Loving Fall

Happy Friday to you. I am loving the last bit of fall, but it is raining here today and the leaves are mainly on the ground. It is cold and I'm looking forward to staying inside today; I'll probably be downstairs sewing for the afternoon. Last winter, hubby and I talked about adding some burning bushes to our back yard, along the fence. For some reason when we went looking for the bushes, all the nurseries were sold out and we never got any. Fast forward to this autumn when I'm loving seeing all the burning bushes in their glory around. This coming spring/summer we will be getting around five bushes and they will be planted-got to have me some.

I found this photo online last year and have had it on my desk top; I decided it was a perfect Autumn scene. Love it I tell you.

This morning I had an appointment with a new doctor-a GP and I really liked him. My old doctor is leaving main stream medicine so I was in need of a doctor that takes insurance.  My new doctor is all about living a healthy lifestyle and using natural remedies whenever possible, with prescription medicines being the last resort.  This has been my philosophy for most of my life and it was so refreshing to meet a doctor with the same viewpoint. 
I hope you have a wonderful weekend, the last day of the month is here-where has the year gone? 
Joy to you!
Noreen

Happy Thursday to you.  This morning I am joining three friends and heading up to the small town of Lyons to go to a quilt store I haven't been to before.  Today is a mini Shop-Hop for three of us; my neighbor Pat is not a quilter, but is coming along for the ride and for lunch.  After we have our way with the store, we will have lunch and then head down to Berthoud to a store called Laughing Ladies(one of my favorite stores).  I'm not sure what other stores we will go to, but we will have fun.
I hope you have some time today to enjoy some of your favorite activities.
Blessings,
Noreen

This and That

It's frosty and cold here in Northern Colorado this morning! I can see the Rockies from where I'm sitting and they are glistening white; such beauty to behold.  Yesterday we actually turned on the furnace, not because it was needed, but over the years I've found that the first time we run it my allergies kick in big time; my brother(who also suffers from allergies) and sister of my heart are coming out next week and we wanted to make sure that excess dust wasn't flying around. I will go through the house today and vacuum all the vents and have hubby make sure the filter is clean. I did cough during the night and attribute it to the dust.
  Today I will do some chores around the house, work on my study, go in for a dental cleaning and then have 7 of our 8 girls over to decide what Christmas presents they want to make their moms. 
Last night we met hubby's co-workers for dinner and we were amazed at the Hunter's Moon out.  I didn't have my camera and my cell battery was dead, so I didn't get a photo of it, but it was glorious!
May your day be filled with wonder and awe.
Noreen

Autumn in the Rockies

On Sunday, hubby and I drove up to Estes Park; we were going to look for a Christmas gift for little man but couldn't locate the correct size. We drove through the park and didn't see any wildlife. However, on our drive out we spotted these Bighorn Sheep on the hillside. We haven't seen any sheep in years and this was so exciting.

Loved the sky in the above photo was so beautiful!

I have never seen a ram with horns as big as this guy. 

Loved seeing the herd all together and they made climbing look so very easy.  My dad used to say that his mom climbed mountains and hills like a mountain goat.  He also used to say that I climbed mountains like a mountain goat.
Today is my brother's birthday and unlike my friend Nana Diana, I won't be calling him an Old Goat-nope not going to happen with me.  He is the very best brother anyone could have and I am so thankful for him.
Love you Rich!
Have a day filled with energy and fun.
Noreen

Family Fun

Morning friends! As you know we have three birthdays here within a week of each other and Saturday night we celebrated them. Our daughter Carrie turned 36, how did this happen? We started our evening by having a pizza dinner, then presents and finally watching home videos and enjoying dessert. Hunter always wants to be in the middle of activities with "his peeps"-whenever I mention his peeps are coming over, he races to the front window to wait for them.  He loves the family!

Peanut and Miss O, cousins and the closest of friends. Don't they look like sisters?

Our youngest granddaughter, Miss E age 2.

Part of the crew.

Kim and Little Man; people often think that Carrie and Kim are twins-I think they look so much alike, despite the hair and eye color.

Miss S and Miss F, best friends and cousins.

Eric, Kim's hubby on the left and Brent with Miss E on the right. Their birthdays are on Thursday.   We have many birthdays within a week of each other, which makes parties so much more fun. 

We ate well and laughed so much; the grands loved seeing videos of their moms as little girls.  We are so blessed!  Yesterday was a fun day as hubby and I ran up to Estes Park to do some Christmas shopping.  Unfortunately, the item we needed wasn't available and we ended up ordering it from home. 
It was a beautiful weekend, but this morning is cold and cloudy-looks like we might get some rain.
Today, I'll run some errands and then straighten the house as I have two friends coming for coffee this afternoon.  I hope you stay warm!  My thoughts and prayers have gone out to those in Mexico and Texas, who are experiencing flooding-may you be safe.
Hugs,
Noreen and Hunter

Happy Birthday My Girl

Today is a very special day~our daughter Carrie was born 36 yrs ago today.  What a joy Carrie has always been to our family and we are all so very thankful for her!  She is a light that shines brightly and she brings comfort and wisdom to us when we need it.  We couldn't be more proud of the woman, daughter, sister, wife, mom and friend she is.  You bring joy to all those who know, especially our family.
So very thankful for you!
All our love,
Mom and Dad

Good Morning to you!  Today, I am thankful for two days of rain; it reminded me so much of northern California. There is snow in the mountains, which is fine if it will stay up there.  It will be here before you know it and I'd love it if it could hold off until Thanksgiving.  Don't get me wrong, I love it if I can just stay inside sewing or other activities.  Speaking of winter activities, yesterday hubby and I went to the movies and saw Matt Damon in Martian.  I had no idea what the story line was and it was hubby's choice of the movie. WE stitch on and off, one will be a girl flick and one a guy flick.  I thought it was quite an interesting movie and his acting good. 
Today I am off to the dermatologist, just for good measure to make sure there is nothing I need to be concerned about.  I hope you all have a great day.
Noreen

Streams of Mercy by Lauraine Snelling Review

From the author: "
Anji Baard Moen, recently widowed in Norway, returns to North Dakota with her children. She quickly settles back into life in the familiar surroundings of Blessing, teaching in the high school and writing articles for the Blessing Gazette. In the midst of an unexpected crisis, Anji is thrust into a role she never imagined. And almost without her even being aware, an old friendship begins to show signs of developing into something more."
Lauraine Snelling was one of the first christian authors I read, many years ago and I always loved her writing.  In fact, I also got my oldest girl hooked on her children's books back then.  I will have to say that it has been awhile since I've read any of her books and in all fairness I didn't realize this was Book 3 of a series.  In the past, when picking up a book that was part of a series, I found it very easy to follow the story line; I am sad to say this wasn't the case with this book. I immediately felt that I had missed the initial story and was out of place.  There were two saving bits of story line in this book-the first one was that there was mention of Rosebud Reservation in North Dakota and my husband has ancestors that lived there and it was so fun to read about it in the book(though it was just a mention) and the second story line was about a Diphtheria outbreak-this immediately perked my interest because when my mom was a girl in San Francisco she actually had Diphtheria and was quarantined to her home; she told me about the large signs they put on the front door etc.  I tried to research when this occurred, I believe it would have been somewhere between  1916-1922.
The story line was somewhat confusing for me and it wasn't until I was more than half way through the book that I felt I had a good handle on all the characters.  I haven't felt that way about a story before and I can tell there will be a 4th book in this series by the way it ended.  I have read many positive reviews on this story and feel it is because the readers started from book 1.  I was truly disappointed with this story. I can't honestly recommend this book, unless you are an avid reader of Lauraine Snelling's books.
Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing, provided this book to me without any compensation in exchange for my honest review.   
Noreen

Autumn at my House

If you were to stop by my home for a visit and a cup of tea or coffee, you would notice all my harvest decorations and smell the wonder of Spiced Pumpkin scent from Yankee candle. A dear friend on mine sells Gold Canyon candles and warmers; I decided to add my favorite scent by buying wax scent pods. I love the smell and it feels so festive. Let me show you around. Here is the vignette I added to our mantel; I got the leaves and smaller pumpkins at the dollar store, the bigger one I got at Pier 1.

I've had this book for several years now and love putting it out. 

Three pumpkins I've had for years.

My dough bowl with a display of the season-two real pumpkins and the rest are fake.

The white soup bowls and plates I just got at Pier One.  Hubby and I have soup on a regular basis during the cooler months-I loved these!

These wine glasses I painted several years ago-I loved how they turned out.

Well there you have it.  I should have spice cider on the stove, but since we'll be celebrating our oldest daughter's birthday this weekend and our two sil's birthday(that fall on the same day) I think I'll have some going.  We will not only be enjoying a meal together, but after opening presents we will be watching videos from the girls childhood.  What a fun time we'll have. 
Have a great Tuesday!
Noreen

Another Glorious Sky

Happy Monday to you; I hope you had time to enjoy some of your favorite things this past weekend.This was our sky last evening when we walked after dinner-so pretty.

We had a nice weekend, hubby golfed on Saturday so I found plenty to do~in fact got Christmas gifts for the 8 granddaughters.  I can't believe my sil posted that we only have 10 more Fridays until Christmas.  I'm not even thinking about it yet; well that's not true because I have been working on presents for our two girls.  Yesterday, most of the family came over to watch the Bronco game; I'm glad we are unbeaten, but honestly it is hard to watch our offense.
Today, hubby and I are running errands this morning and then I'll be here working on my study and also sewing.  I do need to finish up the girls presents, but it should be a quiet day.  This morning I have a turtleneck on under a flannel shirt, so you know it's cold. Hunter will have to wait until later to go for his walk. He got two yesterday, so walking later works.
I hope you have a joy filled day!
Noreen and Hunter

Happy Friday to you friends,  Do you notice how quickly the week flies by?  Of course, when I was younger and working full time it couldn't go quick enough. I'm not sure if it is that we get older and appreciate each day more or if it is because we aren't working and our days are our own.
I wanted to clarify a statement I made in yesterday's post-"I am not one to just sit around the house doing nothing...  It might mean I'd get more sewing done and other projects, but I don't like being lazy."
I was not saying that those who quilt throughout the day or work on various crafts, writing or other projects are lazy, in fact they are quite the opposite.  I know some people who just sit in front of the t.v. all day long and do very little; not only is this a waste of time, in my opinion but also not good for their physical bodies.  Some people may have illnesses or a physical condition that limits their mobility and activity, I'm not talking about that situation either.  When I was recovering from my surgery last winter and couldn't get around, I read or spent time on the internet; yes, some people think computers are a waste of time. What I'm trying to say that filling each day, every day with t.v. for no good reason is not a healthy choice.  I am one who loves to stay busy most of the time, though I'll admit that when winter rolls around I love being able to just stay inside and sew.  For me, if I'm not out walking or doing something physical, it means I'm not trying to stay healthy.  Hope this clarifies what I meant. Please forgive me if this came across wrong or if you were offended-my intent was to say I don't like being lazy.
Today, I'm heading to a quilter's home for coffee; she is hosting this to see how many in our area are interested in getting together to sew on a regular basis. I have no idea what to expect, except that it will be fun to  meet other quilters.  I already know two that will be there; we are to bring three quilts that we made, to share with everyone.  Tonight we are going out to dinner with neighbors and that will be fun.  This weekend will be a time of sewing-yeah, finally. 
I hope you have a great weekend and find time to do something you love.
Hugs,
Noreen

Autumn Color

It's Thankful Thursday and I am overwhelmed by blessings, so my heart is in awe. I love Autumn, yes I'll just keep saying that! Here are some more beauties that are draped in gold.

Breckenridge's main plaza.

This Linden tree is in our back yard and so gold right now, but the colors aren't coming through. It reminds me of several trips to New England~it is so incredibly beautiful, but when you take photos they just don't show the depth of color. 
All around us the trees are changing and the leaves are beginning to drop.  Yesterday my two granddaughters made drawstring skirts for their American Girl dolls; it was so fun and easy that our time was over in about an hour.  We played Quirkle until their brothers were done with their wood working project.  Today, our other two granddaughters come over for the same project.  I'm not sure what this morning will encompass, it could be a drive or just working on Christmas presents(sorry girls, I'm not saying). One thing I'm very thankful for is that my heal feels normal today and I'm so thankful.  I am not one to just sit around the house doing nothing(unless I'm recovering from a bug or last winter's surgery), the idea of not being able to walk Hunter was not pleasing to me.  It might mean I'd get more sewing done and other projects, but I don't like being lazy. 
I hope your day is filled with gratitude and joy and that you are able to do something that you love.
Blessings,
Noreen

Breckenridge II

It's outdoor Wednesday so here are some photos from our time in Breckenridge. We loved Mayflower Gulch and hope to go back; I will say that I have developed what I think is Plantar Fasciitis and I'm wondering if it was from our hike there. 

These trees were in the center square and just beautiful!  We aren't sure why, but all of the Aspens had their trunks wrapped in blue-again not sure if it was tape or paper.  We didn't see anyone to ask, but it definitely highlights the golden colors. 
Today, we went on a short walk; last night I had to get an insert for my tennis shoes due to the pain I was having. That helped a lot, however I woke up during the night with pain-the only thing I could think of to do was put my tennis shoe back on for support; do you realize just how difficult it is to sleep when you've got a shoe on.  I will give my foot/heal til next week and then will call a orthopedic doctor; I can't tell you how painful it was yesterday-like electrical shocks in your heal going off. 
I hope you have a great day today; I've got grands coming for sewing this afternoon, so it will be filled with laughter, I'm sure. 
Hugs,
Noreen

Pumpkin Treats

Happy Tuesday to you! Have I mentioned how much I love Fall; it is my favorite time of year, but there is one draw back-it is the season of snow that follows it. One of my favorite scents is pumpkin in any form. Hunter also likes pumpkin and sweet potatoes and so I decided to try a new dog biscuit that contains both pumpkin and cranberries-another of his favorites. It came last week and he seemed so excited about it.

Product Description

Nature's Variety Prairie Biscuits are oven-baked with wholesome, all-natural ingredients to create the perfect treat for your dog. The unique flavor combination of pumpkin and cranberries is as healthy as it is tasty. These biscuits are a great complement to a healthy diet and the perfect way to show your pup some extra love!
Key Benefits

• All natural, oven-baked biscuits
• Delicious flavor combination of pumpkin and cranberries
• Made without wheat, corn, soy, artificial preservatives, flavors or colors
• Perfect bite-sized treats for all dog sizes to enjoy
• Made in the USA

We especially liked the size and soft oven baked feel.  Hunter does not like large or hard dog biscuits.

I was excited with Hunter's initial reaction; however, I was disappointed that he dropped it and wouldn't have anything to do with it.  I broke it in half, but he wouldn't eat it.  He smelled it and just left it; Hunter is very sensitive with scents and often turns away from something that smells different to him. I have tried repeatedly and also given other family dogs the treats and they love these treats; so it is just that Hunter is very picky about foods and treats.
Post-script~Hunter has decided these treats aren't so bad after all; he finally ate one, from his food dish, after I repeatedly told him no he couldn't have any other treats. So there you have it-I have one spoiled rotten dog that I love with all my heart.
I love that they are grain free and are made here in the U.S.
We received this product, free of charge,from Mr.Chewy for our honest review.  Thank you Sydney and Mr. Chewy for this program.
I'm about ready to put in another order from Mr. Chewy this week; I so prefer to order from them, rather than from a large corporation or big box store.
If you haven't go online to check them out, you can find them here:
www.chewy.com/

Noreen and Hunter

Mayflower Gulch

Happy Monday to you! I hope that you are enjoying cooler temps of Autumn, with some changes happening in your neck of the woods. Last week hubby and I took a three day trip to Breckenridge; we were there in the summer with our friends, but wanted more time to explore and enjoy this town. The weather was perfect and we had such a great time. On Thursday, we went on a little adventure up the road a bit from Breckenridge. I had checked my John Fielder's Best of Colorado book and found out about Mayflower Gulch. It took some time to finally see where the road was, but oh my what a experience. Unfortunately, we had hubby's Passat and had to park it off the dirt path half way in. We hiked the rest of the way and let me tell you I was winded. We think the elevation is about 10,000'. We can imagine hubby's great grandfather mining here; he lived in Leadville which is just up the road.

We think this was a barn or outbuilding for equipment.  I didn't want to trek up the mountain to the mines, as we had an appointment that afternoon. 

You all know how much I love dogs~firstly Bichons, Labs and Bernese Mountain Dogs are up there too. If we were younger and had land, I'd probably own one of these. Thankfully, two gals were hiking with their dogs-one of the gals had two pups-one was 1.5 yrs and the other 6 mos, but they were almost full grown.  Forgive the shadow; these dogs were so friendly and the owner was surprised I wasn't intimidated by them. 

I have more photos that I'll share on Wednesday; one is inspired by John Fielder's photo.  We loved our time there and if it wasn't so expensive, we'd probably go back. However, Steamboat Springs is just as quaint and not nearly so expensive~so we'll probably head there before winter is here.
The colors have passed their peak, but we still saw some beauties that I will share. 
I hope you have a fantastic start to your week.
Joy to you!
Noreen

Pumpkin for Dogs

Happy Saturday to you! WE had a wonderful time away and while we were gone, Mr. Chewy delivered two packages for our Hunter. October is officially Pumpkin Month at Mr. Chewy and we had a wide variety of choices for our boy. Here is the first choice~it is a great supplement for dogs or cats and only has two ingredients, pumpkin and water. In fact, I gave it a try and it tasted just like pumpkin I'd use in a pie.

The manufacturer states:
Known as The Happy Belly Maker, Weruva Pumpkin Patch Up! is a food supplement for dogs and cats to support digestion. It's already known that pumpkins have many great health benefits - now it's time to share those benefits with our beloved furry companions! Available in single-serve pouches, Pumpkin Patch Up! is meant to be fed in conjunction with a complete and balanced meal.
Key Benefits

• Supports stool quality
• Soluble and insoluble fibers
• Supports healthy gut motility
• Pureed for easy mixing
• Only two ingredients
• BPA and gluten-free

	I put it on Hunter's kibble last night and he gobbled it all up; I'm happy it was a hit, because he doesn't always like new items.  There are 12 packets in each box and it is easy to just add it to his food.  Hunter gives this food supplement four paws up; we give it a five star rating.  We want to share that we have not been compensated in any way  for our review, but that Mr.Chewy provided this product to us for our honest review.  A big thank you to Sydney and the staff at Mr. Chewy for the excellent customer service; as you know we also purchase Hunter's treat there.
	Well done WERUVA, this is a great product.

Noreen and Hunter

Fun, Fun, Fun

It's outdoor Wednesday, so hubby and I have decided to go to the mountains. Back in August, when our friends were here from Ca., we took them to Breckenridge for a day. We fell in love with this ski resort town and decided it would be fun to spend a couple of days there. Lest you think we are rolling in the money(we aren't), some friends gave us a two night pass to their timeshare so we could go. All we have to do is listen to a presentation; if they knew that was all it took to get us there, they(the sales people) might have changed they might have changed their minds-because we've done this many times. You get an invite to a condo resort and it is free as long as you sit and listen to their sales pitch. No problems here. Anyway, it is a beautiful area and I'm looking forward to spending more time wandering around downtown and on the river walk. I only hope there is no snow! I'm just not ready for it yet.

While we are away, this cutie will be staying with his cous' and best friend Lily.

I'm sure, after they've played for hours on end, they will look like this. Hunter loves being with Lily and our grands-they keep him entertained. In fact, whenever we drop him off he just runs off ready to have a vacation too. It is the perfect setup!  WE are so blessed by our family.

I'll be back in a couple of days, but will have my IPad with me to check in on you all.
Hugs, Noreen and Hunter