at least a few days this week. This week is going to be a very busy week, as I have started back to work after being off since the first of Oct. . OUCH! My first day back since the surgery my knee surgery. I did well for the most part, but had to remind myself to get up and move around so that my knee and leg didn't get painfully sore.
I didn't sleep all that well last night, maybe because I was in a great deal of pain from being on my legs all day Saturday and Sunday, or if it was just thinking about coming back to work. Most likely both were a contributing factor. Either way, I know when I got up this morning I didn't want too.
Saturday I spent most the day decorating for Christmas, I know...there is always alot of controversy about rushing Thanksgiving, but that wasn't my intent. I LOVE Thanksgiving, this year it was more about time allowances. So I decorated most of my house on Saturday and finished up on Sunday. (Need to make some pictures so that I can post them) Although I probably only used about 1/4 of the decorations that I own because with the house on the market, I didn't want to OVERDO it, plus most of my table surfaces are in storage so there wasn't alot of places to put things out. Anyhow it is done, and now I can focus on getting everything ready for my Thanksgiving feast. I plan to do some things each night to get me ready so that on Thursday morning I can enjoy in family and watch some of the Macy's parade. Plus my folks are coming up on Wednesday so it will be great to have them here and also for mom and I to get a chance to cook up some goodies. So what is going to be on your Thanksgiving table?
Well my autumn spice tea cup is about empty so gotta get another refill....talk to you tomorrow...
Have a blessed evening,
Me
Who doesn't love a giveaway, I know I do. Check out this great blog and wonderful lady, Traci, you'll fall in love with her. Her blog is just great, and full of crafty inspiration. If you stop in to sign up for the giveaway which the winner is drawn tomorrow the 16th...tell her I sent ya.
Hugs, and Blessing!
Cindy
"I am also celebrating becausethis is my 100th post!"
- Beneath My Heart: Let’s celebrate!!! Guest blogging and 100th post Giveaway! (view on Google Sidewiki)
how ‘bout you?
I just know it is going to be one of those feel good movies. Sandra Bullock looks awesome in this movie. Love her! Release date is 11/20.
Now here is chick flick…gotta see this one too.
Release date is 12/04. I love anything that Meg Ryan is in.
Happy Viewing,
Me
I am really in the mood to get started on decorating for the holidays. I don’t have as much time this year with all the family and traveling that we are doing, so I am going to break my own tradition of decorating the weekend after Thanksgiving. 
This is something I do every year on my front porch. 
is what is going on with me today. I feel torn in all kinds of directions. Do you ever feel this way? Today I have a multitude of task that I really should take care of. I have started my ongoing list for all my holiday preparations and I am so glad. Let me share with you a wonderful blog for organization that I have run across, it is one of the best I have seen in a long time. Jill is so creative and she has such wonderful ideas to help you. Check her out at Controlling my Chaos. Since I am a advocate of list, she has the ultimate ideas of organizing Christmas, recipes, and blogs. Who knew? Check her out and I think you will love her ideas. Oh yeah, check out her recipes cards for download. To cute, and something on my to do list now.
I spent some time last night adding some new recipes to my cooking blog , most have the main ingredient PUMPKIN. For some good and yummy recipes to bring in Thanksgiving, check them out. Just click here.
This morning I have been puttering around in my house, moving things around….ever so often I get the itch to change things up a bit. But in all honesty, I really am ready to put the Fall decorations away and bring out the Christmas, which I may actually do this weekend. Bring on the holiday movies and Christmas movies. Speaking of holiday movies, I also posted over at Country Christmas a listing of all the holiday movies coming up soon. Care to take a look? Mosey on over here.
Guess I really should get back to work….just didn’t want the day to get by me without saying hi and sharing some neat places with you. Enjoy!
Hugs and Blessings,
Me
I almost missed it, didn’t I? It’s been a rather crazy day here for 
me, so I am just getting a chance to post to my blog.
Did you know that … This holiday became a U.S. national holiday in 1938 and in 1954 was renamed Veterans Day to honor all veterans. I am so proud of all those that have served past and present. For keeping our country free. Thank you and your families for the sacrifice you make everyday. I am proud of our American Troops.
Not sure how this post will come together because I am sitting here watching the CMA’s at the same time. I really enjoy watching Brad and Carrie together. They have a great chemistry together. Anyhow, so far the show has been okay…hoping for some upsets tonight.
Yesterday was my birthday and it was a wonderful day, it was spent being lazy. It was my day to do nothing. Wow, I never know where the year goes, it feels like I just had a birthday….my hubby surprised me over the weekend (Saturday) with a great dinner party with my kids and some friends. It was such a shock, and I felt truly spoiled. I didn’t have to lift a finger for anything. How sweet is that?
Today, we got another call from our realtors, they wanted to show the house again. So this was the third time in two weeks… I am really getting tired of having to keep the house in “show ready” status. I feel like I can’t really live in my house, I’m scared to get into projects for fear I will be in the middle of something when they want to show it.
Guess I should scoot, got a few other things to do before calling it a night.
Hugs!
Cindy
I
had a great weekend. Family, great food, and great friends, who could ask for more than that, right? My stepson and dil came into town late on Friday evening and it was great to see them. We got to catch up with all that is going on with them. They are the cutest little couple. Unfortunately because of the distance we don’t get to see Michael’s children as often as we would like, so when we do, it is such a blessing and treat.
On Saturday, they had things they 
needed to do. They actually came up here to buy a car. So they had to scoot off to the dealership and hubby had to finish up some work at the office, so I headed into town to get my nails done and run a few errands, it was a nice morning, the sun was shining and it was picture perfect. Once I finished with all my errands, I headed back home to rest before everyone got back home. Little did I know that my hubby had planned a surprise birthday dinner for me. (My birthday is Tuesday) So needless to say I was shocked when everyone started rolling in. Glad I got that nap in. :) We had a Mexican fiesta, everything he made was scrumptious. Everyone loved the food and had a great time.
Sunday was a day of relaxing for me…I watched some football with my son for a bit and took another nap. Spent some time reading and just hanging out with them. The weather here was awesome, and so hubby worked in the yard. Thinking that today, I should get out there and do some weeding in the flower beds and pots.
I have been reading my blogroll this morning and I am so inspired to get to work on some projects, but think I had better make out a list if I want to get anything accomplished. But it looks like today is going to be busy, busy, busy…so guess if I want to get anything done, I need to head off here and get at it.
Have a Blessed Monday all,
Cindy
Today I thought I would share a wonderful video of a wonderful speaker,she is hilarious. I love listening to Jeanne Robertson. She is adorable. Love that southern drawl she has.
Can you relate to this? I know I can!
Hope you have a blessed Friday.
Cindy
and I am just now getting a chance to get to my blog today. As 
you can see, one thing I did today was updated my theme. I have been wanting to do this for awhile now. But while I was in the mist of updating all my files, I decided to do this now, and get it done. Now I just need to do a couple of the others. One thing that I really had wanted to do today was start with updates on my Christmas site, but didn’t get around to it. Maybe tomorrow. Although I have a feeling I will have some errands to run because we are having family in town this weekend. I might just make a another list to work on next week and work on it then. And take tomorrow to get everything ready for guest. This has been one computer packed week for me. And quite frankly I am getting tired of it. :)
My day started out with me pick
ing up the house and putting things away. I also needed to change the sheets on the bed and wash them. So the bed still awaits me upstairs to be put back together. (want to get hubby to help me flip the mattress). After starting the laundry, I got some dusting done, and actually brought out a few more fall decorations. Took down some of the halloween goodies. Once the housework was behind me I started working on the files on the computers. I am almost finished with all the transferring. WooHoo!!
Tomorrow I have a few things to do to 
get ready for the kids arrival.. The only thing that I really have to do in the house is clean their bathroom. I also need to run out and get some groceries, and possibly get some baking done.
So as you can see I have alot going on, but will try to get back tomorrow. So what do you think about the new look….What do you think it needs?
Gotta scoot, it is 9:30 PM and I need to find something to eat, plus going to watch the San Antonio Spurs with the hubby.
Hope you had a blessed night.
Hugs,
Cindy
It’s already the middle of the week. 
Can you believe that this week is half over? I’m moving right along on organizing and updated my blogs. Since getting my new laptop I hadn’t taken the time to update all the software that I normally use, so I have been doing that. What a job. I also have been rearranging and updating content. I hope that by the end of the week I will be done with this. This is a huge job, especially when you have several blogs to work on. I really want to get
my Christmas site updated, and thinking now I just might. I can see the light at the end of this tunnel. Thank Goodness for Lifetime Movie Network. I have been watching alot of movies while working on this project. My goal is to finish all this computer work by the end of this week.
We found out that my husband’s son and daughter-in-law will be here this weekend. They are arriving on Friday and will be here until Monday. It will be nice to see them again. With all his children living so far away, we enjoy every opportunity to visit with them.
Well since I have been spending all week working on my computer, I decided I wanted to share with you today a way to organize your browsers and favorites. I bookmarked this awhile ago and would like to credit where I found it, but for the life of me I can’t find it.
How many bookmarks and favorites are on your computer? I have more than 1,000 in Firefox and Del.icio.us, and even though they're neatly organized in folders and tagged, I can't remember what I liked about most of them.
How many bookmarks is too many? Are all those sites still live? Are you really ever going back there?
Happily, there's lots of free software for PC and Mac that will help you organize your bookmarks.
For the PC
• Bookmark Buddy
This bookmark manager offers four different ways to retrieve bookmarks, site login management, privacy functions and bookmark checking.
• AM-Deadlink works with Firefox and Internet Explorer.
For the Mac
• WebNote Happy does web site tagging and annotating for Mac OS X that helps you organize, bookmark, and make notes about the web pages that matter to you.
• Bookdog lets you Click 'Analyze' to find duplicates and then fix them.
Ok…guess I should get started on my day. Hope you have a blessed Wednesday!
Cindy
What a great blog, full of inspiration and free goodies. A place a girl could spend some time. I'll be back with my cup of coffee.
in reference to: Just Something I Made (view on Google Sidewiki)Every leaf speaks bliss to me,
Fluttering from the autumn tree.
Emily Bronte
Food for thought:
Do you ever feel like this woman? I know I do…today is one of those days. I feel like I have lots that I should be doing outside the home…but all I really want to do is get myself together. I am feeling like I am in a rut lately, and have to find something that I can do to get out of it. Any ideas? Suggestions appreciated.
My head is swimming with all kinds of thoughts today. I sometimes wonder when I feel this way if I will get anything accomplished. That is when it is essential that I stick to my list. Let’s see how well I do today.
BTW, the baked apples I made last night were so good. I think I 
would have preferred if I had of added a bit more sugar because the apples I used where a bit tart. But they were awesome. You can find the recipe here. Definitely will be making these again. They were so easy.
Last night, I didn’t do much, Michael got home from work and we watched a little TV. Afterwards he had some things to do, so I sat and listened to College Basketball via the computer. Last night was my favorite teams first game and even though it was a expedition game it was good to hear. But really made me homesick, would have loved to have been there real time. Go Cats!!
One of things I think I am going to start doing on my blog is scheduling certain days to do certain things. For instance, Monday’s I will share my weekend, Tuesday are for sharing a new site, I think you might enjoy. And so on….So since today is Tuesday, it is a site for inspiration. I love Melissa’s blog at 320*Sycamore. She always shares great home designing inspiration. If you haven’t visited with her before, please do. I am sure you will fall in love with her blog too.
Now I need to get to work on that list….
Have a blessed day!
Cindy
Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile.
William Cullen Bryant
I hate to start this post by saying WOW where has the time gone, but that is exactly how I feel...time has just been zooming by. So much has been going on, but nothing really earth shattering. Just everyday life. But over the last several days/weeks I have been thinking alot about my blogs and thinking I need to get back into the groove. Not sure why I always go through this about this time of year, but maybe it has something to do with the fact that this is my favorite time of the year and there is so much to do and things going on that I like to share about. This is one of those areas where my appetite is bigger than what I can actually handle. But I am once again going to try to get myself on some kind of a schedule.
So I have making notes and jotting ideas down for my blog...as well as all my other ones. They desperately need to be updated 
too. Lately things have been changing around here, between work and family so think it is time to start changing things around here.
Today happens to be a great Fall day…the sun is shining so brightly outside and the temps are great. I keep asking myself my am I sitting in the house doing this when I should be outside enjoying the last of our pretty days I am sure. Will try to get outside for a little bit today though.
Got up this morning and decided to put some apples in the Crockpot to make some baked apples. So easy and so yummy. I used Stayman Winesap apples, they are my favorite. Since I am only making a few I am using my small Crockpot.
Baked Apples in the Crockpot
3-4 apples
1/2 cup of water
1T. cinnamon
2 T raisins (Ididn’t use these today)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 pad of butter on each apple 
Optional…sprinkle with walnuts towards the end of cooking
Peel and core apples, and place in Crockpot with water. Mix together remaining ingredients and fill the center of the apple, sprinkle with cinnamon and add butter. Cook on low for 3-4 hours. About the last hour I Wadd nuts. So easy and so tasty.
It’s time to get to work on my dinner plans now…
Have a blessed Day!
Hugs,
My question is wow where does the time go? I can't believe it has been over 1 1/2 months since I wrote anything on my blog. Life has really been busy for me over the last month or so...it naturally is but for some reason this year it has been particularly busy.
As you see from the last post, we got our house on the market, and that is a experience all in itself. As any of you that have done this knows, it is alot of work to keep your home "show ready". So that has taken up some of my time, not to mention having to leave the house each time someone wants to come and look at it. Oh well, that is part of the process I guess. Everyone keeps asking....nothing has happened yet with the house, but we have had a abundance of second and third time lookers. Guess people are being cautious about spending that kind of money so they want to get the biggest bang for their buck. Can't say I blame them. So if and when it sells, you will be one of the first to know.
I also have started back to work full time and that has taken a adjustment...the early hours and early nights....so therefore my evenings are more structured and blogging doesn't always fit into the plan.
This is the first weekend we have been home in a month. Three weekends we had a unexpected trip to Missouri for my dil's mothers funeral. It was such a shock and sad time. She was only 52. I think our dil was glad we came down, just wish there had been more we could have done for her. She is such a sweetie and glad to have her as a part of our family.
The next two weekends were spent in Williamsport Pa, for the Little League World Series. It just so happened that both my hometown team, Russellville, Ky....the Logan County team made it as well as hubby's team from San Antonio...so of course we had to go and root our boys on. We had a great time, seeing old friends and making new ones. Although neither of our teams won the title we were so proud of them and the way they represented us. Our hats off to the parents and coach's of these young men. What a wonderful experience for them to carry into adulthood.
Our weather here has turn almost fall like, and I welcome it. It is by far my favorite season. It has my mind reeling with all kinds of things I want to cook and bake....I love the days spent out going to craft fairs, fall festivals, apple picking, hayrides, shopping for the perfect pumpkin. Is there anything about the fall NOT to like. God blesses us with wonderful warm and cozy colors to set the perfect backdrop for this time of year. Simply gorgeous!
I have also been reading like a mad woman...I have read some wonderful books written about the Amish...my favorite...and have a list of about 6 more to buy...both Beverly Lewis and Wanda Brunstetter have new ones out. Woo Hoo! So might try to hit a bookstore over the weekend to pick them up, if not...here I come Amazon.
Well that is a brief snippet of what has been going on with me...with alot of little mundane sprinkled in there...but overall just real busy and feeling real blessed. God is so good!
Heading out this morning to get me a manicure which is in great need as lately typing has become a major chore....so going to take care of that before much else gets done.
I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed Happy Labor Day, spent with those you love and capturing sweet moments that will linger as wonderful memories with your family and friends.
Till next time,
Hugs to all!
So thought I should deliver. As most of you already know my hubby and I have been remodeling in our home over the last little bit. Seems like forever, and even though we aren't completely done with the decluttering in the garage and basement, the two main floors are completely finished. We put the house on the market a few weeks ago and have had several showings. But this weekend, is our first and I hope only OPEN HOUSE!
Although the house has been redone top to bottom, and looks great, in alot of ways it doesn't feel like home. All my little country touches are boxed away, as well as all my kids belongings. They have been moved out of the house. It makes me a little sad that my stuff isn't out, but I have to remember that this house is someone else's future home and no longer mine. I know whenever I get to unpack those boxes and see my goodies again, it will be like Christmas . So if you want to take a look at what we have done please feel free to visit our webpage at www.407taney.com and you can take a little tour.
Leave me a comment and let me know what you think....
Hugs!
Me
the realtor that is. She is suppose to be here around 2 or 2:30 today so I have a ton of stuff I should be doing. We had her by on Sunday and she gave us all the preliminaries and so now that that stuff is out of the way, she will be coming by today to take some
prelim- pictures and measurements of the rooms. It's finally feeling real. She will have a professional photographer come by next week to make the pictures that will go on the website. I'm very excited but have to be honest and say that nerves are starting to kick in. We still have a few things left to do that Michael will work on over the fourth and while I am away in Branson for my dad's surprise birthday gathering.
My boys will be over tonight after work to help Michael move more boxes to storage from the basement. That was her only suggestion for us with the house, is continue to empty out that space. (She said we could continue to work on it while the house was on the market) We have been using it as a storage area since starting all the renovations and we just want to show it as usable/livable space. BTW, it is a great space, but during all this process you have to have a dumping ground so to speak. So for the last several months, that is what it has been. Although it is pretty organized now, it still has LOTS of boxes down there. I still want to mop the floors today and get my suitcase packed. I'm leaving early tomorrow morning on a jet plane to Nashville to meet up with my sister and nephew Caleb. Then we will drive from there to Branson. I am looking forward to this getaway, just wish Michael was going. We always have such a great time when we travel.
As I mentioned the other day in my last post, I was suppose to start work on Wednesday...well that didn't happen. Still more paperwork hangups...so hopefully when I get back I will be able to get back into the groove.
Well other than house and work stuff there isn't alot else going on. But guess I should scoot...got to grab a shower, find a book to take on my trip and pack up my suitcase and get that out of the way before she arrives. If you think about it, please keep us in prayer over this house, and me for safe travels. Thanks!
Not sure I will get back to this before the big holiday weekend, so if not...
Hugs!
Cindy
for me to go back to work...starting tomorrow I will be back in the rat race. Starting a new job and a little anxious about it. I have really enjoyed my time at home over the last several weeks awaiting all the paperwork to be completed. During this time off I have gotten alot accomplished at home. We finally had a realtor come to the house on Sunday and we should have the house on the market by the end of the week. Woo Hoo!
Today will be full of running errands and taking care of a few last minute things. Got to try to get myself back on my schedule of going to bed early and getting up early. UGH! I have really liked staying up late and getting up a bit later.
Gonna grab some lunch with my best bud, Donna. We have such a good time together. And we don't get the opportunity to "do" lunch when I am working so going to take this opportunity before our schedules change again to do just that.
Wanted to share a few pictures that were made at Tori's graduation cookout. Better late than never huh?
Tori and I
Me and my girl
Michael,Tori, and Me
Derek, Tori, and Wesley
Don, Tori, and Stepmom Colleen
Me, Tori and Don
Tori's cake and cap
Well now I need to scoot..hope you all have a great Tuesday!
Hugs to all!
