Halloween

BOO

Happy Halloween and may you have very few trick-or-treaters at your door.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

My mother-in-law is always in my thoughts especially in October when I think about the importance of having screening mammograms. A friend who reads my Blog, told me she was several months behind in having her yearly mammogram and my blog reminded her to get that appointment. I had tears in my eyes thinking that maybe I did one small bit of good with my message.

What are the benefits of screening mammograms?

Several large studies conducted around the world show that breast cancer screening with mammograms reduces the number of deaths from breast cancer for women ages 40 to 69, especially those over age 50. Studies conducted to date have not shown a benefit from regular screening mammograms, or from a baseline screening mammogram (a mammogram used for comparison), in women under age 40.

From the National Cancer Institute Website

As the month comes to an end, I hope you still keep the message in mind and have your yearly mammogram.

Snow in October

We received 16 inches of snow overnight, the most on record for this day and it's still lightly snowing. I took all the pictures at 7:30 this morning.

School was cancelled but not work. I had no trouble with my drive in. It's a wet heavy snow and all our trees are bent over from the weight. Sad, so sad, all this snow & it's not even Halloween yet!

Book Club

The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game by Michael Lewis. Tonight is Book Club. I am very excited to hear what the members of the club thought of my pick. We have several retired teachers in the club so I am hoping they can get over the football part and take interest in the education of a young boy part. I would recommend this book for men & women, teenagers to adult.

I'm the moderator tonight & I'm also bringing some cupcakes.

Have you ever read Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bon's? Angry Housewives is a great book if you are in a book club or think you want to be. I want to join the Angry Housewives Book Club!

"In football, as in life, the value we place on people changes with the rules of the games they play."

SNOW

4:15 PM EST and there is more in the forecast.

Amie, I bet you are excited.

Nicole, you must be too.

Excited since you don't have to be a part of this.

Wooden Boxes

There's been a lot of interest in what the boxes that Mick built where for. Eric even gave me a rare call to my office after he read about them on the Blog. His fear was that they where something for inside the house. Not to fear, they are drawers to hold fasteners & hardware.

I'm wondering if he is getting ready to start selling out of the garage. He better never mention that I have to much craft supply.
Someday maybe I'll show you my craft supplies.

Felted Acorns

Our neighbor Bob collected acorn tops from his backyard tree so I could make felted acorns. He got four finished acorns as a thank you. Thanks to Mickey, she took the unwanted bits out of the tops. Crafting is always so messy.
Can't explain why these pictures came out so bad. Actually I know why, I should have changed some camera settings.
This is what one acorn starts out as. Hand model, Mau.

The felting process hot water & dish soap. We got the directions off of another blog. Finished acorns. I love them.
Mine are sitting on a window sill. Mau bought a small wooden bowl at Crate & Barrel for hers.

Thanksgiving, is one month from today!! Yesterday I made Pumpkin Bread to kick off my preparations.

DID YOU KNOW?

A friend from Canada sent me this link.

Very interesting, although I didn't care for the music or the ending and I can't comment if the video is accurate or not.

Head of The Charles Part 3 of 3

I've always hoped to see an Olympic Medal.

While Mau & I were walking around the regatta village I spotted a girl in an Olympic uniform and noticed a medal around her neck. When I mentioned her to Mau she said she noticed the words "Beijing 2008." I could not let the opportunity pass me by. I asked for her photograph & one of the medal, a Gold Medal.

Her name is Susan Francia, she is a rower and is pictured here with her coach. She was not at all put out with me asking for the pictures, thankfully, in fact, she was happy to do it.

What a year! First the Stanley Cup and now an Olympic Medal and a GOLD at that.

Head of The Charles Part 2 of 3

We waited about 30 minutes along the shore before we caught our first sighting of our boat. The boat in the bottom of the picture is a boat of college boys rowing to the start line. The boat finished in 16th place, out of the 69 boats in their division and rowed the course in 18.19.117 minutes.

Now they have to dock the boat and
carry it back to the staging area to put it onto a trailer.
This was my second year attending HOTC and I loved the entire atmosphere of the regatta!

I hope to be able to go again next year.

Head of The Charles Part 1 of 3

I took this through my front windshield while driving to HOTC. The leaves were at their peak over the weekend. We were some of the estimated 200,000 spectators to attend.
Our favorite rower!
The team came in 18th place last year so their bow number & starting position will be 18 this year.

The first seat belongs to Kelsey. Carrying the boat to the launch site.
Kelsey & the cocksin each wear the bow number.
Getting ready to board the boat. There was a very cold wind.

Starting the row from the launch site to the start line. They had to row the entire course to reach the start line.

We then took off walking to just past the first bridge to wait for them to race by.

Autumn Days: Around the Town

All pictures taken at the Nature Trail last Wednesday.

Our new tree is still alive!! I'm surprised the leaves are still green. I think they are supposed to turn yellow.
Our backyard is deep with fallen leaves.

Amie, your long distance Autumn.

Autumn Days: Around the House

Per Amie's request, Autumn decorations around the house.

This glass canister started out with real gourds. Since they didn't get any air they rotted in a week. I found these fake gourds at Joann's and loved them. If you didn't know, darn now you do, you would never know they aren't the real thing.

The mantle. I still need to stop at the antique store and purchase a third. Remember the decorating rule of odd numbers? I know Leigh Leigh agrees with me on this rule.

I brought this table runner home with me from a shopping trip in CA. Even the picnic baskets are getting into the Autumn spirit. This box was my paternal grandfathers. I change up the decorations for each season.

College Visit Part 4 of 4

While I was off having a wonderful time with my sister-in-laws, nephews & niece, Mick was the weekend family caregiver. He was prepared for being house bound for the weekend and came prepared. We left home with 1,500 pieces of wood and 200 pieces of Plexiglas. When we arrived home he unloaded 200 wood boxes.

According to his Dad, Mick spent 14 hours over the weekend hammering 2,600 nails and screwing in 400 screws.

Each box has an open Plexiglas front.

Oh, I bet you can't wait to see the finished project? Lucky me, I'll be off again this weekend. I'll be watching Kelsey row in Head of The Charles in Boston. Mick will spend his weekend at home installing the 200 boxes & then filling them up. May you have a great Saturday & Sunday!