I'll take one please.

My bff is here!
And I am not working today to hang out with her.
It will be wonderful - I am so thrilled that she is here.
Now we have to decide how we are going to entertain ourselves for the next 2 days.

Fun times ahead!

she's coming!

Oh bless my i-wish-i-owned-cute-fall boots.
Jessica is coming to see me.
And staying most of the weekend.
And I am taking the day off work tomorrow to hang out with her.
And we are going to laugh and talk and do art projects and go sight-seeing and eat good food.
And it is going to be so so so good.
I can't wait.
Except now I need to go put clean sheets on the bed and vacuum up all the Gwendolen tumbleweeds off my hardwood floors.

Someone please remind me to take my camera with me all weekend!

weekend beauty.

Finally got stuff done last weekend and this past weekend around the house and around town.

A little porch decorating...bow making...

(thanks Chad for bringing home my free corn stalks!)

I got to hang out with this guy a little bit this past weekend when we both weren't working...

it was grand!

This past sunday we went to the farmer's market/Sunday market.
There are always local vendors who sell veggies and it was fun to look.
Didn't buy anything this week but starting to get ideas for Christmas.
No, not veggies for Christmas, give me a little credit.
Handmade Christmas again!

It is always fun to see what is seasonal and available. We've started trying to buy local and organic when it is available...also getting milk in glass bottles from the local grocery. Antibiotic and hormone free from a relatively local farm. Cool stuff!

Thinking about joining a CSA next year - and wishing they weren't so expensive. There are some that let you trade work for goodies so we might work at the farm and get our stuff for free. Hopefully one of those will work out for next summer...

There are rumblings, flashes, and a big storm headed our way that is going to last most of the evening. Turning off all electronics in the house - locating candles, just in case.

Chad is actually out teaching CPR till late and I am going to have to go out in the storm to pick him up so hopefully it will blow over quickly. I don't like being home alone when the weather is bad - especially not knowing how this new-to-us house will weather a big one....

all it takes...

It has been quite a few nights since I have slept well and it is amazing to note that all it takes it the correct medicine to make me feel like I can breathe again...maybe tonight will be better.
It has been a really great week - with the nasal/sinus issues being the only sad exception. I have had no school visits to steal my time and have gotten a ton done at work. Hanging out with my boss most of the day Tuesday and training in Knoxville most of the day yesterday and I have still managed to have a rather productive week. I did bring some work home with me today because I left the office early. I figure I am probably feeling better with comfy clothes and sitting on my own couch and I can work on my computer doing what I was doing at the office.
I am so blessed - to have a flexible job that not only keeps me busy at times so I am not bored! - but also allows me to work when I need to. I love what I do - I can see what a difference I am making in the lives of girls and their parents. It is great!
Oh, and I have a sweet, awesome, cute husband too. He's been so sweet while I haven't felt well - worrying and calling to check up on me. He's grand. (And out on a fire at the moment so say a little prayer).
Headed to work on some new girl spreadsheets and finish inputting registrations...don't mind the work at home with my t-shirt and pj's!

sniffle, sneeze.

I heart fall.
I read a quote today that said something like "fall is the second spring with every leaf a flower"...too true. The colors are finally starting to show here and there. Mostly bright yellows, a few deep reds, and hopefully not turning too quickly to brown from lack of rain!
However, apparently my allergies do not like fall. Been sneezing so much my abs hurt. Seriously. That is almost embarrassing. Along with the face pressure and nose running like it is being chased...ew.
We hiked about a mile and a half yesterday (what seemed like straight up hill though it really wasn't) from Cravens House to Point Park for one of the very best views in the city. It is on the literal edge of Lookout Mtn. and you can see all around - totally worth the hike. And the calories I burned. And the Moon Pie I ate immediately afterwards (hey, a girl's gotta refuel you know!).
It was a lovely day, full of sweet time with my guy.
Now would it be terribly embarrassing if I went to bed at 8:45?

shape up.

Shape up Saturday.
You were looking so wonderful.
We bought apples, sliced, and some in the dehydrator.
A few more ready to make PW's pie.
Football game about to be watched (by Molly - at a friend's house).
Fall decor on the front porch.
So why, exactly, did Chad just get called out on a fire?
What a Saturday bummer.
Shape up Saturday.

breath of fresh air.

A weekend with no work to do, a friend in town, beautiful - cool fall - weather.
I am breathing deep the beauty of this weekend.
New cover on the couch.
Clean clothes put away.
Clean house ready for company.
Great day for hanging out with my sweetie and a friend.
Apple orchard, here we come!

hello 26.

It has been one of those weekends where I can not possibly tell you everything that has happened and frankly, I am so tired I am not sure I would be able should I choose to.
Camp all day Friday and Saturday. An extraordinary (sorta crappy) event at camp kept me there much later than I thought I would be there and on the phone even later than that. No one got hurt, all the little Girl Scouts are fine. It was just sort of a bad situation - not the kind of one you want to deal with on your birthday for sure! The day was pretty much stellar and good until then though! I spent the morning helping teach first aid/knife skill basics and then spent the afternoon at the lake with the cutest lifeguard ever (ok, so I happen to be slight biased and married to him). I am glad I could see him some yesterday and get to watch him "work" - he enjoyed a day in the sun with the girls so that was nice. Especially because he has been out on a fire most of today - on the backside of Lookout Mtn. - local folks, you can see the smoke from the ridgecut. Still. Hours later. Not a good sign.
However, even though I wish I could have spent what we are calling my "second birthday" today with him - my mom, sister, and F came up to spend the day with me. It was so lovely to just hang out with them - no real plans in place. They came with a carrot cake in tow - Thanks, mom! Carrot cake for breakfast is exactly how a birthday should be. We went to Rock City (because I have lived her two years now and have only been in the dark, at Christmas time, to see the lights - never seen the view). I even braved a slightly creepy cave with black light gnomes (come on, really, is that a good idea?). My sister and Frannie gave me a fabulous, awesome hammock and stand to enjoy in my nice backyard. They even went so far as to put the thing together for me. (You shall find me here in all my spare time now!). It is one of those nice fabric ones - much more comfortable than the rope ones I grew up with!
My mom also rocked my world with getting me the beginnings of a Pandora bracelet. This was the thing I fought myself about wanting - but I think it will be neat to add to it for years to come. It was much more than I expected and my mom is so awesome.
I couldn't be more blessed. To be surrounded by people I love today, given meaningful gifts - trees that I can watch grow with my sweet husband, a bracelet that will always remind me of love, and a hammock to grab a little relaxin'.
It doesn't get much better than this.

my wish.

I am leaving tomorrow at lunch time to spend another weekend at Girl Scout camp. The big plus for this weekend is that Chad is coming up all day Saturday to lifeguard for the canoeing girls. I know that I won't get to see him much but I will get to see him some.
And since it is my birthday, I would like to spend the day with him. That would by my number one wish.
I got peach trees in the front yard. That was my birthday gift from Chad. I didn't know they were my birthday present and now I am trying to remember to be thankful.
I sorta asked for something else but I LOVE my trees. I will love them more when I can eat peaches off of them.
But really, if you were thinking about spending money on me for my birthday, re-consider.
You might make a donation to the Mocha Club or 1040 Connections instead. Clean water worldwide and no sex slavery for women and children would be my real birthday wish.

Dear Mom...

I have a terrible confession to make.
I had a spoonfull of raw cookie dough for breakfast.
I must be my mother's daughter.
Love,
Your Daughter

there.

I am headed back north today - after lunch at Country's and plenty of sweet tea. Did a little sleeping in and sorta missed church - I guess I needed the sleep before another long week at work.
I am looking forward to seeing my sweetie tonight - hopefully will make it home in time to enjoy some hanging out with him and the dynamic duo (Gwendolen and Wooby). Funny how you miss all the little home things while you are gone - even for a couple of days.
Stopping in the ATL to see my sis on the way. I'll hopefully get to see her next weekend too...they might come up for my birthday!

here.

I am finally in Columbus...it was not a bad drive yesterday. Windows down the entire time, music up too loud.
It is finally here. Breathe in fall people, breathe it in.
I am now hanging out with my bestie after sleeping in beautifully late.
Ok Sun's for lunch and a beautiful wedding this afternoon then campfires and adult beverages tonight.
I would not even beg or ask for a more perfect fall weekend.
Just wish Chad were here.

I attempt not to put inside jokes on my blog cause - well, basically it is rude and no one else thinks they are funny - but I can't help this. I'll even give you context on this one - Jessica and I slept on the queen-sized air mattress last night.
"Once you hit the downhill slope, you are destined for the floor." - J

ch-ch-ch-ch-changes.

Yesterday was another doozy at work.
I don't think that anyone, anywhere near my Girl Scout family actually reads my blog but until announcements are made, I will refrain from details. Suffice to say that our membership areas got an overhaul yesterday and while I agree with the change and I know it will make TONS of more sense geographically on the areas we serve, I am sad because I am losing some areas that I have worked really, incredibly hard for and with. There is one in particular that I pretty much (shameless biased boasting here) have helped bring back from the brink of extinction with the help of a few dedicated ladies that are volunteers there. I have a lot invested in these areas and have worked really hard to build relationships, trust, and mutual respect and now I feel like I have lied to them when I have said "I don't plan on going anywhere anytime soon!". I know they will be in fabulous, capable hands - hands that will work just as hard as I have with them - but I still feel like I am losing those relationships that I have worked so hard for.
Ah - breathe.
Change is good for your soul right?

Headed to Columbus today (Yes - Dani - We will have to coordinate better next time!). A beautiful friend is getting married tomorrow - excited about being a witness to the next sweet step in their relationship. Marriage is amazing, challenging, awesome, wonderful, hard, fun - an adventure for sure! It's nice to share everything with your best friend - I can't wait for C & J to get to experience it!

Get to hang out with some old friends up at camp on Saturday night. Super excited...details to come.