THE EVE OF CONTINUOUS SWEATER WEATHER!!!!!!!!!!

Tonight we are on the eve of nonstop sweater weather.  Nonstop as in months on end.

Now don't get me wrong - I love spring and summer weather.  Open-toe shoes and flippy skirts.  Sunscreen and lake reads.  Lunch at the park.  Walking in a winter wonderland.  Oops.  Not the latter.

What I do love, and it probably sounds absurd to the casual blog-reader, is SWEATER WEATHER!!!!!!!!  Not necessarily freeze-your-snot weather but I love crisp weather that requires layers.  Again not turn-my-boogers-to-tiny-ice-cubes but cold enough for layers. 

I also love sweater dresses.  A sweater in a dress or is it a dress in a sweater?  *laughs outloud*  Potato - pah-tata!!!

I hope I can sleep tonight.

I did chug a medium almond latte with a smallish pump of mocha swirl.  Pretty sure I ordered it straight-up (caffeinated). 

The good news is sweater-weather and I will be reunited. 

It is going to be a magnificent relationship.

Sweaters are comfort.

Sweaters are warm.

Sweaters embrace you.

Sweaters go together with coffee.

Oh my word - sweaters + coffee + me = a love triangle!!!!

I do love Fall most of all.

“Fall has always been my favorite season.  The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving all year for the grand finale.”  ~  Lauren DeStefano

I always Fall for Fall....

“I am made for autumn.  Summer and I have a fickle relationship, but everything about autumn is perfect to me.  Wooly jumpers, scarves, thin first, then thick, socks.  The low slanting light, the crisp mornings, the chill in my fingers, those last warm sunny days before the rain and the wind.  The moody hues and subdued palette punctuated every now and again by a brilliant orange, scarlet or copper goodbye.”   

~ Alys Fowler

Sweater weather and a winter storm watch

Sweater weather - it looks like it's here to stay!!!!!  Hip Hip Hooray!!!!

We are also under a winter storm watch...and we may see anywhere from 1 to 11 inches of snow.  Joy!  Actually this is joy because I am wearing my cashmere-wool blend scarf and gloves.  Not the gloves right now while I am typing...but earlier today when I was walking from Rosie in to work.  

Sweater Weather

The return of Sweater Weather should be celebrated...like a National Holiday.  People should don their favorite sweater and gather outside to enjoy Fallish sunshine and hot apple cider or hot chocolate or even coffee.  When it comes to hot beverages during Sweater Weather, I am truly no respecter of coffee.  Hot chocolate is fantastic.  Not that package stuff...but the REAL deal.  The hot chocolate you make on your stovetop with hot almond milk and Penzey's vanilla and dark chocolate.  Mmmmmm...now I was some hot chocolate but the trouble is the chocolate has caffeine and I don't do caffeine after 12 'noon.  Well...there's always tomorrow.

My mom to the rescue!!!!

Not the last time I was down visiting my parents but the time before that, my mom gave me a bunch of her sewing supplies.  Snaps and buttons and eye-hooks, Oh my!!!

Yesterday when I was getting ready for church, I was not thrilled about the way my cotton sweater was gaping open.  {NOTE:  Sixty degrees for a high means it won't be 60° in the morning when you leave for the 9:15 choir-run-through-of-the-special.  Sixty for a high means it will be 40-ish when you leave for said choir appointment.  Plan to blast the heat and drink green tea while notifying yourself that YES, you are 3 kinds of crazy for wearing a sundress and cotton cardigan.}

As I contemplated my gaping sweater conundrum, I remembered my sewing box o'treasures.

A quick perusal and the eye hook package was searched out. 

Another blessing to note ~ someone from church had a crafty neighbor go on to be with Jesus.  The church lady brought me bags of sewing treasures which included copious amounts of thread.

The perfect shade of green thread was found amongst the blessing basket o'thread.

Less than 5 minutes later, the gaping sweater conundrum ceased to exist.  My sweater closed and all was well.

I am so thankful for the shared sewing supplies.  What wonderful blessings!!!

There are just 2 seasons...

There are really only two seasons.  There's Sweater Weather and Not Sweater Weather.  Think about it.  Fall and spring are carigan-ish weather.  Winter is a season of wool and bulky sweaters.  Really the only not-sweater-weather season is summer...except for this past August when we had those two weeks of what I like to call Faux-Fall days. 

Another weekend....YEAH!!!!!

What a busy - busy - busy week.  Between work and revival meetings at church, I've been leaving at 7:30 a.m. and aside from a quick stop at the cottage for supper, getting home at 8:30-8:45 every night.  It's been a good kind of busy...but busy nonetheless.  (I like the word nonetheless.  Smooshed all together and happylike.)

Here it is Thursday evening...we had a LC meeting tonight.  Exciting times - discussing our upcoming year of ladies Bible study.  Our little group is already busy making plans.  I'm looking forward to a great year working with some fabulous gals who love Jesus.

Tomorrow is Friday.  Sometimes I get so caught up in just enjoying Thursday that I "forget" that the following day is Friday.  Thursdays are delightful because Thursdays are Meg's coffee days.  I have a co-worker who, also, happens to love coffee sooo on Thursdays, I take the time to pick-up Meg's.  As of late, he has been treating us to coffee because he's swell and his wife told him to buy my coffee too.  She's nice.  I like how she thinks.  :)

This morning I got caught in a downpour in the Meg's parking lot.  It's a small price to pay for my beloved morning treat.  I had to maneuver my umbrella, my purse, 2 lattes, and car keys.  When I saw downpour, I should also let you know there was beautiful lightning.  I only call it "beautiful" now because I did not get struck. 

When I got to work, I was lamenting to the coffee lover how dangerous the parking lot was...and he, of course, had to one-up-me..."Well, I was on my bike.  A bike is way more dangerous than an umbrella!"  Really?  Tell that to my mom when you are calling her to explain my ultimate demise happened in my favorite coffeeshop's parking lot.  Can you even imagine?  One minute you're standing there, holding your favorite coffee, and an umbrella and the NEXT MOMENT - you are in Heaven with Jesus???  It sounds fabulous. 

After work tomorrow I am meeting up with my friend Rhonda for supper.  She has been waiting all week for her mom's test results and they should be delivered tomorrow.  I know all about the waiting and not knowing and leaning so heavily on Jesus that He carries you through.  Although you are trusting and leaning, it's nice to have a human to hold your hand and cry with you when you get the news.  I want to be that kind of friend.  Earlier this week, I told her:  "No matter what happens on Friday. The good, the bad, the ugly - I will be here for you and your family."  Someone very wise and dear to me shared those words with me last year when I was waiting for news...and what a comfort those words were to my weary heart and graciously the Lord allowed me to share those words with Rhonda.

Saturday is slightly more leisurely - as I promised to attend a cross country meet in Walnut, Illinois.  Never did I know there was such a city.  I looked it up on Google Maps -- it looks about the size of Hudson, Michigan.  The predicted weather is low 70's which is perfect for a morning out and about.

Sunday is church.  The children and I are going to be diving into the life of David.  This week's lesson is on God choosing David...  I love the story of David.  Even with all of his imperfections and flaws and sin - David was a man after God's own heart. 

Whatever you do this weekend, I hope it's delightful and fabulous!!!  Enjoy the sweater weather!!!  Oh --- and I know it's a little early but...

HAPPY FALL!!!!!

Some randomness...

Today feels very much like a Monday.  It's not Monday.  It's Thursday.  It's my friend's birthday.  Hip hip hooray.  Coffee and pedicures.  What a fun afternoon.

I'm working on the last two scarves for a big order - which will be shipped to Ringgold, Georgia - I'm hoping on Saturday.  Here's the trouble -- I started stamping and creating cards and thinking ahead to the 26th.  I've started THE LIST of items that I will need/want to bring...and now my brain is thinking ALL STAMPING ALL THE TIME.  It's not a bad thing.  It's just a "bad" thing for the scarves waiting to shipped off to the sunny South.  Poor little scarves are sitting in a shoebox waiting for their two friends to join them.  :)

Speaking of these scarves, the most ordered scarf is the Red Heart Sashay - Mambo color.  It's navy blue, lime green, raspberry, and a coral with a smidge-bit of silver sparkle along the hem.  It looks great with jeans and just about anything else.  

Mambo is what is on my size 10.5 knitting needles right now.  I have about 30 more stitches and I will be done.  Yeah!!! 

Last night I did remember to return a stamp to Hobby Lobby.  It was the Luke 2:14 stamp - "Glory to God in the highest..."  FUNNY STORY ABOUT YESTERDAY...my favorite co-worker was asking what I did the evening previous.  I told him, "I actually made some more Christmas cards."  Too which he replied, "I do not even want to hear the word Christmas until December."  I smiled and said, "Well...last night I made cards for which to celebrate Jesus' birth!"  It was priceless!!!!

I hope you have a lovely Thursday!!!  

Oh - a coldfront is coming.  You know how I feel about sweaters and cold-weather gear.  (I heart them in case you have forgotten or haven't stalked my blog all that often.)  Today the weather gal on WTVO was saying, "The cold front will be here around 1 p.m."  I am probably the only girl in Rockford that cheered OUTLOUD at the t.v.  I did.  True story.

I love Sweater Weather.  And I think on that HAPPY, BLISSFUL note, I will end.  Have a great day!!!

The girl with curly hair

Sweater Weather. A True Story.

Cream, rust, and brown.  The color trifecta of my latest fru-fru scarf order.  You know what's weird -- when I bought the skein of said yarn, I wasn't liking it all that much...but now that it's getting cooler outside and Autumn is in the air...well, now I kind of like said yarn.  And as I knit up the scarf, it's kind of growing on me.  NOT literally - thank heavens!  Figuratively, people.  :)

It's Thursday.  There's a promise of Sweater Weather in the air -- or atleast to be in the air for the next 4 days.  Next week, they are calling for a slight warm-up...as in 70's and sunshine.  For now - I will embrace Sweater Weather.

Sweater Weather began back during my college days.  My friend/roomie Mandy and I decided to take a Bible elective together.  We signed-up for General Epistles.  In the class was a boy named Joe.  I'm pretty sure he had a crush on Mandy, but that's for another day and time.  Anyway - at PCC, the rooms were air conditioned year-round to control the humidity.  HELLO - PCC IS LOCATED IN FLORIDA, THE LAND OF HUMIDITY AND HEAT.  Sooo needless to say, our classrooms were chilly.  I remember it was either January or February, Mandy and I walked in to Bible class and Joe (aka:  Sweater Boy) said to Mandy, "Oh good, it's Sweater Weather."  Thus forever leaving an impression on us...as it's been 10 years later and when the temperature drops, I cannot help but utter a prayer of gratitude to God Almighty for another season of Sweater Weather.  :)

The end.  Oh - and as a P.S. In this story, the names have not been changed to protect the innocent, laughed the girl with curly hair.

My 2 cents and other random Monday things... :)

For the past 27 minutes, I've been sitting Indian-style on my ottoman, staring at my computer screen (the blank blog post form), contemplating what to blog about this evening.  

It's weird that the Olympics are over.  And I would like to go on record for saying the closing ceremonies were awful.  I only watched (and I use the term "watched" loosely as I had to turn away from the t.v. screen) about 6 minutes.  The music was atrocious.  The clothing...ICK!  I just don't understand.  The opening was...well, during the Industrial Revolution -- that part was a little slow...but it was the INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION!  Back to the Closing...I wonder what kind of people are elected for the Olympic Ceremony Committee.  (I say the title of the committee as if I know that it's the official name...Confession:  I don't know that for a fact.)  I just finished up my Picnic Committee duties and am free for another 11 months, I could be on the Olympic Ceremony Committee...we have 4 years to plan.  Rio.  Hmmmm...I wonder what the theme will be in 4 years.  Actually, there will be Winter Games in 2 years.  The other day I was thinking about how old I will be during the next Olympics and it made me a little morose.  I mean, I will be 4 years wiser...let's hope.  :)

Anyway...Closing Ceremonies:  TWO THUMBS DOWN!  [Insert "Boooo!" and "Hiss!"]

After enduring the 6 minutes of the closing, I turned the moving picture box (AKA:  T.V.) off.  The truth is -- aside from the Olympics and a smidge bit of news I really don't watch t.v. all that much.  I get my fill of Fox News during my gym time.  It's win - win...cardio and information.

Speaking of the gym...tonight was the first night in about a month that I actually enjoyed working-out.  For the past 4 or 5 weeks, I've only gone to the gym because I knew deep down, I needed it...but tonight, it was nice to enjoy being there.  Thirty minutes of elliptical and I went home a happy girl.  

Home.  (Sigh!)  It's soo lovely to be home.  You do realize for the next 3-5 days, this is all I am going to blog about, right?  It's kinda like the first month of Sweater Weather...you know how I feel about Sweater Weather!!!!!!!!!  I suppose I should remind you...Edward's Apple Orchard opens in 11 more wake-ups!  Oh for a mug of warm apple cider...

You see, I'm a simple sort of girl.  A mug of warm apple cider, cooler temps, jeans, and a hoodie.  I'm set.  Oh, wait -- a good book.  And a friend to chit-chat with.  And maybe some of those gluten-free pumpkin muffins that I make using a gf boxed cake mix, can of pumpkin, and an egg.  

Today I was thankful for a busy day at work...I'm not kidding - I punched-in at 7:50-something and the next time I checked the clock it was 11 (time for break)!  Around 1 p.m., I accidentally selected SHUT DOWN under my Start menu...so down went what I was working on and instead of letting that bother me, I laughed OUTLOUD and went to lunch.  My co-workers, I'm fairly certain, thought that I was finally cracking-up.  I wasn't.  Not yet anyway...I'm sure that will come...eventually.  At 2 p.m. we had a Picnic Committee meeting to wrap things up and talk about suggestions to make 2013's Picnic more fabulous!  And the next thing I knew, it was 4:29 and people were proceeding to the timeclock to punch-out and yours truly was still sitting on her computer trying to get the thing to shut down.  Why is it that at 1 p.m. when I accidentally shut everything down, the computer seemed to operate more quickly than at 4:29?  Probably because I really, really, really wanted to leave.  

After work, I had to make a quick stop at the airport and drop something off at UPS.  It's sounds glamorous saying that I stopped at the airport.  It's not glamorous.  It's Rockford's airport and it will forever be Rockford's airport - no matter the fact that they officially call it "Chicago-Rockford International Airport."  They could add a bunch of other cool cities and it would still be Rockford's airport.  :)  No one ever asks my opinion...I think it's the naturally curly hair.

After UPS, a quick stop at the eye doctor because my new and improved...all .05% of the right eye...contact lenses are in.  I didn't feel like pointing out to the employee who called about my lenses that when I purchased them, the little man said he would ship them directly to the cottage.  It seemed like a lost cause...and really, I could make the eye doctor on my way to Gloria's!

Tonight I got to help a friend in need.  It was a nice feeling being able to rearrange my schedule and help Gloria.  I did a walk-through of her house and pretended that I was a potential buyer.  I got to open drawers and closets and comment.  It was kind of fun!  After the walk-through and final touch-ups, we went to Pier One where we oooohed and aaaaahed over a beautiful red rug.  It was truly a work of art.  It was technically a rose but if I am going to be honest, it reminded me of a Poinsettia.  It was beautiful!  

I'm pretty sure the Pier One guy was wanting to make a sale tonight...but instead he was stuck with two window-shoppers who happened to be in a hurry to get to Panera for nourishment.  :)

Said nourishment - Fuji Apple Chicken Salad.  I did explain to the Panera girl, "Please no bread anywhere near my plate.  No gluten.  I will get sick here."  I think it makes food workers nervous when you mention that you may get sick...in their restaurant.  I learned that little tip from the Gluten-Free Girl book that I read.  :)  She is a genius!

Salads and conversating.  What a beautiful combination.  At 7:00, I sent Gloria on her merry way to Indianapolis and I headed off to the gym.

What a great way to end a Monday!!!

I LOVE SWEATER WEATHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know it's June and you are probably thinking that I have fallin' off the turnip truck.  Well, you can't fall off the truck if you're the driver.  Actually...you might be able to fall off the truck if you're the driver, but that is some seriously dangerous maneuvering...  And then who would drive the truck if you (the driver) fell off the truck?  You might want to make sure that you have a trustworthy passenger.  Anyway...

I love sweater weather!  And let's get serious -- it's not going to stay sweater weather!!!  It's just a hint of sweater weather.  If this was really, really fall sweater weather - you can mark this down - I would totally be at the apple orchard guzzling apple cider like Jesus was coming back tomorrow!!! 

It's not long-lasting sweater weather.  It's just a hint of sweater weather.  Soooo embrace it!  Dig out your favorite sweater and wear it tomorrow!!!  Own the sweater!  Love the sweater!  Be the sweater!

Angie