Howdy, pardners!
I am afraid despite my almost best efforts, I didn’t get much (=any) blogging done this weekend. I started a fairy tale review for a TGIFTF (Thank Goodness, It’s Fairy Tale Friday) post but instead of finishing it, I just enjoyed reading the book I was reviewing to the kids at school. But I will share it with you here on Friday. I will, I will, I will! Would love to figure out a way to record myself reading with the kids because that is such fun. Stay tuned.
So, this is what I have been up to currently that has kept me from spending time here. Please be sure to stop by my friend Becky’s blog at Choose Happy to see what she is up to currently.
I am currently:
Decorating for fall. Or still decorating for fall. Have done this in spurts, I guess. First the kitchen.
I received this beautiful pillow from my BFF Sharon to put on my front porch. But it was just too pretty to put out there! I used it on my couch in the den instead. Thank you, Sharonia! You spoil me rotten. Well, I can’t blame you for my rotten-ness. I was already pretty rotten. You just spoil me.
From there, I started working on my front porch. I bought three pumpkins because three is the best number in the world. This little one is my medium-sized pumpkin. I used paper doilies and Modge Podge to decorate it. After the doilies dried, I sprayed the pumpkin all over with several coats of a crystal clear lacquer.
I bought the little fall pillow on Etsy and added a couple of fall picks from Hobby Lobby to my lanterns. I used chrome spray paint to dress up my largest pumpkin. Want to add a little ribbon or burlap flower to it. And then this Saturday is Halloween and I still have one pumpkin I want to decorate. Do you think it is ok if I keep my pumpkins out on the porch on into November? I just hate to cast them off already!
Pondering what kind of weather we will have this winter. Truth be told, 2015 has brought its share of unusual weather. Over 100 consecutive days of temps over 90 degrees. We average between eight and nine inches of rain a year but this year has felt rainier. By the end of August we had had over seven inches. I am hoping this translates into snow this coming winter. In the meantime, look what other white stuff fell from the sky this week.
Hope in November or December I will be posting pictures of some fluffy, white snowflakes. After all the hail that turned into rain, our gray skies began to clear and we had double rainbows.
Our beautiful world.
Participating in “Read for the Record”. My sister Valerie, who is a librarian in Houston, texted me about an opportunity for our students to participate in a campaign designed to set a new record for the world’s largest shared reading experience. On October 22, the students at Guerrero joined students around the world in reading the book Not Norman by Kelly Bennett and illustrated by Noah Z. Jones. Here I am holding our library copy of the book but it was also available online at the JumpStart website, you can find it here.
Feeling uncomfortable about my outfit. See the top I have on in the picture above? That is not the top I wore to school that day. I started the day in a plaid tunic, gray leggings and black booties as seen here.
I felt ok leaving the house in this but felt like everyone was kind of looking at me funny at school. Kind of like they thought I had on my pajamas, maybe? Or one of my twenty-something daughter’s outfits. Just not flattering at all, huh? I was so uncomfortable that I went home to change at lunch time. Put on jeans and the blue tunic you see in the picture with Not Norman. As much as I want to wear leggings, feeling comfortable and confident in them, I just don’t.
Cleaning my laptop screen. Big mistake. I used a paper towel very slightly dampened with window cleaner, first to wipe down the outside case of my computer and then to remove the smudges and fingerprints (and kitty-fur) on the monitor screen. Right before my eyes, the images on the screen flipped upside-down.
Something like this is just so, so, so my luck with technology. I am like a human magnet around computers and cell phones and iPADS and Nooks and cameras. PC just shakes his head. And then he fixes everything.
Exercising and eating better again. Not sure what happens but PC and I always fall off the ‘getting-in-shape-and-eating-right’ bandwagon with autumn’s drop in temperatures. Our bodies start preparing for months of hibernation that they don’t even do and we begin foraging for any and everything we can find to eat, slowing our activity level to one step above comatose, so that we can build body fat to keep us warm during El Paso’s chilly 45 degree winters. This past week, though, we have jumped back into our hiking boots and tennies, back onto the treadmill, the elliptical machine and have also started eating better. And we bought new FitBit Flex Trackers after struggling with our FitBit Zips. We can even monitor how much, or on some nights how little we sleep. Here I am on the elliptical. I really hate the elliptical so this is a big fake smile. Would rather run any day.
About this time every year, PC wants to start a soup-diet. So I have also been preparing a lot of homemade soups in the crockpot.
Working on a display and a blog post for The Blended Blog, with Purrsimmony, of course. I used to draw pictures with pastels for all of my libraries and for backdrops on my TV show. But when I retired, I threw away my pastels. And here I am, happily back in a library, and doing another pastel picture.
Please come back on Monday, November 2 to check out the blog post about one of my favorite holidays.
Glowing from the inside out. And I am not even pregnant. But I am in love with my PC. I love our life together, our home, we are so blessed. Look at the dear message from my Prince that was awaiting me yesterday when I got dressed for work.
And I love you, my Prince.
Sending out congratulations to my friend Wendy for winning a copy of Devotions from the Garden, a book I reviewed for BookLookBloggers. It is part of my Monday morning devotions. Hope it will bring you peace and comfort, Wendy.
So that’s my life currently.
I have missed my time with you. Need to figure out a way to balance my time better now that I am working. Thank you for coming by, and sticking with me, through this newest page of the relatively new chapter of my life. Hope you will come back again.
Hugs and kisses,
Sharon
Yes you can leave your pumpkins out friend unless they are Halloween ones. Next week I’ll remove the Halloween and add a few more fall items to the porch til the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Everything looks great and that pillow I sent is an indoor/outdoor one so it can go on your bench also 🙂 Miss you!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hope you enjoy your pretty new ride, mamacita! Will be thinking of Miss E on Friday. Going to keep my eyes open for a wheelbarrow so I am fully prepared next fall. Saw a new one for $40 at Lowe’s. Is that a good price? Would rather have a raggedy one with personality but I could beat the new one with one of P’s baseball bats. XO
Wendy
Thanks sweet Leslie! Loving your pretty fall decor! I always leave my pumpkins out on my porch in November, even the ones we carved for Halloween. We just turn the carved faces to the back.
Sharon
That’s a great idea Wendy! I bought so many pumpkins this year for 4 outdoor areas of my house. I spray them with clear acrylic spray after I get them home and they stay like new all fall.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Your yard is like my dream yard. Someday I will get a wheelbarrow and try to do your beautiful arrangement with the scarecrow and mums.
Sharon
Thanks BFF! Already thinking about how I’m going to change things up after Thanksgiving. Probably a lot of greenery in the wheelbarrow and red of course. 😊
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Great idea! Can’t wait to see what you do.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
So clever!!! You are genius to just turn the pumpkins around. Will remember that. Hope you were able to get a copy of the Devotions from the Garden book. Not sure why my email was so delayed in getting to you. But technology and I don’t mix. What made me think I should try blogging, I don’t know!! XO
deena
I love your last What’s UP..look at you, all gushy and in love. That just warms my heart!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you! I can get pretty mushy over my PC. I remember when I saw his pic on Match.com. I should write about that! I could not believe that guy was asking me out!!! Still look at him all starry eyed.
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom
I always enjoy reading your Currently post, I am going to do one for Monday! I had meant to do it this week, but time got away from me. I think your plaid outfit with leggings looks fine, but I totally get you on wearing some a little more daring and then feeling uncomfortable in it. It is awesome you can go home and change during lunch, though! When I worked, I was too far away to do that… I LOVE your pumpkin you decorated with doilies and modge podge and the pillow your friend made you would be hard to put out on the porch! Love all of your fall decor!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I really don’t work close enough to drive home to change either during lunch time but that day I was desperate to get out of my outfit and drove like a Nascar driver! Thank you for your sweet compliments on my fall decorating. It was fun to do some of what I used to do when my baby girls were home. Cherish these moments with your babies. Seems like they grow up and are gone in a fleeting moment. XO
Christy
I LOVE the pumpkin – it looks great. Even I could do that….
Leslie Roberts Clingan
My little punkie was simple and fun. Now it is going to hurt me to toss her into the trash. She feels like family!
Shaunacey
beautiful fall decor!!
your smile is so contagious, I can’t help but smile when I see your pics!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
You say THE sweetest things. PC says I smile even when I am not really smiling inside but how can it hurt to smile? It can only make things better, right? Love you!
Jill
These currently posts are so fun to read! I love your fall decorations and that doily pumpkin is amazing! I’m going to have to remember to try that next year! I think your plaid dress is darling and looks great on you!
Jill
Doused In Pink
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, sweets! Going to try that outfit one more time. Thinking a belt might help or a vest? Or slipper and a robe!!! Thank you for coming by.
Becky B
Adorable FALL decorations & I Love the pumpkin!!!!!
Thank you so much for joining my Currently link party! Have an amazing weekend!! XOXO
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Always love your Currently link ups. I think I could just do those and nothing else!! XO
Lana
I think the plaid tunic with leggings looked great – but if you’re not comfortable, that’s what really matters. That pumpkin is so cute! You have such a full, busy, happy life. I love reading about it!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, sweet friend. I am going to try the outfit again…maybe not at school. Thinking I might try a belt? A vest? Something to give me a more dressed look, rather than pjs!!! I do have a happy, blessed life. I surely, surely do. Thank you.
Karen Strand
Love Love Love the pumpkin decorated with a doily! Aren’t you just the cleverest!!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, sugar. Was supposed to use gold doilies but couldn’t find them. Kind of think the white offers a better contrast. Thank you for stopping by. Have missed you, my friend.