Yes, imagine little Horton-ish type voices...we are here, we are here, we are here! We're just busy, busy, busy! LOL But I did want to pop in for just a minute and say hello to anyone who is still taking the time to come by only to find out that I haven't been here much recently!
Hmmm....let me think....what HAVE I been doing? Well, you know how it is...just living and taking care of a family keeps a body and soul hopping. And school time, laundry, and cooking all have to be done!
Three of the children participated in the GA National Fair with both 4H entries and youth art entries, and the traveling time up there and back took a big chunk out of two different days. But they all did GREAT and won lots of prizes. And since Erin and Elisabeth are seniors this year, we're glad they are going out with a bang!
I've also been working on and completing some writing projects that I needed to get done. I'm right smack dab in the middle of some more research for another, plus I have some educational product reviews to complete for TOS.
We've moved beds and reorganized some of the children's sleeping arrangements here, so with my husband's busy schedule that little project was spread out over a week I'm so glad that's done, because for several days we didn't know who would wake up where! LOL And now, with the approach of the cooler weather (finally), I need to sort through, organize, get rid of, or store some of the little's clothing. Not my favorite task....it overwhelms me sometimes!
We took an awesome field trip to a wildlife management area last week that was not too far away from us and it was fantastic! I've lived in south Georgia almost all my life, and I never knew this little gem of a place existed until a year or two ago. But we got to see all kinds of wild animals, reptiles, and amphibians, and there was a great learning center there. There was also a 1/2 mile boardwalk through a cypress swamp that led to a tall observation tower that overlooked 18,000 acres of more cypress swamp. I carried Alexander all the way up and all the way down. I think I got my exercise in for the day! LOL At the nature center, the children got to hold a snake and a baby alligator. Yes, I know you're all jealous that YOU weren't there to participate! LOL They even had an excavated Indian canoe from south Georgia that was old, old, old. It was in one of the glass cases. Amazing!
And let's see....I'm still walking my three miles a day. I listen to all kinds of great podcasts on my MP3 that really inspire and fire me up. I've been listening to the audios from Cindy Rushton's past seminar on debt free living AND author interviews from Suzanne Lieurance's Book Bites for Kids. I've also listened to some of Dave Ramsey's shows on audio. Plus, I've been coming up with all kinds of great blog posts (in my head). Yes, that's right. Those great posts are still in my head! LOL Maybe they'll make it out through the ends of my fingertips and onto the keyboard before long!
My friend Beth and her sweet family gave us LOTS of apples from their recent trip up to north Georgia. So I've made apple pie, crockpot cinnamon apples, apple oatmeal, etc. And the little boys have eaten their weight in apples. Today or tomorrow, I'm going to make apple pie filling to either can or freeze for later use. My friend Laura and her sweet family sent us a gallon of apple cider from the same trip. It was delicious and GONE in three days! Yum! Thank you both for thinking of us! 
Last night, I made a double batch of Kelli's Fruit Filled Oatmeal Bars, and they turned out wonderful! If you haven't tried these yet, you should! They are delicious! I also burned out my tortilla maker/baker recently, so I'm looking for another one. I just used it so much that it finally died. I guess it was just plumb tuckered out. I'm so sad, because we make homemade bean burritos a lot for lunch here. 
I have a large stack of new books that I'm working through as I have time...I'll have to share those soon. I always have two or three going at the same time. Right now, I'm in the middle of Rene Gutteridge's Scoop. I just finished Sigmund Brouwer's Broken Angel...it was, um, different. Not my usual preference in reading material, but interesting. However, I really like his Nick Barrett series set in Charleston a lot.
Today's agenda includes:
School (of course)
Post some things on Ebay
Go the library to pick up more books that have come in for me!
Walk
Make Apple Pie Filling (if time)
Bake Cinnamon Rolls and Bread (for some of my husband's co-workers)
Prepare supper: Chicken/Rice, Rolls, Squash, Peas, Fruit Filled Oatmeal Bars
Laundry! (As ALWAYS)
Hope you all have a blessed and delightful day!
Oct. 20, 2008 - park
What city is that wildlife center? Wonder if it's close to Statesboro. Great pictures!
Oct. 20, 2008 - Untitled Comment
It's good to "see" you, Amy! I know how it is when one gets busy and things move down on the priority list. But, I'm glad you can still stop in and say hi.
I made your salsa and it's been a hit! I've even passed the recipe on to a few friends. THANKS for sharing!
We have lots more...but I'll stop!
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