October in the valley

This is what I found at the local Home Depot today in October!

 Can you believe it is October and it is planting season down here?  I still can't get used to planting my garden in the fall. It was always too cold in Duncan this time of year but the weather in the valley is beautiful right now.   I had lots of help getting the garden ready.  I rented a tiller and Treston spent all morning tilling the soil and adding topper. Karl helped us put in a new watering system.   I am excited to plant lots of vegies next week. We discovered grub worms in one of the boxes so we will have to get rid of them ASAP so we can plant our garden.  Wish us luck!

Look what I did!

I wanted something different to serve fruit in for a party I helped with last night. I have always admired these watermellon baskets so decided to try my hand at carving one.   I was worried about making the V shapes but my daughter Karen who is "Miss Pampered Chef " showed up with a knive that cuts the  v's.  Amazing!  I love modern inventions. The knife made it so easy and everyone  at the party loved it.

The desert blooms

I love living in Arizona.  The recent rains have made the desert bloom.  I made 6 batches of prickly pear jelly last week.  It is amazing to be able to turn
this
into
this

Rain

Rain is such a rare thing around here that when it does rain, even just a little bit we are not quite sure how to act.  Megan  and butter dog showed us.  Love it!

Sometimes

Sometimes life throws you lemons, or a curve ball or whatever! Sometimes the wind just gets knocked out of your sails. Sometimes I think I get too comfortable in my life and take a lot for granted. Sometimes the only thing I can do is endure. Sometimes I put priorities on the back burner. Sometimes I wish things could be different. The past two weeks I have felt all these feelings but I think I have finally come full circle with a situation in my life that stinks! It was not really hard to figure out. Here is what I discovered. I am not alone and never have to be alone. I know my family loves me. They show me how much every day. I love them all so much. I know I have good friends who love and care about me and most importantly I know my Heavenly Father loves me. All I have to do is ask and he is there to help me make lemonade out of my lemons, help me catch the curve ball and put the wind back in my sails. Today, some very special friends brought me a gift, A gift like no other I have ever received. A gift made from kind and loving hands. Those of you who are close to me know how much I love ELVIS. I love to listen to his music and watch Elvis movies, mostly the oldies and wow, that cute curl that hangs over his forhead makes me shiver. Need I say any more? Well look at this amazing quilt that was made especially for me. What more can a girl ask for than to be wrapped up with an Elvis quilt when life throws me curve balls, or lemons, or the wind gets knocked out of my sails. However long and hard the journey, I know that I CAN DO HARD THINGS and with everyone's love and prayers and the help of Heavenly Father I will get through this.

Flowers

I love springtime. I love flowers. I go out side every day and just stand in front of the flower bed and stare at them. There is something about flowers that make me happy. They smell good too.

Memories

The other day I was driving home and noticed that there are already Christmas lights up on a few homes in my neighborhood. I thought to myself that Thanksgiving is not even here yet and I can already see signs of Christmas everywhere. I love Thanksgiving! There is something about the holidays that stir up so many good memories. I can remember the smell of our wood burning fireplace and almost feel the crispness of the fall air as the leaves dropped from the large pecan trees in our front yard. I can picture my grandkids having so much fun running through the big piles of leaves. I can almost smell the pot of chili or soup simmering on the stove in the kitchen. I remember staying up late and making cinnamon rolls and apple pies so they would be fresh and warm when the kids arrived home for Thanksgiving. I remember the turkey cooking in the oven, the yummy pumpkin pies and then sitting down with my family to a "feast". After Thanksgiving dinner we would all get together and clear up the dishes so we could visit and play with the grandkids. Sometimes a football game was on the tv and all the men were stretched out on the floor either watching the game or snoozing. The girls would be laughing and talking about some craft or project we had planned to do for Christmas. Seems like that was the best time to make a batch of fudge too. I have so much to be thankful for and appreciate all that I have. However, I have to admit that I am very excited for Christmas and can't wait until my tree is up. More memories come flooding back as I take my handmade ornaments out of the box and place them on the tree. I will never forget the people that gave them to me. I love this season of the year. I love the excitement, the beautiful lights, the color, the music, and the love that so freely is given by family and friends. I have to admit that I even enjoy the hustle and bustle of shopping as I try to find that "perfect" gift. I am so glad that there is a "Reason for the Season". I am thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ and the opportunity I have to celebrate His birth. I am so thankful for memories. Family is the best! Memories of Christmases past are sometimes the best Christmas presents!