Starbucks Pumpkin Scones--Homemade

That's right, HOMEMADE Starbucks Pumpkin Scones. Incredibly awesome, with a recipe found here. You're welcome. :)

Saturday Mornings

I love Garage Sales. What I don't love about them is that they tend to be early on Saturdays. Because of that reason, I'm not at them on a weekly basis. Now that I have a baby I definitely don't get to sleep in like I used to, but they're still hard to hit up sometimes. Last weekend, we decided to go out there and try our luck. We're in need of some baby gates since the babe has started her army crawl. We thought perhaps we could find some nice used ones. We went to one neighborhood where it was apparently garage sale central. We honestly hit up about 15 sales. NOTHING. Not one thing. How is that possible? I don't think that's ever happened to me in my life. Here I am with money to spend and not one cool thing jumps out at us? Nothing useful, or perhaps even un-useful but cool none-the-less? Well, we hopped in the car and drove over to a church that was having a sale. This was our last attempt. Did we find something? No baby gates, but...well, this was definitely worth $3.


Really? For me? In almost mint condition with the keys and everything? The perfect place to hide my knitting from curious hands? Excellent.


So, knitting is on the list of things that will start being done seriously around here. It's fall, and guess what, it actually feels like fall! Most of my free time has revolved around getting my talk together for the Women's Retreat this Saturday. (Please keep me in your prayers!) But once that is done, it's all about knitting, The Chronicles of Narnia on CD, and lots and lots of tea. Mmmmmm, I love fall! What do you guys like about fall, and what's you best garage sale find?

Addiction

It's true, we all have our weaknesses. Luckily, I'm pretty good at avoiding the temptation of shopping for mine. I can stay away long enough, at least until my mom gets to town. Then, to the fabric shop we go. Oh fabric, why are you so stinkin' phenomenal, and generally, soooo not cheap. (I'm talking to you Amy Butler).

But I've recently required some good stuff that happened to be on sale, so all is well in the world of fabric, Here's my loot.



I love them both to pieces, and adore the vintage feel of them. I have plans to transform them into wonderful skirts for myself, since my summer wardrobe has basically consisted solely of t-shirts, flip flops, and skirts. Addictions are bad...but man is this a fun one.

Travel Plans

A trip to New York City needs to spring into action, because this girl is obviously ready for the Subway.

So, while we're speaking of travels, what are your summer plans? It seems this is the year for adventure. Amy's in Rhwanda as we speak (as I write?), Britt and Hannah are headed to Haiti again. Michael and Farah are going to, wait for it, ROME! And my dear friend Emmani is crossing the States and playing shows. And seriously, check out this blog of his, I laughed so hard.


Jon and I are headed with his fam to the Grand Canyon very soon indeed. I've been there 3 times, but combine all the time I've spent there and it's less than 24 hours. Quick trips. It'll be nice to chill there awhile. (Anyone out there remember the Epic Adventure of the Secret Valentines Day Road Trip back at CBU? Good times.)

Then, later we're headed up to Mammoth with ALL of Jon's family and my mom, plus 3 or 4 other families. It's a tradition that dates back to Jon's grandma and her sorority sisters. They headed up there in the summer with their families, and it's kept going, slowly trickling down through the generations until, here we are. I find it pretty amazing. Last time they went (it's every three years) we were in the Carribean, so we missed out. But we're ready to embrace the fun this year!

So, what are your fun summer plans?

Clouds

I enjoy weather. Rain, snow (in small doses and generally when it's nowhere near me), hale, sunny weather, cloudy weather. And clouds in general. A week or so ago I was outside around noon and the sky was breathtakingly beautiful, covered in whispy, poofy white clouds. I grabbed the camera and documented. They almost seems like clouds you would see in a painting, but not perhaps real life. Maybe that's why I liked them so much...they seemed special. Epic, perhaps. Just proof that the Master Artist is way more creative than we can even imagine. He not only made these clouds, He made every cloud, the sky, the sun, rain...oh, I could go on and on. Hope you enjoy.

Summer Reading List

Do you guys remember Summer Book Clubs at your local library? Mine always had this huge list of books to read and prizes for how far you got. I enjoyed that. I think they should have that for adults as well. A free Starbucks for every 10 books you read? Anway, I know it's not quite summer yet, but with stinkin' 90+ degree weather, it might as well be. So, I've put together my list of books to read this summer. It is, as follows:

1. Drums of Autumn by Diane Gabaldon
2. The Fiery Cross by Diane Gabaldon
3. A Breath of Snow and Ashes by, surprise surprise, Diane Gabaldon
4. Little Women by Louise-May Alcott (Rumor has it, each one of us Coulter sisters corresponds to a sister pretty accurately. Excited to see.)
5. Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
6. On the Banks of Plum Creek by Wilder
7. By the Shores of Silver Lake by Wilder
8. The Long Winter by Wilder
9. Little Town on the Prairie by Wilder
10. These Happy Golden Years by Wilder
11. The First Four Years by Wilder
12. Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
13. Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver
14. Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift (Reading the Classics Book Club Selection)
15. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (Another RTC book, one which I've already read, but will gladly read again. Who doesn't love the story of Darcy and Lizzie?)

Well, there you have it. Any other books I read must, MUST, be books I own, because I own a lot I haven't read (Stupid thrift stores and library with cheap interesting books.) Yes, that's a lot of books, but honestly, 7 are kids books, I'm halfway through the 1st one, and well, let's just put it this way...about 7 times a day I sit down for around 30 minutes with not a lot that I actually have to do. There you go. And sorry for the lack of pictures, but time is money people (okay, not my time...but somebodies...) and anyway, I've got some reading to do!

Okay, response time. What's on your summer reading list? (Oh, and who's buying me a Starbucks after I read 10 of these?)