I want to post the rest of our apple doings before the first snow flies. Opps too late.

Ry and I made dried apple rings with a dehydrator.

I love these apple corer slicer, peeler things.

Just break apart the cute little apple spirals into "rings". They are really more like Cs.

Shake apples with lemon juice, sugar and cinnamon in a baggie.

Let dry in the dehydrator for 10 hours on 160 degrees.

Bag up dried treats in airtight containers before everyone in the house eats them.

photo from allrecipes.com

M: Easy Potato Sausage Soup

T: Florentine Lasagna

W: Slow Cooker Oriental Chicken

Th: Salmon Cakes/ Jelly sandwiches if rejected after tasting 4 bites

F: Pizza Night

Sat: Halloween Party at Grammy Kris’

Sun: Spaghetti and Broccoli

Check out other menus at org junkie.

Surely your popcorn is better than mine.

Popcorn is regular snack in our home. Neat Pete can make popcorn in a heavy pan on the range. I usually just end up making micro-wave popcorn. We have the special popcorn bowls but sometimes we just eat it right out of the bag.

Lil’ Miss Molly seems to think that she needs to taste every-one’s popcorn just in case it might be better than her own. In the photo above she is looking longingly at her brother’s bowl. He is humorously guarding his portion with a real sense of urgency. He has been known to lick his food as to thwart greedy food snatchers from consuming his goods. [As if Molly knew what a germ was or cared!]

This got me thinking about my own heart in terms of sharing, ownership and jealousy. While looking through all the wonderful blogs out there I sometimes wonder if their “popcorn” is better than mine. Ick! I know better than to make comparisons.

I have struggled with jealousy for as long as I could remember. Like back in the day, “Her bangs are ratted way higher than mine.” Or now, “Her house is so clean!”

I can reflect on my own jealousies and remember that God is jealous of all my time and energy spend into things of the world.

Exodus 34:14 (New International Version)

Do-It-Yourself

We are deep in the midst of giving our main level a face lift.  Thanks to my father-in-law (fil) Phil our new flooring is installed! It is so much better than the previous dirty carpet. [That will be his new blog name, Fil Phil.] It is so fun to see plans spring into realities.

We are over time, over budget and overwhelmed. We’ll manage but I can tell that I have some heart work to do as I seem to be fumbling a bit with my patience and grace during this challenge.

Kids

Meanwhile, my little guy just turned 4! We had a doughnut breakfast around a patio table in the middle of the living room to celebrate. His Super Hero party will be coming when I can have a tool-free floor again.

Kitchen

This morning I botched a double batch of apple oatmeal cookies I was going to send to Texas. What? Who knew that 1 cup of baking soda is not the same as 1 tsp.? Yikes!

Yes, that is my refrigerator in the living room.  So technically this is a picture of my kitchiving room.

Decorating

I moved my dresser into the kids room and made a mock diaper station on the top. Nice move. No pictures yet because it’s “nap” time which really is more like WW 3 this afternoon. We are going on 45 minutes of battle…still no quietness from either of them. Geesh!

Things I want to do but it might be too late (too cold):

• Paint a rehab dresser and place it in my room.
• Re-purpose a office hutch topper into a toy storage unit for the new living room.
• Fix up a $5 (garage sale find) bookcase for all the littering kids books reproducing in my home!

Sneak peek at my dresser rehab.

Bin-a-Week is making a cameo in the background.

That’s us lately. Have a good weekend.

Sometimes I feel over run with good books.

Study guides, self-helpers, pretty books and spiritual books.

All good. But there really is only one Good Book.

The Holy Bible.

Molly with her milk crate "bookcase".

The Bible, Book of 1Peter, Chapter 1, Verses 24-25

All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of the Lord stands forever…

Gramma, Me and Mama circa 1981

Both of the ladies above me in my family line are having health concerns at this time.

My Mama is having an important appointment today. If you believe in God sent a prayer for us that the appointment will go well and the Drs. will be efficient.

Gramma is in her early 90′s and could use some prayer for comfort and reassurance in God.

Both ladies have been influential in my life.

My Gramma gave me a laid-back attitude toward housework, a knack for spotting garage sales and a love for entertaining.

My Mama gave me strong will, a knack for writing and a love for old movies.

Ladies Night Out 2008

Making caramel apples was more fun than eating them. Time with friends and candy corn was time well spent.

Ryan and his friend Jack. Really, two peas in a pod.

We used mini yogurt pretzels, sunflower seeds and candy corn to embellish our caramel apples.

Nora and my daughter Molly. Two peas in a basket.

Nora making apples with her Papa Chris and Mama Dawn.

Bin-style candy corn vs. Brach's bagged candy corn. It was a draw! Both types were yummy. Which do you prefer? Could you tell them apart in a blind taste test?

Our new over-the-door towel hanger was a score from a local after-retailer home goods store for only $7.99! [Yes we are still working on pulling together the bathroom.]

The diamond cut knobs are my treasures. It is like a pretty crown offered up to soften our deep brown painted walls which will have deep blue accessories down the line. I feel like a princess just hanging my towel up to dry on such a dainty rack.

A new view of myself as a “princess” reminded me that I am a child of God. God is a King. The King to be precise. The King of Grace. I need Grace. I need Him.

Bible, Book of Hebrews, Chapter 4, Verse 16

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

I am still learning to cast onto my needles. So no that darling sweater (below) is not my own creation.

I feel so fortunate to have a knitter in my life. Thanks to a very caring co-worker and friend Molly has hand knit items in her wardrobe.

This sweater is so awesomely fall I love it! It is nice enough for Sunday school or the sandbox.

We are still consumed with seasonal changes around the house. Will we ever park our cars in the garage? I am thrilled to be prepping our home for some much desired maintenance. My knees aren’t but I am.

Sanding, painting, cleaning oh my!

I will be sure to post some before and afters at the end of the month to chronicle our experience with new colors, floors and curtains. I am trying to devise some major mistreatments for the living room windows. [Though I had a dud afternoon at the fabric store. I just picked the kids out of the cart in the middle of the store and went home. No major melt downs except for Mom!]

Have a blessed weekend!