Change in the Air

We took a little drive to the WHITEWATER CENTER today to see the fall colors.  Even though this isn't the best picture, you can see the change is patchy.  Some leaves are gone.  Some are brilliant colors and some are still green.

The leaves change every year but life at our house has been the same for a few years.  However, that is about to change!!!  Beginning this week, I started watching our grandson, Benjamin for half a week.  Below he is in the middle of a smile for Pop Pop, who came home for lunch.

From now until Christmas, he will be at our house each Thursday and Friday.  In January, Benjamin will be here from Monday - Friday because I am RETIRING!!!  I have loved, loved, loved being our church's library director but many things have influenced my decision - - - one is getting the opportunity to be with our grandson.  Also, I will be 62 in January.

A lot of time has been spent in prayer about this decision but once God's voice was clear about which direction to take, I have been very excited to begin this new phase of our lives.  We will get to take walks together as well as play with his toys.  Benjamin loves his "crinkle elephant".  The feet are teethers and the slender body has crinkle paper inside the fabric.  Benjamin will grin at Elephant and then hug and chew on him.

So I will try not to make every post about him - - - but he will be present in many!  I will tell you about other things in our lives - - things like my husband being in Knoxville yesterday for the football game.  (This picture was actually taken on Sept 15 of this year.)

Here is a picture of me taken today.  It is a decent one of me - - despite a shadow on the side of my face - - and the glasses reflecting the light.  I have PhotoShop but have not had time to learn it yet.  I love the flowers.  My internet search said they are Fleabane Daisies, also call the Dainty Daisy.  According to Amazon, they are drought tolerant and deer resistant.  The name is derived from the belief that the dried flowers repel fleas.  Anybody know if that is true?

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these  Matthew 6:28b-29

Friday, October 12

The good news  - - you don't have to remember how to do math to know what time it is if you know how to read a regular clock.  This is in one of the classrooms where our older daughter and some of her friends tutor.  I visited her at work on Friday.

Their math lab was renovated and expanded this summer to accommodate and better showcase their math redesign that received the

National Bellwether Award in 2009.

This is another view of the same lab - - - 88 computers!

Cleveland State Community College has some pretty landscaping, too.

Picnic tables can be found between parking lots and buildings.

This bridge is between parking lots.  I like Pampas Grass plumes - - - but don't touch the grass.  You can cut your finger - - - I wonder how I know that?!!!

More bridges.  These were found on just a short stretch of our Greenway 

 that I walked on Friday.

 

The entire area is well-lighted.

And if you don't want to walk - - you can play a while.

My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.  Psalm 71:15

October, Week 1

Once again it was time for the monthly cooking demonstration at the church.  The theme was casseroles.  That doesn't lend itself well to decorating so the display table was decorated for football.

The colors at UTK are orange which is a wonderful color for this time of year.   Fabric overlay and two different kinds of flowers make for a festive table.

Do any of you have the display stand that allows you to weave ribbon around the rim?  The stand is wonderful for many things - - pies, cakes, cookies, - - - or a potted plant!

The placemat was felt made to look like a football field.  The plate is a disposable that was painted - - and notice the ribbon on the plastic utensils matches the display stand.  This was the only table decorated.  The 100+ participants sat at plain, narrow conference tables.  That works well to allow more space and easier cleanup.

The highlight of my week was on Friday when I got to babysit Benjamin by myself for three hours!  He is so precious!   He got to play on the blanket - - - - go outside - - and of course some of the usual stuff like drink a bottle.

My biggest concern was if he would go to sleep for me or be upset because I was not his mommy.  However, my daughter has him on a great schedule and on a wonderful routine.  When he is tired, full stomach, and dry bottom, if you swaddle him, he immediately goes to sleep - - - even when you don't swaddle correctly!

The only other activity scheduled for this weekend was another baby shower for a precious friend's daughter.  I did not use this second card but had another one for her.  As usual, we had a very good time together.

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!  Psalm 139:17